What do you think?
Rate this book
The Protector's Ring
Jonah Blackstone just turned thirteen when life gave him the worst gift he could imagine, losing his parents in a mysterious accident. Now he's been whisked off to live with relatives in a small town in Georgia, where his troubles continue.
Jonah's harassed by a local bully, encounters Reapers, and pursued by supernatural canines, all while learning to use his growing powers. He eventually discovers why his parents died. They refused to reveal the location of a powerful ancient The Protector's Ring.
With the enemy closing in, Jonah must locate the ring to avoid the same grim fate.
Jonah's harassed by a local bully, encounters Reapers, and pursued by supernatural canines, all while learning to use his growing powers. He eventually discovers why his parents died. They refused to reveal the location of a powerful ancient The Protector's Ring.
With the enemy closing in, Jonah must locate the ring to avoid the same grim fate.
468 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2014
2 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 23, 2017
I came across this book (and the local author!) at BlerdCon, the convention for black nerds. The author is black, as is the main teenage protagonist. There are also several gay characters and indications our main character is too, which makes me incredibly happy.
I do, however, have to balance these pros against the cons. I think this one of the author's first novels and the writing did feel a bit immature. The plot was also somewhat derivative of other YA fantasy series with the main character discovering he is a "Fallen Reaper" and having to go up against the Grim Reaper etc etc. But for all that I wanted to find out what happened in the end, I thought the action sequences were particularly good, and I enjoyed reading it.
I do, however, have to balance these pros against the cons. I think this one of the author's first novels and the writing did feel a bit immature. The plot was also somewhat derivative of other YA fantasy series with the main character discovering he is a "Fallen Reaper" and having to go up against the Grim Reaper etc etc. But for all that I wanted to find out what happened in the end, I thought the action sequences were particularly good, and I enjoyed reading it.
April 25, 2023
This is the first installment of my favorite book series. Jonah is great! John Darr writes in such a relatable way, with Jonah's grief for his parents, discovering some secrets about himself, moving to a new state, while trying to manage being a teen boy in a new school.
The lore in this story is awesome and I enjoy how sprinkled the mythos is throughout the entire story.
The lore in this story is awesome and I enjoy how sprinkled the mythos is throughout the entire story.
March 7, 2015
OK, my 6th grader stole the book from me and has read it multiple times.
Jonah Blackstone is a kid trying to make it through middle school. But his ordinary life is ripped apart when his parents are violently killed by supernatural beings. Jonah doesn't understand what happened or why he is seeing strange people dressed all in black who seem invisible to everyone else. And he's developed an uncanny ability to sense Death before it happens.
Jonah discovers that he is only half human. His father was a Reaper who left to be with his mortal wife. Now he is living with his Aunt down in Georgia and dealing with cousins.
He must find the Protector's Ring--an artifact his father had guarded, but never told him about--before the sinister Marcus and his cohorts find it.
Of course they try to kill Jonah along the way.....
This book has great appeal for the middle schooler/middle grade reader. Lots of fantasy/paranormal excitement and action. If I can get it away from the kidlet, I'll finish reading the novel and post an adult view of the book.
Jonah Blackstone is a kid trying to make it through middle school. But his ordinary life is ripped apart when his parents are violently killed by supernatural beings. Jonah doesn't understand what happened or why he is seeing strange people dressed all in black who seem invisible to everyone else. And he's developed an uncanny ability to sense Death before it happens.
Jonah discovers that he is only half human. His father was a Reaper who left to be with his mortal wife. Now he is living with his Aunt down in Georgia and dealing with cousins.
He must find the Protector's Ring--an artifact his father had guarded, but never told him about--before the sinister Marcus and his cohorts find it.
Of course they try to kill Jonah along the way.....
This book has great appeal for the middle schooler/middle grade reader. Lots of fantasy/paranormal excitement and action. If I can get it away from the kidlet, I'll finish reading the novel and post an adult view of the book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews