Set Up: Novalise is our main character who has been in hiding with her brother and the rest of the Alphanites, due to religious persecution. She is ready to help and make a difference for their group. We are getting to know her and the group of boys she considers her brothers, when she is unexpectedly thrust into a competition against a group of women known as the Enhanced. We follow her journey as she learns to navigate the competition as well as this entirely new world she was thrown into. We also meet King Zadien who is still reeling after his father's sudden death and must now learn how to be the king and leader his people need. While he is trying to uncover what happened to his father, his council gets him to agree to a competition with the Enhanced so that he can select his new bodyguard. Secret identities and rendezvous' are around every corner. We begin this story in the dark and more light is shed as it progresses, which helps us slowly begin piecing together the mystery, and truth of what is going on.
My Thoughts: This book, where to even begin. The cover is gorgeous so we can begin there as I try to collect my thoughts. I'm a sucker for a gorgeous cover. Let's face it despite the addage "don't judge a book by it's cover," we are drawn to beauty so of course we are going to admire a book's cover.
This book rapidly became one of my favorites. Definitely five stars because I couldn't put it down and honestly didn't want to. So many things about this story were unique, but I definitely felt the Esther vibes once the setting moved to the city. I was on such a creative and emotional journey with the characters. The love and camraderie she captures between the Alphanites is beautiful and such a wonderful example of family and community. My character driven self is generally not a plot person, there is a fast moving plot and some actions. Now while I'm not a huge action person in books, it played well in this story. The dichotomy of my attachment to the characters and the experiences which were propelling us forward was near perfection. I was fully invested and the action didn't feel like the movies do sometimes where there is action just because, there was purpose and trajectory to it.
This book showed an intentionality that reminds me of God's path for us. As we are propelled along with Novalise there were quite a few twists and turns, yet the tenacity and courage she shows stands out especially when she finally trusts. The faith content of this book was done in such a beautiful and wonderful way. I don't want to say too much because I think it's better to experience it first hand. So all I will say is it really makes me think of my relationship with the Lord, and how I want that to look.
Last random note I will say is that this book is my standard of clean which means no explicit scenes of any kind, and I don't remember any language either.
This was such a wonderfully written story that sends the reader on an emotional rollercoaster. The coaster picks up steam as the end of the book nears and man does it end on a cliffhanger. To demonstrate how much this book affected me, it has been at least a week since I finished this story and that last scene of the book is still with me. It is breaking my heart. I cannot wait for the next book so I can discover where this journey goes. It's so funny because I know how the book of Esther ends, but I can't wait to finish this journey that Megan began because I imagine this road has many more twists and turns before we get to the end.
Here is the link to book on the author's page so you can check out the book for yourself: Protector book
Also, I love getting to know authors, so here is a bit about the author and the places around the web where you can get to know her more!
About the
Author
After a year of traveling the country in a 100-square-foot camper with her husband, daughter, and dog, Megan Schaulis returned home and wrote her first novel.
Megan has a B.A. in Journalism from Arizona State University and is a member of the ACFW. As a special education teacher, she helped young people fall in love with reading and writing. Today, she uses words in playful and creative ways at her branding agency. She lives in Abilene, Texas, where you’ll find her staying up way too late reading or hiking with her family.
Instagram | Pinterest Board for Book by Megan | Megan's Website
Thank you for taking the time to read what I have to say, and I hope you have a blessed day.
With Love,
Melanie
