| Title | : | The Adventurers Guild (The Adventurers Guild, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | First published October 3, 2017 |
In one of the last cities standing after the world fell to monsters, best friends Zed Kagari and Brock Dunderfel have high hopes for the future. Zed desperately wishes to join the ranks of the Mages Guild, where his status as Freestone's only half elf might finally be an asset. Brock, the roguishly handsome son of merchants, is confident he'll be welcomed into the ranks of the Merchants Guild.
But just as it seems the boys' dreams have come true, their lives take a startling turn . . . and they find themselves members of the perilous Adventurers Guild.
Led by the fearsome Alabasel Frond, the guild acts as the last line of defense against the Dangers-hungry, unnatural beasts from otherworldly planes. And when the boys uncover a conspiracy that threatens all of Freestone, Zed, Brock, and their new allies-Liza, a fierce noble, and Jett, a brave dwarf-must prove their worth once and for all.
This start of a thrilling new series is sure to be a hit with readers who like their fantasies clever and action-packed, with tons of humor and heart.
The Adventurers Guild (The Adventurers Guild, #1) Reviews
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I have to say, I really enjoyed this book more than I anticipated! I'm not a huge middle grade reader NOR am I a high fantasy reader, but The Adventurers Guilde struck a nice balance that complimented my reading styles perfectly. I believe if you are a fan of older-middle grade (I find it particularly reminiscent of The Magisterium Series ) then it would be a great fit for you.
The world building and magic system in this novel were really well done. The history of Freestone was clear and complex, yet easily understandable. The magic system is a little more vague, but I was pleased with how it grew throughout the story with so many more branches of magic than were originally introduced. The ending especially leaves so much open regarding how Freestone is to function in the future, and it was a great note to end on.
I really loved Brock and Zed. They are two adorable best friends who are super supportive and protective of each other. With Zed being half-elf in a city where elves are looked down upon, his storyline was especially touching and I expect it will expand even more. I enjoyed both of their alternating chapters equally and I'm excited to see where their characters go in the future! I am also pleased that there are a handful of character of color, one being a protagonist, so I'm here for diverse books in the hands of middle grade readers.
I do wish the other characters in the book were developed on more, but I have high hopes for book two. We have a badass girl warrior, a disabled dwarf who's ready to kick ass, and a stuck up entitled boy who I believe has some redemption coming.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a cute, fast, fantasy read about friendship and adventures and I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel.
This book was sent to me for free by Disney Hyperion as a part of a paid YouTube campaign. I had no obligation to review this book as a part of this campaign and all opinions are my own. -
I absolutely loved this book! It reminded me so much of Percy Jackson, but with more magic and less mythology. If you want an adorable, funny, middle grade adventure novel DEFINITELY pick this up. Even if you're not into middle grade; it's just so great!
*Thanks to Disney Hyperion for providing me with this book, though I'm under no obligation to post a review! All thoughts and opinions are my own! :)* -
Give a child a great adventure in a fantasy world and you will give them new worlds to explore, moments of wild imaginings and the love of books! THE ADVENTURERS GUILD by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos is the story of two friends with high hopes for their futures, even though their backgrounds couldn’t be more different. Zed wants nothing more than to be chosen to be in the Mage Guild, to raise himself up from the stigma of being the only half-elf in his village. Brock wants to be a merchant, like his wealthy family. Each boy will tell their shared story in their own voices as they find themselves in a guild that spells almost certain doom for those who are chosen. The Adventurers Guild is the last line of defense against danger and as if that isn’t enough, Zed and Brock uncover a dark conspiracy that threatens their land’s very existence.
Follow Zed and Brock as they train for a job that no child should have, learn to form alliances with those around them and to understand that all isn’t what it seems to be. Can these children prove their worth and show their town the truth of what goes on behind the scenes? For those like Zed, this is a time to stand up when others would hold them down!
Meet elves, dwarves, the rich and the entitled and watch as two best friends find their inner strengths, as well as the strength of honor, no matter what. Filled with the magic of a fantasy world, characters that come alive with youthful zeal, and the quirky humor of tweens being tweens.
I was captured by the fantasy myself, and found it refreshing to see that two boys from different backgrounds could place more value in their bond than who they were or where they came from. Top notch reading for middle-grade readers, or those of us who just like well-written tales!
I received an ARC edition from Disney Hyperion in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Series: The Adventurers Guild - Book 1
Publisher: Disney Hyperion (October 3, 2017)
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Genre: Children's Fantasy | Magic
Print Length: 320 pages
Available from:
Amazon |
Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More:
http://tometender.blogspot.com
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"Few ever asked the join the Adventures guild.. Their members often died young"
I'm not a huge middle-grade reader, but I do love my fantasy/adventure novels.When I read the synopsis of this book and learned that the authors were D&D fans and gamers, I knew I had to give it a shot. I got so much more out of this than I ever thought I would from a middle-grade novel, I literally cannot wait for the next book in the series, but as there is no release date set, I'm in agony because I need more of this world and the characters.
Many years ago a Mage did the unthinkable and opened a portal to another world, letting in an array of deadly creatures that reeked havoc and killed many. Years later the people are confined to their Kingdoms protected by wards, not venturing out beyond their great walls in fear of what still inhabits their world.
Zed the half-elf and Brock the merchant's son are best friends, their lives have been spent doing whatever they can to gain admission to the guild of their liking. When the Guildculling comes around, both boys find themselves in the least favorable of the guilds- Adventures guild, the only guild who steps outside the wall, were members die young going on missions and coming face to face with the monsters outside.
If it wasn't enough to be thrown into the most dangerous guild of all, the friends being to uncover a conspiracy which could mean the end of their land's existence and many more deaths.
The writing was amazing, and the novel held a fast-paced captivating plot with a good hit of humor. I read this book in one sitting, finished it and literally wanted to flip back to the start and have the adventure all over again. Although this is a middle-grade novel, I think many people from all different ages groups will be able to enjoy it. The writing was detailed, but not overly so, because if you don't already know, I can't stand over the top descriptive writing. The world building was done in such a captivating 'WHY ISN'T THIS A REAL PLACE' kind of way! I know there's more to come from this series, but I honestly love Freestone so much already and cannot wait to discover more about this world.
It is read in 2 perspectives- of course, our main characters, Zed and Brock. Were as some multiple perspectives can be a little confusing, this was done perfectly, you never had to stop and be like 'who is this again?' because the two characters are so different- from how they speak, how they act, how they think- nothing about either of them, could ever confuse the reader on who's perspective you were actually in.
The characters are all so lovable! Don't get me wrong we obviously have our 'bad guys' but even they were written in such a way I ultimately loved their characters, even if it was in a love-hate kind of way. Also all the different monsters/creatures such as the Naga, Kobold, and Penanggalam, to our elves and dwarfs. And then there is the MAGIC! I love a good magic-based story, because who doesn't want to believe magic is real, want to be able to do magic or make magical things happen.
The guilds! Now honestly this reminds me of any game where you have to pick what kind of character you are, mainly between a mage, a rogue, a knight; you get the pictures. BUT I KIND OF LOVED THIS BOOK MORE FOR THAT ASPECT! I am a gamer and ALWAYS pick a mage, because of my love of magic and the fact I can't actually do it in real life. I dont game as much as I read, but I love sitting down and enjoying a good fantasy RPG, at times becoming obsessed in the world *cough* Skyrim*cough*Runescape*cough* doing everything from defeating creatures, to scavenging for supplies and going on a quest. THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP THIS BOOK! Its like games I've played before and loved, but has its own twists and turn along the way.
This book blew me away. I never thought a middle-grade novel would make me feel so strongly about a book. I mean yes I enjoyed the Percy Jackson series, but this is on a whole different level for me. Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos are phenomenal writers! The characters are lovable, even the ones you love the hate, the worldbuilding was amazing, the plot was intriguing and fast-paced.
Honestly, there isn't a single thing a can fault with this book. Its everything I love and so much more. For that reason, plus the many more I have mentioned in this review, this book will definitely be going in my ' favorite pile' and I will be throwing this book, gently, at all my reader friends.
I need something about the next book, literally anything before I burst or implode.
Recommended for : Fantasy, Middle-Grade, Adventure. -
I was in a mood for a fantasy middle grade book today and I picked this one up.
It was a solid and enjoyable read but it wasn't engaging enough to make me read the next part immediately.
The characters were okay maybe not fleshed enough and it was even a little bit too creepy because there are no unicorns, phoenixes, fairies and other incredible and pretty magical beings. They are more...spindly here.
So, characters were okay and so was the plot but I think I will try another middle grade series right now because I want to be exhilarated by a story!
This is a really bad review that says nothing much but all the books I am reading and have read are starting to overlap in my head so I will try to leave at least a short comment about the overall enjoyment of the stories I will read.
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Harry Potter meets Die Bestimmung
Bund der Schattenläufer – Fuchsfeuer ist mitnichten ein Abklatsch einer erfolgreichen Reihe – Nein! Es ist eine ganz neue Welt, die jedoch das Herz eines jeden Potter-Fans höher schlagen lassen wird…
Was wie Die Bestimmung beginnt, entwickelt sich bald zu einem magischen Abenteuer der Extraklasse…
Alle 12jährigen Kinder von Freestone werden am Tag der Zeremonie einer der Gilden zugewiesen. Meist ist es die Gilde, in der sie aufgewachsen sind, wie z.B. die Gilde der Händler, Diener, Zauberer, Heiler. Aber es gibt auch Gilden, die so gefährlich sind, dass dort Niemand hineingeboren wird – wie die Gilde der Schattenläufer. Daher müssen sie sich ihre Lehrlinge auf andere Weise beschaffen…
Die Geschichte wird aus zwei Perspektiven erzählt. Da wäre einmal die von Zed, dem Halbelfen und zum Anderen die seines besten Freundes Brock, dem Händlersohn.
Um nochmal den Vergleich zu Harry Potter zu bemühen, bilden Zed, Brock und ihre Mitsteiterin Liza ein ähnlich starkes Trio wie Harry, Ron und Hermine:
Zed ist der „Harry“ im Team. Er wuchs in ärmlichen Verhältnissen auf und ist doch etwas ganz Besonderes. Nicht nur, weil er Halbelf ist, sondern auch, weil Kräfte in ihm schlummern, die der schmächtige, schüchterne Junge sich selbst nie im Leben zutrauen würde.
Liza ist wie Hermine ein unglaublich selbstbewusste und intelligente kleine Person. Sie wuchs als Adelige auf und überzeugt durch überaus „schlagkräftige“ Argumente ;-)
Brock muss man – wie Ron – einfach mögen. Schalgfertig und humorvoll weiß er sich aus (fast jeder) Situation herauszureden. Und obwohl er viel zu viel Geheimnisse mit sich herum trägt, stehen seine Freunde für ihn an erster Stelle! (Ok, die hübsche Liza vielleicht an allererste Stelle, auch wenn er das nie zugeben würde…)
Aber auch die Nebenfiguren sind unglaublich lebendig erschaffen.
Frond z.B. – die Gildenmeisterin der Schattenläufer – ist Dumbledore und Snape in einer Person vereint. Furchteinflößend und doch mit dem Herz am rechten Fleck. Aus ihr wurde ich noch nicht ganz schlau…
„Ein schöner Gedanke“, sagte Frond und zog mehrere Gegenstände aus dem Gürtel:flache, metallische Kreise, die mit Klingen besetzt waren. Wurfsterne. “ Und wie die meisten schönen Dinge leider falsch.“
S. 72
Können die Freunde ihre Stadt und sich selbst vor den Schrecknissen jenseits der Mauer retten? Und sind dieses ihr einziges Problem? lest selbst…
Trotz all der Schrecken und Schrecknisse (wie die Monster außerhalb der Mauer heißen) bleibt der Humor nicht auf der Strecke. Besonders die Dialoge mit Brock sind einfach köstlich! Kein Wunder – ist dessen größte Waffe und wahrscheinlich auch seine größte Schwachstelle doch sein loses Mundwerk…
Die beiden Autoren ist es mit ihrem Debut gelungen, eine ganz neue magische Welt zu erschaffen. Ein Hauch von Dystopie mit ganz viel Magie. Ich ziehe meinen Hut vor so viel Einfallsreichtum der nie unlogisch oder unverständlich erscheint.
Bund der Schattenläufer – Fuchsfeuer ist der Auftakt einer – hoffentlich langen – Reihe. Auch wenn der Schluss dieses Buches natürlich auf eine Fortsetzung hindeutet, lässt er den Leser nicht unbefriedigt zurück. Diese Geschichte ist zu Ende erzählt, so dass man nun zufrieden aber gespannt auf weitere Teile warten kann (aber nicht lang!)
Ich bin absoluter Fan von Zed, Liza und Brock und möchte mit ihnen noch viele weitere Abenteuer erleben! Ich glaube Bund der Schattenläufer hat das Zeug, ein würdiger Nachfolger der Reihe rund um den Zauberlehrling mit der gezackten Narbe zu werden!
Ich vergebe begeisterte 5 von 5 Lieblingslesesessel! -
The Adventurers Guild was a fantastic read! I haven't read anything this good in a long time! An exciting, suspenseful, intriguing, imaginative story, with diverse, colorful, and interesting characters, and a creative, intelligent, and witty dialogue.
I am so tired of series and cliff-hangers, but at 80% through, I was hoping, begging, for there to be a sequel. I can't get enough of these characters, both kids and adults. (I'm happy to report this wasn't a cliff-hanger, not really -- it ended more in a teaser for the next book, which followed an exiting climax). Perfect!
The Adventurers Guild reads more like a Young Adult book than a Middle Grade. The kids are 13-years-old, but I imagined them to be more like 16 throughout. I would say the target audience should be 12-18 rather than 8-12. Moreover, I highly recommend this exciting, interesting, intriguing book for adults, as well! At just over 18, a-hemm, well, a tad more than a little over 18, I definitely consider myself as being part of the "target audience" for this wonderful adventure!
See this review and more on my book blog:
TJ's Time Travel Tips
https://tjtimetraveltips.wordpress.co...
I received a copy of this book from Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. -
2.5-3☆ I’m not a big middle-grade reader and wasn’t expecting much from this book club pick, but WOAH it was really enjoyable! The characters are a lot of fun and the sass keeps things light-hearted and entertaining. I was pleasantly surprised with this and plan to continue the trilogy!
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סיפורם של זד, חצי אלף, ששייך למעמד נמוך, ושל ברוק, נער ששייך למעמד ביניים.. שניהם מוצאים אותם בגילדת ההרפתקנים. גילדה שחבריה הם היחידים שמותר להם לצאת מגבולות העיר. מחוץ לעיר אורבות הסכנות, יצורי קסם אפל.
כמו הרבה סדרות של ספרי ילדים בשנים האחרונות, גם הספר הזה הוא פשוט אקספוזיציה. הספר מניח כמה כללי יסוד מעניינים לגבי העולם בו הוא
מתרחש ומכיר לנו את הדמויות.
הוא מספיק מעניין כדי שאני אקרא את ההמשך, אם הוא יצא בעברית. -
Très bon roman de fantasy jeunesse, au schéma traditionnel et néanmoins captivant.
La mécanique en place est efficace : j'ai tout lu d'une traite et j'ai été prise dans le feu de l'action et des révélations.
Pour une première approche, c'est vraiment convaincant ! -
Great start to this new adventure series that is perfect for young readers that like lots of action in their books while following a mixed group of kids. We get a world that is separated by guilds with four being more revered then the rest. Our core group is all set for the day they get chosen by their guilds when things go sideways at the event earning them all a spot in the Adventurer's Guild which is the most mysterious. What follows will keep the reader hooked to the story even while is challenges their reading skills at the same. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
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This fantasy midgrade was a tour de force; a character-driven, well-developed, laugh out loud funny, spooky, exciting read.
The Adventurers Guild is the most dangerous guild in Freestone, one of the last remaining cities. Those who join usually die young, fighting off the monsters that live beyond the wall. So when Zed Kagari, a young sorcerer, is drafted, he's not exactly happy about the situation. His best friend volunteers to join as well, following Zed into the most dangerous adventure of their lifetime. While at the guild they meet Liza, a whip-smart, well-trained noble, and Jett, a brave and kind dwarf. Together the band of recruits must work together to save the city from the dangers lurking outside the walls and within.
Wow guys, this book blew me away. I devoured it in one sitting. It combined so many different elements- magic, dwarves, elves, monsters, fantasy, horror, and the apocalypse! You see, these are not things that I would ever think to put together. In fact, before I read this book, if someone were to have suggested this combination I probably would have looked at them funny. But Clark and Eliopulos did an absolutely fantastic job here. The components melded together seamlessly, seeming natural and flowing. They fit the storyline perfectly, mixing into a new cross-genre piece of art. Every time a new element was thrown into the mix, I was impressed by how well it fit.
This was also another one of those books in my favorite genre, that I have talked about a few times now. The "group of kids fighting evil while being friends" genre. It's my fave you guys. The camaraderie and bravery between these kids was palpable, and I could really feel the friendships and group dynamics at play. Zed and Brock's friendship was great of course, they were best friends from the start, but I also loved the new friendships that formed. The more tentative ones that start like crushes, testing it out, and then realizing that you like each other. This book had so many great new friendships, and they all made my heart so happy.
Also, this was a GREAT spooky book for October. The scenes with the monsters had my heart beating fast because the tension was written so well. Like these two could write some darn good thrillers. It was also so well balanced with the happy scenes. It wasn't a scary book, just a fantasy book with intense scenes. And that's such a hard combination to strike! You can usually only find fantasy books or horror books, no crossover between the two. This was so perfect for an October read.
The worldbuilding! Oh. My. Gosh. The worldbuilding. One of the hardest things to do with worldbuilding is to strike the balance between an information dump and not giving enough details about the world. You want the reader to feel grounded, to know the world that they're in, to understand how it works, but you also don't want to just throw information at them. These guys did it perfectly. I knew so much about the world, but it was put in bit by bit, letting the reader pick it up through conversation and narrative. It was so well done, and as a writer, I appreciated their skill.
This book was compelling, interesting, well-written, and most importantly, fun to read. I enjoyed reading this book so much and I would read it again in a heartbeat. Go get it you guys! Now! Not to be pushy, but this book needs to be read.
Final rating- 5/5 -
It reminds me a little of the Ranger's Apprentice, Hunger Games, and The Lightening Thief. Yet, the characters and monsters are completely new. It is geared to a younger audience (mid 20s here🙋♀️) but I still found myself enjoying it. Much like Harry Potter! Looking forward to starting book 2 very soon.
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As usual for my expectations in this genre, I was pleasantly surprised to find I enjoyed this much more than I expected to. Credit goes to the awesomely creepy Dangers--creepy porcelain-like faces splitting to show the monster beneath is always an ace in the hole. Harry Potter did it. It did it. There is something to be said for humanoid features morphing into something terrifying.
The rest is formulaic in the best way. You have two best friends who are fiercely loyal, a girl who's misunderstood but will not cower, and a boy who is unfailingly kind. Add a sour old mentor who secretly wants the best for the children and some supernatural danger, and you're set. -
While not particularly unique, this was very fun to read. The characters were lovely (hopefully the side characters will be a bit more fleshed out in the later books) and flawed, which I really appreciated.
I think the ending came a bit too fast and the villain was suddenly there, without much build up. But it was still a pretty entertaining story! Definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would. -
A little creepier than I usually like (but that's not a fault of the book, just a warning for younger readers — or those who might want to avoid reading it before bed).
But the story is well-written, with detailed characters, and an engaging plot that kept me guessing.
Not comparing it to the depth LOTR of course, but it sort of felt like an LOTR-esque book for younger readers, or those not ready for the LOTR page count. -
This is a fun, creative first book in a new fantasy series for middle grade readers. I would recommend this one for younger middle grade readers. My almost 11-year-old gave it 3.5 stars. It's a fun read, but the story and characters may not necessarily be too memorable.
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This was well written and the world building was great. Took me awhile to catch on to the names of the guilds and their practicing professions and I kept having to go back to figure out that the Stone Sons were knights when, intuitively, it sounds like a group of masons or something. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives of Brock and Zed and appreciated that they were from different backgrounds but still best friends. The action and adventures were interesting but for some reason I never felt super invested in their trials or battles. Maybe it's because I haven't read many middle grade books and the intended audience is...not me. Nevertheless, it's shelved and ready for my kids to read when they're a little older (maybe 10ish). No romance, only a sliiiight bit of flirting that can easily be overlooked, which is a huge plus for the book.
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The Adventurers Guild is a first-rate middle grade fantasy. Excellent use of classic fantasy (elves, dwarves, swords & sorcery) while incorporating fresh new fantasy elements. Characterization was in-depth and believable with a lovable bunch of tween protagonists. Those who like Rick Riordan's books or Rowling's Harry Potter series will want to check this one out.
Zed Kagari is so relieved when he is selected by the Mages Guild during the Guildculling in his hometown of Freestone. It will mean a better life for him and his mother, a member of the Servants Guild. A few moments later, he is beyond dismayed when the Adventurers Guild uses their right of draft to take him into their fold. The Adventurers Guild is all that stands between the city of Freestone and the dangers of the fallen world full of monsters outside the city walls. It's a hazardous job that definitely can shorten one's lifespan. After Zed is drafted, his best friend Brock Dunderfel volunteers for the Adventurers Guild in a move to keep Zed safe. However, Brock has an ulterior motive for joining as he has accepted a secret mission from the Merchants Guild to infiltrate the Adventurers Guild and bring it down from the inside.
From Zed and Brock's first night as Adventurers, the boys are in constant peril. They must spend the entire night outside the city walls and survive the Dangers that lurk there. Joined by fellow recruits Liza and Jett, the quartet make a terrifying discovery about the state of the city's magical wards. The Adventurers Guild must find a way to save the city before it falls to darkness.
I can't wait to see how these characters grow and develop in further books. A definite must-read if you enjoy middle grade fantasy.
I recieved an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. -
This book left me breathless.
Seriously.
It has been SO long since a middle grade fantasy novel has done that for me.
Breathless.
It was SO good. I can't even words right now. Usually, my fangirling is saved for YA or adult books, but The Adventurers Guild is definitely worth a girly squeal or two.
It's told in the third person, split between Zed and Brock. Both boys are young and hoping to be selected by prestigious guilds during the guildculling ceremony in their city. The selection will determine their rank, job, and title for the rest of their lives.
In a surprising twist of fate, both boys end up in the Adventurers Guild, which is charged with protecting their city from magical monsters that live outside the city walls. While an important guild, it's misunderstood and feared by most people.
There is so much action in the book. The characters roped me in and the suspense kept me turning pages as fast as I could.
It's a little bit like Divergent with the city separated into guilds, each with a different job to perform. It also reminded me of Harry Potter with the magic, a young mage, and a group of tight-knit friends battling magical creatures and solving a mystery the adults can't.
If I had to take a guess as to which new book series is going to be on every kid's wish-list, this is it.
It's well written, exciting, and full of surprises. Kids and their parents are going to love this book. My daughter started reading it after I finished and she's just as hooked as I was.
Content: Perilous situations, and some frightening/suspenseful scenes.
Source: The publisher sent me a copy of this book. -
Audience: Middle Grade
Format: Audiobook/Library Copy
Though the world had ended long before Zed was born, this was still the scariest day of his life.
- first sentence
Zed and Brock are best friends and they live in Freestone, one of the last cities standing after the world fell to monsters. Zed is half-elf and he hopes to be picked for the Mages Guild. Brock, whose father is a merchant, expects to be picked for the Merchants Guild. But life doesn't always go as planned and the boys end up part of the Adventurer's Guild. The Adventurers are the last line of defense against the Dangers (otherworldly monsters) and the only ones who dare venture outside the walls of Freestone. Jett and Liza make up the remaining members of the apprentices who must spend the night outside the walls for their initiation.
This is a great first book in the series and I can't wait to read book two. Zed is a clumsy, funny hero with surprising powers. Brock is strong and thinks he has it all figured out, but ends up in a situation he hates but can't escape from. Liza is a noble who decides she wants to be whatever she decides and volunteers for the Adventurers. Jett is a dwarf and is strong inside and outside.
I loved getting to know the characters and holding my breath when they were in danger. There is intrigue, danger, excitement, and loss in this book along with themes of friendship and what it means to be loyal. I can't wait to read book 2.
I think this is going to be a popular book in school this year. -
This was so good!! I would have adored this as a kid when I didn't have an actual DnD group! And even as an adult in two DnD groups, I loved it still.
This is a great start to what's sure to be one of my favorite J series! This follows Brock, a son of an affluent merchant, and Zed, a half-elf son of a servant, and how they deal with the challenges posed to them. It definitely reads like a novelization of Dungeons and Dragons for kids. It's perfect for kids who are interested in DnD but not ready (or can't find a group) to play.
Overall, recommended for grades 4+ for those who want to add some adventure into their lives! -
I don't read much Middle-Grade fiction, but The Adventurer's Guild was a good one. It's about two best friends that end up being "sorted" into the one Guild neither of them wanted. Zed is a poor kid and half-elf from the wrong side of town. Brock gives up his dream job to stay with his friend. The Adventurers Guild is tasked with protecting one of the last remaining cities after the outside world falls to evil and monsters. For MG, it's got great world-building, lots of action, and a unique cast of characters who are as fun as they are endearing. I highly recommend it. First of a three-part series.
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I didn’t expect to like this one as much as I did but I am very interested in this series and am planning to read the next one! I thought it was well written and the fight scenes were really well done, too. Only rating it 3/5 because I expected more character development and a bit more conflict, and some parts of the plot were a bit shaky for me. Other than that I did find this really enjoyable and fun.
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Why did I take so long to start this book? It read so quickly and it was pretty darn entertaining. I would definitely recommend it for people who are interested in Dungeons & Dragons type fantasy stories. There are kobolds, gelatinous cubes, wizards/sorcerers/warlocks, rogues/spies, guilds, and plenty more monsters. I'm definitely going to have to pick up the second book soon.
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Slow start but amazing finish. Most high fantasies do start out slow because it takes time to build an entire world. I instantly liked both characters but my daughter did not care for Brock in the beginning. We enjoyed the mystery aspect and look forward to rejoining Brock and Zed in their next adventure.
*Strong 4 1/2 stars* -
While I was reading this book, I was also reading Keeper of the Lost Cities, and realized that this is a good book, and that is a great book. The difference was that I wanted to stay with Sophie and her friends, even after I was reading it, and in this book I was fine with leaving.
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This was a 3 or 3.5 star read for me. I don’t usually read a lot of middle-grade fiction right now, I have read some others that I thought were more unique and which I liked better than this one, but overall I had a good time and it was a quick and engaging story to sink my teeth into. I do think that the second half of this book was much more exciting than the first, and I was also pretty impressed by the overarching mysteries and plots that unfolded in the last 10-20% of the book.
Of all the characters, I was surprised by how much Brock stood out to me. I’m not sure if I like him yet, but he’s certainly the most interesting. He’s fiercely loyal and protective over Zed - in fact it almost seems like all his major decisions in this book stems from his desire to protect his friend, up until the very last bit where he rejects leaving the Adventurers Guild - but he’s also very scarily manipulative when he wants to be. Unlike his other friends who have pretty straightforward paths and, I suppose, character development, Brock is the one that’s most caught in between factions and allegiances so it’ll be very interesting to see where he goes with that in later books.
Zed was colourless at first but I did find him increasingly endearing in the second half. Typically an ostracized character would have some spunk in them, but Zed just felt like a very naive and innocent child - no wonder Brock is so protective! He’s only just discovered his propensity for sorcery so I really wonder where that’s going to go. I liked the whole thing he had with Makiva - perhaps she’s Silverglow herself… or something?
I liked that we had some strong female characters in this book, most prominently Liza and Frond but also others like Jayna. I do kinda wish that we see more from their perspectives though! We only swung between Brock and Zed, so I hope that later books we’ll see more from the other characters.
The book also swung quite wildly between a fairly simple life in the guilds (no bullying, no treacherous plots from all sides, no assassinations), to some really crazy scary monsters in the wilderness. I expected most of the Dangers to be something more like wild beasts or the kobolds, but the monsters that appeared in the Shrine to Zed as well as Mother Brenner’s final form in the end was just wow nightmare fuel that I wouldn’t have expected in a book for this age group.
Overall, this was a pretty fun read and I’m glad that I got around to it! -
4 1/2 stars
I love this series. It's a great middle grade read. You have a world that's been overtaken by monsters. Only a few cities have survived. Freestone is one of them. Their wall and The Adventurers Guild keep them safe. As for Freestone itself, it's isolated to the walls of it's city. It's become a city with guilds. Those who belong to a noble guild are almost always assured to continue in that guild when the choosing day rolls around. Those is lower guilds or no guild don't have a lot of options.
This story is about two friends who have developed a friendship despite the differing guilds. Zed is half elf (and that's not a good thing). His mother belongs to the servants guild. She hopes her son will have more. He wants to be in the magic guild (he has a little after all). Brock's family belongs to the merchants guild. He's worked hard to gain a place in it too. Their friendship is genuine. And when the choosing doesn't really go as planned, they are thrown in with two new friends trying to survive in a guild where most people die young.
I love how this story takes someone considered "lower" and someone considered "higher" and has them the best of friends. I love how they team-up with others that they may never have had any contact with to survive an adventure they never would have chosen themselves. But they band together and become strong friends. -
The Adventurers Guild is SO good and I'm pretty excited that it's going to be a series. I went into this book looking for a book for my 7 year old to start after he finishes reading Captain Underpants and while it is definitely too advanced for him right now... it has found a fan in this mama.
This book has magic, monsters, and adventure. There are heroes and villains and characters that you're not quite sure about. This book doesn't leave you on a cliffhanger, but you definitely want to see what happens next for this unlikely group. I'm buying a copy of this book for our bookshelves and I'll be first in line for the next one when it comes out.
I received an advance reader copy of this book that I have chosen to review.
