Review by TeachinTeens -- Guardian of Deceit
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Review by TeachinTeens -- Guardian of Deceit
[Following is a volunteer review of "Guardian of Deceit" by William H. Coles.]
Guardian of Deceit ranks 4 out of 4 stars
William H. Coles does what many aspiring authors only hope to accomplish: he wrote the next great American novel. Guardian of Deceit parallels lasting titles such as The Great Gatsby or The American, which stand the test of time because they are so deeply relevant to the society in which they are published. Like Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Cole’s main character Darwin is more an observer to the storyline than he is the instigator of the plot. He is a character with deep roots and motivation, bringing normalcy to an otherwise eclectic cast of characters.
Darwin begins the novel on his way to the home of his new guardian: Luther. Any romantic ideas he has of reestablishing a family are lost though when Darwin is told he will have to earn his keep despite the inheritance provided by his parents and Luther’s wealth as a professional football player. He quickly learns that those around him have the polished air of the socially elite but a foundation of insecurity. Being in Luther’s employ as a high school student exposes Darwin to gambling, violence, and adultery; Darwin navigates this new world with the guidance of a few trusted employees and Luther’s dedicated yet neglected girlfriend, Sweeney. Not one to be jaded, Darwin continues on his path to becoming a doctor, refusing to judge the flaws of those around him and maintaining his grounded persona. However, he quickly discovers that nothing is immune to the possibility of corruption regardless of how ideal it may appear on the surface.
Any reader of contemporary fiction will find a character to whom they relate. Mystery lovers will find a spark of intrigue in the sudden disappearance of the housekeeper’s daughter. Romance lovers will bind to Helen or Darwin as they explore the first hints of romance in their youths. The unique flaws of each character make them entirely human, making the characters the best element of the novel. Though Darwin remains relatively stable as a character throughout the novel, growing mostly in his independence and acceptance to leave what he cannot change, the characters around him evolve in a variety of ways. Sweeney develops from an insecure girl accepting neglect in her relationship to a dedicated woman, willing to help but not at her own expense. On the other hand, Helen originally sought her worth in the attention and social standing of the men around her only to find ruin until the birth of her daughter, determining her social standing to be far less valuable than the life she could provide for her.
Each character was clearly well-planned by Coles to provide an extra dimension to the main characters; however, tracking the long list of characters became a challenge. In order to create depth in each character’s private life, a list of acquaintances had to be introduced. However, some of these acquaintances were easily mixed up with one another. For example, Helen’s relationship with Leonard was easily mixed up with her relationship with Andrew.
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Guardian of Deceit
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Guardian of Deceit ranks 4 out of 4 stars
William H. Coles does what many aspiring authors only hope to accomplish: he wrote the next great American novel. Guardian of Deceit parallels lasting titles such as The Great Gatsby or The American, which stand the test of time because they are so deeply relevant to the society in which they are published. Like Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Cole’s main character Darwin is more an observer to the storyline than he is the instigator of the plot. He is a character with deep roots and motivation, bringing normalcy to an otherwise eclectic cast of characters.
Darwin begins the novel on his way to the home of his new guardian: Luther. Any romantic ideas he has of reestablishing a family are lost though when Darwin is told he will have to earn his keep despite the inheritance provided by his parents and Luther’s wealth as a professional football player. He quickly learns that those around him have the polished air of the socially elite but a foundation of insecurity. Being in Luther’s employ as a high school student exposes Darwin to gambling, violence, and adultery; Darwin navigates this new world with the guidance of a few trusted employees and Luther’s dedicated yet neglected girlfriend, Sweeney. Not one to be jaded, Darwin continues on his path to becoming a doctor, refusing to judge the flaws of those around him and maintaining his grounded persona. However, he quickly discovers that nothing is immune to the possibility of corruption regardless of how ideal it may appear on the surface.
Any reader of contemporary fiction will find a character to whom they relate. Mystery lovers will find a spark of intrigue in the sudden disappearance of the housekeeper’s daughter. Romance lovers will bind to Helen or Darwin as they explore the first hints of romance in their youths. The unique flaws of each character make them entirely human, making the characters the best element of the novel. Though Darwin remains relatively stable as a character throughout the novel, growing mostly in his independence and acceptance to leave what he cannot change, the characters around him evolve in a variety of ways. Sweeney develops from an insecure girl accepting neglect in her relationship to a dedicated woman, willing to help but not at her own expense. On the other hand, Helen originally sought her worth in the attention and social standing of the men around her only to find ruin until the birth of her daughter, determining her social standing to be far less valuable than the life she could provide for her.
Each character was clearly well-planned by Coles to provide an extra dimension to the main characters; however, tracking the long list of characters became a challenge. In order to create depth in each character’s private life, a list of acquaintances had to be introduced. However, some of these acquaintances were easily mixed up with one another. For example, Helen’s relationship with Leonard was easily mixed up with her relationship with Andrew.
******
Guardian of Deceit
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Latest Review: Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren
