This is a brilliant book for people who want to see a new, and a not quite so brilliant side of Garion. The start is quite tedious, but once you get in to the story you can't stop. I often find myself reading this book when I need to have a good laugh, so if you call yourself an Eddings fan you can't skip this book!

The Guardians of the West starts off where the Belgariad ends, basically after Belgarion and C'nedra's wedding.  You learn of the ups and downs of their marriage.  After some struggling and murders, Belgarion and C'nedra have a baby.  The baby is later stolen, and their adventure starts there.
Half the book is a recap of the Belgariad as well as a foundation for the new adventure.  So it may seem tedious for those who have read the first series, but still its worth reading.