Liviania‘s review of Guardian’s Keep (Unbound, Book 2) by Lori Devoti
Contemporary Paranormal Romance released by Silhouette Nocturne (Harlequin) 1 Jan 08

Kol Hildr, a garm (wolf shapeshifter of sorts), guards the portal located in the bar Guardian’s Keep. Based on the events of Unbound, the Garm Council feels Kol may no longer be the best guardian. The fact witch Kelly still snoops suspiciously around the bar, during a time of concentrated attacks, deepens their misgivings since Kol seems to do nothing about her presence. Kol will not act because he does not want to believe Kelly is his enemy due to his attraction.

Unsurprisingly, Kelly is not his enemy. She’s being manipulated by Aesa, a woman who claims her son went missing due to the activities at Guardian’s Keep. The rebel garm, who want portals of their own, quickly realize she is Kol’s weak spot. They easily manipulate the lovers because Kelly continues to be as dumb as she was in Unbound and Kol tends to descend to her level. It’s sad this is a romance focused on those two because there is some very interesting politics going on.

The most powerful garm, Fenrir, was long ago betrayed and trapped on Lyngvi. The gods feared his power and wanted him out of the way. It may just be that the Garm Council had a hand in his betrayal. After all, Fenrir does not seem like a menace. When he encounters Kelly and Kol, he helps them to survive. Fenrir and Aesa’s story caught my attention far more than that of Kol and Kelly. I wish the book could have given them more screentime. Aesa’s a strong female who sometimes makes bad choices due to her desperation. Many mysteries were left unsolved about the garm’s history and the future of Fenrir and his son, which left me disappointed. Those aspects of the book drew me in the most and I wish they were given more resolution. (That is not to say I did not love the bit of resolution they were given, which was quite sweet and showed Aesa’s determination.)

Another excellent aspect of the story is the relationship between the misfits that frequent the Guardian’s Keep portal and Kol. They show how good Kol is at his job and why he was assigned to such an important location. It’s an important part of his life for Devoti to illuminate since he tends to make rash decisions under the influence of Kelly. Actually, I did expect there to be more revelations based on the Garm Council’s efforts to keep Kol in their employ. The emphasis on his importance to them seemed like it would should go somewhere.

While Guardian’s Keep disappointed me, I am still going to read Wild Hunt. I hope the lack of Kelly will allow it to equal or surpass Unbound. I also hope to learn more about the hellhound society, even though the politics of the garm were interesting. Devoti has established an interesting world and writes entertaining action scenes. For now I will choose to consider Guardian’s Keep a fluke.

Grade: C

Kol Hildr had spent the last century battling hellhounds and warlocks who sought to usurp his portal’s magic. A mighty shape-shifter with the ability to change into wolf form, Kol made accessing the powerful gateway nearly impossible–unless you were a witch of Kelly Shane’s talents. She had a score to settle and would do anything to close the portal that led to her unearthly prison. Though an alliance with her compromised Kol’s purpose, something about the little witch overwhelmed his fierce, battle-worn soul. But when he learned Kelly’s life might be in jeopardy, could Kol put aside the one thing he thought he valued most–the portal–to journey to the other side and rescue her?
read an excerpt