The Guardian of Greyworld

By: R J Chance

Narrated by: Jenny Myers

Length: 16 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Ethan Wilder, an ordinary nine-year-old boy, becomes trapped in another world. Chased by monsters and hunted by a deadly assassin, Ethan must find a cure for his dying father and escape to become the Guardian of Greyworld.

©2018 Richard James Chance (P)2021 Richard James Chance

A picture is worth a thousand words.

This is an entertaining story about a boy Ethan, who travels into another world, entering through a painting he bought as a gift for his father's birthday.
The tale is of his adventures with a tiny fairy girl that he meets along the way, and as they travel on together, how their friendship grows.
The story is told from Ethan's point of view with a dialogue typical of a young boy growing up in England. The author captures the feeling very well as the struggles he goes through reveal his thoughts and character. It is not really a children's story, although it is told by a child, but rather a chronicle of his journey and the encounters he has with powers of good and evil in this dreamlike world.
What made the book really come to life for me was the entertaining reading of it by Jenny Meyers. She does excellent voices for the many characters, both male and female, and especially the main character Ethan. The authentic English accents add to the flavor of the story and make it very believable, even though the story itself is a fantasy. Very enjoyable!!

Good story, but some dark scenes.

A good consideration of transgender themes within a well-imagined fantasy setting. The story is also captivatingly read by Jenny Myers.
However, it does contain some very dark moments, including scenes of cutting/self harm that are not treated in a way suitable for very young children.

Excellent Performance of Fantasy Story

Fantasy is not a genre I usually read, but Jenny Myers’ performance of this book drew me right in. With her superb reading, the characters became alive and I enjoyed following Ethan’s adventures and struggles in two worlds as he grew into The Guardian of the Greyworld.

A modern fantasy adventure

**Disclaimer -- I listened to the story largely because of the narrator!**

I thought Jenny Myers did a wonderfully expressive job in giving each of the characters their own inflection, even altering the tone of the main character's voice to suit the plot of the story. And since the setting is in London initially, Jenny's use of a slight cockney accent is perfect for setting the atmosphere. Though, I did have to turn the narration speed up 20%.

I didn't enjoy the story itself as much as I'd hoped, but I may be biased since I don't usually go for a lot of modern fantasy. I found it to be rather dark and depressing, leaving me feeling gloomy after a chapter or two. I do like a bit of realism, so I was glad that the author didn't just let a nine-year-old frolic unscathed through a wild countryside with nary a thought to his well-being; however, I really wish the little boy had more friends to share the adventure with, and didn't develop quite so strong a street-wise and cynical outlook. I found the ending to be disappointing, certainly not a happily-ever-after, with one or two loose ends still hanging and with the plot poised to lead straight into a sequel.
It's a story about a child, but it does not strike me as a children's story. I always find that sort of premise a bit confusing.