Book Review: The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess by Leanna Renee Hieber

The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess
Strangely Beautiful #3
Author: Leanna Renee Hieber
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Released: April 22nd 2011
Review Source: Author
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) The Goddess: In the beginning, there were lovers: a winged deity of power and light, and a queen of grace and beauty. Phoenix was murdered, his beloved stolen away to the Whisper-world. But their passion inspired the Muses. Through great sacrifice, it could live again.

The Guard:
There are always six, mortal hosts for the divine. Battling spirits through the ages, they defy Darkness, Lord of the Dead. In 1867, a shadow rises. The tide turns against them, and all hope falls on a child of prophecy, an eerie, snow-white girl yet to be born. But her path must be cleared. A Great War is coming, and song, wind and stars whisper that the eighteen-year-old Beatrice Smith must give everything to prepare.

I must begin this review with you must read the other two books The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker & The Dark Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker in order to fully understand this one as this is the prequel and the third book to the series. With that being said the beginning was a little slow for my liking but eventually it picks up. Again this is another story with different POV’s and since I haven’t read any of the other books, I found this to be a little irritating and confusing. It was distracting how every one's story was kind of on the same level and no one or no relationship really stood out. That was very bland to me and I think that’s why I wasn’t feeling the story as much as I would have liked to. However, the world that Leanne has created is magnificent. I found it most intriguing, how the Cairo Guard were build and the multiple sacrifices they faced. Especially the tole it takes on them and how they are playing secret roles and can not tell anyone, not even their families. We see all the chaos and misunderstanding between the Guard but we also see it distinguish as they each realize their role in the Guard and in the world.

The story begins in Cairo and with Beatrice. She’s in Cairo with her father, a British archaeologist when she receives “the call”. Beatrice and five other people have been selected to be the next guard. Once she and the other five have settled, Persephone throws in a curve ball that will leave Beatrice and the rest second guessing their purpose not only in life but in the guard as well. Persephone's one goal is to be with her beloved Phoenix. Trapped in Whisper World with Darkness, she must find a way to help her guards without pissing off Darkness, to find the man and woman in her vision that she believes can save the world.

Although to fully understand this book you need to read the first two, it doesn’t take away from the amazing and creative world Leanne has created. I recommend you this book, after the first two of course.