Love that this was appropriate for all YA readers an above-it was refreshing to have a fantasy series from a western standpoint.

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

Fantastic fantasy novel! I really enjoyed the writing style of this author. She really had such a good grasp on the story she was telling.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

I have yet to hear talk of this story but I would expect to soon with how much fun I found it to read last month!

I love me a good fantasy western and .Sunshield certainly wasn’t bad, but it did suffer from a few issues.. Namely it was the uneven pacing that made parts of the story a struggle, especially in the first half where the plot took such a long time to take off or even get interesting. The exhausting amount of exposition slows things down further still, such as the lengthy paragraphs of Lark waxing poetic about her many tattoos, describing and reminiscing over each and every one of them in great detail. While I can certainly appreciate the sentiment, moments such as these were ultimately distracting and unnecessary, given the priority in your intro should be quickly establishing a hook. But unfortunately, I’d say this novel didn’t even pick up in earnest until well into its later sections, when Lark and Veran’s story lines finally converged.

I found the characters to be interesting and well-written, though perhaps not so unique when you strip away surface-level features. my love for fantasy westerns absolutely helped. The world-building was fantastic, and the novel’s setting alone made this venture worth it in my eyes, since I have such a soft spot for frontier wilderness landscapes and tales involving outlaws and rebels. Of course, I still wish I had enjoyed Sunshield a bit more, but certain character flaws coupled with the unbalanced pacing of the story held me back from embracing this one fully.

this book was so fun. I cannot wait for the next one. why aren't fantasy westerns a bigger thing? I did take a minute to find its rhythms but once it did; this book was unstoppable. it is set in her Woodwalker world but they are not dependent on each other. Even if Dystopian/fantasy is not your prefered genre give this book a chance.

i really enjoy Ms. Martin's writing, this book was really enjoyable to read. I loved the elements of scifi in the book and I really enjoyed the characters themselves.

Emily B. Martin's SUNSHIELD was a welcome combination of western-flavored fantasy, with immediately engaging characters and excellent world-building. Sometimes you know you'll enjoy an author's prose from the very first pages—and that was the case for me with SUNSHIELD. Elements of found-family, political intrigue, resistance to authority are all right up my alley. Unique cultural touches—relationships to color, and the eco-religion—kept me intrigued. The novel works on a number of levels, as pure entertainment, but also layered thematics that will keep you thinking afterward. Definitely a world I liked spending time in, and an author whose work I'll continue to watch.

I interviewed Emily about SUNSHIELD and her writing craft on the Fictitious podcast: https://www.fictitiouspodcast.com/emily-b-martin-sunshield-s5e07/

Sunshield is the first novel in an epic fantasy duology, Outlaw Road with three central POV characters, Prince Veran, an Eastern ambassador from the Silverwood, Tamsin, a woman who has been kidnapped, brutalized, and held prisoner under horrible conditions, and Lark, the famed Sunshield bandit. The story alternates between these three figures and the link between them evolves over the course of this first novel. As the story opens, Veran and his friend Princess Eloise are at the court of Alcoro, to meet with Prince Iano, soon to be crowned king. Veran, Eloise, and we thought Iano, were meeting to discuss the abolition of trafficking children and young adults as slave labor in the Eastern kingdoms. After more than a year of correspondence about the issue, it now seems as if court intrigue has disrupted that plan completely. Veran, an inexperienced young man with little diplomatic skill, but a good heart still hopes to broker change. Surprisingly, he and Iano manage to connect on the idea of finding Lark, to search for a missing member of Iano's court. Lark, an interesting character, was at one time a victim of trafficking herself but she managed to escape. Her life is now a hard scrapple existence as she tries to protect children she has rescued from trafficking rings, earning her reputation as a fierce bandit. Lark doesn't just steal money and goods, she rescues children who have been stolen from their families, including some so young, they don't even know family surname or where their families were from. Finally, Tamsin, as we learn over the course of the novel, seems to have been kidnapped to silence her voice and influence.

One of the things I loved about this world is the presence of characters with disability issues. Lark's chosen sister Rose is an amputee who tells Lark off for regarding her as somehow less able to do her job. And Veran suffers from epilepsy but forges ahead with his brave plans. Thanks to Rose, Lark looks at Veran in a different light when they are thrown together. I also appreciated the role that color and culture play in Alcoro's court. So many hidden meanings and alliances are conveyed by the color of clothes in Alcoro's court. And the shout out for ecology and the effect of harming the bird populations was a delight as well. Martin has created a fascinating world.

The audiobook, narrated by Chelsea Stephens, Lauren Ezzo, and Matthew Frow, is an excellent production that gives a distinct voice and manner to each of the central characters.

I look forward to the final book in Outlaw Road duology, Floodpath: A Novel.

I received a digital and paper review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

For a fantasy western I found it interesting how there was so much about politics. It definitely was an interesting and unique take on both fantasy and western stories. I didn’t connect with the characters very much which took me out of the story a bit, but a good read overall.

It took me a little while to get invested, but I wound up enjoying this fantasy novel.

The story is told from the perspectives of three different characters. One of them is Lark, a former bondservant (a slave in all but name) turned outlaw who robs stagecoaches to support herself and other escapees. Veran is an ambassador to the court of Moquoia who hopes to negotiate an end to their bond-servant labor system and the trade in abducted children that feeds it. And Tamsin is an abductee being held by a mysterious enemy who is using her as part of a plot against Moquoian government. At first, it’s unclear how their narratives will intersect, but eventually all of them come together as the action unfolds.

I had some trouble getting engaged in the book at the beginning. Early on, a lot of the action centers around Lark, who is my least favorite of the three main characters. She’s a plucky young woman engaged in a lopsided fight for survival against more powerful forces, which isn’t exactly an uncommon figure in fantasy novels. The setting of her part of the story is less common, though—a desert reminiscent of the Old West, where cowboys fight with swords, shields, and crossbows—which I appreciated.

What really kept me going with the story was the other two characters. Veran is in some ways also a standard fantasy character—a young prince who wants to prove his worth to those who might doubt him. However, I was intrigued by why exactly he feels such a desperate need to achieve something in his diplomatic mission to Moquoia. (Although it’s hinted at, it takes a while for the reason to be revealed.) Tamsin is the most interesting of the three, but I can’t say much about why without spoilers. Let’s just say she has a unique role in Moquoian politics.

So, I kept reading, and mostly I liked what I read. However, at the very end of the novel a secret was revealed that kind of disappointed me. It was just so predictable for the author to go that direction, I was hoping she would resist the temptation and surprise me. But nope.

The novel ends with all the important characters on the road. It’s more a halt in the action than an actual conclusion to the story, so there’s at least one more book coming. I’ll be keeping an eye out for it, because I do want to find out what happens next.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Rating: 6.0/10

Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance reading copy of Sunshield for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions on the novel.

Sunshield is an enjoyable fantasy western that, for me, took a little too long to find its groove. Having said that, once the storylines began to converge, the plot and pacing picked up speed and lead to a satisfying conclusion.

So yeah, fantasy western. Haven’t seen many of those in my time as a reviewer (or as a reader for that matter). Martin definitely excels at bringing the reader into her world with some fantastic world-building. You can feel the heat lifting up from the sand and see the desolate canyons in all their… desolation? The characters are also enjoyable on their own right, though they could get frustrating at times. I know not everyone that reads want flawless characters running amok, but there are times when a sense of surroundings and forward thinking are key to engagement.

I enjoy stories about outlaws, and Lark was a very interesting character to follow. How she got to this point in her life, the paths she had to take, etc. but there is a ton of exposition in the early going that almost had me setting the book aside. I’m all for quick hooks in fantasy/sci-fi novels because a majority take up a big chunk of time to get through; thrillers and horror novels can be slow burns because there is always an expectation of the climax being toward the end, with little or no character development.

You also have Tamsin who, to be honest, didn’t have much of a role until about the last 1/4 of the book. A majority of her tale was tidbits thrown in here or there that tended to throw off the pacing of the overarching story, but there is a good payoff if you stick around. Then you have Veran, who I really did enjoy except for his constant backtracking and doddering around.

I actually added this title to my TBR simply based on a chat I had with Teresa Frohock (author of the Los Nefilim series from Harper Voyager) a couple of months ago, not knowing a single thing about it or about the author, Emily B. Martin. I can definitely see why T. was so over the moon about Sunshield and I think I would have been as well had the pacing been a bit more balanced, and the characters been a little less… naive. Something about characters always second-guessing their actions leaves a bit to be desired, though I know we all struggle with indecision from time to time.

Author #Emily B. Martin of #Woodwalker has once again given us a delight.Her new novel #Sunshield has a cover that catch’s your attention.And the character Lark who is a “outlaw “ in a lawless wilderness,on a quest will take you on a ride.
Have fun.🎈
Thank you #Harper Collins,#Netgalley and #Emily B. Martin

I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley.

Emily B. Martin brought a fresh, vibrant new fantasy world to life in her Woodwalker trilogy. Now, she digs deeper into her setting with <i>Sunshield</i>, the start of a new series that does not require having read the previous books (though I highly recommend you do!).

This book is that rare entity of the genre: a fantasy western, full of the realistic details that Martin (an experienced park ranger) laces into all of her books. Lark is the titular Sunshield, a bandit committed to raiding the rich and freeing those who were slaved as she was. Then there is Veran, a young man acting as a translator and ambassador in Moquoia, a country that profits from slavery. Veran is committed to stopping the slave trade, but his clumsy efforts at court are undermined by nasty politics that he only gradually comprehends. Then there is Tamsin, a woman of Moquoia who is being held captive in horrendous conditions. The stories and lives of these three people twine together in a narrative that is tense, and at the end, emotional.

The book examines the nature of privilege and slavery in a way that is never preachy, though it can be disturbing at times--as well it should be. There is a lot of depth to this story. A romantic element is gentle and in the early stages in this volume.

The cliffhanger ending makes me incredibly eager to get my hands on the next book. Oh, there are so many feels at the end. I loved getting the chance to revisit this world, and I sincerely hope there are a lot more books to come.

Overall, I’m going to rate this book 3.5/5*. I found myself going back and forth a lot on my feelings with this book. Particularly with how I felt about the main characters. The story is told from 3 different main character POVs in turn. Typically this isn’t a preferred type of book for me, but I actually thought it worked well for this one. Tamsin, one of the main characters, was hands down my favorite character, despite her POV being a bit boring at times (compared to the other two anyway). She was a really sweet, kind, considerate character and I immediately liked her. Veran (another POV character) was also a very likable character but I was incredibly frustrated with him throughout the majority of the first half of the book (while they’re in court). He was constantly repeating his thoughts and making the same mistakes over and over and it for extremely repetitive and frustrating. I had to put the book down a few times because of it. After he leaves the court and meets up with Lark his POV flowed much better and was altogether more enjoyable. Overall, I still really liked his character. Lastly, there’s Lark. Her stubbornness and unerring unwillingness to consider any other options than what she believed best was enraging. Although her intentions were good, I couldn’t get over how naive she is despite the extremely rough life she’s lived. I struggled more with her character than any other. Easily my favorite thing about the book was hearing about all the different countries and learning more about them. The author did an excellent job at describing them and making it really easy to picture the places. I was really excited when I learned she already has written books that go into more depth on some of these places and fully intend on reading them. This is the first in a series and despite the problems I had with some of the characters, I will still read the next book when it comes out.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought I was going to love this book more than I did...which unfortunately wasn't much.
As a whole, it's a pretty solid YA fantasy, with a lush world, full of misfortune, wealth and those struggling to survive. It's a little heavy on the in-world politics, making the first half of the book a little dense and wordy. Ultimately, that's what made me want to DNF this book for the first half. It wasn't really holding my attention. The second half of this book is definitely stronger, in my opinion, and made me want to read on. Then I go to the end of the book, and I was pissed.
I had no idea that this was a duology, until hours later after finishing. I felt like half of the book was missing, that I'd just been forced to stop reading mid sentence. I don't have any issues with how the ending happened, but I do have some anger in how it was written. I think my annoyance towards the ending, impacts my overall feelings, but I just felt a little underwhelmed reading this book.
I'm definitely interested enough in reading book 2, to find out how it all ends, I just wish I'd liked this one better. I'd say, if you think you're going to like this book, give it a chance.

At first the rotating of POVs in this one made the pacing a little slower but as they start to come together I was glued and found the 3 points of views necessary. This is a fun adventure story. I liked Lark and how she was more than just an outlaw. If you like intrigue and adventure in your story then this should be your next read!

Both the cover and the description drew me to Sunshield. I was not disappointed.

I discovered upon finishing this book that it's set in Emily B. Martin's Woodwalker universe. Having not read any of those books was no problem - you don't need to have read them to enjoy this book. That said, I'm looking forward to going back to explore them.

Thanks to my general distraction in April 2020, it took me a little while to get into the story. The book is told from 3 points of view, which means you're going back and forth between characters who aren't connected to each other yet. Each character's voice is relatively different from the others', which is great; no getting confused when you start a new chapter here.

Things really picked up for me about a third to halfway through the book, once Veran discovers more political intrigue and it's clear that the characters' stories are going to intertwine. At that point, I started reading past my bedtime again.

I liked all the characters and felt that they were well developed. Despite being a prince/ambassador, Veran was rather inept at just about everything; I kept wondering, what the heck is he doing here? His lack of luck suits the plot, but surprised me until I learned more about him later on. We do not see as much of Tasmin, but her descriptions are lush; I hope we hear more from her voice in the sequel. Perhaps because of my strong impressions from the other characters, Lark's voice drew me in the least. I really look forward to seeing what happens to her in the sequel, though.

Some things in this book are subtly foreshadowed; they surprised me but made sense in retrospect. Other things (like Lark's history) are pretty much there for the reader to intuit.

I loved the cliffhanger ending.

Other great things about this book:
It's part of a duology - a refreshing change of pace from all those trilogies or open series out there.
No overt romance here, although it is hinted at
Realistic political consequences

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

Good stuff. This is a solid fantasy, and the author's imagination shines thru nicely. I don't read a lot of fantasy, but this one worked for me. I may have to circle back to her other titles.

I really appreciate the ARC for review!!

Sunshield is a well written novel, that pulls the reader into the story. The plot is fast paced and the characters are well developed. I am looking forward to the sequel from Martin.

"You act like a person needs to be whole to be considered a person at all."

Sunshield by Emily B. Martin

Publisher's Description:

A lawless wilderness. A polished court. Individual fates, each on a quest to expose a system of corruption.

The desolate canyons of Alcoro—and the people desperate enough to hide there—couldn’t be more different from the opulent glass palace and lush forests of Moquoia. But the harsh desert and gleaming court are linked through their past, present, and future: a history of abductions in the desert to power Moquoia’s quarries and factories, and a bleak, inhumane future built on the sweat and sacrifice of these bond laborers.

But events unfolding in the present could change everything. In the desert, outlaw Lark—known to most as the Sunshield Bandit—has built a name for herself attacking slavers’ wagons and freeing the captives inside. But while she shakes the foundation of Moquoia’s stratified society, she also has to fight to protect her rescuees—and herself—from the unforgiving world around them.

In the Moquoian court, young ambassador Veran hopes to finally make his mark by dismantling the unjust labor system, if he can navigate the strict hierarchy and inexplicable hostility of the prince.

And caught in the middle of it all, Tamsin is trapped within four walls, the epicenter of a secret political coup to overthrow the Moquoian monarchy and perpetuate the age-old system of injustice.

Separated by seas of trees and sand, the outlaw, the diplomat, and the prisoner are more connected than anyone realizes. Their personal fates might just tip the balance of power in the Eastern World—if that very power doesn’t destroy them first.

My thoughts:

When I started Sunshield by Emily B. Martin, I didn't realize I would be reading a book in her Woodwalker universe which I have not read. I don't think my overall enjoyment of the book suffered because of it but I will go back and read those books so I can get more of the backstory.

The glimpse we got of the Woodwalker culture was intriguing. It seems the author drew heavily on her experience as a park ranger in its creation. Some of my favorite places are in the middle of nowhere amid the trees so that speaks heavily to me. It gives me a feeling of comfortable nostalgia. The importance of colors in the Moquoian culture was not something you see as often in fiction so I found that interesting as well. I did find the assignment of a specific color to a person as the equivalence to recieving a title somewhat confusing but that could just be because I didn't read the previous series.

Sunshield rotates between the perspectives of three different characters: Lark, Veran, and Tamsin. I don't always enjoy multiple perspectives. I often find it aggravating and disorienting but I feel Martin did it well. It didn't bother me at all. I found myself getting invested in each character without feeling that one was less developed than the others.

Lark is an outlaw doing what she can to free slaves and protect those in her camp. She is at the very end of her rope trying to keep her crew safe but has a hard time delegating responsibility out of, what I'm assuming, is a fear that she would not be able to assure their safety. In one of her chapters she thinks to herself:

"I’d very much like to collapse and scream, but I don’t have the time."

Veran is a translator, ambassador, and prince who struggles with feeling like he needs to make an impact in whatever way he can. He has a disability and hasn't been allowed to participate in a lot of things that define his people. He feels worthless on multiple occasions and thinks of himself as a "throwaway" prince. One of the quote that stood out for me is when he says (in reference to his family):

"Of the five of us, I’m the only one who hasn’t done anything remotely noteworthy.”

Tamsin is a bright spot in the darkness. She is suffering but is still witty and finds humor in her situation. Her intelligence is palpable and it makes her story especially poignant. The quote I picked out for her is out of context but I am trying to avoid major spoilers:

"...she’s eyeing me with that same wry discernment the artist depicted in her portrait, the gleam of an ashoki who has a truth to tell."

Now on to the theme of the story. I think it's about human trafficking? I'm 90% certain but she raised the subject of so many different humanitarian, social, and environmental issues I perhaps was not as affected as I should be by the main issue. Among the topics addressed are issues like human trafficking, corrupt politics, cultural bias. You also see environmental issues such as the effects of glass buildings on bird populations. The deaths of the birds causes in imbalance in the local ecosystem. We also see women's rights being addressed subtly by not writing any division in the sexes and perhaps even having a matriarchal leaning world. It's addressed less subtly by not shying away from women's menstrual cycles and the hardships that poverty inflict on managing the blood flow. Martin confronts the literary "taboo" subject of periods by talking about it often and in detail. She also addresses the difficulties those with chronic illnesses face in day to day life. She writes about the feelings of worthlessness those with a chronic illness face especially with accomplished family members that you just can't keep up with.

These are all issues that need to be addressed. I agree that we as a society need to better on these issues but I'm finding that by addressing every issue that we need change on in one book the effectiveness is muted. I wish there was a tighter focus on the main issue or issues not a dozen social issues. If she had chosen one or even three to REALLY focus on then I think that may have been more effective for me personally. Sometimes I feel the plot took a backseat to social commentary. Not to a severe degree, mind you, but a slightly distracting one. The other social issues could've been the focus of the sequels to ensure that the subjects she's passionate were each given the platform and voice they deserve. On the other hand, it feels like maybe... just maybe the author is pointing out that our society as a whole has failed on multiple levels. I don't know if this is conscious on her part or it just bleeds out into her writing because these topics are truly important to her. But if the worst I can say about this book is that the author cares TOO much then I hardly see that as a problem that warrants much complaint. I would rather see someone care too much than not at all.

In short, this is a darn good book.

"We're all human, aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving."

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

I recieved a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

#netgalley #sunshield