The Shield of Hope: Book One

The Cursed Fates #1

by Anna Lynn Hammar

Faryn had always been a protector. It was forced upon her young, but she had done whatever it took to keep her sister safe. So when the Queen had ordered her to find a missing princess in exchange for her and her sister’s safety, Faryn agreed. With the help of three unlikely companions, Faryn finds herself not only in a task of rescuing a princess, but helping to incite a rebellion within her kingdom. The Shield of Hope is an epic fantasy novel featuring characters you will fall in love with and a storyline that will hook you from the beginning.

Genres: Ebooks, Fantasy

401 pages, Paperback

Published February 17, 2022

About the author

Anna Lynn Hammar is a fantasy author based out of Connecticut. She lives there with her black poodle and library of books. When not writing, she spends her time at museums, at the beach, or playing dungeons and dragons with friends. Her trilogy, The Cursed Fates Series, debuted in the spring of 2022. Since then, she has been fueled by new worlds she has yet to show to the world. You can learn more about this series and future ones on her Instagram and TikTok @AuthorAnnaLynnHammar

Reviews

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay here we go. Listen, I wanted to love this, I really did but unfortunately I did not. Also I have read book by this author before recently Enigma and Morally Grey and I did really enjoy those! Especially Enigma, that one was so, so good. This one fell flat to me, knowing this was her debut novel and seeing the growth in her other works is amazing! I suppose if I started with this one and ended with the others it would have gone better, I’m not sure. Anyways some points, first and foremost I very much dislike an insta love and that is what we got with our two. Now, I loved fated mates but done right, this just wasn’t done right for me it was too much of the safe space already and being with each other, wasn’t enough getting to know each other before finding that pull. Additionally I felt it was a lot of tell and not show, where I was told things happened but not showed. The POV switches were too abrupt for me, sometimes I could not tell whose head I was in, it would kind of switch mid chapter or event sentence as opposed to a whole new chapter. Now, I love a good found family trope where they are forced to go together on this harrowing journey and forge a reluctant bond together…. It happened way too fast! I get we must move the plot along, but the first book should have been more of moving this along and focusing on building those bonds, suddenly one of the guys Ash is like “are we friends??” And everyone is like yes we are, like girl we barely know each other we are not friends yet to have that found family trope. Their mission which was assigned to the queen was completed in page 107, it was a 400 page book what are we doing? Why make it a whole thing and then finish early didn’t make sense. I suppose my biggest frustration was the lack of world building, it’s hard to have this neat world and not know nearly enough about it, as well as the instant trust thing bothers me, I like when they build a relationship. Now, don’t let my review scare you away, this could be an amazing book for you! I do love her other works and please don’t shy away from this author, she has grown tremendously since her debut novel and I greatly look forward to her future work to come!

[Anna Hammar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm the author and think I did a good job.

[Holly Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read shield of hope by anna lynn hammar before books, gowns, and crowns earlier this year, and tbh, i really should have posted this spoiler-free review earlier because if you haven’t read this yet, you are missing out. all i have to say is…wow. i’m in love. i absolutely devoured the whole series! anni really knows how to grab your attention the entire time…and the cliffhanger? *chef’s kiss* FIVE STARS!!!
some things that i ✨loved✨ are:
🖤fated mates🖤
💜found family💜
💔healing a broken heart💔
😎epic quest😎
🏳️‍🌈lgbtqa+ representation🏳️‍🌈
👯‍♀️👯‍♀️multiple POV👯‍♀️👯‍♀️

[Kathy Renn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually my first fantasy book. I thought it was good, it kept moving and kept me entertained. I do look forward to reading more books by this Author.

[Em]

DNF at 54%. There were so many things wrong with this. I've been attempting to read it for WEEKS, but would read maybe 10 pages a day and hate every second of it.

1. The plot is nonexistent
2. They accomplished their "quest" immediately, which was super unrealistic and honestly the DUMBEST way to get from the beginning to where the actual "plot" starts.
3. There is SO MUCH showing and then IMMEDIATELY telling. Choose one or the other, fam.
4. Every time they mentioned the "mating bond," I wanted to cause SERIOUS bodily harm because it was just. So. RIDICULOUS. I have no issues with mating bonds that are written well (which has been like one time), but this is the worst depiction of "mates" that I've ever been unfortunate enough to read.
5. The grammar. My GOD the grammar. The final straw for me was the use of "ruff" instead of "rough." Like, are you kidding me?

Would not recommend this to literally anyone.

[Shanna Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything about this book held me to the edge of my seat. I finished the whole series in two days. Just couldn't put it down.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.