YA Fantasy Review: Ward Against Destruction by Melanie Card
Ward Against Destruction by Melanie Card (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #4)
Egalley thanks to Entangled Teen
Synopsis from Goodreads
Ward de’Ath used to the think that nothing could be more terrible than death. Now he realizes there are worse things. Like his never-ending hunger for blood. Even if he conquers the unbearable cravings that drive him headlong toward destruction, he’s a wanted man with a bleak future.
Assassin Celia Carlyle learns she is the only one who can protect Ward from disaster. She loves him–she wants to help him, but no one can tell her how to save him from himself. And the confusing voices in her head scream to let him go.
But Ward's dark trials keep mounting. A malevolent evil is rising in the land, threatening to unleash horror upon the world. The only way Ward can defeat it, and have the chance to marry Celia, is by accepting his fate and becoming the one thing he swore he would never become...
Amazon kindle US/UK
8/10
* * *
This is perhaps the darkest book in The Chronicles of A Reluctant Necromancer, and it's a very fast read.Ward and Celia take off exactly where they left off in the previous book - on the run from Ward's grandfather. There are a few threads and players but what it boils down to is: the crew passes through a village which got besieged by an evil necromancer - Innocroesti, who is trying to open the gates to hell.
Of course, despite Celia's need to run, Ward is determined to help. The Seer pushes him to help the villagers, who are getting sacrificed left, right and centre. Celia wants them to keep running, and The Quaestri tracker is tired of all the games and agrees with Celia.
There is lots of fighting, healing and magicking. You will also be glad to know that Celia's and Ward's torturous love for each other finally finds its way to express itself. The balance of power is totally messed up, and Ward is the one who has to fight against the tide of darkness which threatens to swallow him whole, while Celia loses some of her unshakable determination.
Melanie Card's style is very straightforward and will work well with a fantasy novice. She gives you what you need to know when you need to know and doesn't infodump anything on an unsuspecting reader. Both Celia and Ward are dynamic, charismatic characters, and while their feelings and thoughts might lack complexity, they are compelling and you admire their strength and sense of camaraderie.
I enjoyed it. Recommended.
* * *
Это скорее всего самая мрачная книга в серии Хроники Невольного Некроманта, и самая быстрая по сюжетной линии.
Уорд Против Разрушения начинается там, где закончилась книга предыдущая - в бегах от деда Уорда, который знает, что его внук умер и превратился в игрушку Иннокроести, и его нееобходимо уничтожить. В процессе своего побега, Силия, Уорд и тракер Кайестри попадают в деревушку, которая находится во власти могущественного Иннокроести, который пытается открыть ворота в Ад посредством множества жертвоприношений.
Уорд намерен его остановить. Силия пытается приказать ему оставить всё это дело ещё какому-нибудь герою. Тракер согласен с Силией. Однако Пророк приказывает нашей троице деревне помочь во что бы то ни стало.
В этот раз, не Силия, а Уорд вынужден бороться с мрачной стороной своей натуры, долго и тяжело, так как он воскрес из мёртвых в качестве монстра. Силия наоборот посредством того, что она магически связана с Уордом приобретает его частичную нерешительность.
Силия и Уорд герои очень динамичные и харизматичные, и автор не сбрасывает на читателя кучу ненужной информации, поэтому я бы порекомендовала всю серию новичкам жанра фэнтези. Она читается очень легко и задорно.
