Vernal: A Royal Protector Academy Novel

Gargoyle Princess Serena St. Michael is the last of her regal bloodline and destined to live within the confines of royalty. Though she has her father wrapped around her finger and wants for nothing, her future is not her own. Duty requires that she study and train with the other gargoyle protectors, and that she must eventually marry to create a new alliance to maintain peace between various supernatural races. This plan does not sit well with the rebellious and free spirited 20-year-old princess.

In the third and final year of her training at the Royal Protector Academy, her family has secretly assigned her a new and additional personal protector/bodyguard, in anticipation of an assassination attempt from a source of evil long-ago wronged by the St. Michael’s. However, the family never expected that Serena and her new guard would fall for each other. Tristan Gallagher has a shady past and secrets of his own. He’s also gorgeous and off-limits. How could Serena possibly not be attracted?

Tristan has various connections in the supernatural world, and responsibilities of his own to uphold, but he cannot deny the strong pull he feels towards Serena. As much as he tries to convince himself that ensuring her safety is simply his current assignment, he can’t help but feel deeply for her. Tristan knows, better than anyone, that he is bad news for Serena and would only end up hurting her, that he cannot claim her, mate with her, or keep her once the assignment ends. But heck if he doesn’t want to, with every fiber of his being.

The Royal Protector Academy feels like a college atmosphere, with the gargoyle students adding witty banter to the already sarcasm-laced dialog. Despite the seriousness of their purpose, and the impending threat of attack, the tone among classmates is light and fun.

Author Randi Cooley Wilson has successfully managed to combine many different types of supernatural beings into one coherent NA love story. Perfect for fans of Laura Thalassa’s ‘The Unearthly’ series and anyone who enjoys a good NA paranormal romance.

LOVED IT! It was more mature than the Revelation series that preceeds it. I loved Serena. She knew what she wanted and totally went for it and wasn't apologetic about it. Tristan was the one that was playing games, kind of, and that was a surprise. I was gutted when it was revealed that it was Tristan who was betrothed, I fell into the trap of assuming it was his brother that was going to marry they nymph. CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!!

I am reviewing Vernal from a free copy from NetGalley. I read the complete Revelation Series last week and was extremely excited when I realised the series continued with a future generation. I thought it might have been tiresome going from Asher and Eves story to that of Serena's but I couldn't have been more wrong. The author writes in a familiar style but has adapted it to fit her new characters, making it feel like a totally new and enthralling story. I loved Gage in the revelation and Tristan does not disappoint in this series. I'm very much looking forward to the next instalment, please don't let it be too long before it is released.

Vernal is the first book in Randi Cooley Wilson’s The Royal Protector’s Academy series. The book follows Gargoyle Princess Serena St. Michael as a student at The Royal Protector’s Academy. In her third year at the school our hero, Tristan, is assigned to protect her (unknown to Serena at the time). As Tristan and Serena grow closer and closer together a tangled web of lies, secrets, and hidden feelings threatens to keep them apart forever. Can they find a way to be together even when the odds are stacked against them?

I gotta say, this book is crazy sauce. Really, really good crazy sauce. Not only does it have a detailed, intricate storyline but the fantasy world that Randi Cooley Wilson built is incredibly lush. In so many scenes I could see the world the author built; the buildings, the landscape, and weather were all beautifully articulated. The world-building that was done for Vernal was so amazingly vivid that the book had the feel of a really great summer blockbuster (Hogwarts meets Middle Earth maybe). It read so much like a movie that I could almost hear the movie score rolling along with the credits after the last scene was over.

Now I will say this: Vernal has a cliffhanger ending. There is no HEA at the end, and I’m not honestly sure if we’ll get a HEA after book two or three in the series. I know, y’all, I know. My jaw must have been on the floor after finishing this book. I kept thinking, “what? What? WHAT?”! Yeah…it’s one of those books. Don’t let the cliffhanger dissuade you, though, this book seriously worth your time.

Tristan and Serena are such amusing characters to spend time with. They are both fierce, loyal, witty and incredibly independent. Their character traits mirror each other in so many ways, but, surprisingly, they don’t feel like two sides of the same coin. They are two entirely separate people with different reactions, feelings, and world-views. Even when they come together and enter into a relationship they are so individually distinct at all times. Their independence and individuality do not seem to hurt their relationship, though, it strengthens their story because their joining seems that much sweeter. Tristan being blood bonded to Serena is just the icing on top of their totally-messed-up-but-hot-as-f*ck cake.

I did lose myself in the plot of Vernal a few times, or rather I got discombobulated and turned around inside the Royal Protector world. It almost felt like I wasn’t properly introduced to the bigger picture, its rules and beings from the get-go; Vernal was lacking the infodump we often see in fantasy books. As well, since all the characters were ingrained in the world from page one there wasn’t anyone new to the scene to explain things to (aka we learned about magic and Hogwarts right alongside Harry). Just a few pages of backstory before jumping into Tristan and Serena’s romance might have been nice.

Even feeling a bit lost in the enormity of this world, I highly recommend this book. It’s a mind-trip, sure, but incredibly worth it. Given that this book is just the first in a trilogy I’m going to venture a guess that book two and three will only enhance our view of the world and Tristan/Serena’s story.

Vernal transported me to a different world, a different time, a different space. It felt like an adventure of epic proportions and even when the book was over I sensed that the journey had just begun.

Vernal is the start of a new series in the Revelation series world following the Gargoyle protectors, specifically Callan and Abbey's daughter that was born at the very end of that series is now all grown up and the heir to Uncle Asher's throne. Serena is a spirited individual from the first page until the very end. It is obvious she is trying to live as much as she can and not be labeled by being a princess. She meets the mysterious Tristian when he shows up at the Royal Protector Academy and they instantly have a connection. Tristian, we find out is a guest lecturer of sorts so there is a bit of taboo right there. However, it is clear Tristian has been sent as another protector for princess Serena as a sort of punishment assignment to make up for a lawbreaking action and to avoid being turned to living stone. Yikes! Tristian has a lot of secrets that cause him to be a horrible person to get involved with Serena but much to his dismay he is enchanted by her and can't seem to keep the distance he really should. I really liked the dual narrative points of view, it really helped me understand his struggles and the depth of his feelings even thought most of his secrets were not revealed until near the end. I remember this was something missing in the first book of the Revelations series so I wasn't sure if Asher was just a jerk or what for awhile. Serena and Tristian have great chemistry and the sex scenes are pretty explosive which made me anxious at the cliffhanger ending. I will say I do wish there was a bit more on the overall conflict about the war that was halted for 100 years in the prior series end but seems to be unraveling now. Since Serena it seems will play a big part in it I thought Asher should include her more, but this was the mistake they also did back with Eve. Oh well, it let us get to really know Serena and Tristian and want them to be together. We also got to see bits of favorite Gargoyle protectors, although I would have liked more. This made me excited for Gage and Nessa's story although I was sad he is still going on about his dead mate, I really wish she ends up having been evil or something after twenty years of his brooding about it! Bottom line is Serena is a pretty awesome character you will not want to miss. Just when you think she, as the young female character is going to sit and let something just happen to her she always, I mean always, seemed to do the unexpected first! I was smiling at her antics. She is no passive heroine that is for sure. And Tristian is very torn, by his feelings for Serena, his duty and his parentage as Gage is his seemingly newfound, disinterested father. I am really excited for the next book to see if Serena and Tristian can fight for each other and to see how the overall battle with good and evil involves them and plays out. Great world and so glad there are more books with interesting characters like these.

Oh boy. I LOVED the whole idea of this book.! Gargoyole protector! I thought it was just a brillint take. I'm relatively new to this type of fiction so maybe the concept isn't super unique, but I sure was impressed. I wont lie...it was hard having the story end with a cliff hanger but it really was worth it. Waiting for the next...

This was great! I cant stand romance books with characters that get overly dramatic, especially the alpha male.and sound something like..."Oh can she make me feel these feelings of pure love that I have never felt for anyone ever before...(gag)" There are ways of showing that, instead of saying it out loud and sounding like a soap opera. There is a little of that, but the fun banter makes up for that. "Tristan is dark and snarky and his brother is a ridiculous flirt! I loved the dialogue between just about everybody. I found myself laughing out loud. It was witty and sarcastic. Looking forward to reading the next one!