Review: One of the best books I've read this year!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 26, 2010
Dr. Charles Merritt's last words to his daughter, Dr. Jaid Merritt, were to trust no one. He has opened a gate, using her translations of the Myan codex found at his latest archaeological dig, and now demons have been freed from Xibalba. Worse yet, her knowledge has put her own life in jeopardy as Ruin, the Gatekeeper of Chi'Ch'ul, has come hunting for her. However, Ruin isn't the only one looking for her. Will Ruin help Jaid or kill her as Jaid is determined to rescue her father, no matter what the consequences may be.Wow! Joely Sue Burkhart starts this story off at a rapid pace that doesn't relent until the very last page. The action is intense as our characters are constantly on the edge of danger and utter destruction. Jaid doesn't know who to trust and her own unease at going on another dig sets a tone that permeates the entire story. There are some lighter moments, however, such as the references to Jaid being "the Un-Indiana Jones" but THE BLOODGATE GUARDIAN is not a tame tale at all!Instead, THE BLOODGATE GUARDIAN rushes headlong into the mythology behind the Mayans. Blood sacrifices, curses, and even death are crucial elements of the world building. Make no mistake about it- these demons are nasty! I couldn't turn the pages on my Kindle fast enough as I wanted to see how it would all end!Even better, the character development is handled as smoothly as the world building. We see the emotional turmoil Jaid has over her relationship with her father without getting caught up in whining. Rather, Joely Sue Burkhart shows true remorse and regret in her characters, particularly in Jaid and Ruin. The paths they have taken have been very different and yet inside, their feelings are all too similar.THE BLOODGATE GUARDIAN is without a doubt one of the best books I have read this year so far. The combination of intense action, phenomenal world building, and multidimensional characters kept me up far too late as I couldn't put it down until I'd finished it. Highly recommended!COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES