Review – The One and Only Crystal Druid (Guild Codex: Unveiled, Book 1) by Annette Marie (5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Length: 297 pages
Publisher: Dark Owl Fantasy Inc.
Release Date: September 24, 2021
ASIN: B08K2YBGVL
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in The Guild Codex: Unveiled series
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Rating: 5/5 stars
“I’m not your average girl.
My best friend is my switchblade. My favorite hobby is using it on the cruel, the abusive, and anyone who gets on my bad side. I’m a convicted murderer with a chip on my shoulder and a dangerous lack of restraint.
And then there’s Zak.
His rap sheet makes mine look tame. The bounty on his head is worth more money than I’ll ever make, and the deadly fae that shadow his every step wield more power than I’ll ever know.
He’s the Crystal Druid, and his first mistake was setting foot on my turf.
His second was saving my life.
And his final mistake will be failing to realize that however dark, however ruthless, however broken he is…
I’m worse.”
Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Guild Codex: Unveiled series. This series is part of the whole Guild Codex Universe and this series is interwoven with the Guild Codex: Warped series but takes place after the Guild Codex: Demonized and Guild Codex: Spellbound series. I have stopped reading the Guild Codex: Warped series because they are not as well written but may pick that series up again given events that happen in this book. The second book in The Guild Codex: Unveiled series is going to be titled “The Long-Forgotten Winter King” and is supposed to release in Jan 2022. I borrowed a copy of this book through Kindle Unlimited to read.
Thoughts: I’ve been waiting for this series (and this book) pretty much forever and it did not disappoint. I loved it so much…and the ending OMG…so fantastic and I cannot wait for the next book!!! Okay I am getting ahead of myself here…
This book follows Saber, a witch who has gotten on the wrong side of the law too many times and is on probation with her coven. She is also a vet tech and volunteers/lives at an animal rescue place (which I love). Then animals start dying and a mysterious dark druid shows up and oh my, the fun begins.
I loved all the fae incorporated into this story; fae have been in and out of the series but here they are explored in much more depth. We finally learn a lot more about Zak, his past, and his powers. I love Saber as well, she’s had a rough past and is definitely vicious but she offsets this with how much she cares about the animals and people around her. Then there is Saber’s familiar who is hilarious and a bit dangerous in his own right. The chemistry between Zak and Saber is absolutely off the charts amazing…I loved it.
As normal Marie does an amazing job with action scenes and characterization. This book is impossible to put down and practically reads itself, it’s so engaging. The ending, oh my gosh, I usually hate cliffhanger endings…but it worked great for this book and I am so excited to read the next book. The unveiling at the end here was amazing and I think my jaw actually dropped open when I read it.
I have been finding the Guild Codex: Warped series to be fairly weak; the writing just isn’t as good and I don’t love the characters in that series. Kit Morris does make an appearance towards the end of this book. Apparently he and Zak had words in the last Guild Codex:Warped book “Rogue Ghosts & Other Miscreants”. Knowing that Zak showed up in that latest Warped book is almost enough to make me go and pick it up (even though I had vowed to stop that series since I don’t enjoy it).
My Summary (5/5): Overall I have been waiting for this book FOREVER and it exceeded all my expectations. I loved it so, so much. If you enjoy fae, druidic magic, or just urban fantasy in general I would recommend this book. While the book does have more impact if you have read the rest of the Guild Codex series; I do think you could read it fine as a stand alone series. If you are a fan of the Guild Codex Universe this is an absolute must read; it was the series we were all waiting for…and it delivers everything it promised to deliver. I am absolutely dying to read “The Long-Forgotten Winter King” and will drop everything in my life to read that as soon as it releases.
