Book Review: Immortal Guardians really catches you off guard

Hallo. It's time for another book review. Today I finished ready the first book of Fall of the Beasts, the next Spirit Animals series, Immortal Guardians.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Plot:
It's been several months since the events of The Evertree, and Erdas is rebuilding from the war with the Conquerors. However people have been calling the Great Beasts as Spirit Animals, much like Conor, Abeke, Rollan, and Meilin have called Briggan, Uraza, Jhi, and Essix. When you think everything will be fine and dandy, trouble rears its ugly head again. Zerif is back, and he has gained a power that allows him to rip the Great Beasts away from the people they've bonded with. What's more, the new Evertree is sick, and mysterious parasites are appearing that are causing trouble. Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan must return to the role of saving Erdas as they split up to investigate the source of what is poisoning the Evertree and find the remaining Great Beasts and their partners before Zerif can claim them for himself. The stakes are higher than before, for if they fail Erdas as we know it will fall.
I was surprised to find out that Spirit Animals would continue because I thought once the Conquerors were stopped that would be the end of the story. I was delighted to be proven wrong. I was surprised with how quickly things were escalating in this book, and more than once was given my share of surprises and shocks. I truly felt concerned for the safety of the characters, and the tragic turn of events was saddening. Eliot Schrefer knows his craft as he creates a delightful story that takes elements of interior-world novels and Norse mythology, and combines them in an incredible adventure that raises the level of entertainment and excitement from the last novels. If you haven't read these books yet I would highly recommend you do, especially if you love exploring the realms of fantasy.
Caution:
A parasite takes possession of people and turns them into ghouls. A man stealing animals from their partners might be too intense for some readers. Characters are in peril, and there is some action against the ghouls. Animals fight each other and are injured. Blood is mentioned.
Lessons:
A common cause can unite old enemies. We must try to remember the past, and if we don't learn from it we could hurt our future. Be proud of who you are. Selfishness and greed can ruin goodness. There is more to our world than what we know, and we should be willing to seek it out.