First off, there was enough swearing in this book that I was ready to chuck it into the return bin at my library. But I soldered on. Second, I kept getting Mark and his cousin confused. I was constantly having to stop and remember who was who. Same with iris and mark's mum. The only really good thing about it was the fact that it got me slightly interested into Maui myths and legends. Over all, not a book I will be picking up again. Ever. Unusually, I liked the premise and the characters so much that I deliberately forgave the clunky first-novel style before deciding how to rate it. Karen Healey's writing is getting better book by book, so feel justified in doing that. :-) Anyway, spooky and respectfully-treated Maori mythology meets diverse cast of teen characters, including an asexual boy (!!!!), with a tension-filled plot and satisfying conclusion. Succeeded as a first novel in that it made me want to read everything she wrote next.
What do You think about Guardian Of The Dead (2010)?
As a lover of New Zealand and all it's wonderful folklore and myth, this book was a fun read.
—queenT
Really good, slow at first but it gets super good once she starts to figure out everything.
—Kring
It's a good book. I was reading it with a friend and we went crazy half the time.
—annie
