Protector (Anniversary of the Veil, Book 1) [Kindle Edition]

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 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.

I found that I was absorbed into the book once it started, about chapter 2 and wanting more. It kept its pace and was never predictable with the right mix of characters, wee described and very real.

The author used a literary trick of using italics to highlight unseen feelings that I was unsure of at first but it worked really well - a touch of genius.

Read it if you like SF and I can't wait for the sequel - out soon, I am told.

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.

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. Read more ›