(Title: The Hidden Guardian / Author: JDL Rosell / Publisher: Rune & Requiem Press / Publication Date: April 2, 2024 / Total Pages: 711)
Back Cover Blurb
She slew a devil. Wielded a titan's power. Defied the enemy plaguing the Gasts. Yet the greater war remains - one that will rob Leiyn of all she loves.
Returning to her homeland from beyond the mountains, the ranger Leiyn goes to do her duty in defending Baltesia during its war of secession.
But the Iiberian Union refuses to relinquish its old colony. With the greatest fleet in the world and a host of odiosas at its disposal, a shadowy accomplice further augments the Union's power. The dangers to Leiyn and her comrades are greater than ever before.
To survive, Leiyn will have to rely on more than her magic. She must find allies who possess secret knowledge beyond anything she's imagined.
Allies that even Iyshans fear.
Baltesia's fight is not for its freedom alone. It is the next front in the war for all of Unera. To protect her country and loved ones, Leiyn must defeat the Union here and now.
But no battle is won without sacrifice.
The Hidden Guardian is the third book in the Ranger of the Titan Wilds series. Continue the tale of war, found family, heartbreak, and sorcery in this next installment.
Review
So much happens in this third installment in J.D.L. Rosell's Rangers of the Titan Wilds series, but that's to be expected I guess when we are talking about a book that tops the 700 page mark. That being said, this is by no means a bloated book where the action drags and it becomes a plodding slog to get through. Quite the contrary, Rosell somehow manages to make a doorstopper feel like a book a third of its size. What's even better is THE HIDDEN GUARDIAN really takes this already outstanding epic fantasy to another level entirely with one heck of a thrilling advancement of plot.
Without giving away too much of the story as this is the third book, I will say that the political maneuvering is very front and center in this one. Baltesia is now deeply committed to their secession of the greater union of territories and what follows is obviously going to be messy and potentially bloody as they attempt to gather support on their side while also having to deal with the now enemy Ilberian Union. So yeah, the action is ratcheted up exponentially and main character Leiyn is right in the thick of all of it, throwing her support behind the secessionists whose cause she truly believes in.
There's really so much to love about this book and series if you are into fascinating epic fantasy that feels like the comfort reads that got you into the genre to begin with. I've always said that Rosell writes fantasy that feels like home and fantasy that takes you to that place of adventure and wonder that makes it extremely fun and engaging to read. And yet at the same time there's an undeniable element of danger and risk that keeps it on the knife edge and strengthens the investment for the reader. I can't say enough about how much I enjoy his books. Try any of his other excellent series and you will see exactly what I mean.
Rosell profoundly delivers the mystery, action, worldbuilding, and flat-out excitement that I look for in an entertaining read. This series just keeps getting more intriguing by the book as the stakes for these characters become even higher and more precarious. I have no idea how he is going to wrap this series up and how many more books are coming but what I do know is that I will be there front and center eagerly awaiting each whenever they are published. THE HIDDEN GUARDIAN is yet another winner from one of my favorite fantasy writers. Quite an epic journey indeed.
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