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Shielded

(Shielded #1)

KayLynn Flanders (Goodreads Author)

3.95 · Rating details · 1,808 ratings · 633 reviews

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.

The kingdom of Hálendi is in trouble. It's losing the war at its borders, and rumors of a new, deadlier threat on ...more

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Hardcover, 424 pages

Published July 21st 2020 by Delacorte Press

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The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning

YA Releases of July, 2020

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Mar 06, 2020 Nilufer Ozmekik rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is another surprisingly amazing installment with its mind-bending, intriguing world-building, well-crafted character development, riveting story-telling, heart throbbing progression and satisfying ending! And let’s not forget to praise the brilliant illustration! Lately the covers of the books are breathtaking and thankfully there are such amazing artists out there to support fantastic reviews with their skilled imaginative minds!

I’m not gonna write a long review and take your precious time This is another surprisingly amazing installment with its mind-bending, intriguing world-building, well-crafted character development, riveting story-telling, heart throbbing progression and satisfying ending! And let’s not forget to praise the brilliant illustration! Lately the covers of the books are breathtaking and thankfully there are such amazing artists out there to support fantastic reviews with their skilled imaginative minds!

I’m not gonna write a long review and take your precious time. I’m gonna summarize the facts why I liked the book so much:

Fact one: HEROINE: Jennesara is decent, trustworthy, likeable character. She is a princess and she is also warrior but she isn’t blood thirsty, looking for vengeance kind of heroine, not excessively badass, tough, wild, violent and obnoxious. She does not have a tragic background story, not suffering from any loss or dysfunctional family drama. Her father tells her to marry with the prince of Turia for benefiting the resources to save their kingdom and she happily obeys her father to save her family. Maybe you may misjudge her for not fighting her way out or blaming her not to have any trace of feminism in her system but she is a real sweetheart to sacrifice herself for the safety of her loved ones and her kingdom.

Fact two: BEAUTY OF ROMANCE: I don’t normally love insta love stories but romance parts of this book surprisingly warmed my frozen and cruel heart (daily I pour boiling water on it to feel something but neighborhood kids still call me Cruella de Vil)

Fact three: MOVING STORY-TELLING: Of course I enjoyed action-packed, moving, exciting and heart throbbing chapters which were truly unputdownable. Betrayal, lies, family ties intercepted with magic, fantasy and epic romance makes you sigh several times are tasty combination for any kind of readers’ dreamy books.

Only thing I didn’t like and resulted with cutting one of the stars was ULTRA FAST PACING! I normally enjoyed fast-pacing and I admitted too many times I’m not a big fan of slow burn fantasies. But in this book, you need extra time to absorb the whirlwind events because too many things happening at the same time and you want to take a break and slow your heart rhythm, feeling like just finished 5K marathon, breathing in and out to gather your senses. So I wish the pace could be a little slower or some of the actions could be saved for the second book.

But overall: it’s enjoyable, perfectly- written epic journey, mesmerizing you and captivates your focus, energy, soul and heart at the same time. At the end you keep smiling because you had great time during your reading and enjoy every second of the characters’ journey.
So I stick with my exhilarating, actin packed, entertaining, epic four stars! And I cannot wait to read the second book into my hands.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for sharing this fantastic ARC with me in exchange my honest review.

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Mar 30, 2020 megs_bookrack rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs-read

With the kingdom of Halendi at war, and rumors of an even deadlier threat looming on their borders, the King makes a deal for protection.

The price is high, however, as he promises his daughter's hand to the Prince of the neighboring kingdom of Turia.

With the engagement, Halendi will get the additional troops they desperately need to stage a better defense.

Princess Jennesara is disheartened to learn of her father's deal, which was made without her consent.

Jenna has a warrior's heart and she know ...more

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Jul 31, 2020 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-all, fairyloot, young-adult, hardback-own, own

Omg! I got this book in my FairyLoot! I’ve wanted to read it! I love everything in my box! As usual, click under the picture to see all of the GOODIES!

GOODIES LINK: https://melissa413readsalot.blogspot....

This book!! It’s so damn good and my heart just broke. I also like to listen to relaxing epic fantasy music when reading lately. This music hit the mark on many parts. I’ll see if this link works to it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6nRFaOF...

This book was everything! I fell in love with Jenna ...more

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Jul 15, 2020 Helena of Eretz ✰ rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, high-fantasy, arcs

I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This is a 3.5 star rating rounded up to 4 because...Goodreads is allergic to half-star ratings, it seems.

So, this wasn't even on my radar this year. In fact, I hadn't even added it to my shelves until Laur bullied me into requesting the ARC xD ... but I'm so glad that I listened to her!!!

This was pitched as Furyborn (which I can't attest to, as I DNF'ed that :P) meets Sorcery of Thorns, ...more

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Apr 13, 2020 Renaissance Kate rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, fantasy-reads, read-in-2020

In the original mini-review I posted right after finishing this book, I compared reading Shielded to eating your favorite meal at a chain restaurant. For YA Fantasy fans, the flavors you expect are there so it’s fairly enjoyable, and there are even a few intriguing touches throughout the story; however, it ultimately doesn’t really offer anything new. That being said, if you’re looking to lose yourself in a typical YA Fantasy, you will likely enjoy this book.

Our 1st person POV protagonist, Prin In the original mini-review I posted right after finishing this book, I compared reading Shielded to eating your favorite meal at a chain restaurant. For YA Fantasy fans, the flavors you expect are there so it’s fairly enjoyable, and there are even a few intriguing touches throughout the story; however, it ultimately doesn’t really offer anything new. That being said, if you’re looking to lose yourself in a typical YA Fantasy, you will likely enjoy this book.

Our 1st person POV protagonist, Princess Jennesara of Hálendi, or “Jenna”, is a refreshing YA heroine who is level-headed and thoughtful, calculates risks before taking action, and proves herself a kind person and a good friend. I didn't believe she had "skills on the battlefield" as the book’s blurb and first couple chapters imply because, until this story, she has never seen combat before. But overall she is likable as our narrator.

Like Jenna, Crown Prince Enzo of Turia has some similarly refreshing qualities for a YA prince. He isn’t broody or cold, nor is he always rambling about his duty or honor or something else YA princes usually sulk about. He’s kind, brave, and protective of his family. His romance with Jenna is sweet, and we get the fun hidden identities trope; however, their love story didn’t have enough chemistry to make my heart swell or inspire me to pause mid-paragraph to press the book (or in this case, my Kindle) to my chest and smile with glee. There are elements of insta-love, and the romance seems like it’s handed to the characters instead of something they worked for. On the bright side, there is not a love triangle in this story!

Of our cast of side characters, my favorite is Jenna’s elder brother, Prince Ren. He is the Hálendian crown prince who uses his magic not for power or for war, but as a healer. He and Jenna have a close bond, literally and figuratively, which KayLynn Flanders develops very quickly but very efficiently early on in the book. This makes it easy to root for their sibling relationship, and although Ren isn’t in the story very much, he shines when he does make an appearance.

Otherwise, I can’t say much more about the other side characters. We have the older mentor figure who trains Jenna to use her magic, the lovable bodyguard, the creepy and mysterious foreign ambassador, the cantankerous grandmother, and a couple “surprise” betrayals. Jenna’s friendship with Princess Chiara is endearing but not too memorable, and Princess Marietta is supposed to be eight years old but reads much younger, like she’s four or five. The Turian king and queen are strangely quick to trust Jenna and welcome her into their home, despite the fact that they don't really know her and war was just declared between their kingdoms.

Then we have our big baddie, Graymere, and his posse of evil mages. Unfortunately, these villains were the weakest of the bunch for me. Not only are they one-dimensional, but their names are contrived to the point of being a bit comical (Graymere, Redalia, Brownlok…). Their magical abilities, as well as their backstories and motivations as followers of the original Black Mage, are underdeveloped and actually became quite muddled over the course of the book. There was nothing unique or particularly frightening about them, even with some spooky shadow magic sprinkled in.

Additionally, throughout the book the author includes small cutaway scenes in 3rd person POV to show what the villains are up to. Flanders’ intention, I believe, was to create tension with dramatic irony while taking the opportunity to explore the villains’ motives and provide worldbuilding on the history and magic system. If you’ve read my other reviews, you’ll know I’m generally not a fan of authors’ inserting cutaways between chapters like this, as it’s incredibly jarring and pulls the reader out of the story. This was definitely the case with this book, especially since the POV changed from 1st to 3rd, and in my opinion the book would be stronger without these scenes. Authors, find a better way to weave important exposition into the mainframe of your story! It's a book, not a movie.

As for pacing, some parts of this book were a bit slow for me, while others had so much going on that I became a bit lost. The first 40% or so of the book, except for the best and most intense, emotional scene of the entire story around the 25% mark, consists mostly of Jenna traveling, with some magical worldbuilding and a medley of characters mixed in. By the time Jenna reaches her destination, I was so ready for something new to happen. Then, the rest of the book rapid-fire includes relationship building, flirtatious moments, political intrigue, an assassination attempt, combat training, researching in the library, a ball, a siege, a game of cat-and-mouse, an escape, a final battle, negotiations, and more. Also, somehow a lot of the book also entails Jenna getting injured, laying in bed and healing, then getting hurt and doing it all over again.

The magic system in this world is pretty loose and also a bit confusing. Some mages, like Jenna or Graymere, seem to have many different abilities, while others like Ren appear only to have a single power. Jenna’s magical artifacts were cool, but combined with all of her other half-baked abilities they lost their luster. I guess the book is called “Shielded” because one of her powers includes being able to shield herself and those near her from sight, like an invisibility spell? Did I miss something? Not to mention the magic emotional tethers that connect her to her family. There are so many elements to Jenna’s powers that just as she would begin to understand one aspect of them, something new would come up. Maybe this was Flanders’ intention, so we could feel Jenna’s confusion, but overall it was too much to take in. Also, I didn’t really understand why she wasn’t allowed to use magic or even reveal that she had powers at any point throughout the story? I know there’s a brief explanation at the beginning, but it didn’t heighten the stakes enough to make Jenna’s constant worry over concealing the streak in her hair believable.

Magic system aside, the worldbuilding in this book is just okay. Hálendi is a cold, icy northern kingdom that I think is supposed to be based on Scandinavia, but I’m not really sure. There is a magical forest through which Jenna has to travel to reach Turia. Turia is clearly Italy-inspired, from its geography, place and character names, and clothing, to the blatant use of Italian words in dialogue (“maledetto“, “bosco“, “cavolo“, etc.). I also have no idea what country or region Riiga is supposed to be based on – maybe Latvia? Flanders provides a solid base for this world, but I was still left with some questions.

I honestly did not expect this review to be so long! I clearly enjoyed this book to an extent, as I finished it in two days and had a lot to say. It’s a great read for anyone looking for an easy YA Fantasy story. Given all my issues with this story I don’t currently have plans to continue with the series, but overall I say Shielded is a decent debut with an absolutely gorgeous cover.

Thank you to Random House Children's/Delacorte Press via Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. ...more

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Jul 03, 2020 Ari rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-reads, netgalley-arc

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. BLOG | Instagram | Twitter | Amazon | Waterstones

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

"Magic, Jennesara, is not always predictable."

Now and again I enjoy a book despite the flaws that I see. Shielded is, in general, a passable read, but there's not a lot of depth to it. If you're looking for a novel with riveting characters, an absorbing story and immense growth throughout, then this is not the one for you. Most, if not all, remains at surf ...more

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Sep 09, 2020 Juliana (Midnight Book Blog) rated it liked it · review of another edition

I think the beginning and end of this are two totally different books.

The first half of this book seemed like a really, really slow version of Shadow and Bone. Thankfully, once the setting shifted, things got a lot more interesting, and a lot less familiar. Once Jenna met Mari, Chiara, and Enzo, I actually found the book really enjoyable. I’m a sucker for found family tropes, and the relationship Jenna has with all of them was really sweet. The characters were definitely the best part, and I hop ...more

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Mar 08, 2020 Holly (Holly Hearts Books) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: review-copies

A very simplistic but charming read. I enjoyed this. It reminds me of Throne of Glass and The Kiss of Deception in a way. The magic system captured my attention throughout the story and I really liked the different cultures described between the two main kingdoms, one is more snowy/cold with fair skin and light hair while the other is warm with bright colors, darker skin and darker hair but it’s not without its flaws.

The story is set at a cat and mouse pace. It’s a lot of hiding. Characters wait ...more

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Apr 07, 2020 Cindy ✩☽♔ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, fantasy, insta-love, arc

Rating ~3.5

An entertaining, somewhat familiar, fantasy adventure.

The Main Characters: Let's start off by making it clear that while our heroine and hero are truly their character archetypes. If you're looking for more morally gray characters, you will not find that here. Like, at all.

Jenna is a likable heroine. She is strong, determined, loyal. And while she can certainty fight like a warrior, she is not prone to violence. All she wants is to be with her family, to serve her country. So, altho Rating ~3.5

An entertaining, somewhat familiar, fantasy adventure.

The Main Characters: Let's start off by making it clear that while our heroine and hero are truly their character archetypes. If you're looking for more morally gray characters, you will not find that here. Like, at all.

Jenna is a likable heroine. She is strong, determined, loyal. And while she can certainty fight like a warrior, she is not prone to violence. All she wants is to be with her family, to serve her country. So, although she initially tries to fight it, she agrees to be sent off to wed a prince she has never met, for it means her kingdom will receive the help it so desperately needs.

Enzo/Teren is the nice guy of nice guys. He's kind and flirty with Jenna from the start, despite thinking she is no more than a servant tasked with and failing to protect his betrothed. He thinks critically and does not judge Jenna based on where she comes from, despite the looming threat of their nations going to war.

The Romance: Not going to lie, it comes on fast. Though, to be fair, it kind of feels everything in this book does. That being said, I'm not mad at it. Do I wish they'd had a bit more time and development? Sure. But that does not mean I did not thoroughly enjoy the bits we did get. It is in no way, some great, all-encompassing love that lights the pages on fire, but it was steady. They're sweet.

The Plot/Pacing: It felt like we were inching toward turbo speed at quite a few points. I enjoy fast-pacing, I really do. This, however, felt like a story that could have used a little more fleshing out. More time to establish relationships between everyone and their magical world. And maybe more time spent understanding why the villain, whose reveal was not all that surprising, felt the need to align himself with dangerous mages. I mean, did he truly think they would make him king? It seems naive, and from the bits we got of him he did not seem the naive sort.

Anyways, so while this story is in no way the most original thing out there. I found myself liking it all the same. It kind of like rom-com movie plots. In general, you know the formula, you have a pretty good idea of what to expect. The deciding factor at that point is whether or not the cast and chemistry shared among them work for you. And in this case, this worked for me.

So if you're looking for a pleasant, straightforward, light fantasy read, this might be the book for you!

I received a free ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thank you to Delcorte Press for providing me with a copy to read and review! ...more

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Jan 27, 2020 AJ rated it it was amazing

”Dark triangle tops of evergreens framed the canvas of the sky. The stars were mere pinpricks of light, yet they bathed the world in their glory.”

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange or an honest review!

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. Amazing and interesting world building, unique magic, characters that are interesting enough for you to get attached to, a swoon worthy romance and action that will have you on th ...more

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Mar 10, 2020 Alaina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-ng, fantasy, 2020-arcs, fiction, young-adult, romance, favorites

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

HOLY COW GUYS! I can't even comprehend what I just read. Wow, oh wow. Loved this book from start to finished and now I need to somehow cope with not being able to dive into the second book right now.

Seriously guys, Shielded was so freaking good. My love for Enzo and Jen will forever grow. I will admit the beginning was a little slow for me but after the first chapter, I was hooked. You couldn't pay me to put the book down b ...more

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Feb 01, 2020 Sheena ☆ Oh, the Sheenanigans! rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: action, death, fantasy, instant-love, pleasantly-surprised, marriage-or-marriage-arrangement, arcs-ebook, royalty, adventure, single-or-divorce-parents

“Shielded” tells the tale of Princess Jennesara, who sent off to marry her betrothed, the prince of neighboring Turia, in exchange for resources needed to save her Kingdom and when she is in route, a surprise ambushed alters the course of her life forever. Filled with betrayal, world-building, romance, fantasy, magic, and strong family ties (surprising to say the least), the reader is thrown in epic adventure that will have you turning pages faster than you had ever imagined.

And ...more

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Mar 31, 2020 Lexi rated it did not like it · review of another edition

DNF @ 70%

Y'all, I cant with this book. I notice the top reviews are waxing over how incredible and beautiful this was- I can't. Did we read different books.

Imagine it- the most generic YA premise ever. A princess who is defiant and lives in a just sexist enough universe to be frustrating universe- but also not quite sexist enough to cause her trauma. She has magic, but its a secret! Forced marriage! Traveling! More traveling. More...wait...what?

So heres my issue with this one. It took until abo ...more

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Nov 07, 2019 Taschima rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: e-arc-titles-done, netgalley-grind, my-happy-place, stacking-the-e-reader

Shielded is YA fantasy done right. I am so happy that the beautiful cover (which I definitely need in my bookshelf) matches the FANTASTIC story inside the pages. I love the characters, their relationships and development, the dialogue, the steady pace, the plot, the romance, and the world building. That's is 5 stars right there!

The heroine, Jenna, is both strong yet vulnerable. She is an eccentric princess who uses her brain in tough situations and doesn't take the easy way out. After a lot of b ...more

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Jul 18, 2020 Maria ☾ ⋆ marked it as to-read · review of another edition

The cover calls me to read this book! 👁👄👁

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Feb 18, 2020 Jessie Sedai of the Black Ajah🥀🐍 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This. Was. EXCELLENT.

This checked SO many boxes for me.

Rich, dense character development.
Beautiful, accurate depiction of combat.
Refreshingly unique, believable magic system.
A heroine who is a TRUE FREAKING HEROINE, an embodiment of VALOR and GRACE. A leader, a nurturer, a fierce warrior in every way.
Just the cutest romance, so cute I didn't even care it was a little insta-lovey.

This was everything that I, as a lover of epic fantasy, truly adore in my books. I LOVE slow burn, slow buildup narr ...more

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Mar 11, 2020 Aly rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, 2020, romance, ya, adventure, fantasy, march-2020

Holy crap I loved this! From the first chapter I was hooked and the whole book was fantastically written. Jennessa is a great character, she's a fighter and loves her family more than anything. Her adventure was so much fun and I liked the various friendships she made along the way. Enzo is a cutie and his sisters were fun characters. The world building was well done, I understood what happened without feeling overloaded. Great pacing and the romance was sweet. I can't wait for this to come out ...more

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Jan 21, 2020 Christie«SHBBblogger» rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, advanced-copy, magic, debut-author, fantasy, heroine-worship, part-of-a-series, arranged-marriage, july2020

Title: Shielded
Series: Shielded #1
Author: KayLynn Flanders
Release date: July 21, 2020
Cliffhanger: yes
Genre:YA fantasy

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 ...more

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Jul 20, 2020 laurel [the suspected bibliophile] rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-books, arcs, fantasy, 2020-read

Princess Jennesara knows that she's just as good of a warrior as anyone else in her country's army, but her father refuses to send her to the front to fight. Instead, she's sent off without fanfare or warning to wed the heir of another kingdom—while her brother goes to the front and her father prepares for trouble at home. When her caravan is ambushed and her family killed, Jennesara knows that it's up to her to save her kingdom and uncover the truth.

This was an enjoyable, if pretty standard, YA ...more

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Jul 21, 2020 Sarah {The Clever Reader} rated it really liked it

This was a great YA Fantasy! I enjoyed the fast-paced action packed adventure.

Jenna is ambushed with a marriage she didn’t know about and then ambushed again on her way to meet the poor sap. She didn’t want to get married but understands that she’s not the heir and despite her wish to marry for love she is bound to follow what is expected.

When she’s ambushed on her way to meet her betrothed she finds out that the impending war is much worse than expected and now it’s up to her to save her kingdo ...more

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Jan 27, 2020 Maddie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Fans of 'Snow Like Ashes'

Shelves: ya-fantasy, series-i-might-finish, reviewed-2020, 2020-releases, arcs

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, let's take a moment to appreciate this beautiful cover. I thought I hated every cover with a face on it but clearly no. Like, is this not the most gorgeous cover? That's what I thought.

Okay, now with what I thought of the book itself.

What an amazing start to a series!

This story, at its core, is about the bitter-sweetness of leaving your childhood behind as you enter into adulthood. It's about the fear, as w ...more

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Sep 28, 2020 ℓуηη, ℓσкιѕℓутнєя¢ℓαω rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-ya, first-in-series, favorites, duologies, annual-tbr, debuts, own, owned-unread, 2020-releases

I knew this one would be good! It was definitely on my high anticipation list for the year and it didn't disappoint!

A couple small things brought the rating down by half a star, but this book is still soooo good! And it helped drag my sorry arse out of a slump that started at the beginning of the month. So I'm so grateful to this fun read for saving me!

Our heroine is brave and courageous with a sword, and pushes on despite the odds heavily stacked against her. You have to admire that. I know I w I knew this one would be good! It was definitely on my high anticipation list for the year and it didn't disappoint!

A couple small things brought the rating down by half a star, but this book is still soooo good! And it helped drag my sorry arse out of a slump that started at the beginning of the month. So I'm so grateful to this fun read for saving me!

Our heroine is brave and courageous with a sword, and pushes on despite the odds heavily stacked against her. You have to admire that. I know I would've been dead or just a soggy lump of tears lost in the Wilds lol.

The evil mage trope never gets old for me. I just love it! Evil sorcery!!! Bring it all on!! And a mythical library of dark magical objects?? Yes, plz! Epic betrayals on royal levels, deceptions and traitors everywhere. Yes to all of it! Oh and let's not forget (view spoiler)

I really enjoyed the fast paced plot, it was perfect! I was engaged the whole time, which is a feat considering I was in the deep throes of a slump when I picked it up. I had some idea of who to not trust, but I couldn't figure out all the finer details, so that was a pleasure to uncover as I went along :D It was very well thought out and the writing flows so smoothly!

There's sooo many lovable characters in this tale! And I can't wait to be reunited with them again when Untethered releases next year! We had Enzo who's always smiling and joking; Luc, his gritty & sometimes grumpy bodyguard; Mari the adorable, devious little sister; Chiara, the older sister who is so kind and friendly to Jenna despite their countries being at war; Irena's & her family; Yesilia, who knows more than she says; Ren, Jenna's brother; even King Marko is likable. I just always have a weakness for side characters, and so to have a book with so many good ones in it makes me so happy!

Okay, onto my two minor issues: 1) is definitely the insta-love that happens between the characters. Maybe I'm just a hardcore cynic, but I just don't go for this trope or the "love at first sight", however you want to label it. I like relationships that feel like they grow naturally over time. Not in a mere eye-blink. I like them as a couple, I just wish it was more believably grown. Issue 2) there's a moment at the end where Jenna suggests (view spoiler). So in saying that, I think the ending was a tad on the weak side, but I still enjoyed all the rest of it. And (view spoiler)

Anyway, I'm looking forward to Untethered next year!!! There's so many good books to look forward to in 2021 and this sequel is definitely high on that list :D

I recommend this is you love court intrigues, badass sword-wielding ladies, and evil dark mages! Or just YA fantasy in general :) This is definitely a good one! ...more

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Jul 06, 2020 Andy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-read, own-ebook, own, book-box-edition, arc, fairyloot

I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Princess Jennesara is the second sibling and therefore is not in line for the throne of Halendi. She's had some freedom to train how she likes and is highly proficient with a sword. However, things aren't looking great for her country and since she's not the firstborn, she's not allowed to have magic, but she does. Jenna does all that she can to hide her abilities, even if they are small, so that her b ...more

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Jan 28, 2020 Amanda rated it it was ok

Shelves: did-not-finish

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Summary: The kingdom of Hálendi is in trouble. Jennesara "Jenna" has magic, but has kept it a secret from everyone except her brother. He also has magic, but this is acceptable as he is in line to inherit the throne. Jenna's future is simpler, she is betrothed to a foreign king and must continue to keep her secret. But things are not always what they seem, and as she is on her way to this new land, ...more

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Sep 27, 2020 Tasha Ní Mhiacháin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-box-books

“Chin up. They lose their power when you stop giving it to them."

4.5 ☆

I’m still reading my way out of an awful slump. This story had just a little of everything I love to keep me going.

Magic, secrets, battles, mystery, cute characters and ancient evils.

I really enjoyed Kaylynn's style of writing – I didn’t find it difficult to get swept away into the story, even with my slump looming over me.

I liked and disliked the pages between chapters. I thought it was a really clever way of giving insigh ...more

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Jun 20, 2020 Frankie Lovely rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-release

4.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Holy wow that was sooo sooo good!!!! I saw someone else say "for fans of Snow Like Ashes" (of which I am) ... and also greatly agree.

What I liked

Well, everything!

Seriously, I adored this book in its entirety. The world building was intriguing, easy to understand and unique. The political intrigue was spot on. There were twists and turns that I did not see coming (although I have some theories on a few things). And the ...more

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Oct 17, 2020 Gabriela rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I'll begin by telling you that I had no expectations whatsoever from this book. I just dived into it.

• Jennesara is a strong heroine. She's a fighter and knows how to hold her own, a survivor, a good strategist and she can be really funny 😹
Just an honest opinion: I would've liked it more if she wasn't trying to convince herself of things that aren't true or lying when she didn't have to.
These are the things that made me give her one star less and a scene I found a bit ... rushed and not on my li ...more

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Mar 10, 2020 Kelly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-arcs

After too many YA Fantasy flops in a row, I finally found one that I actually enjoyed! Can you believe it?

Shielded hooked me from the start and while the reveals and the direction of the plot was pretty predictable, I liked it nonetheless. Shielded doesn't re-invent the wheel but gives you a good story with a nice touch of romance (which I really liked) to keep you entertained. The characters in here were really well done. I was rooting for them and I teared up a little at one particular scene. ...more

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Sep 26, 2019 Kathryn Thompson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I read an early copy of this book and was completely swept up in the characters and world building. A completely magical read. I can’t wait for KayLynn Flanders’ talent to be released into the world. Amazing debut. Where is book 2?!

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Feb 03, 2020 Dana Swift rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Ever since this book got announced I've been looking forward to it! So you could say it was an absolute delight and privilege to get an ARC. It has all of my favorite tropes, especially political intrigue, hidden identities and a betrothal for the good of the kingdom.

I LOVED this book! I read it in two days! The relationship in here is everything I love about YA fantasy romance and the protagonist is everything I love about strong heroines. Jenna has an interesting magical ability you don't see ...more

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Genres

Fantasy

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Young Adult

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Young Adult > Young Adult Fantasy

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Romance

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Fantasy > Magic

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Adventure

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Fantasy > High Fantasy

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Fiction

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Romance > Fantasy Romance

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Young Adult > Teen

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About KayLynn Flanders

KayLynn Flanders

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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. Her debut novel is Shielded. To learn more about KayLynn, go to kaylynnflanders.com or f ...more

Other books in the series

Shielded (2 books)

Books by KayLynn Flanders

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Quotes from Shielded

“Don't dwell on your past - it's not where you're going” — 1 likes

“I feel trapped by who I am supposed to be, who I want to be, and who people expect me to be. I want to be able to be who I am without people throwing their expectations on me to be either more or less.” — 0 likes

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