Today’s Bookanista recommendation is
The Eighth Guardian by Meredith McCardle (May 6th, 2014)
From Goodreads – Amanda Obermann. Code name Iris. It’s Testing Day. The day that comes without warning, the day when all juniors and seniors at The Peel Academy undergo a series of intense physical and psychological tests to see if they’re ready to graduate and become government operatives. Amanda and her boyfriend Abe are top students, and they’ve just endured thirty-six hours of testing. But they’re juniors and don’t expect to graduate. That’ll happen next year, when they plan to join the CIA—together. But when the graduates are announced, the results are shocking. Amanda has been chosen—the first junior in decades. And she receives the opportunity of a lifetime: to join a secret government organization called the Annum Guard and travel through time to change the course of history. But in order to become the Eighth Guardian in this exclusive group, Amanda must say good-bye to everything—her name, her family, and even Abe—forever. Who is really behind the Annum Guard? And can she trust them with her life?
I had the privilege of beta reading The Eighth Guardian for Meredith last year and have since reread the paperback (which I’m giving away today — see below!). Guys, this book is so cool. It’s time travel done right, full of twists and betrayal and fascinating historical reference; the stakes are unbelievably high.
Amanda (code name Iris) is exactly the kind of protagonist I love. She’s sassy and smart and doesn’t put up with crap from anyone. She’s so courageous, and she refuses to bow to those in positions of power, no matter the sacrifices she has to make to do what she believes in. I loved traveling through the decades with her. Oh, and Amanda has a really cute boyfriend, too. This romance lover’s a fan. 😉
The Eighth Guardian is a smart, smart book. It’s super fast-paced. The writing is top-notch. It’s a novel that makes you think. It makes you work for answers, and the payoffs are huge. Every chapter is a surprise, and almost no one’s who they originally appear to be. I love how Meredith plays with the past, bending important historical events to work with her plot. And I love how relentlessly she challenges Iris, who quickly learns that there are no easy solutions, especially when it comes to altering history.
I’m so, so happy that The Eighth Guardian is the first book in a series, and I can’t wait to follow Iris on more adventures through the past!
Want to win a signed paperback copy of The Eighth Guardian before its release? Well, lucky you, because I’m giving one away today!
To be automatically entered in the giveaway, leave a comment below telling me which historical event you’d travel to if you had a fabulous Annum Guard time travel watch…
(Giveaway is open internationally and will close Sunday, April 27th. I’ll announce the winner on Monday, April 28th. Good luck!)
Don’t forget to check out what my fellow Bookanistas are up to:
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Ooh, time travel 🙂
Hmm, there are so many great events in history that I wouldn’t know what to choose first – and I’d be afraid of changing events (I – and my own WIP – go by the theory that events are always linked, so nothing can *truly* change). Currently, I recently watched the Diana film, and I think I would like to go back to Princess Diana’s death simply to understand the events that led up to the crash – after all, I was only 2 years old when she died.
Okay, I was in high school when Princess Diana died, so I’m kind of hating your young self right now. 😉 But that’s a great choice! I’m intrigued by the royal family, too, especially that terrible car accident. Thanks, Alexandrina!
I am so looking forward to this one! I love time travel and this just sounds awesome.
Historical event I’d travel to? There are too many events I’d love to witness, but off the top of my head, I think being somewhere in the streets in London or New York’s Time Square on VE Day, when war with Nazi Germany was declared officially over, would be fantastic. I can’t even begin to imagine the relief and the joy they felt.
Thanks for doing this giveaway, Katy! 🙂
Great choice, Jaime! I can’t even imagine the elation that must’ve been in the air on that particular day. Best of luck with the giveaway! 🙂
I’m so excited to read this! The premise sounds so fun. If I could travel to any historical event, maybe I’d choose the day that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. That must have been a really cool and inspiring thing to witness. 🙂
Definitely, Ghenet — awesome choice! I think you’ll really enjoy Meredith’s book. Amanda’s such a fabulous protagonist, and the time travel aspect is awesome. Thanks for entering!
Thanks for the giveaway, lady! I would say I’d time travel back to the eighties and risk running into my teen self, but I’ll go back further: to the twenties. I LOVE that era!
Ooh, me too! Awesome fashion. 🙂
This one sounds so good! If I could travel back to any historical event, I would probably pick sometime during the period Jane Austen was publishing so I could get in on the early hype 😉 Plus I’m so so curious what really happened with Tom LeFroy…
Love this idea, Crystal! Best of luck with the giveaway. 🙂
I’d go to Victorian England. I like how they dress in that time period. 😀
Twitter: @bookbrews
Oh, I do too! So formal, but the dresses were gorgeous. Great idea. 🙂
I’d travel to Katherine of Aragon’s coronation, the descriptions I’ve read of it make it sound like quite a sight to behold!
Love your choice, Jasmine! Best of luck with the giveaway!
Bouuuh, I can’t believe I missed my chance for this giveaway (bad edits who stole me away from the beautiful world that is the internet ;-)) Can’t wait to get my hands on this book…
I think I’d like to go back and see so many periods: like Louis XIV, to see Versailles under his reign, I’d like to hang out with Victor Hugo later on, and see Ancient Rome…
Can’t choose one :-))