This is the first book in the Blood Guard series. Ronan Truelove discovers that his mother is a member of the Blood Guard on this Earth to protect "Pures," who unknowingly maintain balance in the world between good and evil. A group called the "Bend Sinister" is out to upset that balance in order to start a new world order. Ronan accidentally gets caught up in the battle that ultimately leads back to his own family. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Glass Gauntlet. ( )

The Blood Guard
Grade Level: 4th- 8th

This book is a great read for readers who love action and a little bit of mystery.

The main character is Ronan who most of his life his mother had him do all these extra curricular activities that he thought was just to keep him busy. Until one day his mother picked him up from that his whole life changed. He found out that his mother was apart of a secret society called The Blood Guard, and that all the activities that his mother had him doing was to prepare him for what is to come.

This book is fill with adventure and suspense it is a great read for Elementary and Middle School. Read and enjoy was you explore the world of a Blood Guard ( )

Evelyn Ronan Truelove is a kid with a weird name and even weirder hobbies. He prefers to be called Ronan and has fencing, karate and gymnastics for after school activities. When his mom picks him up from school one day and they're tailed by a mysterious van, that's when he learns the truth. His mother is a member of an elite organization called the Blood Guard. They're an order of knights who protect a group of thirty-six people called the Pure and an evil group called the Bend Sinister is after them and they have already kidnapped his father. From there starts Ronan's incredible journey with his friend Greta and a new accomplice named Jack. Before I even read book, I committed a grave sin and judged this book by its cover. I expected a magical boy narrative where a tween finds out they're the chosen one like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson but I was pleasantly surprised. It's full of adventure and the action is fast-paced so the story moves pretty quickly. People are not what they seem and there's a pretty good twist at the end. I would recommend for readers who are fans of the Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and the Hunger Games series. There's plenty of adventure, excitement and story to keep them entertained. ( )

Do you know the feeling you get when you start a new book, in a new series or by an author you have not read before, and you suddenly realize that you have stumbled onto a jewel of a book? And then you discover that it is not a stand alone, but the beginning of a series? A funny, exciting, delightful, action-packed series with characters you adore? That is the effect that this book had on me.

The writing is humorous, light, exciting, and thoughtful. The characters are admirable, fascinating and complex. Immediately, I wanted to know more about them, and cared about what was going to happen to them, It is very hard to put this down without reading the entire book.

Evelyn Ronan Truelove is the hero, approachable but still very admirable. Jack Dawkins is the perfectly written lovable scapegrace of a big brother figure. The Blood Guard itself is mysterious, powerful, ancient and a force for good. The enemies are fearsome and resourceful.

Ronan begins the story with no idea that the Blood Guard even exists, or that his mother is much more than she seems. Together with Ronan, we learn more about the Blood Guard and the people who work for and against the secret organization.

This is a must read for everyone, and especially great for reluctant readers and for older children and YA book clubs.

**eARC netgalley** ( )