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    Protect the Prince
    Protect the Prince
    Protect the Prince
    Audiobook12 hours

    Protect the Prince

    Written by Jennifer Estep

    Narrated by Lauren Fortgang

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    Magic, murder, adventure, and romance combine in this second novel in the exciting Crown of Shards saga from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep.

    Everleigh Blair might be the new gladiator queen of Bellona, but her problems are far from over.

    First, Evie has to deal with a court full of arrogant, demanding nobles, all of whom want to get their greedy hands on her crown. As if that wasn’t bad enough, an assassin tries to kill Evie in her own throne room.

    Despite the dangers, Evie goes ahead with a scheduled trip to the neighboring kingdom of Andvari in order to secure a desperately needed alliance. But complicating matters is the stubborn Andvarian king, who wants to punish Evie for the deaths of his countrymen during the Seven Spire massacre.

    Dark forces are also at work inside the Andvarian palace, and Evie soon realizes that no one is safe. Worse, her immunity to magic starts acting in strange, unexpected ways, which makes Evie wonder whether she is truly strong enough to be a Winter Queen.

    Evie’s magic, life, and crown aren’t the only things in danger—so is her heart, thanks to Lucas Sullivan, the Andvarian king’s bastard son and Evie’s … well, Evie isn’t quite sure what Sullivan is to her.

    Only one thing is certain—protecting a prince might be even harder than killing a queen…

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJul 2, 2019
    ISBN9780062931528
    Author

    Jennifer Estep

    Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.Jennifer is the author of the Section 47, Galactic Bonds, Elemental Assassin, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy series. She has written more than forty books, along with numerous novellas and stories.In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit her website at or follow her online on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, and Goodreads. You can also sign up for her newsletter: https://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-jennifer/newsletter/Happy reading, everyone! ?

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    Reviews for Protect the Prince

    4/5

    153 ratings10 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Love love love this book! Great kickass heroine and lots of adventure heartache and suspense
    • 5/5
      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 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.
    • 4/5
      This one was a hard one for me. I have never hated and liked an MC so much in my reading/listening history. All the secrets, all the stupid choices, all the close calls to doing what was right. I was screaming at her through most of this book. Don't get me wrong, it's a great story and I am looking forward to book 3 as I am fully vested in these characters, but she better pull her head out of her ass!!!
    • 5/5
      Protect the Prince is the second book in the Crown of Shards series and what an amazing series installment this story was! Right from the start I was dragged into the action and drama as Everleigh established herself as a queen who was not to be underestimated. Throughout the story, Evie struggled with faith in herself as a queen and ruler but she did not back down or whine about her turmoil. She ponied up and did what she had to for her people and I absolutely found her character admirable. I felt for her because the simpler days where she used to go unnoticed were forever gone and now she had to live in a spotlight that she would willingly give up if she could. Especially because her status was denying her the one person her heart truly wanted.In this story there was some romantic tension between Evie and Lucas which picks up from where they left off in book one, Kill the Queen. Unfortunately, that meant they were really nothing beyond friends even though there was much more there between them. Lucas had been burned in love before because of his status, or should I say non-status, and any feelings he may have for Evie were tamped down firmly. Despite his refusal to act on any amorous feelings, Evie still carried a torch for Lucas which made some of the choices that she made in this story very heart-rending. I loved that Evie struggled with her feelings but when push came to shove she chose to do what she felt was right and Lucas had a few struggles of his own.All of the characters that I fell in love with previously were back in book two but their roles had changed, and all for the better. It was great to see Evie’s inner circle comprised of individuals that would never be considered proper for court. It made things interesting but nowhere near as interesting as Evie did with her unwillingness to submit to what was expected of her. She refused to be anything less than what her people needed. I loved her in this book!! In addition to political shenanigans, there is plenty of action in Protect the Prince as well as subterfuge, betrayal, and some rather swoony moments. I loved reading this story and I am completely looking forward to what is next in this series!!This review is based on a complimentary book I received from Edelweiss+. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.
    • 4/5
      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 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.
    • 5/5
      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 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.
    • 5/5
      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 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.
    • 5/5
      Protect the Prince by Jennifer Estep2nd in the Crown of Shards series. Fantasy series. Best read after the first Kill the Queen.Everleigh, The heroine is fierce and tender hearted. She is going to do what’s best for her kingdom regardless of the cost to herself. She puts herself on the line several times. Even when her own heart s breaking. Intense and action filled. I can’t wait for the next in the series. Gargoyles: living, breathing stone. Like puppies, they like their bellies rubbed. If they like you. But their wagging tails can cause quite a bit of wind damage, so look out!I received a copy of this book at a conference. I also purchased a copy to keep and reread.
    • 4/5
      PROTECT THE PRINCE is book two in Jennifer Estep's Crown of Shards fantasy series.PROTECT THE PRINCE starts off just a few months after the events of KILL THE QUEEN. Everleigh is on the throne, but she has to fight to keep it at every moment. I enjoyed seeing Evie navigate her court and learn to be the ruler she wants to be versus the ruler her people expect. As with book one, Evie can't catch a break and is tested at just about every turn. I didn't feel like there was much movement in the overall plot happening in book two, but I think the events were critical to Evie's growth as a person and as a ruler trying to secure her thrown for the long term. The romance between Evie and Sullivan was a bit painful. It moves along, but it seems hopeless for most of the book which is super frustrating because they want to be together so bad and you FEEL it. You WANT it to work. I really enjoy the secondary characters of this series. They are entertaining and I feel like I am invested in each of their stories. The world building continues to get better with each place we visit in Estep's world. PROTECT THE PRINCE ended on a great note and I am looking forward to CRUSH THE KING. * This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      What a wonderful book! I found myself really being swept away by the story and was completely invested in what would happen to this group of characters. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Kill the Queen, so I was looking forward to this one and hoping that it would be just as good as the first book. I ended up liking this installment even a bit more than the first. This really was a wonderful reading experience.This is the second book in the Crown of Shards series which really should be read in order. The first book is great so you really don't want to miss it anyway. Trust me on this. This book picks up shortly after the events of the first book. Evie is now Queen but that doesn't mean that she is no longer being tested. The nobles at court are not her biggest fans and seem to enjoy making her life difficult. There is also the little issue of the occasional assassination attempts that she has to deal with. Evie knows that she needs to secure a treaty with the nearby kingdom, Andvari. She travels there along with her group of guards and advisors. Part of her group is Sully, who happens to be the bastard prince of Andvari. She doesn't expect or get a warm welcome. Andvari suffered losses during the Bellona massacre and they hold Evie partially responsible. She must find a way to win the king over to get the treaty she needs.We learn a lot of things in this installment. The flashbacks into Evie's past were really enlightening. We also learn a lot about how things were for Sully growing up as an illegitimate prince and always taking a backseat to his legitimate brothers. Evie discovers a lot about herself and her magic over the course of this installment. It was nice to see a different kingdom and I really liked the gargoyles that played a role in the story.I love these characters! Evie is such a strong character. She is tough and willing to make sacrifices when necessary for her kingdom. She is really smart and I enjoyed watching her assert her authority and make necessary political moves. Sully seems to always be there when Evie needs him but he holds himself back just a bit. It was nice to see all of the key characters play a part in this tale. This was an exciting book! There are plenty of action scenes to keep things hopping and the use of magic in this world always seems to keep things interesting. There were several real surprises in this story which I really appreciated. I really liked that there was a bit of romance in the story and I thought that it was really well done.I would highly recommend this book to others. I thought that this was an exciting story, filled with wonderful characters, that was almost impossible to put down. I wasn't sure if this would be a 4 or 5-star rating but the way this book ended really was fantastic and earned the fifth star. I cannot wait to read more of this amazing series!I received a digital review copy of this book from Harper Voyager via Edelweiss.