Protect the Prince

Jennifer Estep once again hit all the right notes for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the Crown of Shards trilogy, Kill the Queen and enjoyed Protect the Prince just as much if not more so. We finally obtain some much-needed answers as well as a resolution to a relationship quandary that had me hard-core shipping. Moreover, Evie kicks ass – literally and figuratively. It is next to impossible not to root for her as she maneuvers her way through political machinations and more than one assassination attempt.

One of the best parts of this series is that it does not take itself too seriously. The majority of the characters may be gladiators, capable of killing anyone in cold blood for whatever reason, but there is a levity to show more each of them that minimizes their fierceness. These brutal warriors crack jokes, obsess about food, and act in a manner that is decidedly un-gladiatorial. Even better, the everyday dress code of queen and commoner alike is a tunic, leggings, and boots. Evie worries about her crown falling off her head more than the fact that pretty much everyone wants her dead. Both stories are chockful of such lighthearted examples that all help offset what should be a very dark story.

This is not to say that Protect the Prince is all fun and games. There are plenty of dark elements to its plot, and it has its moments of murder and mayhem, impossible choices, betrayal, and danger. What allows the story to shine throughout the good and the bloody are Evie’s reactions to each scenario that comes her way. They are honest reactions by a character who is trying to navigate her way through a seemingly impossible future while trying to put a horrific past behind her. She makes plenty of mistakes but learns from them, as does her entourage. The growth of each character is enjoyable and makes the novel that much more rewarding.

Protect the Prince and the Crown of Shards series are excellent examples of high fantasy without the heaviness that frequently surround such stories. They are quick and entertaining reads that give you all the same reactions, power struggles, romances, magic and myth, and battles as stories like the Lord of the Rings trilogy or the Game of Thrones series but without a slow and lengthy reading process. It makes for a fantastic summer reading selection. show less

This book provides a good illustration of that wise old maxim, "Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it." In the first book of this series, Kill the Queen, our protagonist Everleigh Saffira Winter Blair fled from the palace after the massacre of her family and fell in with a gladiator troupe, vowing to wrest the throne from her traitor cousin Vasilia. By the end of the book, she had succeeded in her quest--but the book ended with the intimation that her problems were just beginning.

This book explores those problems, and is all the more interesting to me because of it. Court intrigue is a juicy sub-genre of epic fantasy if done well, and this one is. As this book makes clear, holding the throne is far more difficult show more than gaining it. Everleigh has to juggle the backstabbing, sneers and power grabs of her nobles, negotiate a treaty with a neighboring country with an eye to defending both countries from an invasion by her enemies, learn the wiles of power and diplomacy, work out how she feels about one Lucas Sullivan, the magier who works for her previous gladiator troupe...oh yeah, and expose a hidden assassin trying to kill her.

Along the way, she learns more about herself and her powers, and just what it means to be a "Winter queen" (hint, it has nothing to do with said powers, and everything to do with the ability to make hard choices and sacrifice her own needs and desires for her people). The book ends with the treaty negotiated and allies gained, and the resolution of her romantic subplot--but the war with Morta is looming ever larger on the horizon. Presumably this will be the focus of the third book.

This isn't deathless literature, but it's an interesting, fast-paced, slightly pulpy epic fantasy. It's a good beach read, I think. show less

Yes friends, YES! If you're the type of reader who is always wary of the second book in a series, and whether it will be a good follow up, rest assured that Protect The Prince has you covered. After falling madly in love with Evie, Sullivan, and the whole cast of the first book, I was terrified that this second book would fall short of what I hoped for. I desperately wanted more intrigue, more magic, and I was ready for a little more spicy romance. As it turns out, I got all of that and more!

As the end of the last book reminds us, someone always wants to kill the queen. So not only does Evie have to navigate her new role as the regent of her country, but she also has to continuously thwart plots to assassinate her. Thank goodness that show more she's such a badass character! My favorite part of the last story was watching Evie grow from a woman with quiet strength, into someone who could take down a whole army if it would protect those she loved. That's the woman who is presented on these pages, and the one who we see mature even more. Being a queen isn't easy, and Evie learns that the hard way. I loved that Estep didn't let her fall into the role and lose herself but, rather, Evie molds that role to her personality. It was a beautiful thing.

Oh, and the intrigue! Most of this book takes place in Andvari, and that is a thing of beauty. If the last installment left you hungry for more of Sullivan and his background, here's your chance to get you fill. I loved learning about him, his place in his home, and his family members. Where the plot could have gone very simply here, as Evie works for treaty with the king, it ended up being a whole vivid tapestry of events. There is poison, there is unrequited love, and there are trysts that will make your eyes wide and your heart beat faster. Since Estep didn't smash romance between Evie and Sullivan into the first book, which I loved, I was actually really ready for some heat between them. It was delivered, my friends. It was delivered, and it was scorchingly hot.

It was also so impressive how much world building came about in this book, seemingly without effort. There are no large descriptive paragraphs, or information dumps. Still, magically, the world of Andvari opened up in front of me with all of its lush gardens, ornate rooms, and vast hidden spaces. It got to the point where I was so invested in the nobles, and in castle life in general, that I actually forgot for a moment that poor Evie was still figuring out why she was a "Winter Queen". When that reveal came about it was exciting, and unexpected, and just all kinds of perfect. Everything in this book is so well woven, that it's a joy a read.

Look, Kate Daniels has long been my favorite female character but I think that Evie is set to dethrone her if things keep up as they are now. I love her fierceness, her deep love for those around her, and the fact that she's willing to give up everything if it means her people survive. Estep has me hooked. I admit it. Now I'll have to impatiently wait to see what happens next. show less

First - is there a short story about Gemma, Alvis and Xenia's adventurous escape I missed? Because they acted like there was.

Second - gonna go ahead and picture Sully as Torrence Coombs (circa his time as Bash in "Reign").

Third - damn me for figuring out THE ENTIRE MORTAN PLOT after meeting the chief traitor. Like. Just once I'd love if my brain pretended it was surprised. (This isn't to say I didn't enjoy the journey to the reveal, this is a complaint I often have about my brain).

Man oh man, poor Evie. Here she was, being told by Serilda that killing Vasilia would solve all their issues...and yet.

While most of the Troupe takes a backseat (Serilda and Cho appeared less as well as spoke less), Sully and Paloma took the stage. The return show more of Gemma, as well as Alvis was welcome. The mystery surrounding Gemma and Alvis' bloody cryptic words less so.

Maeven is a BRAZEN BITCH let me tell you. Not stupid, just super brazen.

Hopefully next book Evie takes down the Mortan King so she can reap the rewards of the final chapter of this book. Many, many times. show less

Well written, but

Dear sweet damnable fools...umm, hello? ASSASSINS?!?!?!? How many times are assassins going to penetrate a castle and attack before someone takes their job seriously?!? Seven different assassination attempts over two books with varying levels of success. Oh, look, the queen is off to let them try again!!

Look, I liked the writing. The characters were decent (if terrible at their job) and the plot moved well...as long as you ignore how bad the palace guards are at their job.

I can’t recommend this book or series unless you can completely ignore logic. Plot holes the size of the Grand Canyon!!

Well written, but

Dear sweet damnable fools...umm, hello? ASSASSINS?!?!?!? How many times are assassins going to penetrate a castle and attack before someone takes their job seriously?!? Seven different assassination attempts over two books with varying levels of success. Oh, look, the queen is off to let them try again!!

Look, I liked the writing. The characters were decent (if terrible at their job) and the plot moved well...as long as you ignore how bad the palace guards are at their job.

I can’t recommend this book or series unless you can completely ignore logic. Plot holes the size of the Grand Canyon!!

Protect the Prince is the second book in the Crown of Shards trilogy. I read the first book, Kill the Queen and was utterly enthralled. The world Ms. Estep created was full of the everyday and yet it was fantastical and magical at the same time. Her characters are memorable and deal with things like love and betrayal while fighting in gladiator battles and dealing with levels of magical powers.

Protect the Prince picks up where the Kill the Queen left off. Everleigh is queen but not everyone is happy about it, nor do her nobles particularly feel she is up to the job. She isn’t sure she is up to the job but knows she has to be. But there are forces that don’t want her to succeed for reasons she does not yet understand.

What Everleigh show more does have is a strong group of supporters in her friends from her gladiator troupe. They have her back and are there to protect and support her. Her first mission is to try and fix the relationship with the neighboring kingdom. Things don’t go quite as she hopes for many different reasons.

This second book in the series was just as exciting as the first book. It was a page turning read that had me on the edge of my seat more times than I care to mention. Everleigh is growing as a character and she is coming into her own as a young woman and as a queen. Ms. Estep keeps a solid balance between the lighthearted moments and the suspense. The romance elements do not supersede the overarching story. All in all a great read and I can’t wait for the finale. show less