title: A Bond of Blood and Fire (The Goddess and the Guardians)
author:  Karen Tomlinson 
description: <span>&quot;</span><b>Spellbinding</b><span>! Edge of my seat gripping. This series just keeps getting better. A</span><b>brilliant</b><span>fantasy world with</span><b>compelling</b><span>characters. An</span><b>epic</b><span>good versus evil</span><b>adventure</b><span>. A must read.&quot; - USA Today Bestselling Author, J.A. Culican</span><div></div><div><br /><div><span></span></div><div><span>&quot;This is an excellent continuation from the first book in the series. It had me on my toes the entire time, waiting to find out what would happen. The dynamics between Hugo and Diamond were as amazing as ever, and once you add in the rest of the characters, it made for a great combination. The character growth was on point, and learning far more about the world&apos;s history and its characters left you wanting more even up until the very end. I would give this book six stars if I could. If you&apos;re looking for your next book boyfriend, look no further. Hugo is it. Dark, mysterious, and a whole lot more! Now to find my own fae warrior...&quot; - Heather Karn, Paranormal Author</span></div></div>
zlib_text:   
    
  
  **“What is happening to me?” Marit cried.**
  
  She rested her head against the bole of a tree, trying to get her breathing
  under control. The rain cleared off, and as night fell, a cold and bitter wind
  blew.
  
  The season changes. Only late in the year do you feel the chill in your bones.
  
  The reasonable explanation was that she had slept through a day and a night
  recovering from the shock of what she had seen and from the eagle’s attack.
  
  When she thought it through, she had to believe that the eagle had killed her
  in its fury. The weather bore out the unlikely supposition that months had
  passed.
  
  Guardians can’t die. They can kill, but they can’t be killed.
  
  Now _there_ was a recipe for corruption.
  
  She rose to shake out her clothing. Why, in the tales, are the Guardians
  always honorable and upright, the upholders of a justice that is never
  disturbed by their own petty jealousies or grand descents into lust and greed?
  How honest were the tales, really?
  
  Who would believe her, if s