Warrior’s Hope by Rebecca Zanetti
Dark Protectors #16

Growing up knowing you are the key to a prophecy and that your choices impact an entire realm – or more – making decisions about what direction to take and what man to choose is a big choice to make. Hope’s story and who she ends up with has been awaited through the reading of several books. She has spent time with Libby, Paxton, and dream-time with Drake of the Kurjan Nation. She feels her “time” has arrived and is ready to take that final step to keep her realm safe, believes she knows what that step is, and then…wonders if she is right or got things wrong.

I was looking forward to finding out how this segment of the story and the prophecy was handled and did find out although I had a bit of letdown. I am not sure if it was Hope being so “young” and seeming rather immature or that one character became even darker than he had leaned previously, or something else. I had a feeling, after the last book, that I knew which man Hope would end up with but still wanted to find out for sure.

This book provides the answer of which man, Drake or Paxton, Hope will be mated to, gives a hint of the work she and her mate will face in the future, if there are more books that they show up in. And my guess is that there will be more books as there were plenty of loose ends left to tie up if the author chooses to stay with this series. What loose ends? Well, enhanced women have a blood issue, the Kurjan Nation has a lot of repair work to be done by their new king and queen, and there are issues I wonder about like the Seven and what they will do now…and then all of the OTHER realms and beings and such.

The author mentioned 21 books written in this world though this is book 16 in the Dark Protectors Series. The books don’t have to be read in order but this book would benefit from knowing the backstory of Hope, Paxton, and Drake.

Did I enjoy this book? Not as much as I thought I would
Will I read more by this author? If the synopsis appeals – yes
Rating: 3 overall
Enjoyment: 2-3
5 because it needed to be written
Averaged to: 3

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Lyrical Press for the ARC – this is my honest review.

I have been anticipating this arc conclusion for years and boy it didn't disappoint. We've all been wondering who Hope, the only female vampire ever born, would choose as her mate. We've watched Hope, Libby, Paxton and Drake grow up over the books and now they're adults taking on adult responsibilities. Hope, Libby and several other grown children of the Realm work as a rescue team for the enhanced human women that are being captured by the Kurjan Nation. Paxton Phoenix supposedly has been working with his Uncle Santino tracking butterflies all over the world. We find that isn't the case. Drake is now leader of the Kurjan Nation for three years after his father was killed. I will not spoil the book for you but the twists and turns in this story kept me turning pages when I should have been sleeping. I never saw some of the things reveled coming. I cannot praise Rebecca Zanetti's storytelling high enough. She has a true gift with words!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can’t believe we got to the end of this story! It seems like just yesterday that all the main characters were children hanging out, and now they’re all leading teams of warriors! Weird, also, that with vampires and demons everyone gets to seems around the same age as their parents.

So, we knew eventually Hope would have to choose. This story has been building for books and books so to get the full impact, I’d recommend heading back to the beginning (maybe not the very beginning, but at least when this story arc starts with the seven). Hope has known all her life that she will have a role to play in defeating Ulric. He’s the big bad here that has officially been loosed on the world and has resumed his favorite pastime of stealing women who are possible mates. While Hope still believes in the good of her childhood friend, Drake, who is leading their enemies, her other BFF, Paxton knows that Drake is up to no good. It probably doesn’t help his case, though, that Paxton’s been in love with Hope for as long as he can remember.

This story starts with a big reveal about how Paxton has been spending his “research time” and how that impacts the safety of everyone involved. This single reveal and the ramifications end up leading us toward the stunning conclusion here. Don’t worry, though, we get lots of steamy goodness as Hope *finally* starts to see Paxton as a grown man. I admit - this was a struggle for me, but I got there by the end. We get everything you’ve wanted all along the previous books jammed into this one - Drake’s true nature revealed, Paxton’s true nature revealed, the Seven finally doing their Seven stuff, the keys doing their key stuff, rebellions, undercover relatives, and so much more! After all the build up, this was so very satisfying in the end.

I’ve been waiting for Hope’s book since beginning the Dark Protectors series with Hero’s Haven. I fell in love with Hope’s character and her friendship/relationships with Paxton and Abigail. So, I was beyond excited to read Warrior’s Hope, and despite my seriously elevated expectations, I loved it without reservation.

In Warrior’s Hope by Rebecca Zanetti, Hope Kayrs-Kyllwood faces a crossroads in which she must make a decision that means the difference between life and death for her and her people—choosing between her best friend and the leader of the Kurjan nation. Whatever she chooses, she expects that it will require a great sacrifice to end the war between her Realm and the Kurjan nation, but she’s willing to do whatever it takes.

Zanetti’s active writing style, colorful dialogue and language use, exciting action sequences, deft character development and evolution, and vibrant, detailed description and worldbuilding drew me into Warrior’s Hope from the first scene, keeping me glued to the novel as the pages flew by. She skillfully develops and evolves her captivating, suspenseful, and multilayered story, making you fall in love with the world of the Dark Protectors and the characters that inhabit it. Warrior’s Hope builds on the earlier books in the series, so reading it along with the other books is best. However, Zanetti gives enough background/backstory to fill in the information to catch readers up.

The weight of fate and destiny rests upon Hope Kayrs-Kyllwood’s shoulders because she’s the only vampire to be born a female and the heir/descendant of two powerful immortal families. She’s carried this burden since birth. Now, she’s at a crossroads in her life, and her heart is torn between two futures and two very different men—Paxton and Drake. An alpha, demon-hybrid vampire, Paxton is Hope’s best friend who has been her self-appointed protector since childhood. He’s always known his path is to protect Hope with his life, and he’s prepared and willing to kill and die to keep her safe without reservation or thought for his own life. Then there’s Drake, leader of the Kurjan nation—their enemy—who deeply believes mating Hope will offer him the means to avoid war with his enemies, the nations within the Realm. He needs her to believe it, too. Hope must decide where her loyalties lie and whom she can trust before her time runs out and the deadly factions pursuing her take her choices and free will away from her.

I love Zanetti’s development of Hope and Paxton’s relationship from close childhood friends to uneasy allies to lovers with funny, snarky, steamy interactions and intensely emotional and sexy love scenes. Dangerous, intense, forceful, and controlling, Paxton is a dominating, deadly fighter and warrior. He’s met his match in Hope, however. Independent, intelligent, gorgeous, and a tactical genius, she’s fearless, strongminded, loyal, and willing to fight for what she believes in—sometimes to her own harm. Their attraction is intense and fiery, with a deep connection that their long, deep friendship feeds into and strengthens. I love their interactions, full of sparks and snarky banter and sexually and emotionally intense make-out/love scenes. Paxton is all about Hope.

Hope’s progression from the beginning of the Seven’s arc to now has been interesting to read. Of course, she still has a way to go, as her loyalties and trust are tested by whether to continue trusting Paxton now that he’s all grown up and no longer the safe, sweet boy she knew from childhood. Furthermore, she still has to decide how to deal with her friendship/potential relationship with Drake now that he’s truly become her enemy instead of just her friend, who happens to be a Kurjan.

Zanetti superbly writes thrilling fight scenes and action/adventure sequences, political intrigue, and suspense. Warrior’s Hope is a multilayered, complex story with excellent character interactions and development. There’s so much going on in this novel, lots of twists and turns, secrets, and surprises, that it’s hard to know how the book will end. Zanetti wonderfully builds up the suspense and paranormal/fantasy elements, keeping you guessing whether Hope will choose love or sacrifice or run out of time, so she leaves you on the edge of your seat.

A steamy, emotional, sexy, angsty, action-packed, romantic read, Warrior’s Hope is highly recommended for romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and sci/fi and fantasy fans. It explores themes of betrayal/treason, war, toxic/abusive parents, self-discovery, soulmates, family, friendship, first love, brotherhood, and secrets.

Advanced review copy provided by Lyrical Press via Netgalley for review.

I have been provided with a review copy of Warrior's Hope from NetGalley for an impartial review. I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in this great story. I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

We’ve followed Hope’s journey from her childhood to becoming a grown up. We knew these events had to happen but getting there was full of surprises, suspense, and angst. This story was so worth the wait.

Yes, yes and more yes! This is exactly what I wanted for Hope and Paxton! Talk about a whirlwind of emotions, this story goes through them all. Everything about this is just right. I loved it!

I love Rebecca Zanetti and I’ve read every novel in her Dark Protectors series and spin off series, I enjoyed this book and it was nice to have a full picture of the finale, but I’m not going to lie I was a but disappointed. The end of the original series with Janie and Zane was everything I wanted. Hopes story honestly felt rushed and lack luster. After all the buildup I felt cheated a bit. It was good, but not amazing, the last few books haven’t been what I’d call show stoppers though decent. I wish we could have ended on an amazing high note, but it was still enjoyable and I’m glad we have a conclusion finally,

This is the conclusion of the Dark Protectors series and it's a doozy! This is a complicated, multi-layered world, so I'll start out by saying you need to read this series from the beginning for full impact. I started somewhere in the middle and found I had to cycle back and start from the beginning to understand everything.

In the finale, a grown-up Hope must make her prophecy come to pass, and in the process, there's tons of action and surprises and suspense as the dominoes fall into place. I did like the level of action in this conclusion.

There's also a love-triangle, a trope I do love. Paxton and Drake must vie for Hope's attentions and it gets interesting as the war comes to a head. Not going to spoil it for you here, but it's worth it!

Warrior's Hope is the story of Paxton and Hope. A war is brewing on the Kurjan horizon and it will require sacrifice to end the evil threat of Ulric. As the novel unfolds, it is clear the author Rebecca Zanetti has a devious mind. The intricacies of the book's moving parts is nothing short of pure genius!
There are fabulous kissing scenes (which I'm a big fan of) and enough steam to melt an igloo in the dead of winter! This is the first book in this series that I read and I can unequivocally state that Warrior's Hooe is a complete stand-alone novel. I will be reading other books in this series!
This story checks all my boxes; wonderful H and h; romance (steamy but not vulgar); suspense and a satisfying HEA conclusion!
IMHO: 5 stars

WARRIOR’S HOPE is an incredible, well-written read! Rebecca Zanetti gives her fans everything that they wanted, as well as things we couldn’t possibly imagine.

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

Complete review: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=84045

Paxton and Hope are all grown up and their journey leads to a reckoning between the Realm and the Kurjans/Cysts. Seeing them all grown up and facing truths about each, along with finding the endangered women, and fighting the Kurjans made for fast paced and action packed story. The “love” triangle with Drake, Paxton, and Hope came to a head 😜 and had a definite resolution of how fate was supposed to be. The ending was a nice twist and introduced some intriguing uses of their different talents. The showdown was vividly described and I loved the imagery of the fight and ramifications of the big moment. A great story and I hope we get more stories in this world!

I have to admit the story line of this series has always intrigued me since it brings together all the paranormals into a loosely linked family. I also have to admit that I have not read all the books in the series, so I found myself lost a time of two but nothing that took away from my enjoyment of this story.
Hope is the daughter of the King of the demons. Her mother was an enhanced female and while Hope has trained herself into a top-notch agent for the side of the good, she is still waiting for her powers to manifest. Another interesting phenomenon is that given her genetics she should be getting stronger and instead she's getting weaker. Paxton has been her childhood friend and confidant but unknown to her he's keeping big secrets from her which will come back to bite his ass in the near future.
Hope has always known that her destiny is to sacrifice her life and happiness for world peace but when push comes to shove, she makes a choice that has far reaching consequences. An absolute spine-tingling thrill ride to a photo finish. Now I have to figure out if it even makes sense to go back and read the previous books in the series after knowing the end.

This may be the 16th book in the Dark Protectors series, but it will still surprise you!
I am a hardcore Rebecca Zanetti fan for good reason. She always gives readers several unexpected turns in every book. Warrior’s Hope is a book that we Dark Protectors fans have been waiting for because their storyline has been building up in the background of previous books. We’ve known that Hope, our heroine, had to make a choice between love and duty. It took Hope a lot longer to recognize that she even had a choice at all.

Hope is the tip of a love triangle with Drake and Paxton, two men that she’s been friends with since childhood. The only thing she’s ever been sure about is that the three of them were somehow fated together in the process of taking Ulhric down. Ulhric is an evil being who is utterly invincible. There is literally no way to even hurt him. Thus, he’s a fierce and hated leader alongside Drake, leader of the Kurjan people. Drake and Hope only communicate in a dream world of Hope’s creation. Despite being the leader of her own people’s enemies, he has always been her friend. He’s long been open about his desire for her to be his queen, and broker peace between their people.


Paxton is fiercely loyal to Hope, but he’s been hiding a very big secret.
In Warrior’s Hope, Hope finally discovers what Paxton has truly been off doing all around the world. All signs lead to Paxton being a traitor. Once he’s caught, he doesn’t deny his wrongdoing but also doesn’t explain it either. He’s fortunate that Hope tries so hard to believe him for the sake of their childhood. It’s his past reputation that keeps him alive long enough for the truth to be revealed.

I have to admit, throughout the book I wanted to shake Hope. She was being manipulated left and right and just would not see the signs right in front of her. Thinking on this more, it’s just so very human. All of us want to believe in the version of someone in our memories rather than what is right in front of us. Hope was much more kind and trusting than any of them deserved.

Zanetti always racks up the tension until the pressure is just too much to handle!

The peak moment when Hope finally makes her life altering choice was so beautiful, so satisfying, and yet so incredibly terrifying. I felt the walls closing in on her and couldn’t see how she’d escape her trap. Each time it seemed like she could escape enemy territory, she’d be pulled right back. Every angle was planned ahead, every secret was known, and the fate of everyone came down to Hope. It was truly brilliant writing!

Warrior’s Hope could be read as a standalone because Zanetti does drop brief explanations of where we are and why we’re fighting. Just know that you’re going to see a ton of names of people that had their own kick-*ss stories that are also a must read. No joke, all 16 books are worth it. Wouldn’t it be fun to just binge this series? Part of me wishes I could read all of them brand new.

In the thrilling conclusion of the Dark Protectors series, Hope Kayrs-Kyllwood, the only female vampire ever born, faces an impossible choice that leaves my heart in turmoil. Between duty and love, her decisions hold the fate of her loved ones. Drake, the Kurjan leader, and Paxton, her devoted childhood friend, represent two divergent paths in her life. The story unfolds in an intense, explosive battle, culminating in unexpected twists that keep me on the edge of my seat. Following this series for a while, seeing the characters grow from childhood to adulthood was bittersweet. The intricate world-building and deep relationships captivated me, making this epic saga a must-read. The final chapter sets the stage for a promising future, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next adventure in this captivating universe.

Rebecca Zanetti has spent years enthralling her readers with the complex, fast-paced and addictive stories that make up the all-consuming series that is the Dark Protectors. Those of us who have been along for the ride since Fated, have experienced first-hand the many difficulties faced by the big-hearted Hope and her deep friendship with Paxton and the worrisome connection with Drake.

As a reader I often worry how an author will wrap up a series that has such a profound impact and has so many awe-inspiring characters, but I’m relieved to say Ms Zanetti has once again hit it out of the park with this intense, gripping and edge of your seat tale.

The only way to summarise this book, is to say, “YOU MUST READ IT!” That’s the only way to truly appreciate the exceptional story that is Warrior’s Hope.

This story is not for the faint of heart.

The war with the Kurjans has reached its boiling point. Hope knows her fate was sealed the day she was born. The time is coming for her to make her choice. How can she reconcile what her heart wants with what her head tells her must be done?

The tension builds from page one as Hope fights her conflicted feelings. Added to that are the internal disagreements of the members of the Realm about the next steps in the battle, while the Seven continue to prepare for the final stages of their plan. Fast moving, action packed and full of the unexpected, every turn of the page is an adventure. This is the explosive climax fans of the series have been waiting for.

I highly suggest reading the Dark Protectors series from the beginning to understand the backstop ( and because the series is just that good). If that's too much, though, start with Vampire's Faith, the start of the Seven ARC which culminates here. It will be time well spent.

Attention risque de spoiler sur la série.

Depuis le début, Hope Karys-Kyllwood sait qu’elle a un rôle à jouer dans l'anéantissement d’Ulric, ce Cyst, qui souhaite la mort des Sept et des femelles qui ont des capacités surnaturelles. Depuis son enfance elle rejoint Drake, le fils du leader Kurjan (les ennemis des vampires), dans des mondes oniriques avec ses amis Paxton et Libby. Elle connaît sa destinée, pour la paix entre les deux nations, elle et Drake doivent s’unir. Mais il y a aussi Paxton, son ami, toujours présent à ses côtés, son protecteur qu’elle ne voit que comme un ami et qui veut se battre pour elle…

Je viens de refermer ce livre, donc la fin de cet arc et je suis encore sur mon petit nuage. Cette série est clairement une de mes préférées (je relis certains tomes ou passages de temps en temps). J’admire Rebecca Zanetti qui après autant de tomes dans le même univers parvient quand même à surprendre son lectorat. Le dénouement, nous l’attendions depuis le début de ce nouvel arc, nous avions eu quelques bribes d'informations parmi les tomes précédents mais je ne m’attendais pas à ces retournements de situations. J’ai vécu plein d’émotions au travers de ces personnages et des évènements. Je suis restée bouche bée devant le plus gros twist en me disant : mais quel génie ! Hope a tellement grandi au cours de cet arc, de la petite fille, vers l’adolescente, la jeune femme puis la femme. Elle a une maturité propre à son rôle, j’ai aimé le fait qu’elle soit inclue dans les batailles par ses capacités en stratégie bien qu’elle n’ait pas de capacités surnaturelles jusqu’ici. C’est une femme forte, courageuse avec un grand coeur mais elle reste parfois naïve. J’ai adoré retrouver la majorité des anciens personnages des deux arcs, voir ce qu’ils sont devenus et j’ai beaucoup d’espoir pour la suite de cette série. Il me tarde de découvrir la suite des évènements dans ce que je souhaite être un prochain arc. En bref, je ne peux que vous recommander cette série si vous aimez les sagas sur plusieurs générations avec des hybrides (vampires, démons, métamorphes et sorcières…), de l’humour, de l’amour et de l’action ... foncez !

I haven't read the entire series but the ones I have read have been super enjoyable. Warrior's Hope was built up toward in the previous books and proved as interesting and tense as expected.

Hope's not sure what genes she's inherited. What is she? Will she ever know? Paxton is suspect. Is he a traitor? Have the Kurjan's infiltrated and put Hope's life in danger? Is Paxton safe? Is Drake to be trusted. Who will Hope choose? There is so much to solve in this book and Zanetti does it so well. The book was tense, the story was paced and large, the characters everything we expect and more. This book is just a flat out good read. I won't spoil the plot but know that the resolution is satisfying and the build up to get there well worth the read.

This and every other book I've read from Zanetti ensure my fan status.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow, what can I say about this book except for it was amazing and not the story I was expecting.

Ove read every book in the Dark Protectors series and I can honestly say this one didn't disappoint. I couldn't put it down and loved every twist and turn throughout the story.

Hope has been such a pivotal character since her appearance in the series and this book didn't change that and it was so good to see her destiny come to fruition and it will be fascinating to see what comes from her happiness in the future.

Rebecca Zanetti totally nailed it with this book!