The Adventurers Guild

by Zack Loran Clark, Nick Eliopulos Narrated by Johnny Heller

Overview

Few ever asked to join the Adventurers Guild. . . . Their members often died young.

In one of the last cities standing after the world fell to monsters, best friends Zed Kagari and Brock Dunderfel have high hopes for the future. Zed desperately wishes to join the ranks of the Mages Guild, where his status as Freestone's only half elf might finally be an asset. Brock, the roguishly handsome son of merchants, is confident he'll be welcomed into the ranks of the Merchants Guild.

But just as it seems the boys' dreams have come true, their lives take a startling turn . . . and they find themselves members of the perilous Adventurers Guild.

Led by the fearsome Alabasel Frond, the guild acts as the last line of defense against the Dangers-hungry, unnatural beasts from otherworldly planes. And when the boys uncover a conspiracy that threatens all of Freestone, Zed, Brock, and their new allies-Liza, a fierce noble, and Jett, a brave dwarf-must prove their worth once and for all.

This start of a thrilling new series is sure to be a hit with readers who like their fantasies clever and action-packed, with tons of humor and heart.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection

*"This tale is a page-turner that has the perfect mix of suspense, Princess Bride humor, and engaging characters, one that's definitely earned the sequel to come. A dazzling adventure sure to become a classic, if not a movie."—Kirkus, starred review

"The Adventurers Guild stands out within the fantasy genre, displaying a wonderfully diverse cast of characters... Simply great fun to read... A rough-and-tumble adventure story with monsters, intrigue and a heart of gold."—Shelf Awareness

"If you're someone who likes a thrilling adventure with a surprise on every page, this book is for you."—Time for Kids

"Clark and Eliopulos... establish a strong core of interesting male and female characters and thrust them into action, while setting up relationships, conflicts, and mysteries to explore in later volumes. With its quick pace and likable heroes, this fantasy adventure will readily find a following."—Booklist

"Fast-paced adventure. The diverse group of friends... works solidly as a team, but secrets and divided loyalties create enough tension to keep things interesting...A cliffhanger of an ending sets up a larger conflict for the next volume, and readers will be eager to join the guild for their further adventures."—BCCB

"A solidly constructed world, endearing characters, and lots of fantasy-based adventure with fast-paced action."—School Library Journal

"Hazards, betrayals, and quick-witted banter abound in this gripping series opener... Clark and Eliopulos weave a thread of post-apocalyptic adventure into a classic questing saga, replete with spells, enchanted weaponry, and mythological beings—elves, kobolds, gelatinous goo, and more."—Publishers Weekly

JUNE 2018 - AudioFile

Employing a subtle use of pitch and accent, narrator Johnny Heller differentiates the voices of a wide array of characters in the opening volume of a planned fantasy-adventure series. When a group of young people are conscripted into the dreaded Adventurers Guild, they learn just how dangerous it is to protect Freestone, one of the last cities standing against the monsters outside their walls. To make matters worse, there’s a traitor in their midst. Heller gives timid, half-elfin Zed; his brash friend, Brock; imperious, noble Liza; the dwarf, Jett, with his Scottish brogue, and others distinct personalities. He manages the conflicts, fears, and battles with deft pacing and a tone befitting such a seasoned narrator. Listeners will be eager for the next installment. S.G. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2017-07-17
Zed, a half-human, half-elven boy with brown skin, and white, human Brock are best friends eager for Guildculling. Zed, the son of a single-parent human mother, has always wanted to join the Mages Guild. Brock's choice of the Merchants Guild is rooted in family tradition. Covert, orchestrated circumstances lead the boys into the lowly Adventurer's Guild, however, which only the guildless or unwanted enter. Zed and Brock soon learn that the Adventurer's Guild is a rowdy mix of humans, elves, dwarves—and an archivist who can cast a mean spell or two when he has to—run by a ragged old woman by the name of Alabasel Frond. On their very first day, they and the other new apprentices are challenged to survive their first night beyond Freestone's wall. A surprise attack by the Dangers that lurk without almost leads to the loss of life—and to a royal command that Frond eliminate the threat of the Dangers. On the mission to find the crystal that would protect the city, Zed and Brock's friendship becomes closer than ever even as their kinship within the Adventurer's Guild is deepened. Told in alternating chapters from the third-person perspectives of the two main characters, this tale is a page-turner that has the perfect mix of suspense, Princess Bride humor, and engaging characters, one that's definitely earned the sequel to come. A dazzling adventure sure to become a classic, if not a movie. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172216350
Publisher:	Oasis Audio
Publication date:	05/15/2018
Series:	The Adventurers Guild Trilogy , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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