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Guardian by Cathy McCrumb

Sci-Fi. 368 Pages. 5 Stars

Synopsis:

The Recorder’s fate has been sealed, but the Consortium is not the only enemy.

Labeled an aberration by the Consortium, the Recorder is not yet free. Time is running out as an engineered bioweapon wreaks havoc on friend and foe alike.

Stopping both the biological agent and the people who created it is no easy task, especially since the Recorder and her friends are trapped on a research station infested with behemoth insects. Without Consortium technology, the probability of neutralizing the threat falls to nothing. In order to save her allies, the Recorder must activate a drone, but her success might destroy any hope for freedom, a future, and a name.

My Review:

I am so upset it’s over! This is the kind of book that makes you want to start the story all over as soon as you finish. A worth conclusion to this heartfelt science-fiction adventure.

First of all, this COVER. I mean, the second one is stunning, too. But the greens in this one! It’s a beauty and I’m so excited to have it on my shelf. I also really love the pale sage green hardcover with the gold foil beneath the gorgeous dust jacket.

But on to the story itself. This final installment of the Children of the Consortium ties together the threads from the previous two and leads us to an epic, climactic conclusion.

The first book starts almost a little slowly and brings out a slow burn in the story, but as the story builds across the trilogy, it really builds. By the time we get to Guardian, there are so many plot threads you have no idea how it’s all going to end. McCrumb has mastered the art of tension, and even amidst the threads she’s already set up, she still manages to pull some twists on us.

I love the mystery of puzzling out the plague before it’s too late. Each step of the way kept me engaged: figuring out where it came from, how it works, the time bomb of stopping the spread, the tension of wondering who will survive it, and how to combat against it. Layered on top of that is the unanswered question of Recorder’s fate–and if she’ll ever choose a name or be free to use it! And of course, where would we be without the thread of the one and only Nathanial Timmons! McCrumb knows how to pull on the heart strings and I love the sweet romance that focuses on the actions and service of the characters.

Speaking of, I love that we get all of our characters from both books together for one epic ending! From the beginning I’ve loved the brilliant way McCrumb utilizes POV shifts to delve deeper into the side characters, both expanding our understanding of the character as well as the world. She touches on beautiful themes of sacrifice and redemption. Her characters wrestle with their choices and those choices have real consequences. I love the loyalty and friendship Recorder garners, but I also love that McCrumb doesn’t shy away from hard choices. She lets her characters make mistakes and bear the ramifications.

As I’ve said before, I love how the sci-fi world isn’t overwhelming with jargon and countless galaxies and names you can’t keep up with. The world feels as full as any standard sci-fi galaxy, but we don’t get lost in it. I will admit, there was one particular place that was mentioned several times in the previous books that I thought we’d go to. And I still have questions! There aren’t necessarily any loose threads, but there were definitely hints of potential future threads to be followed! I certainly hope this means future stories to come one day.

This beautiful story has touched on such heartfelt themes as sacrifice, nobility, humanity, and friendship. But this third story showcases some of those themes in new ways. I won’t give anything away, but some of the twists and surprises near the climax got to me. I loved the emphasis on the value of life and the really cool way the characters found resolution to some of the plot threads.

Content: there’s no foul language, some sweet, wholesome romance, and some sci-fi violence. I’d feel fine giving the book to 15+

More:

Book 1 in the Children of the Consortium trilogy is Recorder (5 Stars)

Book 2 is Aberration (5 Stars)

Book 3 is Guardian (5 Stars)

This series must be read in order, and I’d suggest having them handy! It’s a page-turning ride! Check out the links for more info.

On GraceBought

See my thoughts on the previous book in the series here!

Recorder and Aberration