A crumbling mansion, a powerful magic source, and stone gargoyles that come to life? Just some of the ingredients for a fantastic read. Do you think you have what it takes to become a guardian? Read author Tamsin Mori’s special piece about the skills you’ll need…

“A crumbling mansion

A magical source

A living gargoyle

Callen’s Dad has always been secretive of his past but when the family have to move into his childhood home, the last thing Callen expects is a boarded-up mansion covered in gargoyles. It’s enormous, the doors are nailed shut, the gardens are overgrown… and long-forgotten magic is returning. When a disgruntled gargoyle wakes up in his presence, Callen must befriend Zariel and earn her trust before it’s too late. A dark threat is growing in the shadows and only a Gargoyle Guardian can stop it.

“Magic is neither good, nor bad – it simply multiplies the dreams you feed it. Be careful what you wish for…”

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Guardian Skills by Tamsin Mori

Being a Guardian begins with caring about something. What do you care about? What do you want to protect? It could be your family, or your friends. Perhaps you care for a pet, or for wildlife. Perhaps it’s a place, or even an idea. What matters so much to you, that you’d be willing to protect it, no matter what?

It might be something big, or it might something that, to everyone else, is completely insignificant. There’s nothing wrong with starting small – you’ll still be making a difference.

When I was at school, there was a long concrete path that ran across the field. In rainy weather, worms would come out and go adventuring across it. I made it my personal mission to move them safely back to the grass, where they wouldn’t be stepped on, or baked into twigs when the sun came out. I was a worm Guardian. 

It doesn’t sound like much, but you have no idea how many happy worms are currently wriggling their way through the soil because I helped them avoid a horrid end. When I left the school, I tasked one of the reception children to carry on the quiet work of worm rescue. Perhaps there’s still a worm Guardian there now – I hope so. 

Most people begin by being Guardians to their friends – noticing when they need looking after or cheering up; sticking up for them when it’s needed. Who do you look out for? I suspect it’s more than one person. When you think about it, perhaps it’s lots of people? Maybe you change the world daily in more ways than you realise.

Truly gifted Guardians walk around with their eyes and hearts open. They have a special ability to notice when something doesn’t feel right and to do something about it – offering practical help, or the right words, or even just a smile.

I’ve been lucky enough to meet some amazing Guardians in my life – kind strangers and thoughtful friends – people who brought moments of brightness to difficult days. Not all of them were people I knew. Some of them, I’d just met and never saw again – they were simply there in the moment they were needed. They are true heroes.

In Gargoyles, Guardians of the Source, it takes Callen a while to figure out what being a Guardian means. He likes the idea of being heroic – someone that his new friends will admire and look up to. However, he rapidly discovers that being a Guardian is not about looking cool, or having something to brag about; it’s scary – especially when there’s magic involved. He also has a sneaking suspicion that despite trying very hard, he may have been going about it all wrong. And sometimes, being honest about your mistakes takes more courage than facing monsters. 

Luckily, though Guardians often start their work alone (like me with my worms!), they rarely stay alone. By caring about something openly, you gradually discover who else feels the same way. Before long, you discover that you have a whole community of people standing beside you. The very best Guardians bring everyone together and remind us what’simportant.

So? What do you really care about? What will you protect?

The world needs more Guardians. And the best time to start, is right now!

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I love the premise of ‘finding your community’ that Tamsin mentions in her piece. I think that that is so key for many young people – although not necessarily because they need to protect the world from dark magical forces!

A great read for anyone who loves magical adventures set in contemporary times.

Jo.

*Many thanks to Uclan Publishing for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour*