The guardians of the citadel

The guardians of the citadel is a trilogy of fantastic literature created by the Spanish Laura Gallego. Launched between April 2018 and March 2019, the series shows all the characteristic features of a novelist with a fairly original style. Very recognizable for its fluidity, as well as for exciting stories loaded with an astonishing descriptive quality.

For these reasons - according to the reviews of magazines and specialized websites - the texts of the Valencian author are very funny, easy to read. The three books that make up The guardians of the citadel they are no exception. On the whole, represent a very prominent title within the extensive career of a very creative writer and with large sales numbers.

About the author

The first writings of Laura Gallego date from 1988 (at an age of eleven years). His superb ability to create imaginary worlds constitutes a very relevant contribution to the lyrics. Spanish and for the fantastic literature in general. It is not a minor fact, because within this subgenre there are not many prominent Spanish-speaking authors.

Born in Cuart de Poblet (Valencian Community) on October 11, 1977, Laura Gallego has a degree in Hispanic Philology. Since 1999 it has accumulated literary distinctions and recognitions thanks to its vast production; 41 books to date. Of which, most (27) are juvenile novels, as well as several children's stories, almost all with fantasy literature themes.

Some of the most outstanding titles of Laura Gallego

• end of the world (1998). Barco de Vapor Award from Editorial SM (1999). Finalist for the National Prize for Children's and Young People's Literature.
• The Legend of the Wandering King (2003) Barco de Vapor Award from Editorial SM.
• Saga Idhun's memories:
  • The resistance (2004)
  • Triad (2005)
  • Pantheon (2006)
• Saga Sara and the scorers (realistic literature):
  • Creating team (2009)
  • Girls are warriors (2009)
  • Top scorers in the league (2009)
  • Soccer and love are incompatible (2010)
  • The scorers do not give up (2010)
  • The last goal (2010)
• Where the trees sing (2011). National Prize for Children's and Young People's Literature (2012 edition).

Additionally, Laura Gallego was distinguished with the 2012 Cervantes Chico Prize due to her literary career. Not in vain, is an author translated into more than fifteen languages ​​and with a well-deserved space among the creators of fantastic literature internationally.

Opinions on the trilogy The guardians of the citadel

This series is the most recent work of Laura Gallego. The highest proportion of criticism received has been favorable. However, some reviews accuse the third book of unnecessarily lengthening the story and adding bland "filler" characters.

Anyway, no opinion - however contrary - can refute an inherent aspect of all Gallego's creations: all three books are truly entertaining. Equally, being so well written (and detailed), it is easy for readers to immerse themselves in their fantastic worlds. Therefore, they are quite fast and fun to read. The saga consists of:

• Axlin's bestiary (April 2018).
• Xein's secret (November 2018).
• Rox's mission (March 2019).

Axlin's bestiary

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The beginning of the series focuses mainly on the description of a world divided into enclaves whose inhabitants live in constant distress because of hideous creatures. Therefore, the objective of all settlers is to defend themselves from these monstrosities as men and to try to reproduce to perpetuate the species.

The journey of a unique girl

Axlin, the scribe from her western frontier village, has different life aspirations than finding a husband and procreating. Rather, she wants to collect all the information about the monsters in order to classify them and identify their weaknesses. A logical mission in a convalescent young woman (with a limp) for life after barely surviving an attack.

Despite his physical condition, Axlin decides to go on a journey accompanied by some merchants to complete her investigation. For her acquaintances it is not a strange event, since she is the only one who decided to learn to read and write in a context where the most important thing is to learn to hunt and survive the attacks of monsters.

The road to the Citadel

In the middle of the plot other important characters for the saga appear. Among them, Xein, a warrior with whom he has an intense love-hate relationship. The adventure leads the protagonist to face a series of monsters. Which, serves to capture basic knowledge for your guide (bestiary). Eventually, its classification includes -among others- the following figures:

• Galloping.
• Tongues.
• Scrawny.
• Bone Robber.
• Clickers.
• Overloads.
• Slugs
• Wet beak.

The great goal of all the characters is to reach the Citadel, a place totally free of monsters. Therefore, it is the only really safe place to sleep at night. Towards the end of this book it becomes apparent that many more unsolved mysteries remain., as well as individual stories to reveal.

Xein's secret

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The misunderstanding that caused the emotional breakdown between Axlin and Xein is still present. On the other hand, Plot delves into the lives of the librarian and the warrior as they try to find each other, but they always end up facing each other. She continues her collection of lore about monsters, he is now officially a guardian of the Citadel.

Then, Rox enters the scene. She is a young guardian capable of understanding almost tacitly with Xein. Whereby, they form an exceptional guard pair, very efficient in eliminating any threat. However — as much as he tries to hide it — Xein is still in love with Axlin, even though he has his own unfinished business of family.

The monsters of the second installment

Xein suspects that his father is a skin-changer, a type of monster capable of stealing the form of his most recent victim. These spawns can only be identified by yellow-eyed guardians. As the story unfolds, the sequence momentarily focuses on characters like Rox or Dex (a good friend of Axlin's), whose origins are also unclear.

Later, the Citadel enters a state of chaos due to the crowding of people from the western border (now controlled by monsters). Axlin wants to go help his countrymenBut when Xein is sent to the eastern front - the most dangerous of all - due to insubordination, she decides to go rescue him.

Rox's mission

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The plots of all the characters involved in the previous books intersect with each other. Consequently, the relations between them are becoming more and more complicated due to the secrets revealed, especially between Axlin and Xein. Although, those same discoveries may hold the key to freeing your world from the yoke of monsters.

A past with the keys to a prosperous future

Among the people crowded behind the wall desperately trying to enter the Citadel an apocalyptic philosophical movement emerges, the Path of the Spring. A theological-intellectual group whose most frequent slogans predict the end of the known world.

Casually, When Dex begins to investigate this sect, the clues give him clues about the moment in the past that gave rise to the monsters. In the end, all the indications attest to a very surprising cause and a perfect closure for the circle of all the characters in the trilogy.