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Anniversary of the Veil #1
Protector
~ Protector is now available as a FREE eBook from most major booksellers. Get it now! ~
Duty versus love is the one battle warrior Kae does not know how to fight.
Kae has trained his entire life to become an elite Protector of the Realm. When he finally achieves this honor he finds himself protecting something far greater: the Veil separating two worlds. On one side of the Veil lie unlimited stores of magic. On the Realm's side, magic is all but obliterated, and Kae is one of the few who can use it. The priests who secretly rule the Realm will do everything they can to control his growing magical abilities. Kae's willing to pay the price, even though it separates him from Issa, the girl he loves.
But the Veil has weakened over the last thousand years and powers on both sides will stop at nothing to keep it intact. Strangers from the other side have kidnapped Issa to take her across the Veil and sacrifice her to strengthen it. Kae is the only one who can find her. Going to her rescue means forsaking his oaths and duty, and leaving behind the future he always wanted. But if he chooses duty over love, Issa will die.
Duty versus love is the one battle warrior Kae does not know how to fight.
Kae has trained his entire life to become an elite Protector of the Realm. When he finally achieves this honor he finds himself protecting something far greater: the Veil separating two worlds. On one side of the Veil lie unlimited stores of magic. On the Realm's side, magic is all but obliterated, and Kae is one of the few who can use it. The priests who secretly rule the Realm will do everything they can to control his growing magical abilities. Kae's willing to pay the price, even though it separates him from Issa, the girl he loves.
But the Veil has weakened over the last thousand years and powers on both sides will stop at nothing to keep it intact. Strangers from the other side have kidnapped Issa to take her across the Veil and sacrifice her to strengthen it. Kae is the only one who can find her. Going to her rescue means forsaking his oaths and duty, and leaving behind the future he always wanted. But if he chooses duty over love, Issa will die.
327 pages, Paperback
First published March 9, 2012
20 people are currently reading
897 people want to read
About the author
Vanna Smythe
12 books130 followersSince I can remember, I knew I wanted to be a writer. I've tried my hand at many other professions and studies, but I never felt so fulfilled as when I am writing a story or a novel, creating life-like characters and placing them in complex and difficult situations. I've lived in New York, Lisbon, Dublin and Venice, and have traveled to many more countries. I love history, and while I don't claim that my stories are in any way historically accurate, I do draw inspiration from many cultures, past and present. I like to ask, What if? and let my imagination do the rest. Nothing that I've found so far beats that…except maybe reading a good book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
December 2, 2012
Grate potential, but unfulfilled waiting for the rest of the series. The usage of the "life force" as a form of cognitive magic is interesting and worth exploring. However, the supportive characters are poorly filled out and largely exist simply to move the plot along as it focuses on the key people, leaving the reader with a desire to skip forward but hesitating to do so because they do serve a purpose. Still, the dialogue is decent and the romantic element, while bordering on teenage absurdity, is in line with the characters involved and serves well to effect others connected to them.
March 18, 2012
1000 years ago The Veil was formed that separated two realms and now, as the Anniversary approaches a sacrifice will need to be made to reinforce The Veil.
Princess Issiyanna (Issi) is the Beacon, one of the people needed to reinforce The Veil and a group of Keepers cross The Veil to abduct her and lead her to her purpose.
Kiyarran (Kae) has wanted to be a Protector all his life. He is a young man with powers that have not been seen for many many years. He is determined to rescue Issi.
That this is a first novel by Vanna Smythe is quite astounding. She not only tells a wonderful story with characters you can't help but care about, she also brings her world to life. The developing relationship between Issi and Kae is brought on steadily and at a pace that fits well with the story - when they are happy, you are happy for them, when things are going wrong you ache for them to be ok.
The secondary characters also bring something to the story. The Priests, who are the main power in Issi and Kae's world are mainly devious types with only their best interests at heart and their 'asassain branch' The Pure Ones are a particularly evil creation.
This book has certainly left me wanting more and I look forward to the next installment eagerly.
I had hopes for this book from the offset but I could never have hoped it would be this good.
Princess Issiyanna (Issi) is the Beacon, one of the people needed to reinforce The Veil and a group of Keepers cross The Veil to abduct her and lead her to her purpose.
Kiyarran (Kae) has wanted to be a Protector all his life. He is a young man with powers that have not been seen for many many years. He is determined to rescue Issi.
That this is a first novel by Vanna Smythe is quite astounding. She not only tells a wonderful story with characters you can't help but care about, she also brings her world to life. The developing relationship between Issi and Kae is brought on steadily and at a pace that fits well with the story - when they are happy, you are happy for them, when things are going wrong you ache for them to be ok.
The secondary characters also bring something to the story. The Priests, who are the main power in Issi and Kae's world are mainly devious types with only their best interests at heart and their 'asassain branch' The Pure Ones are a particularly evil creation.
This book has certainly left me wanting more and I look forward to the next installment eagerly.
I had hopes for this book from the offset but I could never have hoped it would be this good.
November 28, 2012
I enjoy lengthy fantasies with many characters and complex plots. Therefore, it is no surprise that I love this book. The premises is intriguing and the world-building part of the story is well done. In a crowded genre, it isn't easy to create a fresh and rich fantasy world, but the author has done exactly that. The characters are complicated people -- no black and white cookie-cutter characters here -- which are developed gradually. These are not people who are all good or all bad, except for one high priest (hey, every story needs a good villain). I like that a lot. All real people have both positive and negative qualities and those in this story seem very real. Plus, the main protagonists are very appealing. I won't summarize it to avoid giving spoilers, but following the plot was great fun for me.
Yes, the prologue left me a bit confused but that's a good thing. If a prologue explained everything, why would we need the rest of the book? And yes, this book is the first part of a longer story which obviously is not finished at the end of volume one. As I said, that makes it my kind of book. To other readers who may think they won't like such length, I encourage you to try this. It's well worth anyone's time. I will definitely be buying volume two as soon as it becomes available.
Yes, the prologue left me a bit confused but that's a good thing. If a prologue explained everything, why would we need the rest of the book? And yes, this book is the first part of a longer story which obviously is not finished at the end of volume one. As I said, that makes it my kind of book. To other readers who may think they won't like such length, I encourage you to try this. It's well worth anyone's time. I will definitely be buying volume two as soon as it becomes available.
December 19, 2013
I actually won Book 3 so I bought Book 1 & 2 so to be fair on my review for Book 3.
Book 1 The Protector, I felt was a little slow taking off however, there are a lot of characters in this book and it does take most of this book to know them and what each one brings to the story. Now with that said, this is a really well written book and Ms. Smythe has a great imagination to come up with a story line like this one and the names of people and places, Wow! I had trouble pronouncing some of the names so I would (use the first letter of their name) to remember who each person is. I am really rooting for Kae and Issa, I hope he is her true love she is looking for and that he will give into his love for Issa over being a life long Protector although that is his job. I cant wait to read Book 2 Decision Maker to see if fate will have a hand in Kae and Issa's journey.
Book 1 The Protector, I felt was a little slow taking off however, there are a lot of characters in this book and it does take most of this book to know them and what each one brings to the story. Now with that said, this is a really well written book and Ms. Smythe has a great imagination to come up with a story line like this one and the names of people and places, Wow! I had trouble pronouncing some of the names so I would (use the first letter of their name) to remember who each person is. I am really rooting for Kae and Issa, I hope he is her true love she is looking for and that he will give into his love for Issa over being a life long Protector although that is his job. I cant wait to read Book 2 Decision Maker to see if fate will have a hand in Kae and Issa's journey.
May 23, 2014
I was fascinated by this veil that separates two fantasy worlds. The reader is kept pretty much to one world. I would have liked to read more about the other world (it seems somewhat similar, the little I know of it). Perhaps in the next book, the reader will be told more about the other world. It was a bit traditional: boy met girl, girl is in peril, boy goes to rescue girl. Vanna Smythe handles point of view quite well. She also has corruption in both worlds. Vanna Smythe doesn't clearly map out the good guys and bad guys which is good. She leaves it up to the reader to decide. This was a very interesting book and I'd like to read more.
November 24, 2017
I gave up on this book. I just now looked at the description of the book and it doesn't match what I've read so far (52%), I thought the main character was Issa (or whatever the princesses name was). It seemed like we heard more about her either from her perspective or from her aunt and the others who came to kidnap her. Kae has his parts, but not enough to be the main character. Nothing was fleshed out enough to keep me interested. The book is fine, but not all that exciting to read and the main conflict/plot whatever just wasn't clear.
November 2, 2016
Protector (Anniversary of the Veil Book 1) by Vanna Smythe showed up in my Goodreads recommendations. Finding myself with an open spot on the TBR, I followed Goodreads advice and read it. Read on for my thoughts!
Synopsis (from the author): Kae has trained his entire life to become an elite Protector of the Realm. When he finally achieves this honor he finds himself protecting something far greater: the Veil separating two worlds. On one side of the Veil lie unlimited stores of magic. On the Realm's side, magic is all but obliterated, and Kae is one of the few who can use it. The priests who secretly rule the Realm will do everything they can to control his growing magical abilities. Kae's willing to pay the price, even though it separates him from Issa, the girl he loves.
But the Veil has weakened over the last thousand years and powers on both sides will stop at nothing to keep it intact. Strangers from the other side have kidnapped Issa to take her across the Veil and sacrifice her to strengthen it. Kae is the only one who can find her. Going to her rescue means forsaking his oaths and duty, and leaving behind the future he always wanted. But if he chooses duty over love, Issa will die.
What I liked: This book had about everything one could ask for in a fantasy novel. Palace intrigue, conflict between the king and the priests, a love story, destiny and fate, and the looming possibility of chaos to be unleashed by the Anniversary of the Veil. Set against this backdrop is the story of Issa and Kae. Kae is a good character and grows into his role as a Protector. Issa is a bit of a spoiled princess, but not in the stereotypical way. Vanna Smythe weaves their stories into a compelling tale. I also liked the way the other side of the Veil interjects itself into Kae and Issa’s world, with Issa aunt coming to kidnap her and take her to the other side of the Veil. Good stuff!!
What I didn’t like: While I enjoyed the characters, they were a bit one-dimensional. I hope in the rest of the series, the characters will grow and provide us more insights into their personalities. I also would have liked fewer characters, as it was a bit difficult to keep them straight.
Overall impression: Good story, good plot, and good pace kept my interest and attention. This is a solid start to the series and I look forward to the next installment. I recommend Protector to fantasy fans everywhere!
My rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis (from the author): Kae has trained his entire life to become an elite Protector of the Realm. When he finally achieves this honor he finds himself protecting something far greater: the Veil separating two worlds. On one side of the Veil lie unlimited stores of magic. On the Realm's side, magic is all but obliterated, and Kae is one of the few who can use it. The priests who secretly rule the Realm will do everything they can to control his growing magical abilities. Kae's willing to pay the price, even though it separates him from Issa, the girl he loves.
But the Veil has weakened over the last thousand years and powers on both sides will stop at nothing to keep it intact. Strangers from the other side have kidnapped Issa to take her across the Veil and sacrifice her to strengthen it. Kae is the only one who can find her. Going to her rescue means forsaking his oaths and duty, and leaving behind the future he always wanted. But if he chooses duty over love, Issa will die.
What I liked: This book had about everything one could ask for in a fantasy novel. Palace intrigue, conflict between the king and the priests, a love story, destiny and fate, and the looming possibility of chaos to be unleashed by the Anniversary of the Veil. Set against this backdrop is the story of Issa and Kae. Kae is a good character and grows into his role as a Protector. Issa is a bit of a spoiled princess, but not in the stereotypical way. Vanna Smythe weaves their stories into a compelling tale. I also liked the way the other side of the Veil interjects itself into Kae and Issa’s world, with Issa aunt coming to kidnap her and take her to the other side of the Veil. Good stuff!!
What I didn’t like: While I enjoyed the characters, they were a bit one-dimensional. I hope in the rest of the series, the characters will grow and provide us more insights into their personalities. I also would have liked fewer characters, as it was a bit difficult to keep them straight.
Overall impression: Good story, good plot, and good pace kept my interest and attention. This is a solid start to the series and I look forward to the next installment. I recommend Protector to fantasy fans everywhere!
My rating: 4 Stars
March 28, 2021
Here's yet another of the gazillion random indie novels I picked up years ago. There are some interesting ideas at play in the worldbuilding, but the story just couldn't draw me in or hold my attention sufficiently, with the result that I spent entirely too much time wondering what the hell was going on - when I could even be bothered to wonder, that is. The characters were mostly just annoying. The more they interacted with each other, the more they irritated me. All that whining thoroughly tried my patience.
September 18, 2012
Indie books are often hit-or-miss, but judging by author Vanna Smythe's solid writing, you would never know that Protector falls in this category. This first installment in the Anniversary of the Veil series does a great job transporting us into its world and introducing us to the key players. It has great world-building, action, love, magic... what more could you want?
Almost a thousand years ago, the world of Protector was split in two by a magical barrier called the Veil. On the Venerated side of the Veil, people with the Life Force thrive; on the other side, anyone who displays magical inclinations is enslaved by the Priests (descendants of the Righteous). Now, as the Anniversary of the Veil approaches, a sacrifice needs to be made to keep the barrier in place. The descendants of the Venerated are already preparing for the event by gathering the people needed. On the other side of the Veil, most of this knowledge has been lost or kept hidden by the Priests.
Meanwhile, on the Righteous side, Princess Issiyanna is seemingly contacted by her mother who has been dead for years. Her Protector, Kiyarran, a young man showing lots of promise both with weapons and with the Life Force, is struggling to find a balance between his duties and the feelings he has for his charge. When Issa is kidnapped by a group sent from the other side of the Veil, Kae will find out just how far he is willing to go to get her back.
The story is skilfully written, and the characters believable. They all have distinct voices and most of them avoid being one-dimensional. Some fantasy writers have trouble finding balance in their descriptions - some get lost in the details, while others don't tell us enough. This is not a problem for Vanna Smythe, who gives us all the information we need to see the picture she is painting for us without overdoing it. I can think of one particular scene, toward the end of the book, where Kae faces the Pure Ones that felt particularly vivid.
What I enjoyed immensely about the book is the world that Vanna Smythe built. It wasn't easy to figure everything out just based on the Prologue (which was a little overwhelming), but everything came together beautifully by the end. The history of the world is hinted at, with promises of more to come in the rest of the series. The dichotomy between the two sides of the Veil was realistic and fascinating to read about. The Priests made believable power-hungry leaders, but they were balanced out by similar figures on the other side of the Veil. I liked how neither side is completely good - this makes for quality storytelling. My favorite addition to the world though, was the group of assassins known as the Pure Ones; if they're not scary, then I don't know what is. I hope there's more of them in the future.
Now, I only gave this book 8/10 on my blog. I decided to go with 5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads because I am a harsh critic and my complaints were very subjective. Some of that was because there are a few typos, which isn't uncommon for an independent book and is easily ignored in favor of the story. What I enjoyed less, however, and I think I'll be in the minority here, is the love story between Issa and Kae. They're both teenagers and so they have excuses for acting as such, plus it gives them room to grow in the coming books. Think Sansa in A Song of Ice and Fire or Egwene in Wheel of Time. But, for now, I wasn't patient enough to deal with their angst. This is my failing, not the story's, but it detracted a little from my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
Overall, Protector is a great first book in a new fantasy series. It is well written and could have easily been published professionally. Currently priced at $2.99 in the Amazon store, it is a must read of you love a good story.
Almost a thousand years ago, the world of Protector was split in two by a magical barrier called the Veil. On the Venerated side of the Veil, people with the Life Force thrive; on the other side, anyone who displays magical inclinations is enslaved by the Priests (descendants of the Righteous). Now, as the Anniversary of the Veil approaches, a sacrifice needs to be made to keep the barrier in place. The descendants of the Venerated are already preparing for the event by gathering the people needed. On the other side of the Veil, most of this knowledge has been lost or kept hidden by the Priests.
Meanwhile, on the Righteous side, Princess Issiyanna is seemingly contacted by her mother who has been dead for years. Her Protector, Kiyarran, a young man showing lots of promise both with weapons and with the Life Force, is struggling to find a balance between his duties and the feelings he has for his charge. When Issa is kidnapped by a group sent from the other side of the Veil, Kae will find out just how far he is willing to go to get her back.
The story is skilfully written, and the characters believable. They all have distinct voices and most of them avoid being one-dimensional. Some fantasy writers have trouble finding balance in their descriptions - some get lost in the details, while others don't tell us enough. This is not a problem for Vanna Smythe, who gives us all the information we need to see the picture she is painting for us without overdoing it. I can think of one particular scene, toward the end of the book, where Kae faces the Pure Ones that felt particularly vivid.
What I enjoyed immensely about the book is the world that Vanna Smythe built. It wasn't easy to figure everything out just based on the Prologue (which was a little overwhelming), but everything came together beautifully by the end. The history of the world is hinted at, with promises of more to come in the rest of the series. The dichotomy between the two sides of the Veil was realistic and fascinating to read about. The Priests made believable power-hungry leaders, but they were balanced out by similar figures on the other side of the Veil. I liked how neither side is completely good - this makes for quality storytelling. My favorite addition to the world though, was the group of assassins known as the Pure Ones; if they're not scary, then I don't know what is. I hope there's more of them in the future.
Now, I only gave this book 8/10 on my blog. I decided to go with 5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads because I am a harsh critic and my complaints were very subjective. Some of that was because there are a few typos, which isn't uncommon for an independent book and is easily ignored in favor of the story. What I enjoyed less, however, and I think I'll be in the minority here, is the love story between Issa and Kae. They're both teenagers and so they have excuses for acting as such, plus it gives them room to grow in the coming books. Think Sansa in A Song of Ice and Fire or Egwene in Wheel of Time. But, for now, I wasn't patient enough to deal with their angst. This is my failing, not the story's, but it detracted a little from my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
Overall, Protector is a great first book in a new fantasy series. It is well written and could have easily been published professionally. Currently priced at $2.99 in the Amazon store, it is a must read of you love a good story.
May 10, 2013
Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions below are my own. Taken from my Amazon.com review.
I have to say, I really, really appreciated the updated prologue. Both versions establish some basic world-building concepts, but leave a lot of questions, but the prior version was almost entirely obfuscating, with words and terms that meant little to the reader. Updated, there are just enough mysterious references and ideas to keep one reading on, and you'll be glad you did.
The true story picks up centuries later, as the reader is juggled between two worlds that were once one, the continued division of which is threatened. One of my favorite aspects of this book is that right and wrong depends entirely on who you ask, and because the story is told from many different points of view, it's hard to champion one sect and villify another. There is the occasional fairly clear-cut "bad guy", in that there are forces that oppose just about all of the protagonists, but the conflict is multi-faceted, an incredibly important feature in a "political fantasy" book (a term I have coined just now to describe books set in a fantasy world with emphasis on politic, policy, and the forces that make the world go 'round.)
Just as importantly, the characters are also generally multi-faceted and complex, creating believable people that often dodge the most commonly used-and-abused tropes. A few stay quite mysterious throughout the book, and I look forward to reading more about them in the next installment. Overall, a strong and colorful cast.
Smythe is exceedingly descriptive, especially regarding her magic system. Built around visualization and sensation, it emphasizes fire and water, heat and coolness, in a manner utterly unique. It was not always easy to follow, but it made for a powerful, tactile experience. Much of its mysteries are cleared up as the story progresses, as though this book has an emphasis on teaching the reader the "rules of the game", and in the next book, we will see it played out.
However, the story is occasionally bogged down by the levels of descriptiveness, especially when the magic gets a little too intense, or the point of view tries to keep track of more than one pair of eyes at once. Not everything is clear, and the whole story did feel a little bit like a prologue, spending a lot of time building towards a "to be continued", and it didn't really feel like much was resolved. To clarify, it felt like part one of one book, rather than the first book of a series.
Still, an enjoyable trek through a densely-packed and richly-imagined world, one that I would definitely recommend to others. If anything in this review needs clarifying, just leave a comment below or email me at SeanOnAmazon.com.
I have to say, I really, really appreciated the updated prologue. Both versions establish some basic world-building concepts, but leave a lot of questions, but the prior version was almost entirely obfuscating, with words and terms that meant little to the reader. Updated, there are just enough mysterious references and ideas to keep one reading on, and you'll be glad you did.
The true story picks up centuries later, as the reader is juggled between two worlds that were once one, the continued division of which is threatened. One of my favorite aspects of this book is that right and wrong depends entirely on who you ask, and because the story is told from many different points of view, it's hard to champion one sect and villify another. There is the occasional fairly clear-cut "bad guy", in that there are forces that oppose just about all of the protagonists, but the conflict is multi-faceted, an incredibly important feature in a "political fantasy" book (a term I have coined just now to describe books set in a fantasy world with emphasis on politic, policy, and the forces that make the world go 'round.)
Just as importantly, the characters are also generally multi-faceted and complex, creating believable people that often dodge the most commonly used-and-abused tropes. A few stay quite mysterious throughout the book, and I look forward to reading more about them in the next installment. Overall, a strong and colorful cast.
Smythe is exceedingly descriptive, especially regarding her magic system. Built around visualization and sensation, it emphasizes fire and water, heat and coolness, in a manner utterly unique. It was not always easy to follow, but it made for a powerful, tactile experience. Much of its mysteries are cleared up as the story progresses, as though this book has an emphasis on teaching the reader the "rules of the game", and in the next book, we will see it played out.
However, the story is occasionally bogged down by the levels of descriptiveness, especially when the magic gets a little too intense, or the point of view tries to keep track of more than one pair of eyes at once. Not everything is clear, and the whole story did feel a little bit like a prologue, spending a lot of time building towards a "to be continued", and it didn't really feel like much was resolved. To clarify, it felt like part one of one book, rather than the first book of a series.
Still, an enjoyable trek through a densely-packed and richly-imagined world, one that I would definitely recommend to others. If anything in this review needs clarifying, just leave a comment below or email me at SeanOnAmazon.com.
March 27, 2012
PROTECTOR.
Anniversary of the Veil: Book One.
By Vanna Smythe.
Princess Issiyanna faces an arranged marriage that is less than pleasing. The priests have chosen her suitor, the king bowing to their wishes like always, but in Issa’s dreams she has another love. Her only hope is to plead with her father and see if he will defer to her own desires just this once.
Kiyarran has always dreamed of being a Protector of the Realm and now he is close to being invited to the Pledging Ceremony. Through his duties as Issa’s guard, he has become friends with the princess, but now as the culmination of his training draws near, Issa begin to withdraw from him. His friendship rebuffed, it is time for Kiyarran to establish whether it is his desire to become a Protector or his unwillingness to lose Issa that is stronger.
Alet and her two Keepers emerge from the Forest of Dead Trees and into the world beyond the Veil: a barrier erected almost a thousand years before to separate the two worlds. They are on a mission to rescue Princess Issiyanna and take her back to their own world, for she is needed for a joining that will reinforce the Veil, and must be obtained at any cost.
Issa is hurt by Kiyarran’s desire to become a Protector. Protectors are cold and ruthless. He would no longer be her friend. As he becomes more distant from her, she seeks comfort elsewhere. The sound of a voice beckons her from outside the castle. Her mother’s voice. Her mother, returned after long years of absence, and Issa has hope of happiness once again.
This novel’s primary strength is in its worldbuilding and the crafting of this world beyond the Veil where priests rule the king and magic is employed in strong and evil ways. There was a lot of exposition here and a lot of detail to bring the world to life but it was handled successfully, planting the groundwork for far more to come in the next instalment of the series.
The characters are easy to relate to and Kiyarran in particular was an interesting lead, so unaware of his true potential and humble in his learnings, and portrayed well, without the superiority and arrogance that can be a danger to male protagonists on a ‘hero’s journey’ in many fantasy books.
The magic system Smythe employs feels unique; perhaps a little complex to understand at first, but once the abilities and constraints of the magic’s disciplines were clarified it became a visual addition to the story that solidified the world. Protector was an enjoyable debut and I will look forward to book two and finding out what waits on the other side of the Veil.
Elloise Hopkins.
Anniversary of the Veil: Book One.
By Vanna Smythe.
Princess Issiyanna faces an arranged marriage that is less than pleasing. The priests have chosen her suitor, the king bowing to their wishes like always, but in Issa’s dreams she has another love. Her only hope is to plead with her father and see if he will defer to her own desires just this once.
Kiyarran has always dreamed of being a Protector of the Realm and now he is close to being invited to the Pledging Ceremony. Through his duties as Issa’s guard, he has become friends with the princess, but now as the culmination of his training draws near, Issa begin to withdraw from him. His friendship rebuffed, it is time for Kiyarran to establish whether it is his desire to become a Protector or his unwillingness to lose Issa that is stronger.
Alet and her two Keepers emerge from the Forest of Dead Trees and into the world beyond the Veil: a barrier erected almost a thousand years before to separate the two worlds. They are on a mission to rescue Princess Issiyanna and take her back to their own world, for she is needed for a joining that will reinforce the Veil, and must be obtained at any cost.
Issa is hurt by Kiyarran’s desire to become a Protector. Protectors are cold and ruthless. He would no longer be her friend. As he becomes more distant from her, she seeks comfort elsewhere. The sound of a voice beckons her from outside the castle. Her mother’s voice. Her mother, returned after long years of absence, and Issa has hope of happiness once again.
This novel’s primary strength is in its worldbuilding and the crafting of this world beyond the Veil where priests rule the king and magic is employed in strong and evil ways. There was a lot of exposition here and a lot of detail to bring the world to life but it was handled successfully, planting the groundwork for far more to come in the next instalment of the series.
The characters are easy to relate to and Kiyarran in particular was an interesting lead, so unaware of his true potential and humble in his learnings, and portrayed well, without the superiority and arrogance that can be a danger to male protagonists on a ‘hero’s journey’ in many fantasy books.
The magic system Smythe employs feels unique; perhaps a little complex to understand at first, but once the abilities and constraints of the magic’s disciplines were clarified it became a visual addition to the story that solidified the world. Protector was an enjoyable debut and I will look forward to book two and finding out what waits on the other side of the Veil.
Elloise Hopkins.
October 20, 2013
I really wanted to like this book, I really wanted to be interested in what was going on and explore the whole concept of having some kind of spirit within you that you could use as a second person... But there wasn't a single part of this book that I could really get attached to. It was like being back in elementary school and being forced to read a book that wasn't at all something you were interested in. By the end of the first page, I had started reading twelve times and still couldn't really get in to what was happening. Nothing really made sense or caught my attention. It was a bad first impression that might have tainted my experience, but also could have just been the start of the rest of my experience.
It's hard to write something without too much exposition. There's a balance needed between throwing it in your face and gently placing it here and there. With a beginning that is really the middle of a story, this book does NOT have that balance, it piles random history on you so thick that you end up rubbing your head with impact. This was a major problem for me, making what could have been simple "here's what happened up to now" kind of scenes into something out of a dry textbook. It took away from the plot in a horrible way.
I found the main characters annoying and not very well fleshed out, while the secondary characters seemed to have more writing-attention paid to them in order to prove to you that they were good or bad or let you know what they were up to. By the end of the book I knew very little about the Princess and her Protector other than that they repeated themselves constantly and the Protector was always whining about how people saw him and what he couldn't have.
In conclusion, a little more of an edit to remove the many typos and settle the plot vs. history situation would have been a great help, it also might have evened out the characters a little. I normally enjoy being dropped into worlds I know nothing about and learning as I go, but in this case, my hopes were dashed. I'm also not too sure the ending was really an ending, but this is the first book in a series, so I guess I can let that slide. It's an interesting concept, just not what I had hoped it would be.
Note: Though this book was a free gift from the author, the content of my review was in no way influenced by the gifting. The book speaks for itself and my review would have been worded just this way even if I'd gone out and bought it. I also give bonus points for Text To Speech enabling on Kindle format.... but that also wasn't a factor in the above review.
It's hard to write something without too much exposition. There's a balance needed between throwing it in your face and gently placing it here and there. With a beginning that is really the middle of a story, this book does NOT have that balance, it piles random history on you so thick that you end up rubbing your head with impact. This was a major problem for me, making what could have been simple "here's what happened up to now" kind of scenes into something out of a dry textbook. It took away from the plot in a horrible way.
I found the main characters annoying and not very well fleshed out, while the secondary characters seemed to have more writing-attention paid to them in order to prove to you that they were good or bad or let you know what they were up to. By the end of the book I knew very little about the Princess and her Protector other than that they repeated themselves constantly and the Protector was always whining about how people saw him and what he couldn't have.
In conclusion, a little more of an edit to remove the many typos and settle the plot vs. history situation would have been a great help, it also might have evened out the characters a little. I normally enjoy being dropped into worlds I know nothing about and learning as I go, but in this case, my hopes were dashed. I'm also not too sure the ending was really an ending, but this is the first book in a series, so I guess I can let that slide. It's an interesting concept, just not what I had hoped it would be.
Note: Though this book was a free gift from the author, the content of my review was in no way influenced by the gifting. The book speaks for itself and my review would have been worded just this way even if I'd gone out and bought it. I also give bonus points for Text To Speech enabling on Kindle format.... but that also wasn't a factor in the above review.
April 4, 2012
Ebook was : £0.77 Price i would willingly pay: £0.99
The Bad (Caveat: I was moving in to my first home when i started reading this book so i was stressed out and probably not focussing as well as i should have been):
1. It took a while to get going, There seemed to be a lot of setup and very little payoff for the first half of the book.
2. The prologue confused me, i don't feel it really explained that much.
3. Kae is to powerful, I like a strong hero but he has to go through a trial and be found worthy, not be able to beat everyone from the off.
4. Issa is to weak, Come on she is a princess with an attitude, give her a bit more oomph!
5. The fight sequences were to short, i would just start picturing the fight in my head and it would be over, you never want fights to drag on but at least give them a bit of play time. I did find this odd as the author had some great detail in the fighting forms so i was really looking forward to the action sequences.
6. To many narratives, this is becoming a problem in a lot of fantasy books, having a great list of narrators and jumping from one to another, it convolutes the story, makes it much harder to follow. I think the maximum number of narratives should be 4.
The Good:
1. This story is engaging, after the first half i found myself picturing what was happening even after i had put the book down, this to me is the hallmark of a good story.
2. The story has a unique Angle (very hard to be completely original in the fantasy genre these days).
3. I like that Kae is full of honour and truth, i am sick of the Hooded, mysterious anti-hero that litters popular fantasy at the moment. It is ok for your lead male (or female) to be pure and honourable as long as you water it down with a little fear and indecision as the author has done here.
4. I like that the magic is the main focus without it taking over the story. There are not great balls of energy being thrown around. The magic is used unobtrusively, difficult to detect and not right in your face!
5.When the story ended i wanted to keep reading, another good sign.
I bought this book off the back of an interview with the author on a friends website, I am glad i did, there are definitely a few things that i didn't like, but the things i did like carried more weight. I am looking forward to book 2 and seeing where it goes. I am hoping the action picks up a little bit more.
Would i recommend this book? Yes, it is an engaging story, well worth the time invested.
The Bad (Caveat: I was moving in to my first home when i started reading this book so i was stressed out and probably not focussing as well as i should have been):
1. It took a while to get going, There seemed to be a lot of setup and very little payoff for the first half of the book.
2. The prologue confused me, i don't feel it really explained that much.
3. Kae is to powerful, I like a strong hero but he has to go through a trial and be found worthy, not be able to beat everyone from the off.
4. Issa is to weak, Come on she is a princess with an attitude, give her a bit more oomph!
5. The fight sequences were to short, i would just start picturing the fight in my head and it would be over, you never want fights to drag on but at least give them a bit of play time. I did find this odd as the author had some great detail in the fighting forms so i was really looking forward to the action sequences.
6. To many narratives, this is becoming a problem in a lot of fantasy books, having a great list of narrators and jumping from one to another, it convolutes the story, makes it much harder to follow. I think the maximum number of narratives should be 4.
The Good:
1. This story is engaging, after the first half i found myself picturing what was happening even after i had put the book down, this to me is the hallmark of a good story.
2. The story has a unique Angle (very hard to be completely original in the fantasy genre these days).
3. I like that Kae is full of honour and truth, i am sick of the Hooded, mysterious anti-hero that litters popular fantasy at the moment. It is ok for your lead male (or female) to be pure and honourable as long as you water it down with a little fear and indecision as the author has done here.
4. I like that the magic is the main focus without it taking over the story. There are not great balls of energy being thrown around. The magic is used unobtrusively, difficult to detect and not right in your face!
5.When the story ended i wanted to keep reading, another good sign.
I bought this book off the back of an interview with the author on a friends website, I am glad i did, there are definitely a few things that i didn't like, but the things i did like carried more weight. I am looking forward to book 2 and seeing where it goes. I am hoping the action picks up a little bit more.
Would i recommend this book? Yes, it is an engaging story, well worth the time invested.
December 23, 2012
This book caught me by surprise. I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this, as this is one of the first self-published books I’ve ever read. But I liked the cover and the description I got about the book, so I thought: why not? And boy, am I glad I took this opportunity!
The characters are easy to relate to and very diverse. The worldbuilding is fabulous and although it contained a few of the classic Fantasy elements, these were used very well and created a wonderful new world that was richly described and came to life through the author’s words. I really liked the idea of the Veil that separates the two worlds and the role it plays in the book. It’s original and imaginative. The notion of the Life Force has been used before, but that didn’t bother me, I liked the use of it here and the way it was described.
The writing style is very fluent and makes the reading experience extremely pleasant. I read this book in mere hours, I just couldn’t put it down. Every time I did put it down, I kept thinking about what would happen next to Issa en Kae, so naturally I had to pick it up again and read a bit more.
The Head Priest has the same cunning and ambitions as Waleran Bigod in “Pillars of the Earth” and the relationship between Issa and Kae made me think of the electricity crackling between Raisa and Han in the Seven Realms books. Those are two of my favourites and the fact that this book reminded me of certain aspects of them, means this novel is GOOD! I always like a book where I have to think twice about the characters and their true intentions. The conflict between good and evil, between several people or as an internal struggle always fascinates me.
The only real negative thing I can say about this one is about the first few pages. The Prologue was very confusing. We’re dumped into the middle of a ritual that has been a critical turning point in the history of this new world, without much explanation. All I have to say about this is: don’t stop reading because of this, because you’ll miss out on an extraordinary story! Throughout the story the meaning of those first few pages will become more and more clear and will play an important role.
Conclusion: really, really good! I can’t wait to read the second book and dive back into this fascinating world! 4,5 dragons!
The characters are easy to relate to and very diverse. The worldbuilding is fabulous and although it contained a few of the classic Fantasy elements, these were used very well and created a wonderful new world that was richly described and came to life through the author’s words. I really liked the idea of the Veil that separates the two worlds and the role it plays in the book. It’s original and imaginative. The notion of the Life Force has been used before, but that didn’t bother me, I liked the use of it here and the way it was described.
The writing style is very fluent and makes the reading experience extremely pleasant. I read this book in mere hours, I just couldn’t put it down. Every time I did put it down, I kept thinking about what would happen next to Issa en Kae, so naturally I had to pick it up again and read a bit more.
The Head Priest has the same cunning and ambitions as Waleran Bigod in “Pillars of the Earth” and the relationship between Issa and Kae made me think of the electricity crackling between Raisa and Han in the Seven Realms books. Those are two of my favourites and the fact that this book reminded me of certain aspects of them, means this novel is GOOD! I always like a book where I have to think twice about the characters and their true intentions. The conflict between good and evil, between several people or as an internal struggle always fascinates me.
The only real negative thing I can say about this one is about the first few pages. The Prologue was very confusing. We’re dumped into the middle of a ritual that has been a critical turning point in the history of this new world, without much explanation. All I have to say about this is: don’t stop reading because of this, because you’ll miss out on an extraordinary story! Throughout the story the meaning of those first few pages will become more and more clear and will play an important role.
Conclusion: really, really good! I can’t wait to read the second book and dive back into this fascinating world! 4,5 dragons!
December 3, 2013
My first impression of Protector (Anniversary of the Veil, Book 1) by Vanna Smythe, was that of a novel which is smooth, consistent and well structured- resulting in a good, easy flow.
Smythe has presented her readers with a fairly long prologue, but it does instantly put you in the middle of the fantastical world Smythe has created. It is full of intrigue but plenty of attention to detail to give the reader a wide view of the location the novel is set in. Smythe does have a knack for depicting landscapes throughout her work, described as both beautiful and desolate at the same time, with complete clarity and a refreshing tone.
Moving on I found the events of the novel interesting, the pace again is consistent and enjoyably fast, but I also felt that Smythe’s work was lacking in its ability to not only grab my attention but also hold it. However readers please do stick with it, as it does get better! By chapter 20 I found, for the most part, each character had come into their own and my attention was fully grasped and it didn’t let go until the final chapter closed.
In her writing of High Priest Rhaldan, the priest’s role and beliefs often get lost as Smythe concentrates heavily on effectively conveying a more sinister side of Rhaldan. This isn’t to say Rhaldan isn’t supposed to be filling this sinister role- but more that when in one paragraph Rhaldan plots hero Kae’s murder, yet in a following paragraph the reader is privy to Rhaldan’s inner reasoning of protecting the Kingdom and the “greater good”.
With so many factions within factions I found it difficult to pin point which side of the Veil I should have been rooting for. That being said I enjoyed the development of Kae and Issa’s relationship, the intensity and pace was pitched perfectly amongst the unfolding events.
Overall Protector (Anniversary of the Veil, Book 1) was an enjoyable, laid back read. The action was exciting; the story was interesting and the romance both sweet and believable. I have high hopes that subsequent novels within this saga will prove to be more developed, more intriguing and explain further this ‘Life force’ which is a driving factor throughout the story. Anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction or young adult romance should give this book a try.
© Gemma Feltham 3rd December 2013
Smythe has presented her readers with a fairly long prologue, but it does instantly put you in the middle of the fantastical world Smythe has created. It is full of intrigue but plenty of attention to detail to give the reader a wide view of the location the novel is set in. Smythe does have a knack for depicting landscapes throughout her work, described as both beautiful and desolate at the same time, with complete clarity and a refreshing tone.
Moving on I found the events of the novel interesting, the pace again is consistent and enjoyably fast, but I also felt that Smythe’s work was lacking in its ability to not only grab my attention but also hold it. However readers please do stick with it, as it does get better! By chapter 20 I found, for the most part, each character had come into their own and my attention was fully grasped and it didn’t let go until the final chapter closed.
In her writing of High Priest Rhaldan, the priest’s role and beliefs often get lost as Smythe concentrates heavily on effectively conveying a more sinister side of Rhaldan. This isn’t to say Rhaldan isn’t supposed to be filling this sinister role- but more that when in one paragraph Rhaldan plots hero Kae’s murder, yet in a following paragraph the reader is privy to Rhaldan’s inner reasoning of protecting the Kingdom and the “greater good”.
With so many factions within factions I found it difficult to pin point which side of the Veil I should have been rooting for. That being said I enjoyed the development of Kae and Issa’s relationship, the intensity and pace was pitched perfectly amongst the unfolding events.
Overall Protector (Anniversary of the Veil, Book 1) was an enjoyable, laid back read. The action was exciting; the story was interesting and the romance both sweet and believable. I have high hopes that subsequent novels within this saga will prove to be more developed, more intriguing and explain further this ‘Life force’ which is a driving factor throughout the story. Anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction or young adult romance should give this book a try.
© Gemma Feltham 3rd December 2013
December 18, 2012
A fantasy but, really a love story. Two young people come of age and discover that their childhood friendship was really meant to be love. Princess Lssiyanna's (Issa) mother was queen Aelde, wife of King Ardnan. She was killed by the power hungry head priest Rhaldan to insure only the priests were able to use the potential skill of feeling. Kae was assigned as Issa's guardian while they were both young as Issa had objected to an older guardian. Kae guarded and teased Issa the many years they spent together. It seems inevitable that more than just friendship would blossom in their relation as they aged together. The world they lived in was divided into two parts, separated by a veil, with the venerated on one side living together and practicing with mystical powers while the Righteous existed on the other side of the veil being guided or lead by the priests who are the only practitioners of mystical powers on their side of the veil. The evil priests also suppressed the development of mystical power among the masses using mental blocks and even wiping their minds. The veil kept the populations from either side from mixing or even knowing of the other side. A party including the former queens sister traveled to the land of the righteous to attempt to recover the queens daughter and had to mix it with priests as they sensed ripples in the energy when they jumped. The world is an inventive environment that takes the population back to horse and carriage travel and life typical of the pre-industrial era. The recognition of his proper place in society by Kae even after a lifetime of indoctrination to become a Guardian Rivals Issa's acceptance of their true roles. This is a true love story with lots of action seasoned with mystical magic in a world sense. I found it to be an enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2012
Almost 1000 years ago, the kingdom was split into two parts and a veil was created to keep the two sides separate. However they didn’t always stay separate. The Queen of the larger, more human kingdom came from across the veil. However not everyone was happy she arrived, and it led to her death.
The kingdom has priests, who have magic, and protectors, people skilled in types of magic and protective fighting arts. And then there are the “pure ones” but they are a secret only a few know about.
Kei is friend and protector of the Issa, the princess. He loves her, which is not allowed. He also has unusual skills that scare the priests, so he is transferred. The something happens to Issa and he may be her only hope.
This story is a sweeping epic type story. Sometimes I had trouble keeping all the people straight. A lot of the names were similar enough, and there were a lot of people that had key roles, that I got them confused. I think if I had taken the time to make a character tree a lot of that issue would have been resolved.
The story has unrequited love, fantasy, adventure, fighting, travel, space hopping, a historical feel, and magic. All my favorite things rolled into one. The story was charming, fun, and moved along at a good clip. I give this story 4 out of 5 clouds.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
The kingdom has priests, who have magic, and protectors, people skilled in types of magic and protective fighting arts. And then there are the “pure ones” but they are a secret only a few know about.
Kei is friend and protector of the Issa, the princess. He loves her, which is not allowed. He also has unusual skills that scare the priests, so he is transferred. The something happens to Issa and he may be her only hope.
This story is a sweeping epic type story. Sometimes I had trouble keeping all the people straight. A lot of the names were similar enough, and there were a lot of people that had key roles, that I got them confused. I think if I had taken the time to make a character tree a lot of that issue would have been resolved.
The story has unrequited love, fantasy, adventure, fighting, travel, space hopping, a historical feel, and magic. All my favorite things rolled into one. The story was charming, fun, and moved along at a good clip. I give this story 4 out of 5 clouds.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
February 14, 2017
I'd give this 3 verging on 4 stars.
I found the start extremely confusing. I like prologues, especially mysterious prologues, but this one was a little too mysterious to be interesting. Once I met the character Kae, however, I found the story to be much more enjoyable.
I like Kae, although he came across as a bit cocky to me sometimes, and I find myself reading for his and Issa's relationship conclusion (or at least I hope.) He also seemed to come by things too easily. (Winning fights (physical or otherwise), finding the princess, blocking out intruders etc. I would have liked to see him struggle some more.
I might sound picky but I love fantasy books. While the whole term fantasy pretty much says an author can make up whatever the hell they like, the food choices didn't sit well with me. Fried chicken just isn't fantasy.
I found the dialogue repetitive at times, resulting in, me as the reader, feeling a bit clubbed over the head with certain points. I feel some of the dialogue would have been better phrased another way or written in prose, as in some cases a character is telling another something they already know. Normally a person would say "Continue as normal" or something and not explain in such detail and have the character nod since he already knew this. Not a major criticism for most people, but I feel this is what stopped this book from being so much greater in my eyes.
Overall very enjoyable. Now onto the second!
I found the start extremely confusing. I like prologues, especially mysterious prologues, but this one was a little too mysterious to be interesting. Once I met the character Kae, however, I found the story to be much more enjoyable.
I like Kae, although he came across as a bit cocky to me sometimes, and I find myself reading for his and Issa's relationship conclusion (or at least I hope.) He also seemed to come by things too easily. (Winning fights (physical or otherwise), finding the princess, blocking out intruders etc. I would have liked to see him struggle some more.
I might sound picky but I love fantasy books. While the whole term fantasy pretty much says an author can make up whatever the hell they like, the food choices didn't sit well with me. Fried chicken just isn't fantasy.
I found the dialogue repetitive at times, resulting in, me as the reader, feeling a bit clubbed over the head with certain points. I feel some of the dialogue would have been better phrased another way or written in prose, as in some cases a character is telling another something they already know. Normally a person would say "Continue as normal" or something and not explain in such detail and have the character nod since he already knew this. Not a major criticism for most people, but I feel this is what stopped this book from being so much greater in my eyes.
Overall very enjoyable. Now onto the second!
January 4, 2015
I met Vanna Smythe on this magical internet thingy. She was asking if anyone wanted to review her book for a book tour. It was called Protector and had a kick-ass cover, so I contacted Vanna. She was kind enough to provide me with a review copy in return for an honest review. I love it when that happens!
I must admit, while reading the Prologue, I was thinking I was totally lost. There is tons of information and characters thrown at the reader. I just kept going though because the writing was excellent. I am so glad that I did!
The author, Vanna Smythe, has a wonderful way of weaving her words into a story. The imagery and world building were stellar. The characters were believable and I could relate to their emotions. Kae is such an amazing character. I really felt empathy for him as he went through his struggles. And Issa was such a contrast of vulnerability and strength.
Protector is a book that actually requires some skills to keep up with all of the characters. At times, it seems confusing, but just go with it because as miniscule as a character may seem, they will serve a purpose. I love it when that happens!
In my opinion, Vanna Smythe has proven she is an excellent writer. Protector is the proof of that.
4 stars to Protector.
I must admit, while reading the Prologue, I was thinking I was totally lost. There is tons of information and characters thrown at the reader. I just kept going though because the writing was excellent. I am so glad that I did!
The author, Vanna Smythe, has a wonderful way of weaving her words into a story. The imagery and world building were stellar. The characters were believable and I could relate to their emotions. Kae is such an amazing character. I really felt empathy for him as he went through his struggles. And Issa was such a contrast of vulnerability and strength.
Protector is a book that actually requires some skills to keep up with all of the characters. At times, it seems confusing, but just go with it because as miniscule as a character may seem, they will serve a purpose. I love it when that happens!
In my opinion, Vanna Smythe has proven she is an excellent writer. Protector is the proof of that.
4 stars to Protector.
January 30, 2013
In my opinion. 'Protector' is the furthest I have delved into the fiction fantasy world. The fantasy books I generally read contain fae or Elven, but the world of Protector is concerned with two opposing worlds of humans.
Initially I found the story hard to connect with but this was purely because of the different titles of characters and complicated backstory which Vanna Smythe had made it a priority to tell. However once Kae and Issa's story began I found that I became involved quickly with the plot. They were both easy characters to relate to, especially regarding Issa's and the couple's confused emotions. However, I am relieved that Vanna Smythe did not make their possible romance the focus of 'Protector'. She was able to add a feeling of suspense to the story with the addition of the Priests and their lofty intentions.
I am disappointed that I have not had the opportunity to read book 2 of this series yet as I would like to see which direction Vanna Smythe is going to take her characters in.
'Protector' is certainly a book to take its reader away from the every day, into fantasy worlds with an assortment of characters, who will entertain and captivate.
Initially I found the story hard to connect with but this was purely because of the different titles of characters and complicated backstory which Vanna Smythe had made it a priority to tell. However once Kae and Issa's story began I found that I became involved quickly with the plot. They were both easy characters to relate to, especially regarding Issa's and the couple's confused emotions. However, I am relieved that Vanna Smythe did not make their possible romance the focus of 'Protector'. She was able to add a feeling of suspense to the story with the addition of the Priests and their lofty intentions.
I am disappointed that I have not had the opportunity to read book 2 of this series yet as I would like to see which direction Vanna Smythe is going to take her characters in.
'Protector' is certainly a book to take its reader away from the every day, into fantasy worlds with an assortment of characters, who will entertain and captivate.
December 14, 2012
At the very beginning, I've found the story a little bit confusing. As a reader, I was thrown in the middle of a religious ritual not knowing anything about it.
After that, I was totally hooked on the story.
I loved the two main characters: Kae and Issa. Kae is really special person. He is not only princess's personal guard, he is also her best friend. He studies to become a Protector, but he isn't like the others. He has special powers. His way of meditating and concentrating, using thoughts and doing magic is so amazing. When his loved Issa is kidnapped, he goes after her, using all his abilities to find her and keep her safe. Issa at the beginning is like a spoiled child, and soon she finds her real destiny. Her heart is pure, she doesn't know what hate is.
I really enjoyed this amazing story. I couldn't connect the things and characters at the beginning, but reading on and on, I couldn't put my kindle down. I loved this story full of adventures, magic and love. I can't wait to read the book two.
After that, I was totally hooked on the story.
I loved the two main characters: Kae and Issa. Kae is really special person. He is not only princess's personal guard, he is also her best friend. He studies to become a Protector, but he isn't like the others. He has special powers. His way of meditating and concentrating, using thoughts and doing magic is so amazing. When his loved Issa is kidnapped, he goes after her, using all his abilities to find her and keep her safe. Issa at the beginning is like a spoiled child, and soon she finds her real destiny. Her heart is pure, she doesn't know what hate is.
I really enjoyed this amazing story. I couldn't connect the things and characters at the beginning, but reading on and on, I couldn't put my kindle down. I loved this story full of adventures, magic and love. I can't wait to read the book two.
January 30, 2014
Complex plot. I had to read carefully when listening to the gods...
First sentences -
Prologue - Donning the Veil Rhenal’s footprints in the freshly fallen snow revealed the triangles upon circles held together by bands of gold. This was the symbol of life energy, flowing freely, covering the courtyard of the L’Intin Palace and the inside walls of its three triangular towers. If the Deception failed, this would be the last time Rhenal entered the palace, his home for the past 50 years. On the steps leading into the L’Intin Palace he looked back at the silvery grey of this day’s last light. Twilight was falling fast. Once the moon rose, the world would be two. All the sun orbs in the entrance hall of the palace were filled with light. Rhenal blinked as his eyes adjusted. Will such light ever fill this hall again?
Smythe, Vanna (2012-03-09). Protector (Anniversary of the Veil, Book 1) (p. 1). SBV Publishing. Kindle Edition.
First sentences -
Prologue - Donning the Veil Rhenal’s footprints in the freshly fallen snow revealed the triangles upon circles held together by bands of gold. This was the symbol of life energy, flowing freely, covering the courtyard of the L’Intin Palace and the inside walls of its three triangular towers. If the Deception failed, this would be the last time Rhenal entered the palace, his home for the past 50 years. On the steps leading into the L’Intin Palace he looked back at the silvery grey of this day’s last light. Twilight was falling fast. Once the moon rose, the world would be two. All the sun orbs in the entrance hall of the palace were filled with light. Rhenal blinked as his eyes adjusted. Will such light ever fill this hall again?
Smythe, Vanna (2012-03-09). Protector (Anniversary of the Veil, Book 1) (p. 1). SBV Publishing. Kindle Edition.
October 22, 2012
"Duty must always be for the greater good." I loved this line in Smythe's Protector. Why? Because it sums up the conflict of the characters in this intricate, detailed and imaginative fantasy novel. Choose duty over the greater good? Or make it a duty to perform good and possibly change a world for the better? In Protector, two worlds are separated. One is ruled by a king, but controlled by priests. The other is in need of hope, their sights set on the mystery behind the heroine, Issa. I normally don't read fantasy, but the world Smythe has created pulled me in while her hero, Kae, a brave and honorable Protector, had me turning the pages to see what he would do next- stick to his duty or follow his heart. I look forward to reading the second book in the series and spending more time with Kae and Issa as they grow to care more about each other and their two worlds.
December 11, 2012
I really wish I could give this 3.5 stars. I enjoyed reading this book and I liked a lot of the characters. Smythe has created a very rich world here and put in place a solid foundation for the series to rest on. It just felt like by the end of the book not a whole lot had happened. By the time I got to the end I felt more like I had read a very long prologue instead of a complete story. I understand this is part of a series, and I am looking forward to reading Book 2, but it just seemed like there was too much set up and not enough resolved for this book to stand on its own. My guess is that once the remaining books are out this will sit better as part of a larger story. If Smythe's goal was to leave me wanting more, than in that she succeeded.
July 2, 2014
Such an annoying book!
I kept reading, because I thought it would get better. But it didn't! The same mystery that it has in the begin of the book, wasn't told till the end!
The princess is a spoiled and annoying girl!
Kae is so robotic! He only follow the orders, coming from the priests, or from his mentor, or from the weird couple, or even from the princess!
So many silly things on this story: Kae and also some of the Protectors or Keepers have this separated self! They can train just by this separated self.
And their fighting skills has names like form five, form seven... it's so silly! Like the readers know what is that!
Anyway, the whole story is boring and doesn't a bit of change at all, even in the end of the book!
For me, was a big waste of time reading it!
I kept reading, because I thought it would get better. But it didn't! The same mystery that it has in the begin of the book, wasn't told till the end!
The princess is a spoiled and annoying girl!
Kae is so robotic! He only follow the orders, coming from the priests, or from his mentor, or from the weird couple, or even from the princess!
So many silly things on this story: Kae and also some of the Protectors or Keepers have this separated self! They can train just by this separated self.
And their fighting skills has names like form five, form seven... it's so silly! Like the readers know what is that!
Anyway, the whole story is boring and doesn't a bit of change at all, even in the end of the book!
For me, was a big waste of time reading it!
July 24, 2016
Protector is a fantasy story about a young princess with a special destiny and the talented young warrior assigned to protect her. Smythe's story is told with a focus on characters that drew me in and had me talking to them as I read. The love interests, the action, the plot are all told in a way that immediately made me think epic anime series such as Lodoss War or Fushigi Yugi. Smythe writes her love stories in the grand tradition of forbidden archetypes: princess and common warrior, sacrifice and savior. Her world's magic, political structure, and geo-arcana are unique and the conflicts are well done.
I enjoyed reading this book a great deal and look forward to the next installment.
I enjoyed reading this book a great deal and look forward to the next installment.
April 25, 2012
MY Thoughts
Our journey in this story his with Princess Issiyanna and her Warrior and Protector Kiyarran (Kae). They both have a destiny that they are unsure about. When learning about the veil and knowing that they must protect it. Things take a turn and you are in for the journey of your life. I will admit at first I had trouble getting in to the story but by the time I was finished I really enjoyed it. The world building was fantastic and I think the secondary characters gave just as much to this story as our main characters. The love that builds between Issy and Kae is beautiful and well written.
Our journey in this story his with Princess Issiyanna and her Warrior and Protector Kiyarran (Kae). They both have a destiny that they are unsure about. When learning about the veil and knowing that they must protect it. Things take a turn and you are in for the journey of your life. I will admit at first I had trouble getting in to the story but by the time I was finished I really enjoyed it. The world building was fantastic and I think the secondary characters gave just as much to this story as our main characters. The love that builds between Issy and Kae is beautiful and well written.
March 15, 2013
This is probably a lot better if you actually like this kind of high fantasy stuff. I really couldn't get past all the Nouns being Capitalized: the Deception, the Veil, the Anniversary of the Veil, Protectors, the Priesthood, Priests, the Keepers, the Decision Makers, the Life Force, the Pure Ones, on and on it went. Everything has to have some ritualistic term applied to it! Anyway, the end was a real letdown as not very much seemed to actually happen. But I suppose that's what sequels are for.
September 4, 2013
Princess Issa and her companion Kae have been together for many years. Kae realizes that he loves her, but now that he has become a Protector, love is forbidden. When Issa is kidnapped, Kae is sent to find her, and along the way, discovers that everything is not as it seems.
This was a good book. It took me a bit to figure things out as to who was who and what mystical things were going on. So, I was a bit confused at first. But, as I kept reading, the book seemed to get better and better. I'm now looking forward to reading the remainder of the series.
This was a good book. It took me a bit to figure things out as to who was who and what mystical things were going on. So, I was a bit confused at first. But, as I kept reading, the book seemed to get better and better. I'm now looking forward to reading the remainder of the series.
March 6, 2015
I am going to be honest, this book was a little boring in the beginning and through the middle. It had a lot of information to soak in and did not all come into line to be understood until the end. I did love how Kae was determined to stay to true to his "job" as protector of the veil. It was interesting and drawn out to learn of all the lies and power plays going around Kae. Issa is a princess and is the Beacon. I feel like she's just going to be used and I hate that. I did like the book overall, but it could have been more interestingly written.
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