emilybriano's review against another edition
4.0
Urban fantasy with Maori legends/mythology. Kinda creepy because a major plot point involves a massive earthquake on the North Island, and I started reading it the day of the Christchurch earthquake. Overall, it was surprisingly funny and compulsively readable.
carstensena's review against another edition
3.0
Read for Bookfest.
This book got better and better as it went along, as the tie-ins to Maori creation myths became more clear. An unlikeable narrator (in my opinion) made it tough going at times, but unique and interesting.
This book got better and better as it went along, as the tie-ins to Maori creation myths became more clear. An unlikeable narrator (in my opinion) made it tough going at times, but unique and interesting.
jmoose09's review against another edition
4.0
Where do I even star with this book? Faeries, Magic, and Maui?
It had me engaged from the very beginning. The mystery surrounding Ellie kept me wanting more and once her eyes opened it was like the flood gates opened. The story continued at a nice pace til the very end. It was a unique story for sure. A little bit more gruesome, at some points, than I was expecting, but overall a really good read. I really enjoyed Karen's writing style and cannot wait to read more of her work.
It had me engaged from the very beginning. The mystery surrounding Ellie kept me wanting more and once her eyes opened it was like the flood gates opened. The story continued at a nice pace til the very end. It was a unique story for sure. A little bit more gruesome, at some points, than I was expecting, but overall a really good read. I really enjoyed Karen's writing style and cannot wait to read more of her work.
ginnikin's review against another edition
3.0
I originally rejected this, but after talking it over with Anna, I decided to try again. This time, it worked. I read it in one sitting and quite enjoyed it.
tehani's review
4.0
This edition of the book suffers from a terrible case of cover fail - it's completely unappealing and does nothing to invite its intended audience (or ANY audience) to read it. I put off opening it for many months simply because it looked terrible. The font, the art and the design do nothing to make the book appeal, and that's a major disappointment, because it's a great story inside that terrible cover. Utilising local mythology, Healey writes engaging and interesting characters into an exciting adventure that held me from beginning to end. I will do my best to encourage young adult and adult readers alike to open it, but I really wish the publishers had done a better job with the packaging.
kblincoln's review against another edition
4.0
Like another reviewer, I was reluctant to read this book because the cover and title were a bit off-putting.
However, I am glad I soldiered through. I gobbled up the story inside. Coming from someone who is easily bored, and who has read extensively in the YA Fantasy and Urban Fantasy genre, this book will keep your attention.
Ellie Spencer's parents are on an extended trip to celebrate her mother's recovery from cancer, leaving Ellie no choice but to change high schools to a boarding school on the South Island of New Zealand.
So not only does she have to make new friends, she has to do this while feeling unsure of herself and her changing body.
Luckily she has one friend, a gorgeous hunk named Kevin who has just confessed to being asexual, and who has shanghaied her into helping block fight scenes in the production of Midsummer's Night Dream he is currently working on.
Meanwhile, there is a serial killer loose who is killing seemingly random victims and taking their eyes, and Ellie has just gotten "noticed" by a handsome school loner, and she is starting to waken to a world of myths living right alongside ours.
Maori myths. Familiar, yet strange, to this Usian reader familiar with United States First Peoples' stories, the weaving of Maori legends, words, and culture into this is the strongest aspect of the story.
Ellie is great, too, and a completely believable, not all-powerfully attractive protagonist. Her relationship with the mysterious loner skims the line between romantic and believable in a great way. (I especially loved the "we can't touch eachother" because I have a tapu magic bag part, much more interesting than manufacturing ancient angst to explain why the hero and heroine can't come together)
The first part of the book where Ellie is at school figuring out the mysterious loner and dealing with friendships was definitely the best part of the book. Once she travels to the North Island and meets up with tons of mythological beings and gets wrapped up in Maui's fish hook and the Maori queen of the dead things became a bit fuzzier for me.
Still, I would totally read any subsequent book.
Don't be turned off by the cover, this is a great story.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: A plain-looking shortbread that when you put into your mouth melts in a golden pool of sweetness with a hint of exotic spice infused into the cookie.
However, I am glad I soldiered through. I gobbled up the story inside. Coming from someone who is easily bored, and who has read extensively in the YA Fantasy and Urban Fantasy genre, this book will keep your attention.
Ellie Spencer's parents are on an extended trip to celebrate her mother's recovery from cancer, leaving Ellie no choice but to change high schools to a boarding school on the South Island of New Zealand.
So not only does she have to make new friends, she has to do this while feeling unsure of herself and her changing body.
Luckily she has one friend, a gorgeous hunk named Kevin who has just confessed to being asexual, and who has shanghaied her into helping block fight scenes in the production of Midsummer's Night Dream he is currently working on.
Meanwhile, there is a serial killer loose who is killing seemingly random victims and taking their eyes, and Ellie has just gotten "noticed" by a handsome school loner, and she is starting to waken to a world of myths living right alongside ours.
Maori myths. Familiar, yet strange, to this Usian reader familiar with United States First Peoples' stories, the weaving of Maori legends, words, and culture into this is the strongest aspect of the story.
Ellie is great, too, and a completely believable, not all-powerfully attractive protagonist. Her relationship with the mysterious loner skims the line between romantic and believable in a great way. (I especially loved the "we can't touch eachother" because I have a tapu magic bag part, much more interesting than manufacturing ancient angst to explain why the hero and heroine can't come together)
The first part of the book where Ellie is at school figuring out the mysterious loner and dealing with friendships was definitely the best part of the book. Once she travels to the North Island and meets up with tons of mythological beings and gets wrapped up in Maui's fish hook and the Maori queen of the dead things became a bit fuzzier for me.
Still, I would totally read any subsequent book.
Don't be turned off by the cover, this is a great story.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: A plain-looking shortbread that when you put into your mouth melts in a golden pool of sweetness with a hint of exotic spice infused into the cookie.
demonsreadtoo's review against another edition
3.0
Admittedly, this wasn’t my favourite book. I liked the characters, even found myself letting out sharp bursts of laughter, but the plot dragged. It really felt like a chore getting through it. Being a standalone, I had expected this to be fast-paced, full of action from the get-go. Instead, we spent chapters upon chapters with the characters practicing for a university theatre production which really did nothing for the plot except in showing us how creepy one of the characters was. And with the lengthy, overly-descriptive chapters, it just kept leaving me with the feeling of wanting to put the book down and do something else.
Read the full review at my blog, Demons Read Too
Read the full review at my blog, Demons Read Too
bestdressedbookworm's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't actually finish this book.
I didn't expect a book called guardian of the dead to be about fairies.
I got about half way through and I loved this authors other series that I read so much that I wanted to push through but this actual book I just couldn't really get into. Sorry Karen.
I didn't expect a book called guardian of the dead to be about fairies.
I got about half way through and I loved this authors other series that I read so much that I wanted to push through but this actual book I just couldn't really get into. Sorry Karen.
mybooktasticlife's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5