Warded

This was a new author for me . I never read anything from this author before but for the most part I really liked this book. I thought the whole story was amazing. I honestly didn’t want this book to end. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with on the next book they write. I usually judge a book from the cover because for me it shows if it’s going to be interesting or not and I loved the book

This was a really unique take on the scifi genre, the plot was what I was hoping for. I was engaged from each character and their survival. It had elements of what I was hoping for in this type of book and am glad I was able to read this. I enjoyed how JB McDonald wrote this book and I really think that they have a great writing future with this book. I look forward to more from the author and where they will go next.

"Over a lifetime, Anaye had grown used to the way Dalak sounded. It didn’t frighten her anymore, as it did small children and even some adults. “From what I’ve heard, they were chased out of their village by a demon.” She shook her head, grimacing at the thought. There hadn’t been a demon here in three"

Warded

[Blurb goes here]

Once again, I feel like I'm swimming against the current. After reading the reviews on this book, I feel like the one I've got from NetGalley, is a very different one. Well...some people might think of Vantablack as grayish, others, as the blackest of blacks. There are opinions, as there are stars in the sky...never mind that...here goes my take on "Warded".

This is a fast paced and truly original adventure.

In and unknown world, with two moons (simple as it might be, I loved that, actually,) there are tribes living in fear, for there are demons lurking in the dark. Territorial demons who enjoy the occasional human snack. Specially, when driven by some unknown urge, one of them decides that your village is now their territory, and your people, its food.

One such a settlement is attacked, the survivors fleeing to a neighboring village, where they are welcomed as refugees. In that particular village, they have a female warder. The scary looking creature seems to be half-human, half-demon. The warder protects its people, since no demon would dare come close to the hybrid's land. Also, the warder needs a custodian. Dalak, the creature, is hard to control, and not always "nice" to the inhabitants of said village. Might even had killed a few...reason enough for the rest of them to be wary of her.

As things are, there seems to be survivors in the attacked village, and it is decided (unilaterally, mind you) by the stubborn creature, that the intruding demon has to die. So Dalak, Anaye (her custodian) and Jahal (one of the refugees), go out into the jungle, to look for survivors in the now lost settlement. What could usually take three or four days, turns out to be a two day journey, specially since her companions have to keep Dalak's pace, at night, without the much needed light of a torch. The terrain is treacherous, demons, big and small, might be hiding in the darkness.

Dalak is kind of like a petulant child. Doing whatever she wants, whenever she wants to do it, mostly ignoring her custodian. Anaye is a wonderfully written female lead. Jahal, a young man, on the other hand, is kind of a coward, since he's not a warrior, he's a doctor's apprentice. Jahal's character is a bit tiresome and repetitive, but nothing to be wary about.

Now on to "the problem". The book urgently needs a really good editor before its release. There are really confusing paragraphs and pages in the story, you'll be able to detect them from the start. The main battle between Dalak and the intruding demon is one such an example. Might be obvious to the writer, she wrote it, after all. But to me, your garden variety reader, not so much.

So, esteemed JB McDonalds, if you're reading this half-assed take on Warded, please, think about a good editing session. Just saying. I really would like to read a truly polished version of this great adventure.

Thank you for the free copy!