For fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Furyborn comes a thrilling new fantasy about a kingdom ravaged by war, and the princess who might be the key to saving not only those closest to her, but the kingdom itself, if she reveals the very secret that could destroy her.
SHIELDED by KAYLYNN FLANDERS
Series: Shielded #1
Publication date: July 21, 2020
Published by: Delacorte Press
Genre: YA fantasy
SYNOPSIS
The kingdom of Hálendi is in trouble. It's losing the war at its borders, and rumors of a new, deadlier threat on the horizon have surfaced. Princess Jennesara knows her skills on the battlefield would make her an asset and wants to help, but her father has other plans.
As the second-born heir to the throne, Jenna lacks the firstborn's--her brother's--magical abilities, so the king promises her hand in marriage to the prince of neighboring Turia in exchange for resources Hálendi needs. Jenna must leave behind everything she has ever known if she is to give her people a chance at peace.
Only, on the journey to reach her betrothed and new home, the royal caravan is ambushed, and Jenna realizes the rumors were wrong--the new threat is worse than anyone imagined. Now Jenna must decide if revealing a dangerous secret is worth the cost before it's too late--for her and for her entire kingdom.
Purchase your copy now!As the second-born heir to the throne, Jenna lacks the firstborn's--her brother's--magical abilities, so the king promises her hand in marriage to the prince of neighboring Turia in exchange for resources Hálendi needs. Jenna must leave behind everything she has ever known if she is to give her people a chance at peace.
Only, on the journey to reach her betrothed and new home, the royal caravan is ambushed, and Jenna realizes the rumors were wrong--the new threat is worse than anyone imagined. Now Jenna must decide if revealing a dangerous secret is worth the cost before it's too late--for her and for her entire kingdom.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KayLynn Flanders is a graduate of Brigham Young University, with a degree in English Language and a minor in editing. When she’s not writing, she spends her time playing volleyball, reading, and traveling. She lives in Utah with her family, and thinks there’s nothing better than a spur-of-the-moment road trip.
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Shielded by KayLynn FlandersMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was everything I look for in a fantasy and more. This is such an exciting debut from new author, KayLynn Flanders! I can't get over the quality of the plot and characterization in this novel. I've read many books by seasoned authors that weren't even close to this caliber. I was particularly impressed with Jennesara, the main protagonist, and the way the intricate world was introduced without a dry and boring info dump. As the first in a series, many times you see the pace suffer for a good chunk in the beginning in order to explain the setting and often large groups of characters. That wasn't the case here, as I was engrossed immediately and thoroughly absorbed until turning the last page.
The book begins briefly in the heroine's home of Hálenborg as she's on the verge of turning seventeen. Her father has secretly betrothed her the prince of a neighboring kingdom in order to bolster their weakened defenses. There has been unrest at their borders from a mysterious source, and an alliance between Hálenborg and Turian would be beneficial to both kingdoms. Her father isn't cold or uncaring in trading his daughter for the good of his country, but unfortunately Jenna is not given more warning than a day before she must set out for her new home. Knowing how the marriage will not only help her family, but her people, she agrees without protest to do her duty. Her brother Ren sets out on the journey with her with his own mission, both armed with ancient magic artifacts gifted by their father for protection.
I loved the sibling relationship between Ren and Jenna. Her magical ability of feeling her loved ones' emotions through a "tether" gave her a special connection and closeness. The bond they had felt like that of twins and/or best friends. Her magical ability was different from many others I've read before. She could reach out mentally through their link no matter how far away they were to check on them. The downside was that she couldn't communicate her own back, and if the person died, she would feel pain from disconnecting to them. Jenna grew up hiding her ability in order to prevent any disputes over her brother being the rightful heir to the throne. Typically only the firstborn inherits magical powers, and it wasn't explained yet why this occurred. This is one point I'm looking forward to solving, possibly in the next book of the series. (It's unclear if this will be a duology or trilogy at this point.)
On the way to Turia, Jenna comes face to face with the kingdom's mysterious enemy and what she discovers is chilling. Not only does she have the fight of her life in front of her, she's unprepared and untrained to even attempt to take them on. She must escape completely alone, in a deadly, magical forest that plays tricks on your mind. She proves her courage time and again when faced with impossible challenges. All this while suffering hunger, pain, and trying to survive in unfamiliar territory. This is a strong heroine that anyone would find it easy to root for and love.
Throughout the story, you're gradually fed pieces of information about the history of the three kingdoms, their politics and players, and how a surprising power play effects all three. You learn the history of the banished mages, the Black Library, and a revenge plot that's been brewing for centuries. Jenna must keep her identity a secret in order to learn who she can trust in Turia as she hunts down answers about the enemy. Prince Enzo, his sisters, and grandmother have such a close relationship that she can't help but gravitate towards them. She tries to keep her distance emotionally, but she can't help but start to feel at home with them. There's a subtle romance that occurs, but it doesn't overtake the plot at any point. The focus was always on the fantasy while still satisfying this romance reader's heart.
Overall, Shielded delivered the goods, and I cannot wait to continue with the next installment. Of course there was a bit of a cliffhanger as you would expect, but it's not horribly suspenseful. I'm looking forward to seeing Jenna learn how to harness and practice her abilities further as she grows more confident in her power. We've only touched the surface in discovering what she is capable of, and I have a feeling that it's going to be thrilling to see her magic mature. If you're looking for a fantasy that will keep you feverishly turning the pages long into the night, look no further. Your next fantasy read is right here.
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