Name: Selin Igten's review of Shielded by KayLynn Flanders
Item: Shielded
Rating: 4
Author: Selin Igten

KayLynn Flanders

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 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. A Whitney Award Nominee "A gorgeous fantasy that captivates from beginning to end, and a fierce heroine every reader will root for."--KATHRYN PURDIE, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Burning Glass and Bone Crier's Moon "Beautiful writing, wondrous world building, and enchanting characters. This is YA fantasy at its most fun."--DANA SWIFT, author of Cast in Firelight

Shielded

Nessa Luna

Kaylynn Flanders

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 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.

Selin Igten

Aliya ali

Megan Lowe

This is a cute YA fantasy. I say that because it’s firmly in the YA camp. It’s sweet, it’s fairly simple and straightforward.
I loved Jenna, Ren, Enzo, chiara, Luc, and Mari. They were a great cast and I look forward to the second book.
But what this book was crying out for was a map! You can’t have something based so strongly on geography and not have a map. A fair amount of the book was lost to me because it didn’t have one.

Shereen Evans

** spoiler alert **
           *This book was given to me by Netgalley for an honest review*

This book kept me on the edge of my seat. And it left on a cliff hanger. 

At the beginning I hoped that Jenna and Cris to have a relationship. But then when Jenna and Ren left the palace and Ren was "killed" all the hope was lost.

Then Jenna met Enzo and I hoped they could find a way to be together even though she was the next heir until we found out that he brother didn't die! 

I love the relationship between Mri, Chiara and Jenna. It was bond that was is loving, sisterly and protective. Mri is such a spit fire of a character.

"In a kingdom at war, the princess discovers a devastating truth and 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."--

Sheena

“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 let’s just say that during the course of the read, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this despite some flaws that typically turn me away *ahem*instant love*ahem* and minor weak heroine moments that had my eye twitching but rest assured, there is some decent character development and I am sure future installments will further empathize on that.

Nevertheless, “Shielded” helped guide me out of my funky reading slump so kudos to the author because you must be doing something right seeing how I would definitely consider this ideal choice for any reader looking to start 2020 in the right foot.

Adventure, spooky forests, political intrigue, disguised royalty, conniving mages… there’s so much to love here! The magic system feels unique and the main character’s growth and arc are delightful. I’d highly recommend this one, especially to younger readers who are just starting to read YA fantasy.

Content notes: death of parent, war, violence typical of YA fantasy

Liz Griffin

Adventure, spooky forests, political intrigue, disguised royalty, conniving mages… there’s so much to love here! The magic system feels unique and the main character’s growth and arc are delightful. I’d highly recommend this one, especially to younger readers who are just starting to read YA fantasy.

Content notes: death of parent, war, violence typical of YA fantasy

Wendy Stonegood

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

I absolutely adored this book. Any fan of Sarah J. Maas will love this story. I read it within a day-and-a-half and it inspired me to create a playlist for it (see blog post). I get fired up when reading about a confident, kick-ass female character - and especially one that carries a sword. 

This story sucks you in and nothing feels forced. The characters seem almost tangible as they are relatable and multi-faceted. 

Jennesara is determined and loyal and I love the world and magic that Ms. Flanders created. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!

Elizabeth Neill

It took me about a week to finish this book, because I kept losing my interest. The author's writing wasn't bad, but I didn't really like the characters. I feel like I read the story before and felt the same. I do think this is good for people just getting into fantasy especially children 12 and younger.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Julia Thompson 

Jennasara is the warrior princess of the kingdom of Hálendi and her kingdom is under attack. All she wants is to help protect it. She did not expect the way for her to help would be her betrothal to a neighboring prince. The promise of marriage in exchange for troops but on the way to her new home her caravan is attacked and a world full of new conflict emerges.
I cannot praise this book enough. The world building was beautiful. The mysterious Wild gives me chills. The characters felt unique and well developed.
Jennasara herself is anything but a helpless princess. She fought her way through hardship and pain to come to truth. Never giving up or thinking of letting someone else solve her problems.
I cannot wait for a continuation of Shielded and I know I will be rereading (and purchasing) the first chance I get.

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

Candyce Kirk

Shielded was a book I was excited for and it didn't disappoint at all! KayLynn's writing style really sucked me into this story and wouldn't let me go. I was in this world while reading and could feel what the characters were feeling. Those are two things that make me fall in love with books, so Shielded was off to a good start.

Our main character Jennesara was amazing! She's always hide to hide certain aspects of herself, so when her life takes a big turn unexpectedly it's a lot to handle. Jennesara is such a strong character and is focused on helping her family and finding out what's going on. She's brave, strong, creative and just wants justice and peace. I loved that there is definitely magical going on with her that she's slowly learning more about. I really hope we get to see more of that in the sequel!

Enzo is another character I really enjoyed. He's the perfect fit for the bookboyfriend list, but there's still plenty I want to know about him. Just like Jennesara, he has his people he needs to think about and is very protective of his family. Enzo is also one that wants peace and I loved that he trusted Jennesara. When he could've had his doubts, he decided to take her word for many things. I loved that. 

On top of these two characters we read a lot about, there is also an amazing cast of side characters: Luc, Ren, Yesilia and definitely Enzo's sister Marietta. Main characters are important in a story, but I love when the side characters keep me equally entertained! They really helped this story be complete and I think they were all really important to the story's development.

I really loved the politics and magic side of Shielded. My only remark about this story is that the pacing was a little too fast at times. There were certain things that take place in the story that we barely see any of. It didn't take away my enjoyment, but I think the story would've felt just a bit more complete for me if I had seen some things take place. I still enjoyed all the twists and turns, even if some were a little predictable. 

Last but not least, I have to talk about the romance. An arranged marriage is something we read a lot in fantasy stories, but I really enjoyed how this one played out. Also, yes, our main characters definitely felt a connection from the start, but it wasn't really instalove. I loved how they got to know each other and it slowly developed. This doesn't always happen and I enjoyed every minute of it!

All in all, Shielded will definitely be a book I remember. I can't wait to see what KayLynn Flanders writes for us next.

danielle bush

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.. 
I really, really liked this book. It has a princess that isn't supposed to have magic, yet she does. No one in the kingdom knows except for her older brother.. Jess is sent off to marry the prince of Turia to help secure men to help win the war.. When she is ambushed everything changes.. She has to find her way to Turia while being chased by a mage in woods that are basically alive with wild mage.. She decides to hide her identity in order to make sure Turia didn't have anything to do with the ambush and the murder of her family...
However she doesn't expect what happens next. She becomes close to the prince she was supposed to marry who thinks shes dead. Befriends Enzo's sisters, and ends up saving his family on multiple occasions.. 
This story was a page turner from beginning to end, it had me hooked from the first chapter, and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.. I definitely think this is a book I will have to get myself a physical copy of when its released..

Megan

As soon as I read the synopsis for this book, I knew it was the YA fantasy book I had been craving!I finished this book pretty late last night because I could not put it down! I was sucked in right at the start of the book and instantly felt like I could connect to the main character, Jenna! There were some parts of the book that dragged towards the beginning, which I feel is to be expected a bit in the first book of a series to allow for some world building. However, once I was through the slower part, the book flew by! 
I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships and it made me ache for my family that's spread out across the US. I kept startling my cats because I would get excited or nervous for the characters. I cannot wait to see what happens in the rest of the series! 
Rating: 4.5 stars!
**I was given an eARC in exchange for my honest review**

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received an e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Shielded

Author: KayLynn Flanders

Book Series: Shielded Book 1

Rating: 3/5

Recommended For...: fantasy, ya, magic

Publication Date: July 21, 2020

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 16+ (slight romance, violence, slight gore, secrets)

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 432

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.

Review: Overall this book was pretty good. I thought the character development was well done and the book is evenly paced. I liked the author’s interpretation on fantasy set reads and I liked the character descriptions.

However, I did feel like that book is weirdly wrote. Not only did it take me a long time to get into the book, the book has some very weird moments, like when a murderer is on the loose so the royal family leaves… but also leaves two of their family alone. It was very weird! The book also lacked in world building.

Verdict: It was good, just weird.

Samantha Bass

If you want to read my review and interview with KayLynn Flanders, check out my blog ladyandstar.wordpress.com

I received an advance copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a bada** book filled with a bada** main characters. Jenna, our main character, is a Princess who lives her life training, studying, and hiding the fact that she has magic she’s not supposed to posses. Her father sends her off to the neighboring kingdom to be wedded to the Crown Heir, Prince Enzo, but tragedy strikes when their caravan is attacked on the way there. The princess, in all her glory, takes us on a wild journey through magical forest, epic battles, and love rollercoasters that you can't resist. 

I loved this book! It was a fun ride with action, mystery, and love - all the things you could ask for in a great YA fantasy novel. The beginning was a little slow, which makes sense since we are being introduced to this kingdom and their history, but the plot quickly picks up and takes the reader on a wild ride. This book is great for anyone who loves action, adventure, and tough girls. Jenna is not only a tough cookie though, but such a sweetheart. I love her interactions with everyone she meets. She’s the kind of MC you want to be friends with. 

The other side characters also added a lot to Jenna's development over the course of the book and added great interactions! When I picked this book up, I was worried it would be like other fantasy novels. While it carries elements from other fantasies, it takes those and twists it into its own magical thread. I will say, the action and the stakes get raised about 30% of the way through. While the beginning is not boring, the main "oh no, what's happening" reactions happen about 30% in and you're off. There's no slowing down after that. 

If you’re looking for a great debut novel, check this one out! You won’t regret it.

Kat Kooiman

I really loved this one! Now I'm stuck because I want the next book and this one isn't even out yet... Boo.

Shielded sucked me in right from the first chapter! The descriptions are informative, I loved the characters, and the pacing was excellent! I was invested in what was happening the whole time. The romance was subtle at first and very believable, and it definitely didn't detract from the plot. I did have a little confusion in the middle of the book on who exactly the POV was from, but it resolved itself in the end. Now here I sit waiting for the sequel and this book isn't even officially out yet...

vania vela

“The same magic used to gain power over others and cause suffering can be used wisely with good intentions and a pure heart.”

Shielded is the story of Princess Jennesara. Being the second-born heir to the throne, Jennesara, better known as Jenna, lacks the same magical abilities that his older brother. Thanks to this, the king promises her hand in marriage to the prince of Turia in exchange for resources Hálendi needs. On the journey to reach her betrothed, the royal caravan is ambushed, and Jenna realizes that there's a worse threat than anyone imagined. 

This story is amazing from the beginning to the end. Told from Jenna's perspective, we know her feelings and thoughts as the story progresses. The writing is beautiful, the descriptions of the places are divine and it is extremely quick and easy to read. If English is not your native language, you will still be able to understand easily, as it happened to me.

We have seen this type of story before: there is a commitment to save the relationship between two kingdoms, then something bad happens and they must escape to solve the problem that is even worse than they thought. Despite this, I loved the details and characters of the book, the author makes you love them or hate them, depending on which character we are talking about. The relationships between the characters (friendship, lovers, family) are incredible and realistic. Each of them is so human; sometimes they make mistakes or are afraid. That makes us have more affection for them and we can feel them real.

The magic within the story is also incredible, the descriptions are very good and it is fantastic how they included that element within the plot. I have wanted to read this book for a long time and it certainly did not disappoint me at all. I loved it :)

Kassia Skorzewska

I really enjoyed this book! Magic and royalty in one book!!? Amazing read!

Manon van Heumen

I really enjoyed this one! The beginning grabbed my attention right away, but after that it got a bit slower. However, towards the end it picked up pace again, and I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the story!

Jelke Olila

excited to read the sequel once it comes out!

Lisa Beasley

This was fabulous. Loved the characters, the story, the setting, it was all just really good and super engaging.

Ashton Reed

I enjoyed this book so freaking much!!

Princess Jennesara of Hálendi is considered an oddity to the courtiers in the palace, but she knows her skill with a blade could aid in the growing struggles at her country’s border. Instead, her father, unbeknownst to Jenna until three days before their departure, signed her hand in marriage to Prince Enzo of Turia in exchange for resources and soldiers. But she isn’t just nervous to marry a man she’s never met - she’s been hiding a secret her whole life, one she must still maintain: the white streak in her hair, an outward symbol of the magic in her blood, magic that isn’t supposed to go to the second-born of her bloodline.

She isn’t able to completely figure that out, though, because on their way to Turia, their caravan is attacked by a mysterious mage in gray, who slaughters her maid, believing it to be her. Her whole family has been killed, and now she’s on the run… but from whom?? She has no idea who to trust, but she travels to Turia in the hopes she can learn what she can to defeat the mage who murdered her family, and she finds there’s much more behind these brewing hostilities than first meets the eye.

Ok… This is my type of YA fantasy - the kind that throws you into a whirlwind of action and romance and doesn’t let you go. Of course, I’m all for intricately woven fantasies with expansive worlds and lyrical prose and blah blah blah, but danggg if a book pitches me into the main character until I’m living her adventure - that’s when I’m reminded of why I fell in love with reading in the first place.

And Shielded was one of those books for me. Every almost kiss, every near-death experience, every magical battle, I was there. I was Jenna. And it was the most fun adventure!

And let me just say, I love these characters. And I love the happy endings. And I love the - ok I need to stop, or this review will go on forever. Sure, the world wasn’t super developed, the writing wasn’t lyrical, but this book will transport you from 2020 to a world full of royalty, drama, magic, and hidden identities (I know that alone is a good reason ;). If any of that sounds like your cup of tea (I know it is mine), then pick this one up!! 

Thank you soooo much to Netgalley, Delacorte Press, and Kaylynn Flanders for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own!! 




If you enjoyed this review, you can follow/friend me here on Goodreads on my Bookstagram/Twitter @ashton_reads ! Thanks for reading!

Nessa Luna &
Shielded by KayLynn Flanders

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