Guardian of the Dead

Guardian of the Dead

A no-holds barred supernatural thriller set on the shifting boundary between what is real and what is legend. Can Ellie find her way into a fantasy world she didn't know existed to discover a power she never knew she possessed?

Ellie Spencer just wants to spend her last year of high school in peace, even if she does have to spend it at boarding school and not in her hometown. But the moment her secret crush enchants her- literally- Ellie is drawn into a supernatural crisis that threatens everything she loves.

As it turns out, the creatures of Maori mythology aren't so mythological- and some of them are murderous. Once her eyes are open, there's no peach for Ellie; only a magical war the right side must win. Ellie must do what she can with her rusty tae kwon do skills and her newfound magical abilities to save her friends, her country, and millions of lives.

This is a book featuring student theatre, boarding school politics, pop culture references, and several good reasons to protect your feet while running for your life.

Praise for Guardian of the Dead
"Karen Healey's Guardian of the Dead is my favourite kind of read: creepy, funny, sexy, smart and sometimes downright pull-the-covers-up-to-your-neck-and-pray-for-morning-frightening. This book completely rocked my socks. Mark my words, Karen Healey is going to be a big star."- Libba Bray (Going Bovine, winner 2010 Michael L. Printz Award).
"Smart, hilarious and wholly unique. Healey makes juxtaposing totally modern characters with numinous and ancient magic look effortless." - Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles).
"Guardian of the Dead is an action-packed tale with an uncanny balance of romance and mystery. I found myself mesmerized by the legends and stories woven into modern-day New Zealand. The story's protagonist is refreshingly self-assured and had me cheering from the opening paragraph. Tight plotting and surprising twists will hook readers of all ages. I hope to see more of this lively cast!" - Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush, Hush).

Karen Healey is a New Zealander who currently lives in Australia. When she's not writing novels, she's working on her PhD (her thesis deals with gender issues in comics).
You can find out more about Karen by visiting her website www.karenhealey.com. She also runs the feminist comics organisation Girl-Wonder.org, and writes the column Girls Read Comics (and they're pissed) there.

Guardian of the Dead
Allen and Unwin
Author: Karen Healey
ISBN: 9781741758801
Price: $19.99