The Guardian of Threshold
Rating:
4.5 Stars
Version:
eBook
Author:
A.A Volts
GoodReads
Summary:
Love survives everything… even
death. Unfortunately, so does hate.
When Mark wants to see his dead mother
again… he gets his chance. But, like everything else in life… it comes with a
hefty price.
While normal sixteen-year-old boys are out chasing girls, Mark is
floating outside his own body being chased by a nefarious demon.
Death itself
can't keep him from trying to see his dead mother again, but when he disturbs
Phasma--the Guardian of Threshold, he may have gone too far.
Forced into
Threshold--the mystical world of the dead--to rescue his clumsy best friend,
Mark will not only have to defeat Phasma and his army of Night Dwellers but his
own demons if he's going to save his friend, find his mother and survive the night.
How
far would you go to see a dead relative again?
• "A fantastic and
unforgettable journey into the astral realm"
The Guardian of Threshold is
about 88,000 words or about 346 pages long.
Review:
How
I started reading The Guardian of Threshold is actually a funny story. I
decided to grab it via Pixel of Ink, figuring I would read it sometime in
the distant future. The plot just didn’t sound enticing enough to place it
ahead of my other TBR books. So, "what's this funny story" you ask?
Well, it’s not funny in the “haha” sense; it's just out of the ordinary. While
my Kindle was downloading recent purchases, I clicked what read “A Monster
Calls”. However, I guess the screen hadn’t refreshed, so it was actually The
Guardian of Threshold. This is where seeing the cover of books comes in handy …
Anyways,
The Guardian of Threshold surpassed ALL of my expectations! As I said earlier,
I placed it pretty low on my TBR list. However, I read late into the early
morning on several occasions, absolutely hooked on this book. Essentially, I
went to class with what we call "a book hangover” for a few days.
The
story opens in the middle of a flight test with Mark -the main character -
piloting a small aircraft. Soon after, something goes wrong and he has to make
an emergency landing on an interstate. Feeling drained from his near death
experience, Mark goes home to take a nap. Imagine his shock when he sees his
physical body below him. What Mark experiences is called "astral
projection" or as the book puts it, "freeing of the soul from the
physical body." It happens supposedly every night, but few remember it and
it takes practice to consciously control. The setting soon shifts to a dark
cave, where other creatures are bound to the ceilings and chained. Despite their
warnings to flee, Mark attempts to set them free, while in the process
upsetting Phasma.
Phasma
is the guardian of Threshold; an astral being that feeds off of hate and
anger; and a creature who shares an extremely strong bond to Mark.
One thing that is unique about Phasma is everyone perceives him
differently. He appears to those who can see him as a mixture of their deepest
fears. In the story Phasma targets Mark because he is able to feed off of
his suppressed anger (growing up without a mother, hating the world, etc…) You
would think most people would avoid Phasma like the plague. However, when Mark
discovers that astral projection gives him a chance of seeing his mother again,
he vows nothing will stop him.
I
haven’t said too much about threshold, so I’ll take some time to explain what
exactly it is. Threshold is the astral (spiritual) world, where souls go after
death. It is described in the book as not a copy of the physical realm, but
rather the physical realm a copy of it. Furthermore, any and all “things”
developed in the spiritual world, were first created in the astral realm (i.e
computers, cars, Mozart's symphonies, etc.). Threshold is also broken up
into three sections of suspended light, night, and twilight with inhabitants in
each. How you were as a person affects were you reside in the astral realm.
It's very similar to the view of evil people go to hell, while those who are
good go to heaven.
However,
I'm a little confused because if you're able to travel where ever you please,
that would mean your location isn't fixed.
Mark
has two friends, Jonas and Carla (twins), both of which become entangled with
Phasma; Threshold; and all things astral. Mark has a serious crush on Carla,
but fears telling her because of Jonas. Needless to say, the feeling is mutual.
Between the twins, Carla is my favorite. She is both more intelligent and
determined, than Jonas – who comes off as extremely annoying.
In
short, Mark and his friends meet creatures of all sorts, speak with spirits,
and experience a whole new world. The Guardian of Threshold was an unexpected,
but enjoyable read. I highly recommend it!
Be on the lookout for a free copy on Amazon via Pixel of Ink or other referencing sites.
