Jorgarn Elmwood’s only goal was to avoid the life of a priest. He would have settled for becoming a sailor, a soldier or possibly even a thief. So how does he manage to woo and lose a Princess, destroy a would-be empire, raise a new country, avert a civil war and wed a Queen? It’s all his stepmother’s fault.
Size: 1387 KB (257,791 words)
Genre: Action/Adventure
Sex Contents: No Sex
Tags: Romantic, Heterosexual, Extra Sensory Perception, Violent
Review by Price26 [other reviews by Price26]
Reviewed:
I love Jay Cantrell’s stuff. I’ve read most of them several times. ‘Always on Guard’ is different to all the others he’s written; it’s set in a fantasy time and place. I can’t even imagine the time and effort Jay must have put in to invent so many names and places and keep them consistent all the way through this epic adventure.
Jorgarn Elmwood leaves his place of birth and enlists as a soldier in Emertland. Unknown to him, his stepmother has set things up and had him trained so well that he instantly attracts notice. A meteoric rise makes him the next Knight Protector for the Princess Denae, and gives him an important role at Court as well as her heart. Unfortunately, her best friend is jealous of Jorgarn, and promotes a split between them, even though they become betrothed. War comes and he is away for three years, he returns to find her pregnant. Disillusioned, altered and twisted beyond recognition by his horrific experiences, he makes a new life in conquered and abandoned territory, until his conscience pulls him back to defend Emertland against renewed treachery.
It’s a real roller-coaster of a story, with great character development and detailed descriptions that make the reader believe that this almost-medieval world is real. At 54 chapters it’s very long, and the number of named characters and places is huge. It’s not an easy read, it requires concentration, but in my humble opinion, it’s very well worth the effort. Please, give it a try.
Review by manddscott [other reviews by manddscott]
Reviewed:
The second son of a Lord escapes being forced into the priesthood by being sent to serve in a neighboring kingdom's armed forces. In the process, he proves he is more than worthy of the role.
For plot, I give this an A+ (9). Intrigue, treachery, love, betrayal, war all comes together to give a story which at times will leave the reader shaking their head. An "army" of only a few hundred, although not large in what we look at today, does correspond with historical armies seen in history.
For technical score, I give this a 10. I think I spotted, on average, 1-2 small errors per chapter.
For personal appeal, it merits an A+ (9). The author does an excellent job of making it all make sense, even though the setting is medieval at best. He makes the characters likeable, and even the ones with major personal flaws are given some possibility of redemption. Not all take it, but that is the nature of man. Enjoy the read. I know I did!
Review by Woody [other reviews by Woody]
Reviewed:
This is another of the books where you wonder why the author is letting us read it for free vs in a book we have to buy. It chronicles the life of Jorgarn Elmwood, a second son who unable to inherit the family estate would likely be sent off to become a priest. A fate he didn't want so he left the country to join the Royal Guard in the neighbouring country of Emertland. This is the start of a saga that covers Jorgarn's career as a guardsman, as a knight, as a royal guardian and advisor, as a fierce leader of warriors, and as a husband and father. Character development for the main characters is fantastic, we come to really understand and care about them. The plot is well thought out and well described. There is love, betrayal, tragedy and redemption. Overall a book you'll have difficulty putting down. Not enough sex to make it at all stroke but a very strong storyline. If you like fiction about the era of knights, swords and royalty, grab it now and enjoy it.
