Rexei Longshanks has garbed herself in the guise of a lad,
hiding among the various guilds. She's a mage in a land
where mages are sucked dry of their powers to feed their
Patron Deity, Mekha. She's working undercover in the
temple
of Mekha as a member of the Server's Guild when the
unthinkable happens... the god completely disappears,
leaving
the land of Mekhana without a Patron Deity. Unfortunately,
a
worse option looms ahead for the people of Mekhana unless
Rexei can convince the others of a new source of power.
But
will Rexei be able to get over her distrust of men in
order
to work with Alonnen, the Guardian of the Vortex?
Jean Johnson is an absolute master at world building! The
culture and politics of Mekhana and its dealings with
other
lands is absolutely fascinating. I love seeing how a
Patron
Deity is formed in this fantasy/steampunk world as Jean
Johnson pays attention to each intricate detail needed in
creating a new religion for Mekhana.
I also love that Jean Johnson doesn't hesitate to make her
characters strong but flawed, as Rexei is a woman who has
learned to maneuver and succeed in a world hostile to
everything that she is. Rexei is a great heroine and
Alonnen complements her quite well. The romance is well
done
in THE GUILD as Jean Johnson makes readers believe in the
relationship that develops between Rexei and Alonnen.
THE GUILD is the third book in the Guardians of
Destiny series and can be read as a standalone. Fans
of
Jean Johnson will appreciate revisiting with characters
from
the Sons of Destiny series. It's fascinating to see all of
the pieces coming together. I've not read the two previous
books in the Guardians of Destiny series but I
cannot
wait to do so after reading THE GUILD!
Cult’s awareness, it shall rise:
Hidden people, gather now;
Fight the demons, fight your doubt.
Gearman’s strength shall then endow,
When Guild’s defender casts them out.
For centuries, the mages of Mekhana have done their best
to
hide themselves and their powers from the rapacious needs
of
their so-called Patron Deity, Mekha. Greatest of their
secrets is the Vortex, a Fountain hidden in the heart of
the
Hydraulics Guild. But even after the dissolution of Mekha
and the freeing of his people, Alonnen isn’t ready to
reveal
his guardianship to outsiders. Particularly when the
remnants of Mekha’s priesthood start looking for a new
monstrosity to worship.
Rexei has hidden more than her powers for most of her
life;
she has also hidden her gender, wary of the hungers of the
old priesthood. Only in the safety of the Hydraulics
Guild’s
innermost secrets can she be herself. While the rest of
her
people struggle to reinvent themselves and find a deity
they
can trust, Rexei struggles to trust just one man, the
Guardian of the Vortex. Events are moving fast, though;
the
priesthood is desperate for any new source of power, even
a
demonic one that requires certain sacrifices to access.