Scotland's Guardians

By: Katharina Gerlach

Narrated by: Linda Joy

A face without a nose watches Bryanna from a window in an Edinburgh townhouse, and a hairy hand waves. A Brownie! She blinks and shakes her head. Impossible. They only exist in books. But the Brownie doesn't remain the only legendary creature she meets on her way home. Maybe I'm hallucinating, she thinks, and decides to talk to her dad.

However, he gets kidnapped by a woman whose scent seems surprisingly familiar to Bryanna. Without hesitation, she follows them and lands smack dab in the middle of the adventure of her life. The world she faces now is murderously dangerous. And if she survives the journey, she seems doomed to kill her father for his secret.

©2013 Katharina Gerlach (P)2016 Katharina Gerlach

More of a story for children

I enjoyed the story, but it seems more of a story for children then young adults. Author story line was wonderful and the narrator was Excellent.

Legend, Lore, Fun. It made my heart happy.

What did you love best about Scotland's Guardians?

I received this audible book using a promotional code from the author. I am so tickled with it.

I loved Linda Joy's voice reading it. Lots of fun story element and lore in play in this story. I think kids would get a kick out of it too.

I turned it on just to check out the voice of the reader, but then I could not turn-it-off until the end of the story. I listened all day!

I had so much fun listening to learn how the author wove in all the legend, lore and folktale like elements. I know I am repeating myself, but really, it was delightful.

It is lighthearted, yet deep, with lots of truth and wisdom weave throughout the tale.

The friendship is what struck me the strongest. Two girls with a common destiny yet one has been taught to feel less than the other by someone who has more invested in the situation than the well-being of the girls and wraps it up as a caring emphasizing their own-will as something that is the characters birthright and needs to be set straight.

The girls have to learn to trust and decide for themselves whether or not they will accept the fate that everyone else is convinced is theirs and cannot be avoided. It is the journey of friendship in an adventure fraught with peril.

The characters have to make hard decisions sometimes with intangible facts based on the distant past or their own perceptions of the way things really are that will change their lives and everyone and anyone who calls Scotland home forever.

What did you like best about this story?

The feeling of fun and adventure that I experience while listening. This lady's voice was delightful for a story set in Scotland.

What does Linda Joy bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Lightheartedness, lilt of voice an enhanced sense of fun.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to the whole thing in one setting. I had not intended to do that. I turned it on just to check out the readers voice.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend listening to this one if you enjoy audible books and love legend and lore of Scotland.

Fun Fantasy Tale of Friendship

Summary: Bryanna and her new friend Kaylee (sorry about spelling, I heard the audio) go on a long, perilous journey that could determine the fate of Scotland.

Additional Comments:
- Bryanna and Kaylee’s friendship goes through natural ups and downs. Their loyalties are tested in numerous ways.
- Because this is a fantasy, the plot takes some delightful and weird twists and turns. At times, the journey seemed simply for the sake of the journey, but overall, the plot moved nicely to the climax.
- The end was a tad anticlimactic. I think the end battle took place in about ten minutes.
- The narrator did a wonderful job with all the tough pronunciations.
- Bryanna and Kaylee are likable main characters. I suppose Kaylee could be seen as a side character, but if she is, she’s very well-developed.
- Some of the hidden nature of certain relationships seemed ridiculous in the long run, more for the reader’s benefit of surprise than for the main character.
- Along the way the girls get into some crazy situations. That keeps the journey interesting.
- Bryanna’s got a good heart. That comes through pretty clearly.

Conclusion:
A strong tale of friendship set in fantasy settings.
*I received a free audiobook. The decision to review was my own. The rating is also mine.