THE GUARDIANS OF TIME SERIES AND WHERE TO PURCHASE THE FOUR BOOKS

Marianne Curley 2022

The Guardians of Time is a Young Adult Paranormal Time-travel series of four books – The Named, The Dark, The Key and The Shadow. It is set in an Australian country town called Angel Falls, situated in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales and the Australian Alps of Victoria. This series has received high praise and won several awards. The latest addition The Shadow was released in 2018. The Guardians of Time Series now has new fantasy covers, available in paperback and e-book. Look for them on online bookstores.

Review of The Shadow (Book 4) by Gemma B – 12 June, 2018

“The Shadow is just the perfect continuation of one of my favourite series of all time.

Everything I wanted to happen, happened. It felt like everything I’d known for the last ten years was a lie and it was such a good feeling. I re-read the whole series before I read The Shadow and so my heartbreak was fresh going in. Everything that my little fangirl heart could have asked for to fix it was given to me and I’m so happy!

The ending was perfect because it rounded off one story and left the door open for their future story. I don’t know whether we will ever see that story, but I for one, would love to read it.”

A Books 1c

Where to Purchase The Guardians of Time Series with their all new matching covers.

Many online bookstores are now carrying the new covers of all four books in the Guardians of Time Series. Those listed below are some of those. 

Booksradar.com – Books in the Right Order

Indie Bound.org

BAM! Books.A.Million

Angus & Robertson

Amazon USA for Kindle and Paperback

Barnes & Noble USA online store 

Amazon Australia 

The Guardians of Time New Covers

Guardians New Cover1AB

The Named

Marianne signing Shadow“Marianne Curley weaves her writing with masterful threads that leave the reader spellbound and waiting eagerly for the next instalment.” – From Mrs Mad’s Book-A-Rama

   Marianne signing The Named for a fan…  

Imagine if you were able to change history. By altering one tiny thing you could start a chain of catastrophic events. Ethan is one of the Named, fated to stop this ever happening, although the forces of chaos have other ideas and Ethan is finding it more and more difficult to stay one step ahead. He is also a normal schoolboy, whose life is rapidly becoming far too confusing. So when Isabel arrives on the scene she is only going to make matters worse . . . or is she? This is history in the making – literally.

The Dark

Isabel and Ethan are joined by Isabel’s brother Matt, who is still getting accustomed to life in the Guard. This time, they must find Arkarian, their ageless mentor, who has been kidnapped and sent to the underworld. Although Isabel and Ethan have been forbidden to rescue him, an ever-increasing connection to Arkarian drives Isabel to convince Ethan and Matt that they must risk everything to find him despite the potential consequences.

The Key

The battle to protect the future is coming to an end as the evil Order of Chaos launches their final attack on the Named. To defeat the Order, the Named must locate the Key to a treasury of weapons hidden somewhere in the ancient city of Atlantis. The race is on to capture the Key before a horde of undead soldiers find it. And as the Named work against time, one of their own is plotting against them.

The Shadow

Book Four of The Guardians of Time Series

The battle has come and gone. The war is won. The prophecy complete. But life can’t just pick up where it left off. Many members of the Guard struggle to cope with how the battled ended and all that they lost.

Ethan, particularly, has become at odds with his friends in the Guard. He finds himself adrift, jumping at shadows and sensing things that can’t possibly be there.

Lathenia, the Goddess of Chaos, has kept secrets from her Immortal brothers. But now her secrets are unravelling. Her plan for world domination is coming unstuck. When one of her secrets becomes known, vengeance erupts and threatens to take over. But love intervenes, putting Lathenia’s plans for world dominance in jeopardy.

As the Guard and the Order battle through the past and into an impossible future, darkness lurks around every corner, and the fight for the world’s survival will come to rest with just one.

The Guardians of Time On You Tube

Nancy Králová, a long-time fan and now also a friend of mine from the Czech Republic, produced a video unravelling the Prophecy from The Guardians of Time books. This video needs a Spoiler Alert for those who are new to the series. Thanks Nancy Králová for doing a brilliant job! I admire your devotion to this series. You amaze me.

The Guardians of Time Prophecy

 Reviews

Jennifer Mae on Teen Ink has reviewed The Named – This is how it begins . . .

“Marianne Curley made me believe that people can really time travel by reading her book, The Named. In this book of uncertainty and great ideas, not everything is what it seems. Fantasy and reality come together in this book where worlds and dimensions collide. The Named is the first book in the Guardians of Time Trilogy by Curley.”

To read the rest of Jennifer’s review, click here: Jennifer’s review of The Guardians of Time

Review on Mrs Mad’s Book-A-Rama, for The Dark, with comments included at the end. This is a sample of what Mrs Mad says:

“What a truly stunning follow up to her first novel. The story flows on as if they had been written together, with the characters really coming to life and developing into fascinating people. This is an inspired book that combines the world that we recognise around us with another that channels right back to the legends of Gods and Immortals. Marianne Curley weaves her writing with masterful threads that leave the reader spellbound and waiting eagerly for the next instalment.”

The full review can be found on Mrs Mad’s website: Mrs Mad’s Book Reviews

Booklist Review
Gr. 8-11. The Guardians of Time Trilogy concludes with members of the Named–young adults with extraordinary gifts–facing an epic showdown of good and evil, with humanity’s future at stake. The Order of Chaos, led by power-monger Lathenia and her cohort Marduke, seems stronger than ever, commanding meteors, rats, and armies of the undead, while attempting to change history’s course via time traveling. As the Named’s members complete initiations into the Guardians, there’s another snafu: it seems one of them is a traitor. The group battles foes and issues of trust and time, as an ancient prophecy nears realization. Matt and Rochelle’s alternating, present-tense first-person narratives add suspense to an engrossing, if not dense, read, driven by detailed descriptions of a dizzying array of magic devices, events, time periods, and settings. Given the extensive backstories developed in previous titles, readers familiar with the series will be the most comfortable audience here, as well as the most willing to overlook the rushed conclusion and a few inconsistencies in the story.

Review by Shelle Rosenfeld  © Copyright 2005 Booklist.

91 comments

  1. Thanks for these wonderful books. i always carry books with me, i am in love with Rochelle and Ethan’s love. Characters are awesome. i wonder, can we ask qouestion to you about the end of the book?

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    1. Thanks for your comment. You can ask me a question about the end of this series, but I may not be able to publish it on my site so not to spoil the ending for others. I hope you understand.

      Marianne

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  2. Of course i understand. Thank you for answering me. You mean a lot to me. I will not ask questions here. Is there a place I can ask ?

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  3. I just wanted to thank you for your books. They are brilliant. I first read them when I was about 10 and have read all of them at least once a year since. No other book has made me feel so much as the last bits of the key. I have only just seen that you have some new books out and I am very excited about reading them. Once again thank so much for the wonderful world you have created. I wish you all the best in all your future endeavours

    Yours,
    James

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi James

      Thank you so much for letting me know how much you have enjoyed my books The Guardians of Time, and I’m assuming Old Magic as well. I hope you will enjoy the Avena Series too. It’s readers like you that I write for, and I appreciate you letting me know your thoughts.

      All the best
      Marianne

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  4. I just finished reading The Named, and words can’t express how excited I was when I discovered that there are two more books in the series!

    I quite literally couldn’t stop reading your book, when we were reading the class novel in class I had ‘The Named’ hidden in front of my novel so I could read your book instead because it was just sooo gripping and I couldn’t put it down!

    How do you come up with so many plot twists and where did you get your inspiration from for these books? I admire you so much for coming up with such a fantastic plot!

    I can’t wait to read ‘The Dark’ and ‘The Key’!!

    Thankyou!! 🙂

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    1. Hi Jemimah

      Thanks for your comments, I can just imagine you in class reading The Named the way you describe it hidden in front of your class novel. It made me laugh. I wished I’d thought of that when I was at school.

      I always plan my books before I start writing, so I have a good idea what’s going to happen, but sometimes the best plot twists come at the moment I’m inside the character’s thoughts and it just hits me what should happen next. The best plot twists always seem come to me when I’m half asleep, in that moment when your subconscious is just starting to take over conscious thought. It happens just before I fall asleep and I’m thinking of the characters, or when I’m walking and listening to some of my favourite tunes, again imagining my characters in action or in dialogue.

      As for inspiration, after writing Old Magic I wanted to expand on the concept of time travel in a more organised way and the idea came into my head that what if there were a group of people who had special talents and were organised to go back into time because another organisation was trying to manipulate the past to create a future to suit their needs (evil needs of course).

      I’m glad you’re looking forward to reading The Dark and The Key. I’m seriously thinking of writing a fourth book to this series, but more about that in later postings!

      Thanks again for writing.
      Marianne

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  5. Hi Marianne,
    It’s a pleasure to be able to write to you. Many authors do not even have the option. I read The Guardians of Time series quite a while ago and it was fantastic! AN absolutely amazing book that was utterly unique in every way. As you may be able to tell I am an avid reader and an aspiring author and I would love it if you would be able to tell me ow long it took for your books to get published. How did you find your agent? And how did you plan the storyline of your books? Thank you in advance,
    Khadeejah Patel, age 14, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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    1. Hi Khadeejah

      I love being in touch my readers and today’s technology makes it easy even with my readers who are on the other side of the world from Australia, where I live.

      To answer your questions, it took me five years of writing and re-writing, and four different manuscripts before I was published with my first book Old Magic. Once the offer was made, it took four months for contracts to be finalised and a further twelve months of editing before Old Magic was on the book shop shelves.

      I found my agent by sending a sample of my manuscript, the first 30 pages, and a covering letter to a few agents I found in a list from my local writer’s centre. At the time that was the New South Wales Writer’s Centre at Rozelle in Sydney. Of the three I first approached one replied that he loved the story so far and asked me to send him the rest. He loved the entire manuscript and signed me to his company.

      Planning my storylines is a big question. The ideas generate in my thoughts and usually always start with the characters, visualising them in a scene, interacting with each other. Before planning can even begin, I usually do some research on the Internet, then I will create my Character Profiles, a plot summary, and then the Chapter Breakdowns.

      You will find more thorough advice in my website and Blog Pages – Writing Tip & Advice, The Writing Process and What Works for Me.

      Good luck with your writing, and thanks for contacting me.

      All the best
      Marianne

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      1. thank you so much! This is really helpful and makes the prospect seem a lot less gloomy than other authors describe it.

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  6. Hello!

    First of all, I want to thank you for writting this amazing trilogy of books. I discovered The Named in my neighbourhood’s book shop when I was around 10 years old, and since then I have read the books several times. The plot, the characters, the idea of mixing magic and history, the way each chapter was written from the perspective of the different characters… All of this made them my favourite books.

    Now I’m 22 and I have discovered this page, and in the FAQs I have read that you were considering witting another book, a sequel. I just wanted to know if you have started writting something, or if you have started planning the story. The idea that it is be possible that another book will be published, makes me incredibly happy, I swear I have been dreaming with these a huge part of my life.

    I was also wandering, taking into account the current trend of making films from magical books’ sagas, if there is any possibility that these books will be adapted to a tv series or a film.

    Thank you very much for your writting talent and for having this amazing webpage. Discovering this has made my day.

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    1. Hello Saul

      Firstly, thanks so much for your comments and compliments, every word means so much to me. I created and maintain the website myself, and I don’t have a lot of time to keep posting regular blogs, so thank you very much for mentioning the website.

      And now to the Guardians of Time Book 4. I am currently working through the chapter breakdowns. I have the first eleven plotted and as soon as I’m finished working it all out, I will start to write the first draft. I am hoping to have the fourth book ready to send to a publisher in the latter part of this year. Fingers crossed that it all goes well.

      Now, regarding a movie or TV show, this series has come close a few times, but both options came to nothing. Maybe one day, keep your fingers crossed!

      All the best
      Marianne

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      1. Thank you very much for answering so fast!

        You can’t imagine how happy your message has made me. I thinks it is going to be very interesting to read the next book after 12 years. I can’t wait!!

        This is so weird, I mean, I had given up hoping for a new book of this series and, after all this time I find this webpage, where I can address you personally, and you tell me that there is a sequel coming. I just can’t express the joy I am feeling righ now and there are not words to express my gratitude.

        I’ll keep all my fingers crossed.

        Saúl

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  7. Hey!

    So I’ve read these books over and over again and they’re an old favourite of mine I keep coming back to, even now that my teenage years are well behind me. (One of the first series I started reading in English and got me into time travelling!)

    So other than a lot of appreciation for these books I just have to ask one thing that’s been bothering me for years (bit of a spoiler so I’ll try and be vague): when Matt goes to Athens for initiation stuff in ‘The Key’, he falls asleep on a chair and wakes up in his bed alone (where previously there was someone else in his room). It’s super minor but I just have to know, did I misunderstand this all these years? Do they wake and go back to their respective rooms to fall asleep and then Isabel leaves? What happens? Was this one of those James-accidentally-appeared-before-Lily-moments that’s fixed in later editions?
    This must seem super stupid but I just need to know if I’m imagining things!

    Also, you’re making all my teenage dreams come true by saying that book four is happening! I cannot wait!!!

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    1. Hi Laura

      Thanks for your question and double thanks for the tactful way in which you worded it without creating a spoiler for those who haven’t read the series yet. When Matt goes to Athens, yes, he falls asleep in his chair because someone else is in his bed, but when Arkarian shifts him back there is no one is his bed anymore and Arkarian shifts Matt back to his bed, most likely so he can get a good night’s sleep. The one thing that I think might be throwing you here, is that whenever the team members go to Athens they have to go in their bodies, not the same way they travel when on a mission, when they are in borrowed bodies. This is why Arkarian is able to shift Matt to the bed. He transfers Matt’s complete and whole body from the chair in Matt’s room to Athens for the initiation stuff, then back to his now unoccupied bed.

      I hope this helps. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you still have questions. You can also write to me at Marianne.curley7@gmail.com to discuss something that might contain spoilers. No one reads that mail except me. I get quite a lot of emails through my gmail account so if you can make a Header that identifies you as a reader with a question, that will help get my attention.

      Book Four is coming along well. I’m up to 82,000 words with only a few chapters to go before I begin editing.

      All the best
      Marianne

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  8. Hello Marianne!
    I first started this series way long ago, I don’t even recall when, but I was only able to get a hold of the first two books. No place I looked could I find “The Key,” unfortunately delaying me for years to conclude the series. Finally, after searching, I was able to get a copy! Since some time had pasted from my first encounter with them, I decided that I would reread each book; no better way to complete the series altogether then by refreshing my memory of the first two and then to top it off by throwing myself into a whirlwind of emotions trying to find out what will happen in the last one. Might I say, I was not disappointed! This last novel was like a lost treasure to me and finally being able to read it was as if I had at last found a missing piece to a lifelong, cherished puzzle. Thank you firstly for writing the series. Books are my life (no joke) and this series, along with all your other novels, will stay with me forever. I love your characters and the stories they tell. Thank you again for writing.

    Next, I suppose my only question to you is what made you decide to end “The Key” the way you did? My meaning, to be more exact, is why did you stop writing where you did, where the resolution to the final, final incident in the story was left slightly open, as in HOW IS ETHAN? I’m trying to be vague as to not expose too many details, resulting in any spoilers. Therefore, if the phasing of my question isn’t comprehensible enough, and I apologize if it isn’t, please do let me know. I just finished this book about 10 minutes or so ago, and that is the only thing running through my mind at the moment. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the book, every part of it, even the heart-aching ending. Perhaps this is a unnecessary question due to the fact that book four is happening (which floors me more than you can understand!!), but it intrigues me that the first two ended so differently than this last one– maybe because this was originally going to be the final book?

    I’m so sorry! My thoughts and emotions are still soaring from finishing “The Key” not so long ago!!

    Thank you so much again for creating such a wonderful series!
    Cassie

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    1. Hi Cassie

      Thanks for your comments and letting me know how you came to love my books and your unfortunate delay in finding and thus reading The Key. Let me first say that I had always planned to write four books, but at the time my publisher was content for the “series” as I wanted it called, to be a “trilogy”, and before long, especially with international sales, the “trilogy” word became fixed to the title. Having said that, in my mind I still had a plan for what happens after the final battle. Like you pointed out, there were questions left unanswered. The reason I didn’t write Guardians of Time Book Four immediately after The Key is that I became seriously ill. I was diagnosed with chronic Myelofibrosis, which is cancer of the bone marrow, and was given a only a couple of months to live. I was given a stem-cell bone marrow transplant which saved my life, though unfortunately, after the heavy doses of chemotherapy I’d had to take my bones became fragile and I had a fall and broke several vertebrae in my lower back. This happened only three weeks after the transplant. I became incapacitated for quite some time, trying to manage my chronic back pain. But happily, my spinal chord was unhurt and I was able to return to writing after a few years. The Avena Series came first. The reason I didn’t slip straight back into writing the Guardians Book Four was simply because I needed to prove to myself, my publisher and my readers that I was writing publishable material again, and that I was well and truly back.

      Guardians of Time Book Four is in draft form at present and doing well. I am excited to be back with those beloved characters. I have let my readers know that Book Four is coming because I will be looking for a publisher soon and the more my readers are enthusiastic about it, the more noise that is made, the better chance I will have to attract a publisher willing to publish a sequel ten years after the first three books were released.

      I will let everyone know when Book Four is available. And thanks for carefully wording your message.

      All the best
      Marianne

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  9. hey Marianne,
    Long time fan. I read your books about a year ago so if there is a book four in the works I guess I’ll have to reread them to familiarise myself with the storyline and the characters. To be honest I cant even remember how the third book ends.
    Great to hear about the fourth book though and I hope you find a publisher soon!
    Khadeejah Patel.

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  10. Hi Marianne, just wanted to say a massive thank you for writing such an amazing series. I read your books about 10 years ago and loved them. When I stumbled across them at the back of my bookshelf last week I couldn’t resist rereading them. The funny thing is I still couldn’t put them down and it brought back so many teenage memories. When I heard that you were writing another book in the series I couldn’t believe it, it really brought a smile to my face. Glad to hear your health has recovered and hope all is going well with the writing/editing. Best wishes, John

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    1. Hi John

      Thank you for your message, it is inspiring and motivating to know how the fourth book in the Guardians of Time series is being anticipated and how reading this series again was something you enjoyed very much. I am doing very well healthwise, and the writing and editing is coming along really well, thank you for asking. Returning to this series is something I’ve wanted to do since I’d finished writing The Key and can I say I am enjoying it just as much, if not a little more.

      All the best
      Marianne

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  11. Hi Marianne,

    Thank you firstly for writing this series and congratulations too. It’s wonderful. I have loved everything about it: the characters, the story… I guess that I am a lit bit late because I didn’t know this trilogy even existed until a couple of weeks ago. In fact, I have just finished it last night, but I can’t stop thinking about it. I fell in love with Ethan from the very first page of The named. No surprise there. I’ve got a thing for good guys. And, even though I would have never guessed it reading that first book, Rochelle became my favorite character of the saga in The key. What a book! It is a masterpiece. I couldn’t stop reading it. It’s so thrilling! I couldn’t be happier when I knew that you were working on the fourth book. I really hope you have something prepared for these two characters in this new book. I can’t help myself. I am a sucker for happy endings and the ending of the key left me with my mouth hanging open and saying… “Now WHAAAT???” Can’t wait for GoT4!!! I am so looking forward to read it. Hope you can release it soon. Do you know anything about the launch date?

    Best wishes from Spain (Sorry for my English. Sometimes I still make mistakes) and Merry Christmas!!!

    Elena

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    1. Hi Elena

      I think you are kind of lucky to be reading The Guardians of Time now and not when it was first released because you will not have to wait too long before Book Four is released. I wanted to write the fourth book years ago, but as they say, better late than never. I will keep all my readers and fans of the GoT series informed through my website, twitter, Facebook and Tumblr with news of the title, cover, and release dates as soon as these things are finalised.

      I am presently on the lookout for a Spanish publisher, as well as all the other languages the series is translated into.

      There have been many editions over the years, but thank you for writing and letting me know that new readers are enjoying the series as much as the first generation of readers did.

      All the best for the New Year!

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  12. Hi Marianne,

    I just stumbled upon the news that you are currently working on Book 4 of the Guardians of Time trilogy (now series, I suppose!), and I had let you know that my excitement and anticipation for it is through the roof! I first read the series in middle school, and as an almost 25-year old, I’m beyond eager to immerse myself back into the world of Angel Falls and all its Named! Your books, including Old Magic, were fantastic distractions for my younger self, and they allowed my imagination to run wild. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and all the best in your efforts for writing/publishing Book 4!

    Sincerely,

    Gelina S., Canada.

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    1. Hi Gelina

      Thank you for writing and telling me how excited you are for the new Guardians of Time book to come out. And you are right, this fourth book – all going well – is going to be the start of a whole new series, but I haven’t told anyone yet except the publisher of the first three books (and now anyone who reads this!). Thanks for your excitement and enthusiasm.

      Marianne

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  13. Hi Marianne

    As others, I would like to thank you for bringing​ life to your thoughts.

    About a month ago I finished reading GoT trilogy for the second time. I was even more impressed, sad and satisfied than before.

    I was so glad that I remembered the title of the books that so hardly influenced me (and so my life and my thinking in general) after 10 years.

    Between these years I grew up and turnt to God so my life was changed dramatically but during the second reading I realized that this book was my sort of a guide before I first opened the holy book.

    Anyway I am really looking forward to the fourth book release.
    God bless you Marianne,

    James

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    1. Hi James

      Thank you for telling me how my GoT trilogy has affected your life, both now and when you first read the series. And how it has been a sort of guide for part of your life before you found the higher power of God. (The highest power, I should say.) It was really a lovely thing for you to tell me. A writer can have many doubts about a book, and writing the fourth after so many years was not the easiest decision to make. I had planned to write the fourth from the very start. I had planned a series of four. At the time my publisher offered me a contract for three, and was not keen for me to write the fourth, so I put it on hold, but I’d always wanted to write it and had a plan to go ahead with it after the three books were published. The problem then arose that I had cancer (bone marrow) and had several years of treatment and so forth. Years passed where I felt my writing wasn’t good enough anymore. I wrote other books and thank God the Avena Series, my angel trilogy was published. Now I feel the time is right for Guardians of Time Book Four, and the words flowed out. But the encouragement of my readers is a constant source of motivation and inspiration.

      God’s blessing to you too James
      Marianne

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  14. i finished the trilogy when i was 11 but lost the books and have been hunting them down in the library ever since. i have just finished reading it on holiday i couldnt stop turning the pages i finished it all in 3 days! i hope you continue this story as its an absolute jem extremely movie worthy i was shocked to find it hadnt been made into one. i do not read books at all but these books of yours (the named dark and key) have really got me excited bout reading. if you have any suggestions for books like yours please do say

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    1. also i would suggest keeping the original colours as they are quite eye capturing for example the fire/ice ring the key

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      1. There have been a few different covers over the years with the different editions. Everyone has their favourite. I hope you like the new cover, whether it’s in the vein of your favourite or not.

        All the best
        Marianne

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    2. Hi guled, thanks for writing and telling me what impact the Guardians of Time books have had on your reading life. So glad they have inspired you to read more. Your comment regarding movies gave me a smile. They came close on three occasions. You can read about their close calls on my website. But for one reason or another, the movies haven’t come through.

      You might like to know that I have written a fourth book. It is undergoing some last edits at the moment and I will let everyone know when I have a release date. I’ll also release the title and cover design soon, I hope. So, when you ask for suggestions for books for you to read, I strongly recommend the fourth book to the Guardians of Time!!! But in the meantime, I recommend two great series from fellow Australian writers

      https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4134859.Jessica_Shirvington
      https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5446913.Paula_Weston

      Happy reading 🙂

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  15. Dear Marianne Curley,

    I confess, until last week, it had been 6 years since I last read the Guardians of Time trilogy. Somehow, word of a 4th installment trickled into my corner of the internet, and a well-timed bought of the flu gave me the chance to reread my young teen cult favourites. In short, it felt like coming home.

    I have always thought on these books fondly. Each of the characters were so unique – not only in personality, but in appearance, ability, obviously diverse powers and, most important in my opinion, economic status and family life. I read my way through 3 different libraries’ worth of YA and suited books by 16, and it was few and far between for me to find books that reflected not only my life, but of those around me. I didn’t have the linguistic tools to articulate at the time why I was (and have always been) so protective of these books, but it is the representation I found in them. Hailing from England, class has always been a prevailing undercurrent in friendships, at least certainly from my perspective. It was therefore a bit of a revelation to 11 year old me, that these characters could not only come from all manner of background, but to then form realistic friendships, and then to each be successful in their own valued right. I cannot thank you enough for allowing this message to be my introduction to YA fiction. Thank you for setting my standards so high.

    I greatly look forward to the 4th book, I truly do. Not only for a sense of closure, but for the new story to be told. Thank you, so much, for shaping my view of YA fiction, and further, my approach to life. Even after all these years, Ethan and Rochelle never quite left my peripheral.

    And to think, this all started for me when I searched my own name in my school library catalogue. Thank you for doing our shared name proud.

    Best wishes,
    Marianne. 18, UK.

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    1. Dear Marianne

      Thank you so much for your message. It brought a few tears to my eyes to know how loved and valued my Guardian of Time characters were and still are even though you are older now. You certainly have a beautiful command of the English language. You articulate extremely well. Your message was a pleasure to read and has inspired me. I have never been thanked in quite the same way and for the reasons you state. I have been told the Guardians of Time Series is character driven, but the way you put it gave the series, and the characters especially, a whole new level of depth. I am so glad that word of the fourth instalment trickled into your corner of the Internet. Please feel free to let me know what you think of Book IV once you have read it. I look forward to your hearing your opinion.

      The wait is not too much longer.

      All the best
      Marianne (We even have the same spelling)

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  16. Hello! I recently heard that there would be a fourth installment of the Guardians of Time trilogy (although, it’s a series now, I suppose), and I am positively elated! I can’t wait to read it and I have been wondering if you know the release date yet? If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask a question about the book and if you don’t want to answer it here, perhaps over email, but it’s quite vague. Will the book have any focus on Arkarian and Isabel? I must admit I have a childish love for their relationship, I simply can’t get enough of them! I wouldn’t mind reading pages of fluff about them if I’m being honest. I would greatly appreciate if you could answer this. Thank you and I love you and your books very much 😊

    Like

    1. Hi Dana, you heard correctly, the Guardians of Time is now a Series and Book Four is completed and with a publisher at the moment, so I can’t confirm a release date just yet, but I will definitely make announcements as the time draws nearer. To answer your query about Arkarian and Isabel, the fourth book continues on after The Key, so of course Isabel and Arkarian are very much included in this new chapter. I can’t imagine a fourth book without them in it, so rest assured.

      Thanks for writing. I hope you will help spread the word as the time for release draws nearer.

      All the best
      Marianne

      Like

  17. Dear Marianne Curley

    I’m a big fan from Switzerland. I got the first book as a gift from my Mother and I’ve been waiting for years for a new book.

    Will the 4th book also be available in German? If yes, will it have the same release date as the englisch version?

    Best Wishes

    Sam

    Like

    1. Dear Sam

      I’m sorry I don’t have that information available yet. I’m still waiting to hear in regards to when the English version will be released, but I would think any international edition would take longer to release because of how long it takes to have the book translated. But any information I receive on this topic, about a German publication, or any international release, I will announce through my Website, and Facebook and other social media outlets. Thank you so much for asking and bringing this to my attention.

      All the best
      Marianne

      Like

  18. Dear Marianne,

    I am so excited to see that your fourth book is going to be released soon.
    I have read the first three books (and Old Magic) several times in both German (my mother tongue) and English and each time I thoroughly enjoyed them.
    It wasn’t only the diverse lovable characters that got me hooked, but also the very unique storyline and the correlation between somewhat futuristic time travelling, and the main characters who are living in present time but dealing with antic gods and functions. I have never found a book of this type again, which made the GoT series (and Old Magic) just the more special to me.
    (I did read the Avena trilogy, more because of loyalty to the author, than of the storyline as I’m not really interested in Angels. I surprisingly liked it a lot but my heart belongs to Ethan, Isabel & Co.)

    What I’m dying to know is to know if the fourth book will be the final GoT book or if you plan some more, which would be thrilling! Or are you planning an entirely new series? Or maybe a Sequel to Old Magic?

    I’m very looking forward to the fourth book and please continue writing such amazing books.

    Best regards,
    Elena

    Like

    1. Dear Elena

      You are amazing, the number of times you have read both the English and German translations of my books. Hearing these things makes me that much more pleased to have finally been able to write and publish the fourth book in the GoT Series. The Shadow will bring certain events to a close, but I find it difficult to say “no more” to the characters and the storyline of this series, so what I can say at this stage is that I have hopes of writing more.

      Best wishes
      Marianne

      Like

  19. Dear Marianne,

    I always wait with bated breath for your books. Unfortunately The Shadow is yet to come in paperback in India 😦 Thank you for being so good and making the transition of real into the fantasy world super smooth and seamless.

    Regards,
    Shamim Kadir

    Like

    1. Dear Shamim

      I’m sorry to hear you can’t find The Shadow in paperback in India. I took a look myself and can see through Amazon.India that they are only offering the e-book edition and not the paperback. That’s unfortunate. I don’t have control over that, I’m sorry to say. The only other way is rather expensive, in that you would have to purchase the paperback from Amazon.International, or Book Depository, both US stores with added international postage. I’m hoping this will change, but I can’t say when or even if bookstores in your homeland could order the book in for you. But again you would be looking at the added cost of postage. International postage costs from Australia are terribly expensive, so you are probably better off with ordering through the US online stores.

      All the best
      Marianne

      Like

  20. Dear Marianne,

    The first thing I would like to say to you is thank you! You created an amazing universe that I am never tired to go to. You were one of the first authors that made me love reading. And for that I will always be grateful.

    I have read the GoT several times since I was 12 (I’m 28 now) in spanish (I’m a spaniard living in London) and I have just found out today that there is a 4th book! I cannot say in words what I felt when I realised there was another amazing part that will take me back to the GoT universe again. I love Old Magic as well (of course!). Your way of writing and make the reader fall into the story is absolutely amazing. I hope you continue writing as there is lots of us that absolutely love what you do.

    I plan to reread the books in English and then read the 4th book (in english as well).

    I am not sure if you are planning to do a book signing event in the UK. I would love to have The Named signed by you!

    Again thank you so much for making me love reading.

    Best wishes,

    Irene Ade

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Dear Irene

      Thank you for writing to me and letting me know your reading journey with the characters that now feel like close family members! You could not give me a better compliment than telling me I was one of the readers that helped you fall in love with reading. I still remember the book that did it for me. I was only about eight years old and borrowed Oliver Twist from my school library. I felt as if I was one of the orphaned kids surviving a life on the streets in Old London.

      I hope you enjoy your read of The Shadow. Please feel free to let me know what you think.

      I have no plans to visit the UK at present, unfortunately, but I never say never and if I were to visit London, I would be so excited I would make sure to notify my readers through social media many times over.

      All the best

      Marianne

      Like

  21. Its amazing how time flies by,
    I remember finding old magic at the book store when I was 11 or 12 and falling in love with the story. Im 27 now. I finished it that first day and have probably read the book 8 or 9 times over the years. I actually remember finding your email address when I was in middle school and emailing you, asking if you would ever make it into a movie. I wanted so badly to see it brought to life. I never expected you to reply to me that day and I remember RUNNING through the house outside to tell me grandparents you actually emailed me back haha. You were actually the reason I fell in love with reading. The guardians of time has been one of my favorite book series. After reading old magic I quickly found the named and fell in love with a whole new story from you and each following book did NOT disappoint. I was actually just sitting here on the couch (in Columbus, Ohio) and looked over at the bookshelf and saw your books sitting between Harry Potter and the Twilight saga and I wondered what you had been up to the last several years, so I googled your name and it was like an early Christmas. THERE IS A FOURTH BOOK!
    I can not wait to read it. Im sure I will not be disappointed.
    As soon as I send this message im going to place an order on amazon.
    Thank you for being wonderful and for giving us amazing stories and characters we can fall in love with. These characters and stories you have created have stayed with me for years and I am truly grateful you have given us another chance at seeing them come to life again.

    p.s. I still think your books would be amazing on the big screen, or NETFLIX.
    It would be an amazing way the rest of the world can fall in love with your characters as much as I have.

    Best of luck in all that you do.

    -Darrin

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Darrin

      I’m so glad you glanced up at your bookshelf, so now you can become immersed in the Guardians of Time again with The Shadow. I hope you like it. I would love to hear what you think, and how it felt slipping back into the Guardians’ world after so many years.

      I remember you asking about making the books into a movie. I did come close with two different Hollywood production companies who put options on the series, but unfortunately the producers didn’t continue with the project, but now there is Netflix, and you never know. They are always looking for good content.

      Thank you for writing to me and for loving the stories and the characters I have written.

      Best of luck in all that you do too.

      Marianne

      Like

  22. Hello, I live in Turkey. I like reading the series of guards of time series, but many people in my country can’t read books because the shadow book doesn’t have a Turkish edition. Will the Shadows be translated into Turkish?

    Like

    1. Hi Sevim Buse YURTSEVEN

      I completely understand and I have been working on making a Turkish language edition available of The Shadow. The publisher who had the Guardians of Time books translated and published was Tudem. They are currently reading The Shadow and will let me know whether they will be publishing it in Turkey soon. To help make this translation happen, if you could contact Tudem by any means possible and let them know your thoughts on why you want to read the translated edition. I’ll keep you informed of their decision as soon as I have it.

      Thank you
      Marianne

      Like

  23. Hi I have just started reading your 4th book the shadow and i love it. I like how you added jesilla and Dillon in as the main characters in this book. I hope you continue working on amazing stories like this one

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  24. I read your trilogy of the guardians when I was little girl and I fell in love with the characters.
    For Christmas I returned to my parents’ house and rescue the books to take them to my house, returning them to read … and what is my surprise that I commented it with some friends we go online and we see that you have taken out the fourth book! WOW!

    Now my question is: will they arrive in Spain? hopefully it will be like that

    Here we have only been able to enjoy the guardians and old magic 😦
    I hope that in the future they will be encouraged to translate the other books

    thank you very much for everything!

    Pd: Sorry for my English. Sometimes I still make mistakes

    Like

    1. Hi Sandra

      Thanks for writing, and along with your friends, check out what’s online and find the fourth book. The Shadow is currently being translated into Spanish. My translator is trying to submit the translated work to the publisher of the first three books, and Old Magic – Salamandra. So far I have not heard whether they are going to publish in Spanish, or not. If you can write, email or post on Facebook to Salamandra asking them to do it, that might help!!! It sound as if they need a little persuading.

      I will let you know their decision as soon as I find out.

      All the best
      Marianne

      Like

  25. Dear Marianne,

    I have just finished the The Shadow, and I can not be more grateful to you for bringing back the Guard again. Thank you so much!

    I was a teenager when I first read The Named. I think Arkarian was my first platonic love figure. i started to get top marks in History, illusioned by the imaginary idea of preparing a mission before going to the Citadel and time travelling. The key was the first book that made me cry, and in every book you of The Guardians of Time you have released, I was thrilled and emotioned.

    I was scared of reading The Shadow and feeling disappointed after years of adult fantasy, but it has been the best reunion possible. English language is not my first language as you might have guessed, but again you have dragged me in a “bookmance” of 1 day around London, and I can tell you I have fully enjoyed every single page. I am moved and grateful, thank you so much!

    I want to take this opportunity, to tell you how much I admire you not only as an author, as a person as well. I am myself a doctor, and I can not imagine how much you have been through, but only by guessing how brave you are and can not do anything else but root for you even more. Congratulations for your professional and personal development, you are an inspiration to us all.

    Thanks again for creating the wonderful world of The Guardians of Time.

    Best wishes,

    Brianda

    Like

    1. Dear Brianda

      Thank you for writing to me and telling me those amazing things about yourself, your love of reading and your love of Arkarian. And I especially thank you for letting me know how much you enjoyed The Shadow. It was a book I promised my readers and myself that I would write. I had planned to write it after I’d finished The Key, but that’s when I became ill and my life took a different turn for a while.

      What you said about being scared of reading The Shadow and being disappointed, I had that same fear, that after all this time what if I’d ruined my readers’ memories of a series they loved? So thank you for letting me know your amazing opinion. I appreciate it very much.

      Your words about me are kind and I thank you for them. I’m so very proud of you for becoming a doctor. Doctors are the one profession I hold in the highest regard.

      All the best

      Marianne

      Like

    1. Hi Nikki

      Thanks for asking about the audiobooks for the Guardians of Time Series, unfortunately they are not available as yet. Hopefully, they will be in the near future. When this happens I’ll let you know.

      Cheers
      Marianne

      Like

  26. Guardians of time series is absolutely fabulous! Read them about 10 years ago and have just read them again including The Shadow. Couldn’t put them down and read them all in about 3 weeks. Please tell me you are going to write one after the Shadow?? Thank you ! my teenage boys have started them now.

    Like

    1. Hi Emma

      I could feel your enthusiasm in your words. Thank you for loving my series and the new addition The Shadow. I am hoping to write more books in this series, the idea is to write several, where some of The Named become mentors. There’s a new world threat that Isabel saw in her vision, and it’s bigger than what the team has dealt with so far. I am also planning a prequel set in the time before the triplet Gods were born. My only problem is finding a publisher. But I’m not one to give up easily. When the publisher of my series said no without even reading The Shadow, I published it myself. I will keep everyone informed.

      Thank you for letting me know your teenage boys are reading them now. I would love to know what they think of them.

      All the best
      Marianne

      Like

  27. I just write to wish you a good year full of joys and health.
    Thank you for giving us part of you through your books (I have already read again “The Shadow” several times this 2019) and I hope this new year brings new wonders of yours.

    Happy New Year Marianne! And greetings from Basque Country (Spain)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Happy New Year Nagore

      Thanks for your message of joy and health. I wish the same to you. So glad you have enjoyed reading “The Shadow” and more than once, that makes me so happy it brings smiles to my face.

      All the best from the Gold Coast Hinterland, Australia.
      Marianne

      Like

  28. Hello Marianne ,
    My name is Rose and im 23 years old. I grew up with your guardians of time series, i readed like 4 times and recommended to my friends.
    These days because of Covid-19, i turned back to my hometown and saw your precious books at my shelves. I started to read again and finished in 2 days,after that i noticed the ending was not good enough for me . So i googled the results and found out you have a new book on 2018!! I cant describe my feelings , i was so happy . But there are few problems i have.

    First of all im turkish and your books didnt translate to turkish (hidden, old magic etc . i really wanted to read them too) . Secondly i cant find a place to by your book -the shadow- . I checked on amazon finally found at there but its too expensive for me because our country’s economy not good enough to compare our money with american dolars. Thats why i sat on my pc and writing these sentences to you. i dont know when will you read these but i loved your books so much and if there is a chance to send me ‘the shadow ‘ from internet i’ll be glad for my whole life to you.
    I really really really like your works , Ethan ,Matt ,Arkarian they are part of my childhood. Rochelle..
    Anyway I am one of your young fans and hope my words will reach to you.

    Greetings from İstanbul ,Turkey.
    Rose.

    Like

    1. Hello Rose

      Your words have reached me.

      I have had many humbling requests from my Turkey fans regarding Book 4 The Shadow. The first three books of this series, as you know, were published by Tudem in Turkish, but those publishers have not picked up any of my other books and then I tried to find a translator for The Shadow, but I have since found out that Amazon.com I will not be able to self-publish a book in the Turkish language. What this means is that I’m back to looking for a Turkish publisher. I had an agent looking into this situation and so far no Turkish publisher is willing to publish.

      What I need now is for my readers in Turkey to write to Tudem, (or any other Turkish publisher) and ask them if they could please publish the fourth book of The Guardians of Time Series.

      I certainly understand how expensive it is to purchase a copy of The Shadow and have it mailed to Turkey. I would hope the ebook would not be as expensive, but I’m afraid I can’t send you an ebook copy of The Shadow myself. I’m sorry to disappoint you.

      All the best
      Marianne

      Like

  29. Hello Marianne, I’m a kind of ‘back’, like, time traveling. I wrote to you some twenty years ago telling you something very important about your magical book Old Magic. Some very important thing to me. And you give me the right answer. Ok. Some thing is happening right now with your magic book and me. And Time. And Humanity. And Eternity. And a KEY. I need to talk to you but I can’t find your e-mail address so if you can write to me I know you will tell me exactly what to do when I explain it to you. Ok, best regards.

    Like

  30. Hi, just came to say that I love your book Old Magic so much, I read it in middle school and fell for it ever since that I had to get a copy for myself. I hope you are doing well in this troubling time and staying safe, thank you for the world in the book of Old Magic.

    Like

    1. Hi Cynthia

      Thank you! I loved reading your email about Old Magic and so glad you were able to immerse yourself in the world I created for Kate and Jarrod. As you say, it is a terrible time right now in the world we live, and I’m pretty sure the scars will last a long time. I sincerely hope you and your loved ones will remain safe throughout, and thank you for your kind thoughts.

      All the best
      Marianne

      Like

  31. Hello marianne
    I bought the book you write that trilogy, I TUDEM broadcast from the turkey, but I can not find a book that you type 4 kinds of books sold in Turkey, where can you tell me? Best regards

    Like

    1. Hello Yigit

      I’m afraid I have not been able to find a publisher in Turkey who is willing to translate and publish the fourth book called The Shadow. I have enquired at TUDEM but they appear not to be interested. I would dearly love to publish The Shadow in Turkey, so please write to Tudem and let them know the fourth book to the beloved Guardians of Time Series is available.

      All the best
      Marianne

      Like

      1. Hi Marianne Tudem posts,the message I wrote:

        “Dear Tudem Publications

        Hello dear Tudem Publications, I am writing to you from Istanbul. I want to make a request from you. I want you to publish The Shadow by Marianne Curley, the 4th book in the Guardians of Time series. My Turkish teacher gifted me the first three books of the series, The nameThe dark and The key. I read it 2 times in a row and realized that there was not a small typo. I was happy to learn that the series has 4 books, but I cannot find the Shadow book because no publishing house accepts it. Please accept the Shadow book of Marianne Curley, one of my favorite authors. I am waiting for your help. Yours sincerely.”

        I hope your book will be published in every country, you are writing very good books Best regards

        Liked by 1 person

  32. Yiğit Can

    Thank you so much! That is just what I need my Turkish readers to do. I hope we can achieve success with this, and other letters sent to Tudem Publications. Please thank your teacher for me for gifting you with the first three books of The Guardians of Time, that was a genuinely lovely thing to do.

    Regards
    Marianne

    Like

    1. Thanks to you too. I hope we get a positive response from the tudem, I will tell my friends to write on the tudem. I want to read the shadow book. I hope Published in Turkey . Thank you for answering me
      And do you know of a website where we could read The Shadow book?

      Best regards

      Like

  33. Hi, my name is Sarah from Tassie.
    I absolutely love your Guardian of Times series. I have read the series dozens of times. And I was ecstatic when you continued with the Shadow.
    Your series is one of the series that cheer me up when i’m in a dark place because I’m so sick.
    I do really, really hope you continue sometime.

    Like

    1. Hi Sarah

      It is so lovely to hear from you, and I am sorry to hear that you are so sick. I certainly hope and pray that there will be better times coming for you in the near future.

      Thank you for writing to me and reaching out to let me know how my Guardian of Time Series has cheered you up while in your dark place. I understand dark places due to illness. Seventeen years ago I had been diagnosed with Myelofibrosis and had a stem cell bone marrow transplant to keep me alive. I had come very close to death, but thankfully death did not claim me and I was able to return to the one thing in the world that I love so much, and that was to write more books. That’s when I began to write The Shadow.

      All the best Sarah
      Marianne Curley

      Like

  34. Hello Marianne;

    I just want to wish you a Merry Christmas and good health for 2022
    I hope that next year we can read something from you. For now, this holidays I will reread your books.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Spain!

    Best wishes,

    Nagore

    Like

    1. Hi Nagore

      Thank you for your lovely comment. I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too. I have been working hard at delivering more books to my readers. I have written two new completed books, and recently acquired a new literary agent who is currently sending them out to publishers for viewing. Fingers crossed these new books of mine will be picked up and published in Spanish too. I am also working on a new fantasy and preparing to write Guardians of Time Book 5. All the best for 2022.

      Like

  35. Hello,

    This is a weird question, but is there anywhere I can purchase the Shadow with the old book cover? This was my favorite series when I was a child and I own the rest of the series, but with the original old covers. I just found out that there was a fourth book today, but it seems the cover already switched. Not that it looks bad or anything! But my OCD makes me want to buy the old cover to match my collection on my shelf. I understand with it’s not possible though! There doesn’t seem to be anywhere that sells the book with the old cover.

    Like

    1. Hello Emily

      It’s not a weird question at all, but I am going to unfortunately disappoint you. There was never a cover to match the original old covers. My publisher, Bloomsbury London, had already decided they were not going to publish any more editions of The Guardians of Time books when I had just finished writing the fourth book, The Shadow. So I had to publish The Shadow myself. But I had many requests for a matching cover so I decided to acquire the rights back for the series and re-publish all four books in a matching new set of covers, which is what you see available today. Not to confuse you, there is the first Shadow cover I published myself in 2018, but this cover doesn’t match any of the old sets.

      Like

  36. Hi Marianne. I’m a spanish girl who grew up with your books. I just find out that a 4 book exist. Do you know if it will be possible to publish the book in Spanish? I’m looking forward to it.
    My best wishes

    Like

    1. Hi Laura
      At present there is no Spanish translation of the Guardians of Time Series’ fourth book, The Shadow. I will chase up my Spanish publisher and try to locate a contact in the rights department. I have done this before but will try again as I had no response from them at the time. Thank you for the reminder.

      Like

  37. Hi, i am from Turkey and i found the book four on amazon. But here is the problem… its too expensive. i reed the three book when i was young. an accident happened and i losted my consuisnes. then months later i recovered. i looked at web sites and the book 4 is out! but it it not turkish and too expensive 😦 i wanted to ask this: can you sent me it’s pdf or epub ?

    Like

      1. Hi there nldktjgiyutgf47y, the good news is that Tudem, my publisher in Turkey is going to be releasing The Shadow (fourth book of Guardians of Time) in the near future. The price will be much more reasonable and the language in Turkish. Have a good day!

        Like

  38. Hi Marianne! I first read your books right before The Shadow came out, and I’ve reread them many times since then. Even now, I’ll sit down and read my favorite chapters over and over again. I very much hope that you will write more books for the series because I hold the characters close to my heart, and your series means so much, I’d love to see more of them. I hope you’re doing well (:

    Like

    1. Hi Jillian

      Thanks for writing in and letting me know how close this series, and all those characters in it, have grown to your heart. It’s wonderful to hear. And, I am planning a fifth book in the series.

      Take care
      Marianne

      Like

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