Review: Guardian of Secrets (Library Jumpers #2) by Brenda Drake


Author: Brenda Drake
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Publication Date: February 7th, 2017
Source: ebook (bought)
Rate:



Summary:

Saving him could end her world.
Being a Sentinel isn’t all fairytales and secret gardens.
Sure, jumping through books into the world’s most beautiful libraries to protect humans from mystical creatures is awesome. No one knows that better than Gia Kearns, but she could do without the part where people are always trying to kill her. Oh, and the fact that Pop and her had to move away from her friends and life as she knew it.
And if that isn’t enough, her boyfriend, Arik, is acting strangely. Like, maybe she should be calling him “ex,” since he’s so into another girl. But she doesn’t have time to be mad or even jealous, because someone has to save the world from the upcoming apocalypse, and it looks like that’s going to be Gia.
Maybe. If she survives.

Review:
The second instalment of this amazing book series did not disappoint me. In this book, Gia continues her adventures. Being a Sentinel is not easy and being a sentinel in love that is in hiding in a dangerous world that has to hide her relationship is even worse.
Even tough she can jump between libraries and have the most amazing adventures she still had to move away from all she knew. Her friends and family are still in danger, in reality, everyone is in danger. Besides, saving the world is kind of in her job description. Suddenly her amazing sentinel boyfriend starts acting up and Gia doesn't know what to do anymore. At the same time, strange things start to happen and she has to go and save the world, even if her heart is painfully broken.
I have to admit that Gia is one of my favourite main characters ever: she is strong and sure of herself but still has flaws and breaks down sometimes. Seeing what happened to her in this book was a little painful (well, more than a little).
The world in this series in very magical but it is still able to "keep it real". Magic is powerful but when abused it is also dangerous, especially when used to hurt people or in the quest for power over everyone. We have very good examples of that within this story and, having in mind it is directed to a YA audience, I believe it is a very important aspect. It is important to show that everything that can make a huge difference - like weapons - also comes with great responsibility.
The "relationship aspect" of the book is also complex, believable and confusing. I never thought that one day I would say that something being confusing was a good thing - actually, a great thing - but it is nonetheless. Sometimes - most times - feelings can be confusing and that is something that is often sugarcoated in literature. I admit that it is not a perfect depiction of what relationships are or may be but it is slightly educational and that is what is important.
The side characters are actually important and not just for show. One of the things I hate the most in books is meaningless side characters. When you have a set of people whose only function is to fill some space then they are meaningless. In this book, such as in the previous one, the side characters are  "agents" in the story, they are interwined in the overall plot.
Overall this is a very good sequel and only makes me want to read the third book in this series even more. If you like fantasy mixed with reality and truth.


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