This is another surprisingly amazing installment with its mind-bending, intriguing world-building, well-crafted character development, riveting story-telling, heart throbbing progression and satisfying ending! And let’s not forget to praise the brilliant illustration! Lately the covers of the books are breathtaking and thankfully there are such amazing artists out there to support fantastic reviews with their skilled imaginative minds!

I’m not gonna write a long review and take your precious time. I’m gonna summarize the facts why I liked the book so much:

Fact one: HEROINE: Jennesara is decent, trustworthy, likeable character. She is a princess and she is also warrior but she isn’t blood thirsty, looking for vengeance kind of heroine, not excessively badass, tough, wild, violent and obnoxious. She does not have a tragic background story, not suffering from any loss or dysfunctional family drama. Her father tells her to marry with the prince of Turia for benefiting the resources to save their kingdom and she happily obeys her father to save her family. Maybe you may misjudge her for not fighting her way out or blaming her not to have any trace of feminism in her system but she is a real sweetheart to sacrifice herself for the safety of her loved ones and her kingdom.

Fact two: I don’t normally love insta love stories but romance parts of this book surprisingly warmed my frozen and cruel heart (daily I pour boiling water on it to feel something but neighborhood kids still call me Cruella de Vil)

Fact three: Of course I enjoyed action-packed, moving, exciting and heart throbbing chapters which were truly unputdownable. Betrayal, lies, family ties intercepted with magic, fantasy and epic romance makes you sigh several times are tasty combination for any kind of readers’ dreamy books.

Only thing I didn’t like and resulted with cutting one of the stars was pacing! I normally enjoyed fast-pacing and I admitted too many times I’m not a big fan of slow burn fantasies. But in this book, you need extra time to absorb the whirlwind events because too many things happening at the same time and you want to take a break and slow your heart rhythm, feeling like just finished 5K marathon, breathing in and out to gather your senses. So I wish the pace could be a little slower or some of the actions could be saved for the second book.

But overall: it’s enjoyable, perfectly- written epic journey, mesmerizing you and captivates your focus, energy, soul and heart at the same time. At the end you keep smiling because you had great time during your reading and enjoy every second of the characters’ journey.

So I stick with my exhilarating, actin packed, entertaining, epic four stars! And I cannot wait to read the second book into my hands.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for sharing this fantastic ARC with me in exchange my honest review.

I really loved the cover for this one. I don't always enjoy people on the cover but the blue background really pulls it all in and I am a sucker for blue books. The premise is pretty simple and gives just enough to interest me. I did generally like the book but there were things that left me wanting more.

Jenna is a princess except she has grown up wielding a sword. There isn't too much said about her life because things move quickly and soon she is out the door headed to reach her betrothed's home. Through the journey there is more shown about her personality, including how brave she is. So many things happen to her and yet she clings to wanting to survive.

There are many characters introduced from the beginning. Through certain circumstances it felt like many would be done away but this author knows how to add the element of surprise! I never saw any of it coming. My one complaint about the characters was that there wasn't much time to form any feelings towards them so I didn't connect with the story in that way.

The book is also split between two point-of-views. It was confusing at first because I wasn't really sure what the second point-of-view had to do with anything but as the book continues on everything starts to unravel and makes sense. (I mean that's how it usually works but sometimes I'm just scattered brain, haha!) I'm not really sure if I enjoyed the split point-of-view or not.

The relationship that is formed was fine but nothing that made me want to root for them. At least it wasn't insta-love.

Although there are parts that can be slow, there is quite a bit of action. The plot is pretty intriguing and the twists, as stated already, were very surprising. They did keep my interest going. I think that the ending was fine and it did set the stage for the next book.

Overall, it was a good debut and I am curious to see what book two has in store.

"Shielded" starts off with a simple premise. The kingdom of Hálendi faces threats from its borders and weak relations with its neighbor, Turia. To solve this, the king promises Princess Jennesara in marriage to the prince, Enzo. However, she's not entirely too keen on the idea and would rather fight next to her brother on the battlefield. Jennesara also has a secret. She bears a white streak in her hair, which marks her as having magical abilities and the power to inherit the throne. Forced to hide this her entire life to safeguard her brother's claim, Jennesara realizes that marriage is the only way to help her kingdom.

Trouble, however, follows them on the road to Turia. Traveling with a royal entourage, Jennesara and her group are ambushed by a gray mage and his shadowy creations. Forced into the Wild, an environment controlled by magic, Jennesara must find Enzo and decide whether or not to reveal her secret to save Hálendi from invading forces.

While this book started out with an intriguing premise and an interesting heroine, the story lacked a sense of world-building and the kingdoms of Hálendi and Turia were not fully fleshed out. At the start of the book, there was a continuous dialogue about how people from Hálendi were warriors and protected Turia from outside invaders and magic wielders, but this was never fully explained. Instead, we received an information dump from the swordmaster about halfway through which served as the only explanation. Additionally, the world-building was left behind for a half-hatched political plot and typical romance.

Jennesara's character was also disappointing. I'm always a fan of women, who prefer the sword, but her magical abilities were barely discussed or even developed. One moment, Jennesara did not know she had magic and the next second she was turning people invisible. This story also lacked a definitive character arc and instead, Jennesara went from one event to another without having time to digest what had actually happened to her.

This book hits the mark! Fun, beautiful cover, great heroine and great ending. Great book! Just a little slow at the start, but picks up quickly and you will want to race to the finish.

This book took me by surprise! I was not expecting to enjoy and love this book as much as I did! This book had a fresh voice with an amazing storyline. This book had me reading and loving it from beginning to end. There were a few things that weren't my favorite, but overall this book was a wonderful read. The author did an amazing job of keeping the story moving and the action and suspense interwoven. The world-building was well done and the romance was sweet. The main characters were enjoyable and heart-felt. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! A couple things that weren't my favorite was how she used magic maybe a little too expertly with the mage, and maybe a little too much time in the Wild. Great twists and turns, some twists were predictable, and others were shocking! Enjoyable book, would highly recommend! Can't wait for the next book!!

This story about the badass Jennesara figuring things out and bringing peace to a warring land is the incredible new fantasy you need in your life. Jenna was born with a magic she wasn't supposed to have, forced to keep it a secret her entire life. Enzo is the sweet prince she is betrothed to and together they will change their lands.

SHIELDED is a really amazing fantasy filled with first love, family ties, sisterhood, and magic <3

<i>*This book was given to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review*</i>

This was a fun read overall. I would have liked to get a better understanding of a few of the characters, and more on The Wild. I expect it will have a high check out at my library, especially with a cover like that!

3.5/5 stars

I wasn't drawn in to the story as I had hoped. As far as the books this was compared to, I wasn't particularly fond of either of them. Despite that, I went into this with high expectations. The summary drew me in instantly, so I was willing to set my feelings on the comparisons aside. I enjoyed it, but for me personally I wanted more. I love the writing style and the magic system though. The pacing was good, although it did take me about a third of the book to really get into it. Characters were a mixed bag for me, but the last few chapters gives me the impression that we'll learn a bit more. I liked this, but not enough to bump it up to 4 stars. I reserve the 4+ stars for books I feel more "connected" to or have fun with. This book just didn't give me that.

3.5 or 4 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's nothing unique, but it's a good story if you're in the mood for a medieval adventure. I loved the details added into the world, and there's some solid building blocks for worldbuilding in a sequel.

The characters were strong. They didn't feel bland like in most YA. You got a good glimpse of their identities and thoughts that make them unique while not info-dumping on them. There wasn't any development in this as the focus of the story was more an exploration of the characters as they were. Again, I can see set-up for development and growth for a sequel.

The magic system makes absolutely no sense. There are no clear rules for it nor is it a soft or ambiguous magic system. It gave me all the vibes of classic fantasy stories where the magic simply occurs when needed and there's no explanation as to why it does what it does. I can definitely see people finding fault with this, and I usually do myself, but I enjoyed the characters and story so much that I can overlook a lax system.

It reads like a debut book, but there's a lot of hope for growth in the author's writing and the world itself, and I'm excited to see where it goes.

Typical kingdom doesn't like magic so tries to hide the prince and princess that have it. Princess gets betrothed to a prince to be an ally.
Even though it was typical it was still good and Jenna is a strong character.

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a free review copy for this novel**

Shielded was super cute! It had this fairytale whimsy to it! The pacing felt a little fast at the end. And there were a few plot resolutions the felt a little convient, but that didn't really take away from my reading experience. The character really has their own voices, and it was a really enjoyable read! I'm looking forward to book two.

Final Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

With vivid world building and sympathetic characters, Shielded is a new tour de force in the YA fantasy genre! When Princess Jenna is forced to choose between a dangerous secret and her freedom, entire kingdoms will tremble. Complex and confronting real life issues about autonomy, this book is a breath of fresh air and a must read!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I loved, loved, loved this book! It was captivating from the very beginning. I immediately fell in love with this world the author created, and the characters who consumed it. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

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

Princess Jennesara is resilient, loyal, would do anything for her people, and has a secret that can’t get out. When her father suddenly surprises her with an arranged marriage for a much needed alliance, she does what any princess would do and leaves all she cares for to travel to a new kingdom in hopes of helping her people. The journey isn’t easy, and Jennesara must think quickly to fight off an adversary she knows almost nothing about while avoiding traitors pulling strings around her. Hiding her secret, finding new companions, and never giving up hope are what keep her going.

Shielded was an easy, fast-paced read that I found myself getting more and more excited about as the novel progressed. At the beginning of the novel, I was worried this was going to be like any other princess-sets-off-on-an-adventure story, but was happy to see it provide a unique magic system and artifacts that gave life to a new world.

A few items I struggled with were some pretty predictable scenes, but even then I enjoyed them and found there were many other conflicts that I hadn’t expected. Also, the ending seemed to rush by me and I wanted more of it...but maybe that will develop in a sequel!?

What stood out to me was how well the characters were developed. I like the bond Jennesara had with her family, the romance she found, and her strong-willed character who could stand up to anything. I was rooting for Jennesara during her adventure and was so glad to see a brave, warrior princess as opposed to a damsel in distress. There were a lot of characters, but they all played a part and carried a uniqueness that made me want to learn more about their individual stories. This is the type of fantasy/adventure read that you can sit down, start reading, realize you are 50% through, and decided to just finish it because it is making you so happy. I recommend KayLynn Flanders’ debut novel and sincerely hope more of this world is in the works!

Shielded was a magnificently torturous and wildly thrilling YA fantasy novel written by debut author Kaylynn Flanders that I was so excited to lose myself in while reading! Flanders brings a refreshing new voice to the genre and I'm excited to proclaim that I've added another strong female character to my list of badass heroines. Princess Jennesara is a force to be reckoned with and definitely deserves to be up there with other leading ladies like Yrene Towers, Vhalla Yarl, and Jude Duarte! Shielded is filled with magic, deceit, revenge, a steamy, slow-burn romance, betrayal, friendship, family bonds, and epic battle scenes. This is a debut novel you do not want to miss!

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.

The first half of Shielded begins with Jennesara on a journey to Turia for her arranged marriage with Prince Enzo, whom she's never met or seen before, and when her caravan is ambushed by killer mages, she must flee for her life within the magical and dangerous forests of The Wild. Just like Jennesara has to fight to survive in The Wild on her long trek to Turia, I had to fight my way through the first half of this book. In all honesty I'm not usually a fan of reading about lone journeys the main character has in a book because I tend to get quite bored. However, there was always some little detail and magic in the words that helped me hang on; that propelled me further into this book to find the treasure that awaited me. I checked the percentage of my reading progress and it was right around 54% that I fell madly in love with Shielded and due to the numerous revelations in this book I am unable to tell you why because....SPOILERS!* But I like to think I have built trust among you, book loves, so if you take my recommendations seriously than I promise you the wait for something amazing to happen is so worth it!!! And now I must endure more torture as I wait for the second book to be published.

A beautiful cast of characters emerges as Jennesara reaches Turia under the disguise of her maid's name, Aleinn. You'll find that it is infuriating that Jenn keeps her identity a secret even when it could solve so many problems but I guess I'm a reader who likes to torture myself. If I'm being one hundred percent honest with myself, I craved the romance above everything else. It was perfect. It had me holding my breath and got my heart racing. I remember taking a break and seeing a huge grin on my face in the mirror and that is when I know a book has curled up and claimed a spot on my heart.

Get ready to be swept up in a whirlwind of emotions and drama as well as the five glorious stars I award to Shielded! It is a brilliant read and I couldn't be more happy for Kaylynn Flanders and this huge accomplishment.

Sending all my love and appreciation to Delacorte Press for granting me early access to read Shielded in exchange for an honest review!

A princess in love with her brother and her brother's friend must survive when enemy forces attack her homeland and the country adjacent to it, all while hiding a distinctive white stripe of hair that indicates that she's magic. There was so much in this that was inconsistent and didn't make sense that I can't even begin to list it all. Filled with stereotypes and "plot twists" visible for miles, this book screams "bad Disney film treatment" all over it.

Shielded is Kaylynn Flanders debut novel and WOW, it is fabulous!
Everyone needs to get to know princess Jennesara, or just Jenna. She really is a princess who fights like a soldier and she is the kind of female protagonist that inspires. Princess Jennesara has a secret, and no, I am not revealing it! But it is a secret that has the power to help the ones she loves.
I think my favorite part of this novel is how anywhere Jennesara winds up, she finds great people that help her. I just like to imagine that that idea is mainly true in the “real world” too. It is refreshing to read a book with such positive main characters who show such good moral virtues, especially about what it means to be a family.
I highly suggest this fun and fast-paced novel! It has romance and the joy of finding new friends in unexpected places, some amazing and thrilling action sequences… and did I mention romance? Yes!
Look for Shielded in July of 2020! A perfect summer read!
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!!

Shielded by KayLynn Flanders follows the adventure of Jennesara, the secondborn of the kingdom of Halendi, who has trained all her life to be a great warrior to stand alongside her brother, Aletheren, who is slated to become king as he has inherited their family's magic. To aid their kingdom in a time of need, Jennesara is sent to marry the crown prince of the kingdom of Turia, Prince Enzo, but on her way there her party is attacked and she is forced to go on the run to discover what evil has befallen her home.

I was initially drawn to this book by its cover, so kudos to the team behind that!

As unique as the cover is, the story within was a little generic. The series of events that unfold are somewhat predictable, and I was only ever surprised once by the various plot twists that occurred. The book is compared to Furyborn, and in a sense, I can understand why because of the way it plays with timelines and the events of centuries past affecting the present day. However, the worldbuilding is as of yet quite sparse, although I appreciate that the kingdom of Turia is very heavily Italian-inspired. I was actually quite reminded of Morgan Rhodes' Falling Kingdoms series—the first book at least—based on the overall writing style, magical elements, and political themes.

The characters are likable if somewhat standard, and the romantic subplot could have used some more spice. But I did enjoy Jennesara as a protagonist, with her grit and compassion. The ending of the book certainly leaves room for ample storytelling potential, and I look forward to seeing what direction the story goes in now that the foundations have been set.

**Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**

This has been my favorite fantasy read of 2020 so far. Following Jennasara, a warrior princess, we are brought into a world of magic, intrigue, and and romance.

+ The world-building and magic system is interesting and I like how it's incorporated into the politics of the world.
+ The relationship between Jennasara and her brother is sweet; it doesn't evolve into how I had expected.
+ There are plenty of twists in the story.
- Big info dump in the beginning; however, that makes sense since this is an entirely new world, but it could lose some readers.

Overall, I'm super excited to see this story get released into the world.

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 <i>Shielded</i> and I know I will be rereading (and purchasing) the first chance I get.