The Sword Guildebrande

The Wizard's Diary Series Book 2

Young Adult - Fantasy - Epic
255 Pages
Reviewed on 10/29/2021
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

The Sword Guildebrande is the second book in The Wizard's Diary Series by Robert J. Bradshaw. After Aargh saves the world from the Great Fire, a festive mood prevails in Gemini City. However, the sudden arrival of Norters changes things, as some amongst the Spire Wizards start to question Aargh's leadership. Meanwhile, Aargh's quest to explore beyond Mount Ardilakk results in him waking up without his memories aboard a pirate ship named Prosperity. His daughter, Holly-Mine, gives chase, only to end up as a captive in the hands of the raiders. Although he slowly starts to befriend the crew, Aargh must soon regain his memories and his powers to negate the nefarious ambitions of the captain. Can he protect his friends and reunite with Holly-Mine while battling a cunning adversary?

If you're a fan of movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, you're going to love The Sword Guildebrande. Author Robert J. Bradshaw weaves an absorbing young adult fantasy yarn that sparks with an adventurous spirit, making it a blast to read. The plot moves quickly, taking unexpected twists and turns that keep you thoroughly engaged. The characters are vividly described and full of life. Their colorful personalities burst from the pages and keep you entertained until the end. Aargh, Holly-Mine, and Bram were my favorite characters from the bunch. Despite being the second installment of The Wizard's Diary Series, The Sword Guildebrande also functions as a standalone novel. I would highly recommend it to young adult fantasy lovers.

Vincent Dublado

The tree-talking wizard Aargh is back in the second book of The Wizard’s Diary Series, The Sword Guildebrande. Aargh’s previous exploits have earned him a considerable number of titles from Spire Historian to Keeper of the Precious Child (Move over, Jon Snow). Author Robert J. Bradshaw brings you back to Gemini City, where its people are celebrating its rebirth after the Great Fire. But this celebration is short-lived as the Norters arrive. They are not just passing through as Aargh had hoped, and the people of the city have no say about it. With this new development, the Spire wizards become so panicky that they challenge Aargh’s leadership. Just when everyone is trying to take a stab at him, his whereabouts become unknown. Taken captive aboard the Marauder’s ship, Aargh struggles to regain his wizarding skills. The thing is, he is not capable of performing magic anymore without the aid of a familiar, and he refuses to bond with a new one since losing Wrudge. If he is to survive, he will have to find a new familiar soon.

The Sword Guildebrande is a fine example of nonlinear storytelling with shifting points in time that are not confusing. Aargh’s diary entries will serve as your guide in the whole exposition. More importantly, Robert J. Bradshaw has created a wizard protagonist that is lovable and one that you can identify with and care about. Aargh is a wizard with flaws, but this is beneficial for him because it gives him that vulnerability necessary to make a character relatable. The story’s tension builds up slowly, and when it suddenly appears, expect it to keep you on your toes. The Sword Guildebrande is a rare fantasy adventure that puts a unique spin on the genre because it shows how deep one can go in plotting that is not limited to magical spectacles. It’s a great read, one that deconstructs an unusual wizard hero.

Nicholus Schroeder

The Sword Guildebrande is book two of the Wizard’s Diary Series by Robert J. Bradshaw. The great wizard Aarghathlain, having vanquished the Wizard of the Council and putting out the Great Fire, now leads a simple life. He spends his days taking in the sights of Gemini City along with his loving daughter Holly-Mine. The tranquility is disrupted, however, by the arrival of airships manned by the Norters. The council is outraged at Aarghathlain’s "wait and see what happens" approach. So, having been forced to step down as head of the School of Wizarding, Aarghathlain attempts to unwind by asking the wind to grant him flight for a short while. Things go horribly wrong, however, and Aarghathlian crashes into the sea. The Prosperity, a nearby ship with plenty of secrets and an eccentric crew, rescues Aarghathlain. By the time he realizes that he would’ve been better off drifting at sea, it’s already too late for him to escape Prosperity’s clutches. Will the legendary wizard Aarghathlain survive his voyage aboard the Prosperity?

The Sword Guildebrande is a good read with a solid plot that was interesting to watch unfold. The storyline easily grabbed my undivided attention as I was really looking forward to how it would all play out. Character development was also well done. The Captain, in particular, was my favorite. His habit of making an order sound like a question was quite amusing for me. The rest of the cast was also great and memorable. The unique world crafted by Robert J. Bradshaw was easily imagined and it definitely piqued my curiosity at every turn. In conclusion, if fantasy is your preferred genre and you want a unique read that differs from your typical magical adventures, then The Sword Guildebrande is for you.