3 out of 4 stars
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Guardian of Deceit by William H. Coles is a beautiful novel of an orphaned 17 year old boy, Darwin, that loses his parents whom he learned his desire for a future career in medicine. After staying with his ill Aunt post parental death, he is sent to live with his barbaric Uncle who is a wealthy famous athlete that refuses to provide hand-outs. Darwin must quickly learn to carve his own life path while dodging surrounding crimes and scandals that are abundant in the fame driven celebrity world.
Coles successfully created Darwin to be a mature and likeable teenager who is trustworthy and wise beyond his years. Darwin possesses attributes that gives society a run for their money when comparing others of similar ages. He is driven to be successful and wishes to be accepted to medical school and no matter the obstacle, is stubborn to the core at fighting for his beliefs. His Uncle, Luther, often acts as a barrier to Darwin instead of a loving guardian, but this fuels Darwin's character to rise up rather than burn down.
The crime and fame driven storyline offers internal perspectives of societal topics generally not covered in other novels. While he is often surrounded by conflict and others wrenching at his moral standards, he is able to disengage himself from traps and proceed on his journey to find a love similar to his parent's.
While Coles created a meticulous storyline, there were several awkward sentences and conversations that caused the reader to bounce around and re-read paragraphs to grasp at who was speaking. It would have helped at times to briefly provide a name or opening statement as to which character was currently speaking. There were also events and relationships that deemed greater explanation to the reader. Certain plots deserved greater attention instead of a sudden appearance or disappearance. At times, it felt I was robbed of a significant story that could have been expanded and therefore would produce a bolder novel.
Overall, Guardian of Deceit is an alluring 3 out of 4 rating that is determined to hit you square in the jaw until you reach the last page. As you near the end, you cannot help but ponder some of Coles intent on Darwin's familial and surrounding relationships and as the reader, compare Darwin's matchless strength to one's own. This is a must read for those who delight in an unpredictable storyline that will keep you on your toes until the last word is read.
******
Guardian of Deceit
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