Review: The Blood Guard by Carter Roy

When thirteen-year-old Ronan Truelove's seemingly ordinary mom snatches him from school, then sets off on a high speed car chase, Ronan is shocked. His quiet, nerdy dad has been kidnapped? And the kidnappers are after him, too? His mom, he quickly learns, is anything but ordinary. In fact, she's a member of an ancient order of knights, the Blood Guard, a sword-wielding secret society sworn to protect the Pure—thirty-six noble souls whose safety is crucial if the world as we know it is to survive. Now all those after-school activities—gymnastics, judo, survival training—she made him take, make sense. For suddenly Ronan is swept up in a sometimes funny, sometimes scary, but always thrilling adventure—dashing from one danger to the next, using his wits to escape the Bend Sinister, a posse of evil doers with strange powers. Falling in with two unlikely companions, Greta, a scrappy, strong-willed girl he's never much liked and Jack, a devil-may-care teenage pickpocket, Ronan is left with only his wits and his mom's last words of advice: Trust no one. That's a lot for an ordinary kid to deal with. But then again, maybe Ronan's not ordinary at all. 

My Thoughts:
I absolutely love these kinds of adventure books!  From Percy Jackson to Jack Templar these snarky, awkward teenage boys have stolen a piece of my heart.  Now Ronan Truelove is joining the club!  Ronan is sent on a wild journey starting when his mom drops him off at the bus station with cryptic instructions to not trust anyone unless they tell him it's "twelve till midnight".  What?!  I can't imagine thinking you have this sweet, mild mannered mom then all of a sudden you witness her sword wielding, ninja skills.   Once he finally meets up with Jack & Greta things get really out of hand.  Being chased by crazy, gun toting hit men bent on capturing him is a lot for a kid to deal with.  Thank goodness Ronan's mom & Greta's dad prepared them with some training even if the kids didn't really know the reason for it.  But the ending is what will really surprise you!  I can't wait to read the next book & find out how The Blood Guard plans on stopping the Bend Sinister. These books have just a touch of magic that really keeps the excitement going.    

Recommended for everyone 12 & up.  Great humor.  Mild violence.  Tons of adventure.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.