Monster Hunter Guardian by Larry CorreiaMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jacket Blurb: When Owen Pitt and the rest of the Monster Hunter International crew are called away to mount a month’s-long rescue mission in a monster-infested nightmare dimension, Julie Shackleford—Owen’s wife and descendant of MHI founder Bubba Shackelford—is left behind. Her task: hold down the fort and take care of her new baby son Ray. Julie’s devoted to the little guy, but the slow pace of office work and maternity leave are starting to get to her. But when a routine field call brings her face-to-face with an unspeakable evil calling itself Brother Death, she’ll get more excitement than she ever hoped for.
Julie is the Guardian of a powerful ancient artifact known as the Kamaresh Yar, and Brother Death wants it. In the wrong hands, it could destroy reality as we know it. Julie would die before giving it up.
Then Ray goes missing, taken by Brother Death. The price for his safe return: the Kamaresh Yar. If Julie doesn’t hand over the artifact it means death—or worse—for baby Ray. With no other choice left to her, Julie agrees to Brother Death’s demands. But when you’re dealing with an ancient evil, the devil is in the details.
To reclaim her son, Julie Shackleford will have to fight her way through necromantic death cults, child-stealing monsters, and worse. And she’ll have to do it all before Brother Death can unleash the Kamaresh Yar.
It’s one woman against an army of monsters. But Julie Shackelford is no ordinary woman—she’s one tough mother!
The Monster Hunter series:
Monster Hunter International
Monster Hunter Vendetta
Monster Hunter Alpha
Monster Hunter Legion
Monster Hunter Nemesis
Monster Hunter Siege
Monster Hunter Guardian
This was an interesting departure from previous MHI books in that this is just about Julie. No Owen (he's off hunting in the Arctic with the rest of the gang), no Earl, no Franks. The Orcs do make an appearance, but it's a small one. Julie is on her own, and she's has one mission: get. her. son. back.
I consumed this over a weekend. It was a book I had a hard time putting down. Technically, it should have annoyed me: Mom on the warpath to save her kiddo and who will move heaven and earth to make it happen. But it didn't, or not too much so. Julie got some help along the way, it's an urban fantasy so liberties can be taken (portals anyone?), Management shows up and OMGosh, Mr. Trash Bags was my favorite character to date. That was worth it right there.
And a shout out - this may be the first time I have read an accurate accounting and description of CPR being performed. Spot on! Bravo!
The book is fast paced, the great humor balances out the emotional angst, and the nasties are varied and interesting. Julie's book/story was a delight to read. For myself, this might be my second favorite maybe tied with MHI: Nemesis. It's close. Very close.
Recommended if you've read the first six in the series.
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