Going into this book, I expected a lot of overused tropes. A princess hiding her powers, warring countries, and forbidden love. When I started reading it, I was scared there was also going to be a love triangle. Thankfully, I was proven totally wrong. The princess is hiding her full identity, and it makes total sense in relation to what is happening. The romance developed naturally, with both of them meeting in one of my favorite ways (neither knowing who the other is). There is no love triangle, and my only complaint comes from the other man. I wanted to have more characterization and back story. I wish the choice he made could have made sense for the readers, but I had no idea what drove him to do what he did. The story is fast-paced and a lot of fun. The characters are lovable, and I found myself never getting exasperated, which for me, happens a lot. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially seeing as it's a debut novel, and I definitely suggest reading it.

This was a joy to read! It started out kinda slow with a lot of information, but once I was like 25% in, I was sucked in! I loved Jennesara and I liked that she wasn't angry/dark/edgy or anything- just an all-around awesome princess. I've seen this compared to Throne of Glass and The Remnant Chronicles and I would definitely agree with that! I will be on the lookout for book 2 for sure!!

When I was approved for this ARC, I let out a squeal of excitement. I'd heard about this book and it looked oh so interesting and I was incredibly excited to read it! After reading a few early reviews, it looked like most popular YA novels: people either loved it or hated it. 5 stars of 1 star was what I largely saw. I get it, it’s a new release that has a lot of promise and the cover is pretty, what's not to like here.

At first glance, it's a little bit tropetastic: Girl has magic, but it's a secret. She's a princess in a kingdom that reviles magic and it's only reserved for the ruling family. Girl gets betrothed against her will to the prince of a neighboring kingdom, she loves wearing pants rather than dresses because she isn't your typical princess. I'm sure we've all read that book in some form or fashion. But the thing that set this book apart for me was that this was a return to the roots of YA. With clear cut heroine/hero and villain interactions. No enemies to lovers, no gray area characters. Everyone is trying to either do good or evil and it's really easy to see the sides each character is on. I actually appreciated that very much. I've been reading a lot of edgy, almost speculative YA fantasy fiction recently (which is something I do enjoy), but this was a break from that and I liked it! This is also probably more of a lower to middle YA book as far as age groups go.

Princess Jennesara is a fun character to follow, she is headstrong, but lacking sometimes in confidence. I relate to that a lot in my personal life. But she begins to find her confidence along the way. This book is also written in the vein of the sweeping, epic fantasy novel in that there are lush countrysides, towering mountains, a wild forest filled with old and untamable magic, and neighboring kingdoms with scores to settle. The world had a distinctly Nordic influence that I also really enjoyed. Vikings were cool a few years ago, but this is more Viking-adjacent.

The plot takes a bit to really get going and there's a lot of traveling in this book. One reviewer mentioned that it had more walking than a Lord of the Rings novel, and it kind of does? Lots of traveling to one destination or another, but lots of self-discovery and beautiful imagery along the way. The plot is solid, with a duology-type conclusion, so there's definitely a second book. I did enjoy it, even with the tropes laid on thick.

Overall, great book that gets back to the roots of YA fantasy literature. Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo, Elena May, Rebecca Ross, Rebecca Lim, etc. will really enjoy this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book! I received a galley copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jenna was a really great character. I enjoyed reading her immensely. She wasn’t spoiled and bratty like sometimes princesses are.

The pacing was fun and I felt like we were on a wild ride the whole time which is great. And the romance was good too. Overall was a great book and I will enjoy more in the future

An entertaining read, full of magic, mystery, and a little bit of romance. Some plot aspects were foggy in reasoning and details, but I found the chapters in the Wild to be very compelling. A return to that dangerous place in the sequel would be fantastic.

A fantastic adventure! I enjoyed this heroine and her discovery of who she is and what she is capable of. I was captivated by the characters. I relished spending time in this world with these characters.

I received an ARC through NetGalley for review.

Rating 4.5

I was really surprised by this one.
We meet Princess Jennesara on the eve of her 17th birthday.
While she is excited about celebrating, her father drops it on her that he has accepted an offer for her betrothal to a neighboring prince, without her knowledge and she will leave the day after her birthday.
But it's not just a case of him being unfeeling and selfish, the King fears there are people working against him in his own council, and between a skirmish with a neighbor that has bubbled into a full war- they desperately need soldiers to hold their kingdom. And did it all in secret. The same day she leaves, he sends her older brother, the heir along with her, to ferry him off somewhere else. And out of the Palace.
Ancient things are rising, and they're hellbent on revenge.

At first I had thought this was going to follow the standard, princess who wants to fight, plot line. But it went way off of that. I found her to be very smart, and brave, and willing to go though more trials to protect other people from what was following her. She wasn't just ready to jump right back into being a spoiled princess at the first chance. It was not first thing that defined her character, it was the last.

There is a journey, battles, fighting, magic, mages, betrayal, grief, heartbreak and even a bit of romance. I don't want to say anymore, because I don't want to blow this plot for you.

I really enjoyed this one!

I thoroughly enjoyed Shielded, and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it.

I was hooked right away with this one, and while there was a point early in the story when I thought it was all going to fall apart for me, it didn't! I was so thankful for that because I've been struggling with books keeping my interest lately, and I wanted to love this book.

The characters, primaries and secondaries alike, were interesting and readily likable. The world building was on point. The magic and mystery was intriguing.

I do wish we got Enzo's point of view, but that's just because I'm a dual POV kind of girl.

Also, I SO appreciate that Shielded ended without a cliffhanger. While there is still plenty to be unveiled and resolved in the next installment(s), there is an HEA for now. Again, I appreciate the heck out of that.

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.***

Wow I loved this book! If you're looking for a solid fantasy with secret magic, enemy mages, a slow-burn romance, disguised royals, a warrior princess, and an intriguing plot, look no further. Shielded is super entertaining and fun to read and reminded me a lot of Sorcery of Thorns and Kiss of Deception. It echoes a lot of YA tropes and conventions, which make it familiar and perhaps a little predictable, but I still think it's worth the read. I can't wait for the next book.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, Delacorte Press and NetGalley, for the review copy!

Review posted on GoodReads (June 23, 2020)
Review linked.

3.5/5 stars!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for sending me an E-Arc of this book for an honest review!

I was really pleasantly surprised by this book! I had heard a lot a good reviews and was super interested in the story. This book was really good! I really connected with the characters and the romance. I think the world building was super cool, and the end made me want to keep reading. I am really looking forward to reading more from this series and this author.

I did have some issues, mainly really the middle of this book. I found myself having a bit of an issue with the pacing of the story as it went on. The middle of the book was super slow, and I felt like it could have been edited down a bit. I also had some issues with the way the main character handled some of the situations... sometimes I would find myself sitting there and wondering why she was doing what she was doing instead of doing something else... (I'm trying to keep this spoiler free, sorry if it is a bit confusing).

Other than that, I did enjoy this read, and I would recommend the book to people who love YA Fantasy!

Thanks for reading!
Caden

*eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Shielded was a very generic YA fantasy. A princess, a prince, an arranged marriage, countries at war, discovering how to use magic, secret identities. Nothing stood out as unique. Not even the magic system, which wasn't explained very well (though Jenna researches it several times).

Jennesara, princess of Halendi, has magic and a hidden haircolor that means she is the heir to her country's throne. The problem is that her elder brother also has magic and this special hair (a white lock), so Jenna must hide her power to avoid being sent away. Halendi is at war with unknown forces, so her father arranges marriage for her with their neighbor country, Turia. While traveling to Turia, the caravan is attacked and Jenna is forced to hide her identity so she can figure out the truth of who wants her dead. Shielded also features centuries old wizards with centuries old grudges, a Goose Girl romance, and found family.

While I found the beginning very mediocre, I was won over a little by the romance and the Turian royal family.

4 stars

**DNF at 48%**This book sounded so good and so promising, and despite the action it had, I found myself a little bored. I felt like the writing did not flow very well and was redundant at times. I was also confused at some of the jumps the author made in POV chapters. I felt like this story had been done before; I didn’t read anything new or groundbreaking.

While I wouldn't say this was the most original story, Shielded was a fun read! There were many aspects I enjoyed. The writing style was easy to read, and most of the book was fast-paced. I found the characters to be likable and easy to connect with. The world-building was not complex but served its purpose and was relayed to the reader well. I wish the magic system had been better explained but understand why it was not since the protagonist did not understand it herself. I am hoping the next book in the series will expand on this. I would characterize Shielded as a solid debut and a promising start to the series. I believe fans of light YA fantasy will be happy to add this to their collection (especially since the cover is so lovely). I am looking forward to the author's next book!

What a fun read! This is everything you can possibly desire on a fantasy novel. Adventure, magic, rich characters. It has it all.

Thank you Netgalley and Delacorte Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so conflicted with how to review this book. Mostly because there were parts of the book I loved and parts where I couldn't stop rolling my eyes or found myself growing bored. So I guess I'll just dive into it and see how this review ends up. This book focuses on three main kingdoms: Hálendi where our intrepid heroine, Jennesara is the sheltered princess, Turia the nation of her betrothed, Enzo, and Riiga a country threatening Turia's borders. Hálendi felt modeled after the Norse and the Viking aesthetic without their raiding tendencies. I struggled to identify anything concrete about the other kingdoms beyond vaguely European cookiecutter fantasy kingdoms. The worldbuilding could definitely use some work. The Turians were given some random made-up words to occasionally utter but it took way too long to tell the reader what they meant. I think in one case it was never revealed what one of the words meant. I found it annoying and would have preferred everything to be common phrases as opposed to just repeating three random "fantasy" words every now and then. I'm of the opinion if you're going to create a new language system you need to go all-in, otherwise, it feels cheap. I did love the setting of the Wild though, it's a part of uninhabitable portion of land between Hálendi and Turia where magic has run amok and altered the landscape and creatures living there.

I enjoyed the characters. Jennesara was a very typical YA fantasy heroine. She's been sheltered in the palace since her mother died when she was young. She became a fierce warrior able to defeat anyone in the castle with the exception of the training master, despite having no practical experience. Despite this, there was just something special about her. I liked her voice and being inside her head. I liked that she was willing to sacrifice her own happiness to protect the people of her kingdom. I did struggle with her character once she met Enzo. There was a little too much insta-love. She gets jealous anytime Enzo is in the presence of another girl or mentions someone else even though they've only recently met and know virtually nothing about each other. Enzo is clearly the love interest the second he steps on the page all "undeniably handsome." He was very lovable though. I liked his interest in healing and how much he cared for his sisters. I wanted to explore his relationship with Luc a bit more. All the interactions between the prince and his guard seemed almost brotherly and there was a casualness to their relationship.

I liked the magic in the world but occasionally I felt like it was a bit confusing and breaking its own rules. The firstborn royal heir of Hálendi has some form of magic. The king is able to manipulate earth and Jenna's brother Ren is a healer. There's some discussion about them trying other ways of using their magic to limited or no result. Yet this isn't a problem for one character who continuously seems to pull new magic abilities out of thin air. All in all, this wasn't a terrible book but it also wasn't a great book. I'm not sure that I'm interested enough to read the sequel though a villain I found intriguing seems to be taking a bigger role.

When Princess Jennesara is betrothed, without her knowledge, to the prince of a neighboring kingdom in order to gain soldiers to help her kingdom, she resigns herself to her fate. On her journey to her new home, however, her caravan is attacked, and Jennesara must flee into the treacherous and magical forest that surrounds her.

Through her magic, she knows that her brother and father are dead, which means that she is the ruler of her kingdom. However, her life is in danger. She is being hunted by a powerful mage who won’t stop until her entire royal family is dead. Plus, she is far from home, and she doesn’t know who betrayed her. Jennesara must figure out where to go, who to trust, where her future lies, and how to defeat the evil that threatens her.

This is an adventure-filled story with strong world-building and wonderful characters. Jennesara is a dynamic and fierce protagonist. Trained to fight, she is impressive in battle, and this, along with her intelligence and magic, saves her many times in the course of her odyssey.

As Jennesara goes on a physical journey, she also goes on an emotional journey. Jennesara loves her country and does what is right for it, but she still has a mind of her own. She is an independent and kind young woman who thinks of others before she thinks of herself. However, she struggles with trusting people. This is understandable considering she is used as a political pawn, her family is dead, and her life is in grave danger throughout the story. I would change my identity and be slow to trust too. Jennesara has an interesting character arc, as she has spent her entire life hiding what she is (magically), and, for much of the book she must also conceal who she is.

The budding romance between Jennesara and Enzo is one of the highlights of the novel. Though they fight their feelings, it is obvious that they have a strong connection. I enjoyed watching them fall for each other, and their mutual respect, admiration, and desire said a lot about their character.

Jennesara is not just falling in love with the prince, however. She is falling for his whole dynamic, kind family from grandmother to siblings. Their ease with and love for each other shines and reminds her of her familial loss. She longs for that connection, and this family reaffirms her need for connection. They are also the only people she truly trusts. They help Jennesara realize that, even though her tethers are broken, she can still feel connected to others, if she lets them in.

The antagonists were not as richly developed as the other major characters in the story, and I wish their stories were further examined. However, as this is the first novel in the series, I suspect we will read more about them in subsequent books.

The setting and the magic, however, are fabulously developed. I loved the descriptions of the wild that Jennesara fought her way through. The imagery and sensory language create a vivid and immersive world. The descriptions of the magic, especially Jennesara’s tethers, were amazing. The different abilities from healing people to creating a protective shield to using a magical ring to wield power are all fascinating.

Themes of maturation, selflessly sacrificing to save and protect others, fear of the unknown, and the need to be loved are at the forefront of the story. When I was reading it, different parts reminded me of other stories like Lord of the Rings and Frozen (conceal don’t feel). However, that didn’t deter from my enjoyment of the story. If anything, it added to it. It is a gripping and immersive read that I recommend to lovers of young adult fantasy. Thanks so much to Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Kept me guessing till the very end! I had no clue who the betrayer was until it was revealed at the end. Great character development and story line. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you Delacorte Press and Netgalley for allowing me the chance to read this and five my honest thoughts.

I’m not sure what it is but none of these books I’m reading are doing it for me.

Maybe I just need to shut up and read Empire of Gold already but I’m SCARED.

ANYWAYS, back to this review.

Shielded was by any means, a good book. I don’t think there was particularly anything wrong with it, it was just another typical YA novel to me—it’s blurbed as being good for fans of Furyborn which I was excited about, but sadly don’t agree with . A typical heroine, a typical love interest, a plot that had one or two special traits, and of course typical romance with shallow world-building. That’s what it felt like to me. Nothing particularly unique or special at all.

I think I just need more from YA. Or is it about that time I mention that I want more adult fantasy?


... crap.

Anyways I don’t really have that much to say other than it was decent. Not memorable to me like it was to some of my friends. Maybe I’ll have to reread it and see if it holds up the second time around.

I did love Prince Enzo though, he was hot. Just saying.

Shielded was an exciting fantasy adventure, and I quickly fell in love with Jenna and her adventures. Though the story felt formulaic at times, I thought the blend of places and tropes and influences made the story feel overall fresh and exciting. I was left with a lot of anticipation for the next book in the series, because the stakes that were introduced in this book really felt like they were going somewhere. I think the premise of the magic in this world, and the villains alluded to were all engaging and I can't wait to see what comes next in this series! Also, my last note is that Jenna is such a fierce and brave character, and that was probably my favorite part.

Going in, I had extremely high hopes for this book because of the stunning cover and premise of a sword-wielding princess. The plot, although a quick read, felt like something I've read before. Over the course of the book, we see many familiar tropes; the arranged betrothal, royalty pretending to be someone else, a princess who had a stronger magic than she realized, etc. But rather than come across as familiar, it felt more tired to me. Also, the beginning hinted so much at her infatuation with her brother's best friend, yet we don't really think about him until the end where he is revealed to be an accomplice in all the villainy. I don't mind that he's a bad guy now, It just felt liked the author wanted to set up a love triangle but forgot about it halfway through. I just wish that he and his father figure were in the story just a little bit more, because the betrayal didn't hit as hard for me because we were told rather than shown how close they were to the royalty. I will say, I did like Jenna as the main character. She was a badass without making that her whole personality, which I loved. Overall, it was a fun read with a cool main character, but nothing revolutionary or comforting in its plot conventions.