"Guardian of the Gate" by Michelle Zink [4 1/2]

"While Altus holds the answer to the final pieces

of the prophecy's puzzle, there are those who will not want us to reach it's safe haven.

The Souls will not let us pass unchallenged.

And neither will my sister."

Sixteen year old Lia Milthorpe must journey to the uncharted isle of Altus to search for the missing pages of the Book of Chaos - the pages that could tell her how to end the prophecy that turned generations of sisters against each other.

But her twin sister Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim Lia's role as the Gate. And that's not the only thing she wants: there's also Lia's true love.

I have been looking forward to this next installment from this series, and it's been very good. So we left off with Lia and her friend Sonia travelling to London to find the next pieces of the prophecy and also the last two keys. Meanwhile back in New York her sister Alice is growing stronger by the day and she doesn't care for the rules of magic and steps outside the boundaries.

Aunt Abigail is the Lady of Altus and she is dying so she sends for Lia to give her the clues for the rest of the manuscript to find the missing pieces of the prophecy. Of course Lia is helped by the hunky Dimitri and a new passion arises between these two, but what about James who she left behind in New York and still has feeling for?

This has been a good second novel, it's fast paced and gets straight into the story without to much catch up. All of this novel is about Lia getting to Altus and then her next journey to find more information about the prophecy. I'm starting to really enjoy the character of Lia, she is becoming a strong young woman who is dealing with the lost of all her family including her sister Alice to the "DARK SIDE". She has to deal with betrayal in this novel and that is a difficult thing for her to forgive. The introduction of Dimitri is great and I must admit I like my tall, dark and handsome men, who seem a little mysterious as well. Dimitri has an instance connection with Lia and it is the same with Lia to a degree, but she hasn't forgotten James ... she just doesn't have time to deal with the relationship side as yet.

So here is a little piece to wet your appetite ...

"Are you not afraid, out here in the dark?" The deep voice comes to me from the shadows.

I straighten, unable to make out the face or form of the man to whom the voice belongs.

"No. Are you?"

He chuckles, and it is like warm wine spreading its fingers through my body.

"Not at all. In fact, sometimes I think I should be more afraid of the light."

I pull myself back to the present, opening my palms to the darkness around us. "If that is true, then why don't you show yourself? There is no light here."

"So there isn't."

He steps into the dim glow of the half moon, his dark hair gleaming even with so little illumination.

With just over 300 pages it is an afternoon read ... without interruptions of course. So now we'll all be hanging out for the next installment ... please come soon!

I rate this book 4 1/2 stars.