The Eighth Guardian

Annum Guard, Book 1

By: Meredith McCardle

Narrated by: Amy McFadden

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Amanda Obermann. Code name Iris. It’s Testing Day. The day that comes without warning, the day when all juniors and seniors at The Peel Academy undergo a series of intense physical and psychological tests to see if they’re ready to graduate and become government operatives. Amanda and her boyfriend Abe are top students, and they’ve just endured 36 hours of testing. But they’re juniors and don’t expect to graduate. That’ll happen next year, when they plan to join the CIA - together. But when the graduates are announced, the results are shocking. Amanda has been chosen - the first junior in decades. And she receives the opportunity of a lifetime: To join a secret government organization called the Annum Guard and travel through time to change the course of history. But in order to become the Eighth Guardian in this exclusive group, Amanda must say good-bye to everything - her name, her family, and even Abe - forever. Who is really behind the Annum Guard? And can she trust them with her life?

©2013 Edith Zimmerman (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

I loved this story but.....

The main character was so hard to listen to and root for. I know that she is 16, but she was so selfish.

Very interesting storyline!

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed these books! The story line had me from the very beginning. Unlike any other books I've read. Love all the historical references.

The narrator felt a little to whinny to me at times though. A little overacted, but hey, at least it wasn't monotone the whole time.

I really liked this book.

I greatly enjoyed this story and as always Amy McFadden's performance was wonderful. This book caught my attention and didn't let go until the end. I am ready for the second book.

A time travel adventure that is not to be missed..

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, the audio performance was spectacular!

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

4.5 Stars

Wow, what a thrilling intense adventure through time, that takes us through corruption, conspiracies, betrayals, lies, deception and murder!!! THE EIGHTH GUARDIAN is full of soo much awesomeness, all packed in one little book!!!

I don't even know where to begin with all of this book's awesomeness! The world building was so complex and full of layers of plot and character development that made this book what it was, a bombshell of a debut!!

The characters were interesting... They're was a few I didn't really care for at first, but then as the book progressed, they kinda grew on me. But I was and still am a little iffy of the love interest, Abe. He's supposed to love Iris (Amanda) with all his heart, and have her back until the very end, no matter what. Yet he didn't, not at first any way. I can't say to much on that without giving spoilers away, but there was a very big important part in this book where his loyalties and trust in the girl he loves is tested, and in my opinion, he failed, big time!!! Granted, something was hanging over his head, but he didn't believe in Iris at first, and was willing to separate himself before even knowing the truth behind it all. And with that part my whole faith in him—in them as a couple, went right out the window. As far as I know he is the main love interest in book two, BLACKOUT, but he better do some serious making up to Iris before he gets my love, again!!!

But as far as the other characters go, they were great! The main character Iris was awesome!! Yes, she did kinda drive me crazy in the beginning, and even manged to get a couple eye rolls out of me from time to time. But then I put myself in her shoes, and if I was just ripped out of my life and tied to a bed and told time travel existed, and that I had to join or bad things world happen to me, then yeah, I would probably be acting the same way she was. So after that I softened towards her and got to see her for what she really was: An awesome, hardcore chick, that wasn't afraid to get the job done, even when the job seemed impossible!!! And that's why I loved Iris, she made the impossible, possible!!

THE PLOT

Amanda Obermann just wants to graduate from training school and become a CIA agent with her boyfriend and love of her life, Abe in tow. But things aren't as simple as she thought. There's a whole new world she's about to be pulled into, and she's totally unprepared for what's about to begin on Testing Day...

Amanda Obermann, Code name Iris. She was forced to leave that birth name behind on Testing Day when she was knocked out, dragged out of school, tied to a gurney, and told she'd graduated testing day and is now apart of a secretive organization that travels back in time to change history to fit their future. But nothing is right about any of that, and Amanda—No, Iris, is determined to find out just what game they're really playing...

Iris is considered an outsider among the Annum Guard—the secretive organization she's being forced into. She'll be the Eighth and final Guardian if she passes her probational period, and then will be granted the rare opportunity to travel back in time and change the course of history. But Iris is struggling with her adjustment in Annum Guard. With everyone being so secretive, and making her feel like she doesn't quite belong, it makes following her superiors not too high on her to do list. But her choices are very limited: Either join Annum Guard, or spend the rest of her life in an 8x8 cell, forced to forfeit her life, as Time Travel cannot be known to the public. So with Iris having little to no choice, she reluctantly does as she's told and joins Annum Guard. Until her final testing mission reveals something that could blow the whole top of the corruption within the guard, and who's really behind it.

Iris is not prepared to sit back and take the fall for the corruption within. She's determined to uncover the truth behind everything, and everyone who is involved. But theirs just one problem? She's a wanted fugitive in the present for crimes she did not commit. So that means time and an unlikely teammate are her only allies...

Iris will have to weave through time to uncover conspires, reliving the past of love ones she didn't know were entangled in the guard. While evading her teammates, trusting an unlikely ally, and staying one step ahead of time. Time is running out and the game has just begun, the race for her life is for sure, and death is inevitable, but who's death is what's uncertain....

Race through time with Iris as she uncovers conspires, tangled webs, lies, deception, betrayals, and unexpected friendship and alliances.

First I have to tell you I am not a fan of Time Travel books. Really, I try to steer clear of them all together. They're just not really my thing.... But, there was something about THE EIGHTH GUARDIAN that compelled me to want to read it. Something that was so appealing that I couldn't deny my urge. So I picked it up for review and waited forever to read it. But when I did FINALLY read it, OMG is entranced!! Meredith McCardle has to be like the Time-Travel master!! It was full of soooo much drama and action and adventure. Intertwined with dates and times of history that gives us a whole new look at our countries past and their struggles. She seriously had to do her homework on this one, and I give her mad props for producing such a gem within the Time-Travel book world!!!

NOTE: I received an ARC from Skyscape/Amazon for reviewing purposes! All opinions express are my own and are not influenced in any way!

The narrator kept me listening

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I liked the audio book enough to have finished it to the end. But sorry to say that the 1st teaser book did NOT have enough positives to keep me going onto the next.

Would you recommend The Eighth Guardian to your friends? Why or why not?

Maybe.

The best part of the book was the training day. The main character, Amanda seemed amazing, but sadly, she stopped being great when she graduated from training day. She became more and more annoying to me as the story progressed, I sometimes fast-forwarded through her inner dialog. Whining about this or that. I don't relate, but I'm sure many of my girlfriends would and might find this trait enjoyable.

Which character – as performed by Amy McFadden – was your favorite?

I loved how she performed "Yellow". Amy's performance completely fooled me when Yellow's true personality was eventually revealed. She had a great rhythm and her portrayal of other characters were distinct enough that I easily could determine which character was speaking. Her performance is the best part of this audio book.

Was The Eighth Guardian worth the listening time?

I thought Amy's narration was about the only thing I really enjoyed. Plot twists and turns were pretty cool and thankfully not too complex to give me a headache. Time traveling concept was what initially got me to purchase as well as the training day sequence.

Any additional comments?

I found it difficult to "bond" with the main character. She didn't show loyalty to her family or team. She complained constantly. I thought it unbelievable that she is or was "in love" with Abe. I found it difficult to believe that she was "special" and/or was "trained" in any way to have been accepted to a secret government agency.

Good solid YA fantasy

This very entertaining novel has the familiar structure of many fantasy series, but with intricate and imaginative plotting, it maintained my attention. Amanda is taken from her elite government training school and placed into an even more elite facility, where members are trained to time travel and observe (and maybe tweak) historic events. Amanda also has her own mission — to discover what happened to her father, who died in government service when she was a baby. The plots are neatly interwoven, making the book a satisfying read— though there were moments of unnecessary angst. Lots of necessary angst, too, though. I’ll look for more from this autho

Simply Wonderful.

I could not stop. I literally listened all the way through. Very catching, i was hooked from chapter 1. Definitely worth the credit.

So awesome

This book was so awesome! I couldn't stop listening to it. It is filled with action and twists galore! I loved it:)

Juvenile with poor dialogue

Highly disappointed. The story idea could have been good but the whine of the main character took my full attention.

Great premise for a storyline, weak execution

What disappointed you about The Eighth Guardian?

I don't know what disappointed me more, the storyline or the performance. I read the synopsis of the book and was looking forward to an interesting story. What I got were characters that were thin and overly dramatic, and the narrator taking these characters and embellishing on that drama with her pitch and tone. I will also admit, I only made it through half the book, before I went on to my next one.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I'm listening to Blood Song currently and am enjoying it.

Would you be willing to try another one of Amy McFadden’s performances?

I don't think I will listen to another performance by Amy McFadden, her presentation of people was not enjoyable.

Any additional comments?

Just because I didn't like the story and the narrator, doesn't mean you won't. It may appeal to you if you enjoy more drama driven stories.