Guardian

Into the Light of Day

Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
518 Pages
Reviewed on 06/02/2022
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Born and raised in the rural community of Chatham-Kent in Ontario, Canada, and practically living in the classics section of the children’s library, Lance began writing tales of adventure and heroism in the fourth grade. An old soul, he tries to sing, and dance, and play, a little each day. He has degrees in political science and psychology.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Human nature in its best and worst states are plots on their own when the identity of a super-woman who has devoted 800 years of her life to saving them is made public in Guardian: Into the Light of Day by J.L. Meredith. The heroine in question is the titular character, Guardian, aka Elizabeth, who centuries ago suppressed the full breadth of her power capabilities to remain on Earth, secretly traversing the planet in supersonic flight mode to stop catastrophes and returning home minutes later to attend to the sick as a doctor. Secrecy is not an option anymore when Guardian is captured flying on a phone video that goes viral and being thrust onto the global stage is worse than she ever imagined. Her missions continue but interacting as a normal human is obliterated and dating, which is never easy, to begin with, gets stickier for Guardian. This is compounded by human and non-human baddies wanting to maim/kill/steal Guardian, her power, and the ones she loves.

Guardian/Elizabeth is a perfect superhero incantation, or, 'metahuman', for a new generation of classic fans. Meredith gifts us with a book and not a comic but the handful of sketches between some of the pages are helpful in fleshing out the main cast. Guardian's backstory is left largely to hazy glimpses and some quippish lines of dialogue that one would hope are being left for a prequel in another novel. We owe Meredith a debt of gratitude for not bogging the story down with history, and making the book unbearably slow and double the size. Superhero readers come for the action and Meredith knows and respects this. I'd appreciate it if we could all stop pretending that capes aren't important because, my God, they 100% are. Guardian: Into the Light of Day by J.L. Meredith is very highly recommended.

Sadiyah Bhamjee

An alien encounters earth and falls in love with our world. Choosing to stay against the wishes of its mother, it picks the body of Elizabeth and quietly helps humanity. She becomes a doctor and does various charity projects and whatever else she can to make the world a better place. As an asteroid approaches Earth, Elizabeth must step into the spotlight and save the world. Will the unwanted fame and affairs of the heart prevent her from saving the planet she’s loved for centuries? Guardian: Into the Light of Day is a creatively written superhero novel that is full of contrasting characters. JL Meredith packs this novel with thrilling fight scenes, witty dialogue, and steamy romance. If you love comics or superhero movies, this is right up your alley!

I love Guardian! She’s strong, sassy, and smart. Her symbiote is my favorite part! It is ingenious, adds fun, and helps Elizabeth with her brilliant disguises. Guardian has incredible fight scenes that had me at the edge of my chair. I also blushed with Elizabeth on her dates, which were flirty, fun, and extra steamy! I loved the balance of action and romance. JL Meredith interspersed the romance to give me a place to breathe between the suspenseful fight scenes. I did hold my breath and cross my fingers, hoping Elizabeth’s love life would succeed. I enjoyed the diversity in the characters. They were from all around the world and it was an adventure.

Jamie Michele

Guardian: Into the Light of Day by J.L. Meredith is a superhero novel that revolves around a woman who, at the time the story is being told, goes by the name of Elizabeth. Her actual name is Guardian. Guardian has been flying circles around the earth for eight centuries, saving people from smallish scale whoopsies to potential end-of-humanity meteorite situations. It is during one of the latter that her centuries of anonymity collapses and she becomes well known the world over. Pandemonium ensues on opposite ends of the spectrum. Guardian is cautiously accepted by many, equally distrusted by others, treated with the same furore one would expect as a woman who is perhaps the biggest celebrity of all time and, by a few, she is violently hated and wished dead. This extends to the people who surround her, both friends and lovers. But when the woman who oversees the safety of the world is confronted by an overseer of another kind, Guardian's power is truly put to the test in more ways than one.

“You are a nuclear bomb that needs to be monitored...”
“I think the term you want is bombshell, Colonel...”

Guardian: Into the Light of Day is a well-written, fast-paced story with plenty of action and just the right amount of drama. J.L. Meredith balances these elements effectively and brings Guardian to life in a vivid way. None of these is easy to achieve in an action-romance novel without a superhero making Meredith's ability a testament to their skill as a writer. Superhero stories are never going to have a run of the mill plot and subplots, so readers familiar with the genre will be delighted by interactions in the personal, private and professional space that race over the top. Guardian is a woman with power that transcends the physical strength we know she possesses and is also reflected in her self-confidence and assuredness. To me, where Meredith excels is in the social ramifications raised by the public at large regarding Guardian and her role, which are really interesting. At one point in an interview, Guardian is peppered with questions about who she is accountable to. Sure, we know Guardian because we are in her head but nobody else does. She is effectively an otherworldly being whose power is unknown and unchecked, and is—in no uncertain terms—in control of what happens on Earth. On a human level that is terrifying. It is also a compelling undercurrent that deserves further exploration. The book ends without a cliff-hanger and with the potential for more to come, and I look forward to seeing what Meredith gives us next.

K.C. Finn

Guardian: Into the Light of Day is a work of fiction in the adventure, epic fantasy, and action subgenres. It is suitable for the general adult reading audience and was penned by author J L Meredith. Readers are introduced to Elizabeth, a meta-powered being who discreetly saves lives on Earth for centuries. After preventing a cataclysmic asteroid's impact, her anonymity shatters when a video captures her actions. This revelation triggers chaos as other meta-powered individuals emerge, inciting fear and confusion. Amidst this turmoil, a new, larger threat looms, endangering everything Elizabeth holds dear.

Author J L Meredith has crafted a truly thrilling journey into the superhero genre with so many exciting twists and turns. I loved the unique blend of action, wit, and romance, creating a dynamic narrative that captures everything a classic superhero tale should have but also adds a powerful feminine heroism to the mix. The character development contained a lot of really good contrasts between Elizabeth and the people she encounters, offering unique dialogue exchanges and a variety of interesting attitudes that bounce off one another well. The storyline was also very well-paced and kept me engaged with a lot of action and short, snappy exposition moments that were reminiscent of the plot unfolding techniques found in classic comic books. Meredith's skill in character development and vivid storytelling is evident on every page, and the settings and events really complement Elizabeth, her allies, and foes to give a complete sense of atmosphere and a story world that never breaks its own logic. Overall, Guardian: Into the Light of Day stands out as a creatively written and captivating addition to the superhero genre, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to fantasy readers everywhere.

Alex Ndirangu

She has lived with us since the High Middle Ages, a powerful alien from the stars, dedicated to saving lives in tragedies and catastrophes and making life better for humanity. No one discovered her true identity until she saw a colossal rock heading toward Earth. After encountering the asteroid and saving the ISS from imminent obliteration, Elizabeth plummeted to Earth's surface to find that a teenager had recorded her descent on their phone. After news about a woman pushing the ISS through space and later crashing in Red Oak, Iowa, spread like wildfire, outrage and confusion raged across the world, and stock markets tumbled, with speculation of a potential alien attack. But that was nothing compared to the destruction to come. The asteroid was nothing like the others in the universe. Each piece was intended to bond with and enslave Earth's adults by controlling their minds and, even worse, kids. What will happen when the reptilian warlord who sent the asteroid sets out to finish what they started by capturing Elizabeth and using her power to destroy the planet? Dive into Guardian: Into the Light of Day by JL Meredith to find out.

JL Meredith's vivid descriptions transport you over deserts, oceans, and clouds, across continents, into space and back, and introduce you to new, bigger-than-life characters. The author's skill in depicting the intricate emotions of the characters enhanced the depth of the narrative, resulting in a captivating and absorbing reading experience. I loved the budding love and affection between Marcus and Elizabeth. You will enjoy their quick-witted natures. I couldn't stop chuckling at them, unwilling to let each other get the last word. Meredith expertly navigates the mysteries of free will to great lengths, explores what it means to be home, and incorporates themes involving immense love and sacrifice. I would not pick this one up if you want a light read. But grab a copy if you are looking for an unforgettable superhero tale packed with cutting-edge alien and human technology, metahumans, trips to space, the stars and back, filled with relentless action, twists and turns, and the highest of stakes. I can't wait for Guardian's second installment.

Doreen Chombu

For centuries, Elizabeth, a beautiful woman with alien origins and superpowers, has been hiding in plain sight. Currently, she works in Kenya, offering her medical services to the less fortunate. One day, she receives news of an asteroid headed for Earth and tries her best to change its course. Her attempts are partially successful because meteorites from the exploded asteroid land in different parts of the world, causing any human who comes in contact with them to gain superpowers. Her heroics expose Elizabeth to the public, and she becomes a celebrity overnight, gains fans and enemies, makes new friends, and meets a charming man who sparks her interest. Unfortunately, the media frenzy around her leads to chaos, and all she wants is for the world to return to how it was. Investigating the asteroid's origins and its victims, maintaining peace, saving lives, and constantly proving her good intentions start to take an emotional toll on her. Will she ever find peace and happiness? Get a copy of Guardian by JL Meredith to find out what happens, and to enjoy this story.

Guardian is an entertaining story with an intriguing plot and amazing characters. Elizabeth has a powerful presence and her sense of justice and caring for human life is noble. These qualities made me root for her and her cause. The book is quite lengthy, but the fast-paced scenes and conversational narration make it easy to read and understand. It is a superhero book, and JL Meredith uses comic book sounds and illustrations to stay with this theme. The story tackles realistic social topics like environmental protection, propaganda, politics, discrimination, and sexual abuse. I loved the natural chemistry between Elizabeth and Marcus, and her friendship with Jennifer. Her instant connection with them was evident, and the relationships she had with them brought a light note to the story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading superhero fantasy novels with realistic and extraterrestrial themes. Great work.