{"product_id":"guardians-of-the-gift-thomas-longfellow-9780615529974","title":"Guardians of the Gift","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"A politically conflicted nation faces internal dissent and the threat of invasion in Longfellow's fast-paced allegorical novel of dystopian fantasy.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e-Kirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBOOK SUMMARY: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCompletely controlling Federal City, the Enlightened heralded their 'Save and Create Jobs' program as a wild success. They celebrated after taxing the rich out of existence. They cheered the outlawing of horses and livestock due to their damaging effects on the climate. One of their proudest achievements was passing the 'Right to a Healer' ten years earlier. And now the Enlightened-led by their charismatic Presiding Chief-are on the brink of permanently reforming the country with their most controversial legislation yet-the 'Right to Eat'.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLittle did they know that the rapacious Kingdom of Anic to the south had mobilized their legions and deployed their amphibious landing fleet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat is where this story begins.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMAIN CHARACTERS: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a story of five individuals whose destinies are unknowingly intertwined. Jake is a medic on the frontlines of battle fighting an invading horde in the south. Jenny is his sister who recently finished medical school. Fletcher is their older brother who pioneered a new settlement in the northern frontier. Willard, their father, is the chief of police (known as the Head Protector) of their home village. And Thomas, unrelated to Willard's family, is about to finish his silversmith apprenticeship. Little did all five of them know that their nation faced extinction and they each would be key to its survival.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlease check out the sample excerpts below!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe author welcomes your thoughts and feedback.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eguardiansofthegift@gmail.com\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEXCERPT #1: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThomas returned to the tool shed holding a candle. He stepped inside. The candle light illuminated the cluttered wood shack. He looked down at the dead legionnaire.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis eyes focused on the flag-a patch sewn onto the uniform. A familiar warmth raced through his body.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis thoughts rebounded back to the day he took the oath-the day he received his flag. Recruits weren't authorized to wear the symbolic patch. They had to earn the title of \"legionnaire\" and swear to protect the Document first.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThomas thought of the frigid mountain summit. He recalled the oath. He remembered shivering, holding his right hand up, and peering down on the Continent. The ray of light that broke through the clouds wasn't from the sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe sun can't warm one's soul.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe dormant legionnaire inside of him awoke. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEXCERPT#2: \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"Elder Bertha, your incompetence makes me nauseous. There are undiscovered tribes in the southern continent-untouched by civilization-that can squeeze votes out of people better than you!\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShock gripped her wrinkled face. The leader of the Lower Half of Elder Hill was speechless. Drool glistened on the corner of her lips. Silence echoed through the room. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe said, \"That was a joke. Laugh.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe nine remaining elders, in the closed door meeting, forced laughs fearing for their professional lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Presiding Chief pointedly said, \"You know, all I see around me are people I want to fire. But I can't. That's the problem with elections-it's difficult to control the results. Now, Bertha, what are you going to do?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"What sir?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"If stupidity was a disease. You're the plague. And I'm the cure. What is the first 'no' vote's reason for not supporting the Right to Eat?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Ah-\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Offer him something. Every elder has a skeleton in their closet...or a minnow that is blocking irrigation water and enraging their constituents.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWebsite: www.guardiansofthegift.com\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Like on Facebook!\u003c\/p\u003e http: \/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100002875071337\u0026amp;sk=info#!\/pages\/Guardians-of-the-Gift\/245775502127489?sk=notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Thomas Longfellow\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0615529976\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780615529974\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Thomas Longfellow\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/02\/2011\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 220\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.66lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.02h x 5.98w x 0.46d","brand":"Thomas Longfellow","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48742284361983,"sku":"9780615529974","price":8.73,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_4e10d85c-2bc6-44d9-9149-32f6c1029699.jpg?v=1782444488","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/guardians-of-the-gift-thomas-longfellow-9780615529974","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}