Review by Sarah Dsouza -- Guardian of Deceit

Sarah Dsouza · Post by **Sarah Dsouza** » 09 Aug 2020, 12:01

[Following is a volunteer review of "Guardian of Deceit" by William H. Coles.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Guardian of Deceit is a book that tears through the glamorous veil of the rich and famous, exposing its blemishes and flashing light on the fragility of human relationships. The story centers around Darwin, a young lad who lost his parents to a car accident and his aunt's custody to her physical injury. He is left with no option but to seek guardianship from his cousin, Luther Pinelli, the quarterback of a popular football team, who uses a twisted approach to extract labor out of Darwin in exchange for meager portions of the inheritance he was already entitled to.

The tale begins with Darwin journeying on a plane to his new hometown, which to me is a crucial moment, symbolizing a new chapter for him. He meets Dr. Malverne, a co-passenger who takes a keen interest in him and plays a pivotal role in his future decisions. I'd like to imagine that if Dr. Malverne never entered his life, he wouldn't be where he was in terms of his career and marital choice.

Albeit a compelling write-up, I must address some shortcomings that detract from the novel. It was quite disheartening to see most female characters in the book painted in a "princess in jeopardy" fashion. All of them were weak-kneed and settled for traces of validation from jerks. Darwin, given his history, grew up too soon and was portrayed to be wise beyond his age. Still, no one is infallible; it certainly would've made the story more believable if he showed some flaws, and in some cases, more emotion. As the author introduced more characters, a lot of questions arose that weren't answered till the end, so I'm hoping for a sequel that fills the blanks and ties up the story together rather neatly. I also found a few typographical errors that should be resolved.

That being said, William H. Coles did justice to the story with regards to the writing style; the richness in dialogue and apt choice of words enlivened the book and possessed all the qualities to keep the reader engaged. What's noteworthy is that Coles encapsulates a major timeline of the protagonist in 308 pages whilst maintaining a linear sequence at an adequate pace. There was an interesting turn of events at every corner which had me conjuring up theories on how the novel would proceed and what the outcome would be. One of the things I appreciated was the realistic touch of the narrative, traversing the dynamics of relationships without conforming to romantic notions. Yet it comes full circle and somehow draws attention to the possibility of second chances, therefore, hope.

The book is true to its title as it explores a deceitful world where almost everything, these days, is smoke and mirrors. All things considered, I have chosen to rate Guardian of Deceit 3 out of 4 stars, as I feel the advantages trump the disadvantages. It may not be everyone's cup of tea and I would strictly recommend it only to adult readers who are into darker themes and are comfortable reading instances of sexual and physical violence. Read it with a pinch of salt and a half-glass-full attitude in order to make the best of it.

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Guardian of Deceit
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NDeMeer · Post by **NDeMeer** » 18 Aug 2020, 08:40

What a shame about the cliche female characters and somewhat unrealistic main character; this novel sounds like an otherwise intriguing read. Thanks for this insightful review. I think I'll give this book a pass for now.

Honest-reviewer · Post by **Honest-reviewer** » 20 Aug 2020, 12:18

I enjoyed reading this book! I liked your point of view regarding this. Great review!

Sarah Dsouza · Post by **Sarah Dsouza** » 26 Aug 2020, 03:45

@NDeMeer You're welcome. Indeed, it was quite a buzzkill. I hope the author takes that into consideration while writing his next novel

Sarah Dsouza · Post by **Sarah Dsouza** » 26 Aug 2020, 03:46

@Honest-reviewer I'm glad you enjoyed the book. Thanks for stopping by

Justine Ocsebio · Post by **Justine Ocsebio** » 26 Aug 2020, 05:00

I haven’t read it but based from your review alone, the characters seem poorly written. To me, characterization largely determines whether I’ll enjoy a book or not. The premise has so much potential though. Thanks for your insightful review!