The Guardian's Wyrd by Nerine Dorman

The Guardian's Wyrd Reviews

• 
  Icy Sedgwick

  Young Adult fiction can sometimes suffer from the notion that it’s somehow not for grown ups, despite the success of series like Harry Potter among adults. Thing is, it’s a thriving classification, featuring strong stories and incredibly likeable characters – and it’s totally okay to like it!
  
  As with most stories that deal with magical or mystical realms, the book opens in modern day South Africa, where Jay September is a frustrated loner who dreams of rock stardom. He sticks up for the new boy in school when Rowan is bullied, and a bizarre friendship springs up between the two. Rowan is clearly looking for a friend, while Jay is drawn by his desire to explore Amberlee, Rowan’s strange and rambling house. An afternoon exploring in the grounds leads the boys through the tunnel to Sunthyst, and when Rowan is snatched by his uncle, Jay is half tempted to leave him there. Eventually his conscience gets the better of him, and he ends up being enlisted by Rowan’s mother, the exiled queen, to rescue her son.
  
  The Guardian’s Wyrd features a whole host of interesting races, such as the forest-dwelling Skree, barbaric werewolves, mysterious Watchers that guard the tunnels, as well as Oryxis, the aloof guardian who promises Jay that he’ll teach him how to use magic. I wasn’t wholly keen on Jay at first, seeing him as the sort of sullen teen I encounter all too often, but his discovery that not only is magic real, but he can also wield it, seems to provoke some sort of burgeoning conscience, and he becomes the sort of hero you can actually root for. Rowan is perhaps the least interesting character of the book but he has plenty of time to develop in the next title of the cycle. I also want to see a lot more of the Skree!
  
  The Guardian’s Wyrd might be classified as YA but don’t expect some cute or fluffy tale. It is visceral and wrenching, and perfectly suited to those who like their fantasy on the darker side.
  
  Five out of five!
• 
  Nerine Dorman

  Well of course I'd not be presumptuous enough to rate my own book but jawellnofine, here's my baby, and it is this not-so-humble author's opinion that if you enjoyed Harry Potter, there's a fair chance you'll be enjoy Jay's misadventures.
  
  A Jay and Rowan short story:
  http://nerinedorman.blogspot.com/2014...
  
  VIRTUAL APPEARANCES
  May 26, 2014: Author Sonya Clark features me at her blog, where I share a little background.
  http://www.sonyaclark.net/2014/05/aut...
  
  May 27, 2014: A character interview with Jay September over at author Suzanne van Rooyen's blog.
  http://suzannevanrooyen.com/2014/05/2...
  
  May 28, 2014: Editor Tracie McBride asks me some pointed questions about my craft and TGW:
  http://traciemcbridewriter.wordpress....
  
  May 29, 2014: Five important things you should know about Sunthyst, with thanks to book blogger Tammy February for having me over:
  http://bookfairyhaven.blogspot.com/20...
  
  June 1, 2014: The mah-vellous Zoe Whitten has yours truly over for a little chat about heroes, good and bad.
  http://zoewhitten.com/guest-post-by-n...
  
  June 2, 2014: Then Icy has me sit down for a bit of a Q&A.
  http://www.icysedgwick.com/?p=1466
  
  June 3, 2014: Storyteller Rab Fulton also has me over for a few questions.
  http://rabfultonstories.weebly.com/bl...
  
  June 4, 2014: In which I discuss my creative process over at Autumn Christian's spot.
  http://www.autumnchristian.net/?p=468
  
  June 9, 2014: An appearance over at Amy Lee Burgess's blog:
  http://amyleeburgess.blogspot.com/201...
  
  June 10, 2014: A guest spot over at Cat Hellisen's where I talk about boy heroes, tropes and twists:
  http://www.cathellisen.com/nerine-dor...
  
  June 11, 2014: Matt the Teen Librarian asks some really twisty questions:
  http://teenlibrarian.co.uk/2014/06/11...
  
  June 12, 2014: Last stop over at DC Petterson's blog, where he finishes off with a little Q&A:
  http://dcpetterson.blogspot.com/2014/...
• 
  Sherry

  I was not sure what to expect with Guardian’s Wyrd. Nerine Dorman is a wonderful author, but it isn’t always easy to go from stories meant for adults, to stories meant for a young adult audience. She accomplished it beautifully. Not only that, but she’s written a story that will appeal to anyone who enjoys Fantasy- regardless of age.
  
  The story begins with Jason September- a loner who would rather be playing music or spending time with his dog than most anything else- defending the new kid at school from bullies. But Rowan, the new kid, turns out to be much more than Jason ever could have expected- like royalty from a land where fantasy is reality and Rowan could be in very real danger. Jason also discovers that he, himself, may be much more than he ever could have imagined. There are as many twists and turns in this story as there are in the tunnel they must make their way through to get to Sunthyst, and they’re all enjoyable to discover. And this 50 year old bibliophile is definitely looking forward to seeing more of Jason and Rowan, and how they deal with the futures ahead of them.
  
• 
  Melissa Delport

  What a delightful book! This is exactly what I needed - a short, light-hearted fantasy read. I loved the SA references and it made me realize this is the first fantasy book I've read set in SA (barring The Raft, but I hardly knew that was set in SA until about 3/4 in) I was also really impressed with Nerine Dorman's writing skills. Beautifully told!
  
  One critique: book 2 does not seem to be available yet :( That being said, you *can* read this as a standalone.
• 
  Amy Burgess

  The Guardian’s Wyrd is a fresh take on the YA scene. Instead of a vaguely American dystopia, Nerine Dorman brings her readers to South Africa and paints a lush, vivid picture of the life of a lonely, adolescent who endures on the fringes. Jay September would rather play his guitar or take long walks with his trusty dog, Shadow, instead of relate to the spoiled, rich teens at his school.
  
  When he sees the new boy, Rowan, being bullied, he could have walked away and let another kid take lowest position on the ruthless social totem pole. Instead, he sticks up for Rowan, and in so doing, takes on the reluctant role of protector.
  
  Drawn into a cutthroat political drama that takes place mostly in Sunthyst, an alternate world attainable only through the long dark tunnels beneath Rowan’s home, Jay discovers his new friend is actually a Sunthyst prince whose throne is being usurped by his evil uncle, Lessian. And possibly Rowan’s own mother, the exiled Queen Persia, is part of the plot.
  
  Jay and his dog, Shadow, are the only ones who can save Rowan’s life when he is taken back to Sunthyst by Lessian. In so doing, Jay must come to terms with himself and his life and what he wants to do with it. He must chose allies wisely and trust himself to do the right thing after a lifetime of standing to the side and not getting involved.
  
  The Guardian’s Wyrd is a lovely, sometimes harrowing, sometimes heartbreaking tale of coming of age. Nerine Dorman’s skillful portrayal of Jay will endear him to readers of all ages. Rowan will make readers want to shake him or hug him – sometimes both.
  
  This was an adventure I can go on again and again. The book is not just for one reading, but one that can be taken out on any rainy afternoon. Jay and Rowan and the other characters will become lifelong friends. Except for King Lessian. He’s definitely not friend material!
  
• 
  Monique Snyman

  The Guardian's Wyrd by Nerine Dorman is a unique young adult fantasy, set in Cape Town (South Africa) and follows the story of Jay September, a realistic and layered character that many readers will be able to relate to, who makes friends with the new boy, Rowan. However, Rowan's much more than just a little weird.
  
  It took me a while to get into The Guardian's Wyrd, not because it's badly written or anything of the sort, it's mostly because I rarely find young adult books that captures so much wonder with such ease. Nerine Dorman is a master wordsmith, a very underrated one in my opinion, and the way she's able to sweep the reader into her tales is astounding. I often had to return to a previous page, because I could've sworn I missed something important, and the thing is I really didn't mind doing it. Familiarize yourself with Nerine Dorman's work, folks. She's really got some great stories to tell.
  
  The characters are great, the scenery and description is fantastic, the editing is worthy of a standing ovation and what's more is that it's not your regular old young adult fantasy. All of those things make for an enjoyable read and if you're looking for a fun read for your son, then this is the book you want to get him.
  
  Of course, girls would enjoy it too. If I channel my inner cougar (don't judge me, I'm not that old), Jay's kind of cute. I mean, the girls will definitely find some fangirl material right there. Rowan's a bit strange for my liking, but I kind of like him too in a "Armin Arlert - Attack on Titan" kind of way. You get what I mean, right?
  
  The point is, The Guardian's Wyrd is a book that's worthy of a read. You'll love it!
  
  (review originally posted on
  www.tentaclebooks.com)
  
• 
  Tracie McBride

  Author Nerine Dorman wears her fantasy geek girl credentials on her sleeve in this YA romp. There are sly references to The Lord of the Rings, and liberal lashings of familiar fantasy tropes, from creatures such as werewolves and unicorns to an old-timey royal family to a time-distorting portal into another realm a la the Narnia series. Back in the “real” world of 21st century South Africa, our unlikely young hero also shows many of the hallmarks of a classic YA protagonist; he’s something of a social outsider and is often plagued by self-doubt, yet he abounds with talent both overt (his musical ability) and latent (not telling, because spoilers). The author has carefully crafted the character of Jay to be just the right balance of quirky, relatable, sympathetic, and Very Special Indeed. None of this is to say that The Guardian’s Wyrd is derivative – Dorman is far too skilled a writer for that.
  
  Told in first person from Jay’s point of view, the story starts slowly, with a generous amount of page space given to Jay’s internal musings and misgivings. Once Jay and his new friend Rowan reach Sunthyst, however, the pace picks up dramatically, with plenty of nail-biting tension and heart-racing action, leavened with just the right amount of humour, to keep hold of the target audience’s attention.
• 
  Yolandie Horak

  Really enjoyed this book! It's a fast read that draws you in from the first page and doesn't let you go until the end. I'm hoping the sequel for this one is on the way soon, because I really want to know what happens to the characters and to Sunthyst.
  
  I loved Jay, because even as a teenage boy, he's a very relatable character - I enjoyed reading the story from his perspective. He's a loyal kid, and his guts and determination made me want to root for him. His brand of magic is seriously cool! Shadow! I don't want to include spoilers here, but oh boy, that took me in the feels.
  
  Rowan is sweet, but naive. He's a spoilt, but sheltered prince, who's really in need of a friend. I think he's as shocked as Jay at their budding friendship. I'd love to know what happens in the rest of his story. Will he rise to the challenge that comes with his lineage?
  
  Can we just talk about what an awesome name Oryxis is? Loved that! This is a kick ass dude, and I'd love to get to know him a little more.
  
  As for the world, who doesn't like to be transported from the real to an epic fantasy world? Bring on the unicorns and Skree, this place is amazing.
  
  If you're a fan of well-written young adult fantasy, the kind that will draw you in no matter what age you are, I highly recommend this book.
• 
  Brian

  Fantastic, 'just one more chapter' fantasy book about a South African boy who realizes his nerdish new friend is a lot more than he seems. Jay is soon sucked into a world of royalty, monsters, and magic, when all he wants to do is get back home. The book is set in South Africa (at least the non-magical parts), which makes this nice change of pace for Americans who like international settings. I can't wait to read more by this talented author.
• 
  Mya

  3.5 stars
  
  I wanted to rate this even higher but had to force myself to be fair to the other books I read and not let my South African patriotism influence me too greatly :)
  
  As a reader from South Africa who lives in Cape Town, it was so nice to read a fantasy story dealing with alternate universes and magic where there is such a strong South African and Capetonian flavour. Apparently this is the first in the series (although I'm struggling to find what book 2 is - or if it exists) and it does create the feeling that the story is laying the groundwork for things to come. That said, the story still finished nicely without any horrible cliff-hangers or story-specific unanswered questions.
  
  The main character is a regular teenager living in Hout Bay, who comes to the rescue of the new kid in school who is being bullied. This starts off a tentative friendship which leads to a visit where it soon becomes clear that the new kid and his family might be a little more foreign than it first seemed. Eventually, they manage to tumble into a magical world where someone gets kidnapped and needs rescuing and the adventure proceeds.
  
  Keen to read the next (if there is one).
• 
  Shelley

  This is my very first signed by the author book, Nerine was at our local community market here in Glencairn, Cape Town, and after telling me if I liked Harry Potter etc. I'd no doubt like this, I bought a copy.
  
  Well I can say that I didn't like it, I loved it! Believable characters in Rowan and Jay, with their unlikely friendship. Well written narrative which takes you on a journey from Hout Bay to the magical realm of Sunthyst. Shadow, well won't say too much for fear of spoilers, other than, what a faithful fur friend. I look forward to delving into Sunthyst again, very soon I hope.
  
• 
  Tiah

  Difficult to pull quotes from without spoiling the story...
  
  - I didn't mean to slam Mike into the wall so hard, but it was so satisfying to catch him unawares. -
  
  - I needed all the allies I could get, even if they were stodgy old spinsters with a fondness for Beethoven. I could forgive her the Beethoven. At least it wasn't Chopin. Ugh.
  
  - I had this sense that things were about to go horribly, horribly wrong. Kinda like not studying for an exam but only ten million times worse. Kinda like when you've got to play at an Eisteddfod and you haven't practised your piece well enough and there are dozens and dozens of eyes focused on you alone. -
  
  
  - Don't get me wrong, it's not like I want to be an awkward teen for the rest of my life, but adults are sometimes so bizarre going to all this trouble with costumes. A little bit like the fancy big horserace held at the Kenilworth Racecourse each year, but on steroids. -
• 
  Cristy Zinn

  I thoroughly enjoyed this world! Jay September is thrown into a world that he never knew existed to find that he has some very cool abilities. I loved experiencing this world through Jay's eyes and I hope to read more set in this world!
• 
  Marius Plessis

  Absolutely adored this. A fun, quick read with just the right amount of everything. Really looking forward to the second book!
• 
  Noor Jahangir

  Jay, a lonely outsider, discovers that his new friend, Rowan, isn't exactly what he seems when he is invited to go visit Rowan's family's mansion and finds himself dealing with things not of this world.
  
  Jay, short for Jason, usually tries to keep a low profile and stays out of the way of school bullies, whilst spending his free time practicing music on a piano, but would rather play guitar and front his own band. For some reason he doesn't quite understand, he feels drawn to stand up to the bullies to defend the weird new kid, Rowan, even though he really doesn't want anything to do with. But when his new 'friend', Rowan, invites him to visit his family's mansion, Amberlee, Jay's curiosity wins out. That's when he discovers that the family is hiding a secret . . . they are not what they seem. Things turn even stranger when he and Rowan discover a doorway in the gardens that opens onto a series of dark tunnels that are haunted by monsters and leads to many worlds.
  
  Characterisation is one of the author's, Nerine Dorman, strengths and this book is no different. The story is told entirely from Jay's perspective, an angsty teenager who has a crush on his music teacher, wants desperately to start his own band (like his big brother) but has to learn the piano instead to please his mother. Luckily, he is a music buff (and the author ensures we know this because of the amount of time he spends daydreaming about music)and enjoys the classics, but doesn't have much time for surfing and videogaming, which is what all the other kids are doing in Hoat Bay, South Africa. His only real friend is his dog, Shadow. The other major character is his new friend, Rowan, a kid who seems rather cheerful despite being the target of bullies. Rowan has a penchant for collecting swords and a mischievous streak that results in him defying his scary mother and leading Jay down paths that they really shouldn't follow. Other characters include the aforementioned scary mother, Persia, and Oryxis, her guardian.
  
  The story is split between Hoat Bay and a medieval and magical realm known as Sunthyst. The former is realised beautifully, with lots of attention to detail around the architecture, flora and fauna, yet again showcasing the author's skillful talents as a travel writer. The latter however, despite its fantastical credentials, is somewhat underwhelming, with a series of stock medieval settings, which isn't what Dorman is usually known for. Admittedly, this is a novella and as such limits the amount of time the author can spend on world-building, but it would have been nice to be treated to one of Dorman's more fantastical worlds, bearing all the hallmarks of her eye for detail.
  
  The pacing of the story is well managed, with a few mild surprises along the way. Although the cover and the premise would put this work on the fantasy/fairy tale shelf, Dorman manages to capture the darker, more foreboding tones of her horror fiction, which raises the experience of reading this otherwise average crossover tale. Dorman is a prolific author and manages to produce a lot of work despite her editing duties for a number of publishers and whilst this isn't the best of her work, its a good solid entry with the added promise of future installments that will no doubt flesh out the characters and environments even more.
• 
  Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts)

  The Guardian's Wyrd didn't exactly hit the bull's eye with me, and half the time my mind was telling me to just click the DNF button because there wasn't much going on.
  
  Or maybe I just need to lower down the chances of trying to catch my attention from 50% down to 25%. A quarter just seems a tad bit harsh, and 50 just seems like a nice number compared to 38. :p
  
  The book focuses on a guy named Jason September, in which I actually thought he was a she and "her" name was September. Confused? Yeah... that was me for 10% of the book. Is it a girl, or is it a guy? It sounds like a guy, but is his name Jay (preferred nickname), or is it September? And if it's September, why does that sound like a girl's name? That's like my parents naming me Jace May (if you really fell for that, you must be a newcomer. Welcome. Please take a moment to look at who posted this if that is the case). I'm not exactly sure how that works, and that probably says I should remain a single pringle, in which I'm happy to oblige. Just be sure to buy me a pack of Pringles every Valentine's Day.
  
  Said dude who isn't actually a girl in the long run apparently has a crush on his music teacher, lives in Cape Town (I'm sort of a fan for books that are well... set in not so major cities like LA or NYC), an oddball at school who gets picked on a lot and dreams of being a famous musician. The Guardian's Wyrd seems to focus a lot on Jay's dreams of being a musician. I think that probably shows how determined he is to go after his dreams, which isn't always a bad thing.
  
  Problem is, when you're too busy daydreaming of being the next Harry Styles, it doesn't actually keep my attention forever. Oh, and he has a temper problem. LOTS of anger. >_<
  
  It's not until around 34% of the book that things actually catch my attention, when View Spoiler » . Then it sort of gets ruined a bit a few moments later when Jay meets a birdy and ends up kissing her. Within 3 pages, actually. Fortunately it doesn't seem like it's instalove, so that's not exactly a problem (yush).
  While I did get warned that the language may not be what I'm used to, what does larny or jawellnofine even mean? I don't think it's in the dictionary either, so if anyone knows, do tell me. And if any of the definitions are as bad as twerking or even remotely close to it, please. Don't even say a word. Because I do NOT want to know. o_o
  ------------
  Advanced copy provided by the publisher for review
  Original Rating: 3.5 out of 5
  This review and more can be found over at
  Bookwyrming Thoughts
  
  
• 
  Nerine Dorman

  Finally we have the print edition live. Marvellous artwork by the fabulously talented Daniël Hugo, with support for cover design by Icy Sedgwick and interiors by Gayla Drummond.
  
  In a nutshell, this book is Narnia meets Harry Potter. (The author's opinion)