Review: A truly grand finale
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 19, 2013
Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions below are entirely my own.And here we are, on the last page. Well, the first of the last pages. "Guardian Angel" follows "The Quest" and is the final book in Adrian Howell's PSIONIC Pentalogy. I highly recommend reading the other four books before this one - not only are they entirely worth reading, but you may be lost on several points in this book if you don't. The author will put some effort into catching people up, but it's really more of a refresher for those who space out their reading. This review may contain spoilers for the previous books, so if you'd rather skip it (or my ridiculously long reviewing style!) head on down to the last full paragraph, my "bottom line". It'll be safe there, honest!"Guardian Angel" starts out a little while after "The Quest", likely in the interest of moving plot along - the author has learned, over the course of the books, what to keep and what to cut, and it shows. Compared to the lagging pacing of "The Tower", "Guardian Angel" shows remarkable improvement. I personally stayed up all night to finish it, because I couldn't bear to wait to learn what happened next - and I haven't done that since the last Harry Potter book! The author has mastered mixing an intense, engrossing plot with tight pacing and edge-of-your-seat excitement, creating an unforgettable finale.Prior books have had ups and downs in the pace, as respite followed battle creating a marked rhythm in the stories. However, in "Guardian Angel" even the light respites are tense and emotionally-packed, as it feels from the start that everything is on the line, and the feeling just keeps growing.As for our favorite characters, they must make their exits, whether gracefully or gruesomely (or both!) I will not say. However, I can reassure readers that the author has ensured that each character makes an end that is worthy of them, their journey, and the story as a whole. It was hard to close the book and say goodbye - and that says more about this series than any review I could write.The language and wording continue to shine through as meritorious distinctions that will follow "Mr. Howell" throughout his career. His ability to craft complex ideas and emotions with succinct wording has been praised in my four prior reviews, and I'll say it again here. His style may well be the highest point of a book full of high points.As to the editing and layout of the book, I received a .pdf for review, so I can't speak to layout of the Kindle Edition in practice, but it certainly looked good in theory. In "Guardian Angel" I noticed no particular errors, though of course I am no editor. The author is continually proof-reading though, and constantly refining his work - an admirable quality and one that entirely benefits the consumer.So, so long Adrian, Alia, Cindy, Terry, Ed Regis, James, Mark, the Historian, and all those who played their parts fantastically along the journey. It's been a blast.The bottom line is that "Guardian Angel" is a mighty, worthy finale to the PSIONIC Pentalogy. It was tough knowing that the reading was at an end, but an enjoyable experience all the same. That said, Adrian and co. have grown up fast - this book's audience may well need to be beyond the first teenage years. Darkness, violence, and even death abound, and not everyone gets their happy ending. It'll be a tough read for the youngest crowd. That said, it's not much darker than book four, so if you enjoyed that, and the prior books you'll enjoy this one. If you're no fan of the genre though, this isn't exactly going to change your mind.As always, if anything needs clarifying, please feel free to use the comment box below, or contact me at SeanOnAmazon@gmail.com