Day: October 14, 2020

Book Review: Fiona’s Guardians by Dan Klefstad

Fiona’s Guardians
Author: Dan Klefstad

Published: October 2, 2020
310 Pages

Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: September 21- October 4, 2020
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars

Book Description:

When a vampire seduces you, death is minutes away. When she hires you, you’ll soon wish you were dead.

It’s a truth known to every guardian who worked for Fiona, including Daniel. Aside from managing the day to day chores and keeping her protected, he manages an investment portfolio to buy stolen blood from hospital workers. The 250-year-old Fiona needs 10 pints of human blood every night. As a result of this, Daniel and Fiona are always on the lookout for police, but fail to notice their gradual encirclement by Mors Strigae, an ancient order of monks dedicated to the extermination of vampires. Gone for a century, the monks start a new war when they destroy Fiona’s sire. This time, her vampire family is pushed to the edge of extinction — and the humans who serve them are hunted and executed.

After 35 years, what keeps him loyal? And will he ever be allowed to leave?

Jessica’s Review:

Fiona’s Guardian’s is a vampire novel for the 21st Century!

Vampires have been around forever in legends and are the most well-known ‘monsters’ out there, and now Dan Klefstad helps to bring them into the 21st century.  This is the perfect time for a new vampire to be released as we are in the month of October when all things scary come out to play, and now we have Fiona to look out for.  (Be especially wary of her if you are of the O negative blood type, as that is her preferred drink. And she WILL find you if she finds the need).

Klefstad brings a fresh take on the vampire lore: They need 10 pints of blood NIGHTLY and because of this, Fiona hires human ‘Guardians’ to help her with acquiring her needs of her special dietary restrictions.  We meet Daniel who has been working for the 250 year old Fiona for the last 35 years and he is finally nearing retirement. He just needs to find a replacement.  But things are easier said than done.  

There is so much more to the novel than it seems.   Dealing with Fiona’s special diet and the extreme lengths that Daniel has to go to to appropriate her 10 pints of blood nightly. We do get to see a good bit of that.  But why does Daniel stay with Fiona after all this time? 

We are also dealing with the Catholic Church and some monks in a society called the Mors Strigae determined to kill all vampires and the humans who work for them.  The novel goes back and forth between both sides as the battle fights on. 

Fiona’s Guardians is composed of short chapters, which I always enjoy.  Those short chapters make it hard to put down! I just wish I had had more time to read more of it together rather than spaced out over time. And Ms. Fiona even speaks to the reader a few times herself!  Fiona is what this novel is about whether she is in the scene or not: Everything is about Fiona. As I read the novel I pictured Fiona as Angelina Jolie. I would absolutely love to see her play Fiona! 

I have worked with Dan over the past few years when Fiona’s Guardians started as short stories including The CaretakerThe Caretaker is Daniel’s letter of warning to the applicant that is chosen to replace him.  I am happy to see Klefstad’s hard work pay off as Fiona’s Guardians finally is published.  Many thanks to Dan and his publisher Burton Mayers Books for granting me an e-arc to read and review. It has been a pleasure and I hope we see more of Fiona in the future!  

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK