Guardian of the Dead - Rambling Readers

345 pages

Published July 19, 2010 by Little, Brown and Co..

ISBN:: 978-0-316-04430-1
OCLC Number:: 373474181

(1 review)

"You're Ellie Spencer." I opened my mouth, just as he added, "And your eyes are opening."

Seventeen-year-old Ellie Spencer is just like any other teenager at her boarding school. She hangs out with her best friend, Kevin; she obsesses over Mark, a cute and mysterious bad boy; and her biggest worry is her paper deadline.

But then everything changes. The news headlines are all abuzz about a local string of killings that share the same morbid trademark: the victims were discovered with their eyes missing. Then a beautiful yet eerie woman enters Ellie's circle of friends and develops an unhealthy fascination with Kevin, and a crazed old man grabs Ellie in a public square and shoves a tattered Bible into her hands, exclaiming, "You need it. It will save your soul." Soon, Ellie finds herself plunged into a haunting world of vengeful fairies in an epic battle for immortality.

Debut …

"You're Ellie Spencer." I opened my mouth, just as he added, "And your eyes are opening."

Seventeen-year-old Ellie Spencer is just like any other teenager at her boarding school. She hangs out with her best friend, Kevin; she obsesses over Mark, a cute and mysterious bad boy; and her biggest worry is her paper deadline.

But then everything changes. The news headlines are all abuzz about a local string of killings that share the same morbid trademark: the victims were discovered with their eyes missing. Then a beautiful yet eerie woman enters Ellie's circle of friends and develops an unhealthy fascination with Kevin, and a crazed old man grabs Ellie in a public square and shoves a tattered Bible into her hands, exclaiming, "You need it. It will save your soul." Soon, Ellie finds herself plunged into a haunting world of vengeful fairies in an epic battle for immortality.

Debut author Karen Healey introduces a savvy and spirited heroine with a fresh, strong voice. Full of deliciously creepy details, this incredible adventure is a deftly crafted story of Māori mythology, romance, and betrayal.

3 editions

crabbygirl reviewed Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

Review of 'Guardian of the Dead' on 'Goodreads'

1 star

this book started well enough - magic in the midst of some troubling murders in new zealand, all with a back drop of a shakespearian play - but grew tiresome quickly. it seemed as if the author could only describe the maori mythological creatures as beautiful, and that's all. oh, and they were naked all the time - just naked, no further description there either.

on reflection, i wonder if this was trying to capitalize on the sucess of twilight by giving the settling and ghouls a maori twist. whatever. didn't work.