Review: Protector of Beyond, by Shara Curlett

For twelve-year-old Elder Triss, one tiny spark is enough to turn her entire life upside down. If she produces a spark, she will be taken from her home and sent to the mysterious realm of Beyond to train as a Protector. Elder never expects her spark to be unlike anything seen before. Suddenly separated from everything she knows, she must learn how to control her strange new power and earn her place at the Academy of Protectors.

Shara Curlett’s Protector of Beyond is a fast-paced fantasy adventure novel set in a world of surprises. Beyond is strange and unpredictable, from the Academy of Protectors to the unusual creatures Elder encounters along the way. Curlett reveals the world gradually, allowing readers to discover its oddities and dangers alongside Elder as she tries to find her place within it.

Elder herself is easy to root for. She is determined and funny, but also impulsive and prone to getting things wrong. She is often unsure of where she fits in, something many young readers will relate to. Her friendships with Bear and Carter give her a sense of belonging, while her bond with Roc, a fearsome Pterawolf, develops into one of the novel’s most memorable relationships.

Beneath all the action, Protector of Beyond is about friendship and finding your place in the world when you feel different. Fans of Nevermoor and Keeper of the Lost Cities will feel right at home in Beyond, with plenty of secrets still waiting to be discovered.