It is no secret that I really, really like Katie Reus’ contemporary romantic suspense stories but I LOVE her paranormal romantic suspense ones. Ancient Protector is the first of a spin-off from the Darkness Series. It is beyond amazing. I once said that Katie Reus’ books were the kind that I loved to read but really hated it when I finished the last page, wanting more and more. That was certainly true for Ancient Protector.

Star and Lachlan pulled me right into their world so that I was begrudging the fact that I had to stop reading when it was time to fix dinner, going right back to the book when everyone was fed at this house. This story takes place when the world is at a new normal, haven’t we heard those words a lot lately. The reason for this is completely different but it was still surprising. If the story had mentioned the sudden shortage of toilet paper it would have seemed too weirdly prophetic.

One of the great things about this author is that her books read well as a stand-alone. Yes, there is a bigger picture going on in a series but you don’t feel as if you are being strung along to teased. The stories feel completed, not just the romance part but the over-arching theme has some closure too. I will say that two strong supporting characters had their story in Darkness Rising so that is a book that you will be tempted to read if this is your first Reus book. What I do know is that it won’t be your last. These books are addictive.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is a spin-off from her Darkness series and I’m so glad! I wasn’t ready to leave that world behind! Buckle in, this review will be long.

Some background: At the end of the last series, dragons were outed to humans. This then prompted all the other Other to come public as well. Vampires, shifters of all kinds, you get the idea. This book starts slightly before, then takes place a few months after.

Star is a pop star. Not just a pop star, the pop star. The biggest. And she’s getting ready to play a very important show. She’s auctioning off a date with herself for charity, but the show is about more than her career and more than the charity. One dragon bids on her and he bids a huge amount of money. She almost wishes she could stay and have that date but she has another mission in mind. And it doesn’t involve the sexy Scottish dragon.

Her sister was kidnapped by a different dragon and has been held captive by him for about a year. This show she’s playing is legit, but for Star and her bandmates, it’s a rescue mission. They’re retrieving her sister Aurora and nothing can stop them. Not even a huge dragon and his clan. Not even two huge dragons and their clans.

Lachlan is an ancient. He’s recently come out of hibernation and when he heard Star sing, he knew she was his mate. He plans on finding her, but first he needs to learn about this new world he’s woken into. When he hears Star will be performing at a charity event, he knows that is his chance. Moments after he bids on Star, she bails. He follows her and while she’s escaping, they both wind up showing their powers, thus outing themselves to the world, which winds up collapsing shortly after. It takes him almost two months to make it back to his mate’s side, and he knows how to get close to her.

He wants his date.

Fast forward a couple of months or so and while the world is grappling with not only what it means that humans are not alone, but that someone tried to take out all major cities and governments, and we see Star and Aurora settling in New Orleans. A wolf shifter (one you’ll recognize from the previous series) has started to rebuild New Orleans and to try to organize the area. However not all Other are okay with him running things. There is unrest amongst some groups, and Star for the most part is just trying to get back to normal. But her new normal is about to change.

Star is floored when her sexy Scottish dragon appears in New Orleans asking her for a date, and yet she finds she can’t say no. In fact, she doesn’t want to say no. The two of them have major chemistry and while Lachlan is making no bones about wanting Star, she’s running scared. Meanwhile…he still doesn’t know what she is. He’s assuming she’s some sort of shifter, or even half-demon, but no one knows. No one except her closest friends. And while he doesn’t care, I loved seeing how she confounded everyone, even him.

I enjoyed watching Star figure herself out. While Lachlan is ancient, thousands and thousands of years old, Stars is in her twenties. She’s Alpha of her pack, but she’s also Alpha with a capital A. Even Lachlan’s brother can’t hold her gaze for long, and he’s almost as old as Lachlan. There's a lot of mystery surrounding Star. But Star has always been about protecting her identity and that of her sister. With her sister slowly healing, maybe Star can start focusing on herself and what she wants, not just what’s best for her pack.

I don’t want to ruin what Star is, or what’s been going on in the background, but this is a great start to a new series and I for one can’t wait for more. I’ve peeked ahead and it looks like Lachlan’s brother will get the next book. You guys, we need more magic in the world, and Katie Reus is making that happen. Keep an eye on this series, you’re going to love it.

***Review copy courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley

This is the first in a new series. This paranormal post apocalyptic read can be read as a stand alone. I understand it is a spin off from another series by this author. I had not read that and was easily able to follow this along. I did not ever feel like I was missing the joke so to speak.

I love Dragon shifter stories so I was drawn to the synopsis to begin with. And then the author really delivers. Fantastic world building! She lays the groundwork for the reader to want to learn more about this rag tag band of heroes. Star and her group are just as committed to justice and Lachlan and his clan. Loved the settings on both sides of the pond.

Lachlan and Star are mates. It just takes Star a little bit longer to catch up to that fact. Along the way, she fights their attraction. Lots of twist and turns in the story. Keeps you guessing until the end. Great set up for wanting to learn more about this world, who is in power and who will find their HEA next.

Loved Star and Lachlan! Their chemistry is amazing and they're both strong characters in their own might. There is danger, suspense, lots of chemistry and tension that I felt on edge almost constantly, but in a good way.

Ancient Protector is book 1 in the Ancients Rising series and picks up where Darkness Rising book 9 in the Darkness series left off. While this is a spin off series it works fine as a stand alone but I will encourage anyone who enjoys this book to go back because the Darkness series is so enjoyable. Lachlan is an ancient dragon who wakes from his hibernation after thousands of years. Star is a young singer who has finally found her kidnapped sister at the home of a powerful dragon but lucky for her there's an even more powerful dragon ready to help. As with most of this authors male characters I loved Lachlan and his determination to make Star his. Star was great too and I loved what she was. The connection between Lachlan and Star was fantastic and their HEA was perfect. So many new characters were introduced and I hope they all get stories at some point. I can't wait for book 2 in this series.

What a great start to a new series filled with characters that grab the reader right from the start.There is suspense, action, and serious fire between the two main characters.Overall, this was a fun and well-paced story with a great interesting plot, and a wonderful romance.

Star has built her singing career until she is easily recognizable, but despite her stardom, she is hiding a secret. She and her friends are using her stardom to travel as they search for Star’s sister, who has been kidnapped.

Lachlan is an ancient dragon shifter, recently awoken from a forced hibernation. He forced himself into hibernation in reaction to losing his first love. In the present day, he is working to bridge the world he knew when he went to sleep with the world as it is now. A lot has changed in all that time, including the outing of supernatural beings. There is a power struggle as the shifters and humans work to set the world to rights again.

Lachlan is drawn to Star after he hears her sing. Something about her pulls him, and because he is so interested in her he ends up being in the right place at the right time several times to help Star and her friends out of dangerous situations. Star isn’t sure what to do with this old dragon who keeps turning up, especially because she doesn’t trust dragons entirely.

These two have a fantastic chemistry. Both are alphas in their own right, and as such they have to learn when and how to compromise and let go of control. Star’s group may not all be the same type of shifters, but they have formed a family that looks to Star for their guidance. Lachlan is used to having his orders followed, so when Star challenges him it takes him some time to get used to the idea of another with power so close to him. This makes for both great teamwork (when their goals are the same) and epic sparks when they challenge each other.

Somehow I have missed Katie Reus’s entire backlist of PNR, but that is something I will be remedying in the near future. Even though I hadn’t read any of her Darkness series, from which the Ancients Rising series spins off, there is enough of the world built here that I was not lost at all. This had all the imagination and fantasy I love from PNR and was a great change of pace from my usual. I look forward to more from this world.

This is the first in the Ancient's Rising series but it is related to the Darkness series. I love that series and didn't even realize that this one was related to it and was beyond excited when it hit me! It can absolutely be read as a standalone though! Lachlan has just risen after hibernating for thousands of years after losing the woman who was supposed to be his mate. He never thought he would wake until he heard Star. Famous singer Star is willing to do almost anything to keep her family safe, except rely on a stranger. She doesn't understand why he helped her rescue her sister or why he seems so familiar to her. But she won't let that stop her from doing what she needs to do. But when her sister's kidnapper follows them, she needs the help of not only her family but Lachlan and his clan in order to keep her safe.

I absolutely loved every moment of this book!! Star is this kick butt, strong woman who stands in front of her friend's and family in order to keep them safe. And while she may be afraid, she doesn't let it stop her for anything. Lachlan is this possessive, sweet, protective, alpha dragon who will do whatever he has to in order to keep the people he cares about safe. And that includes the people that Star considers her family and friends. This book has action and adventure but also some mystery and a love that I didn't see coming at first. I loved it!

Another fabulous instalment to Katie’s world of shifters, but a new series. It has everything I love in. Katie book, great leads, wonderful chemistry , cute romance and plenty of drama. Great to see some old familiar faces again and I can’t wait to read all the future couples that are hinted at here. Fabulous read and exciting start to a new set of books I’m going to love.


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Excellent beginning to a new series. The characters are interesting and complex. I have to go back and read the Darkness series now because I was so intrigued by some of the couples. The author puts a unique spin on the genre with her putting together of different species living as a family. The chemistry between Star and Lachlan is off the charts and I loved the sweet romance aspects of their building relationship. I absolutely want more of this series and characters!

As usual, this author gives us an unwavering, jealous-possessive, alpha protective hero who will do anything for the heroine, which makes him absolutely perfect in my eyes. Ancient Scottish dragon shifter Lachlan sensed a special connection with Star, the famous singer leading lady, even before he laid eyes on her, folks. Not surprisingly, a big reveal is made near the end that was pretty obvious was going to occur. It certainly helped confirm why. Star also happens to be hiding a special secret of her own that comes in verra handy more than once throughout fight scenes with other villainous dragon shifters.

The story centers around a rescue then bringing down a bad guy so the main couple can move on to a HEA, which a common backdrop for this author. I’m assuming the next book will continue with Star’s sister, Aurora, and King, alpha wolf shifter king of the New Orleans jungle, starting a relationship in the next sequel. But who knows. They might just end up conveniently pairing up as a sub romantic plot couple. This author has proven she can juggle more than one couple at a time in her storylines.

I’d actually like to see Ms. Reus venture out of her normal routine scenarios featuring animal shifters and/or personal security team characters to other areas (i.e. doctors, lawyers, firefighters, etc.). I do always enjoy her back and forth banter and love connections between characters you truly like and want to wind up together.

Title: Ancient Protector, Series: Ancients Rising (Book 1), Author: Katie Reus, Pages: 260, stand-alone but part of a series, dragon shifter main couple, numerous various animal shifter subcharacters, paranormal fight scenes, very graphic smex scenes, unwavering alpha protective hero, no OM/OW drama, no love triangle, no cheating, virgin heroine, celibate hero, romance safe.

Book 1 - Ancient Protector (Star & Lachlan)
Book 2 - Ancient Enemy (Rhys & Dallas)
Book 3 - Ancient Enforcer (Mikael & Avery)

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review. There is no affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)

So good! Great start to a new series. Great to see some old friends and make some new ones. Lachlan and Star struggle in the beginning. Star is keeping many secrets and takes Lachlan a while to earn her trust. Many twists and turns. Would have preferred a bit more romance between the two. HEA.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing novel

dragons, vampires, wolves and witches are all in this book

star's sister aurora is missing..she has been for over a year...but finally after a year of searching for her, they now know her location and intend to rescue her

star is also a famous singer and whilst using this as a disguise to rescue her sister from an evil dragon...the rescue attempt is fraught with danger

but on this night with a concert ahead she is also part of an auction to raise money for charity and its here that she meets lachlan an ancient, a man who has been asleep for hundreds of years...

wow have to say i couldnt put this book down...hooked me right from the beginning and right to the end...the cast of characters were entertaining and well thought out and i have to say i didnt get bogged down with so many names and characters, it was just the right mix

have to say another author to keep an eye out for

Ancient Protector by Katie Reus

Paranormal romance with dragon shifters. First in the Ancient Risings series.
A spin off from the Darkness series. Can be read without reading the prior series.
Quasi post-apocalyptic. Reincarnation / fated mate troupe.

Dragons have been outed to the world, as have other paranormals. Humans are no longer at the top of the food chain. The transition in power has changed the dynamics in the world. Everything from the dollar to health care to food distribution and housing must be reconfigured.
New Orleans is largely undamaged with alpha werewolf King is coordinating witches, food supplies, housing and security.
Star and band have taken refuge in New Orleans knowing that her sister’s kidnapper will obsessively try to reclaim possession.
Scottish dragon Lachlan follows Star to New Orleans. He will protect her at all costs. She is his mate.

I loved both the hero for his protectiveness and willingness to let the heroine lead. The heroine is a bit naive but trusts her pack to do their jobs.
My only issue was tracking all the secondary characters, especially at the end. Perhaps because additional help in the final battle came from the Darkness series which I haven’t read. In the end it didn’t really matter because of the hea, but like others have said - I hope to read King’s hea soon.

Absorbing, creative and heartening.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I also purchased a copy to share.

If you read Katie's darkness series then you will realise that this is a spin off from that world and as I loved that entire series I am obviously a huge fan of this latest book As with all Katie's Books it flows well has plenty of drama and suspense and enough steam to melt you kindle so what more could you want.

Millennium earlier Lachlan a ancient Scottish dragon lost his mate and unable to bare been without her he put himself into hibernation but now he has awoken to a world that is completely changed and alread he has had to rescue Star a famous singer and her sister right through the entire book we are wondering just what Star is and when the reveal happens it is mind blowing. Soon Lachlan follows Star and he sister to New Orleans where he is drawn into the shifter world and before long he once again embroiled in keeping her safe but he has realised that she is in fact his mate and there is nothing he will not do to keep her safe

Will she be able to trust him enough to let go of her many griefs...

As my first read by Mrs Katie Reus, so also my first foray in her paranormal’s’ universe. As she has a note about an other series, I do suppose this one is related too with some of the visiting characters.
My only reservation is I would have liked to know more about the fall period as the book is set before and after this changing event.
Star and Lachlan are both two very likable characters, and while Star’s true identity is kept a secret until the very end, I figured it out very quickly.
Star while young for a paranormal is a warrior in the soul, she acts like one and her team sees her as one. She bosses them around but always with purposes and rightfully.
Lachlan is no young dragon, after millennia in sleep, he awakens from his chosen hibernation to a very different world from the one he once knew. Yet, it does not change the kind man he is.
While Star refuses any entanglement by fear to seen only for her second half self, thus she tries to avoid Lachlan’s persisting courtship, scared of the consequences if she let herself fall for someone. When he knows he would readily sacrifice anything for the one woman who brought him back to the living.

It was a very entertaining and fast paced read, as most of the action took place in a short span of time. I loved the many species, and while I have checked who will be figured in the two next books, I hope Aurora/King and Axel and whomever will too have their story.
5 stars for this first in a series.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

I’ve been waiting for Ancient Protector ever since the entire world went to hell in a handbasket in Darkness Rising, the last book in Ms. Reus’ Darkness Series. I’ve wanted to check back in with all my favorite characters and see how they were doing and how things worked out as they tried to regroup and rebuild. I was also curious to see how humanity was going to deal with finding out that all those scary things nobody believed existed really do. Yeah, I had a lot of expectations going in. 

At first, I was a little disappointed when I realized both MC’s were new characters and we weren’t even in the United States anymore. I reminded myself this is a new series and I should have expected this. It did perk me up when the setting switched to New Orleans and I was back in familiar territory with characters I liked dropping in here and there. 

The story starts out with Star and her motley crew in the midst of a jailbreak type of caper at a celebrity-studded charity auction and concert of all things. I immediately liked Star and admired her strength, loyalty, and the depths to which she went to rescue her sister. Her cluelessness as to what to do when she realized she had a sexy Scottish dragon by the tail, or should I say on her tail, was cute. 

Like most of the newly risen ancient dragons, Lachlan had me chuckling at first with his sheer lack of game. His opening bid cracked me up as did his somewhat clumsy interactions with Star. But he was an alpha ancient dragon, so I knew those alphahole qualities would show up soon enough.

Like all Ms. Reus’ couples, these two had chemistry in spades and when they finally got together, sparks and flames flew, figuratively and literally. Lachlan proved without a doubt that old dragons still got it going on. 

Speaking of Lachlan, I love an alpha that lets his woman take care of business and show her pure badassedness, and he impressed me with his willingness to follow Star’s lead in keeping her and her sister safe. Well, within reason, he is a dragon, after all.

Spending time with Cynara and getting an update on her and Justis was a treat. And I liked the time spent with King. He gets more intriguing every time he shows up on the page and I can’t wait for his story. 

One minor issue I had was after witnessing the end of the world in Darkness Rising, I wanted more world-building, or should I say more of them putting the world back together. There were little tidbits here and there, but I thought it would be more of a struggle after all the carnage that happened. Like I said, a minor issue overall.

Like the books in the Darkness Series this is spun-off of, I read this straight through in one sitting and enjoyed every minute of it. I just can’t get enough of these sexy, growly, dragons and the women who are strong enough to put up with them. 

Rating: 4 Old Dragons Got It Going On Stars

I love the world Reus has developed- a bit Armageddon, but still lots of ‘normal’ along with multiple magical beings. This story was fun. I loved the characters, the MCs were great. The moments of humor from the secondary characters made this book even better.

Star rescues her sister from a dragon shifter with the help of Lachlan, another dragon.

Lachlan knows Star is his mate, but he’s got to convince her of that as well as help stop her sister from being kidnapped again.

ANCIENT PROTECTOR is amazing - there is no other word. We last visited this particular world created by author Katie Reus in "Darkness Rising" when the world was blown all to ... well it was bad. With ANCIENT PROTECTOR, we again get to see some old favorites and enjoy the romantic chasing and winning of new characters. Lachlan and Star are a perfect match. She is a singer, leader of her little pack of misfits and, most intriguing, she is a - oops sorry I can't go there. I feel revealing her other side would be a big spoiler.


Annetta Sweetko, reviewer for Fresh Fiction

Complete review may be found at: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=70931

ANCIENT PROTECTOR by Katie Reus is the first book in the Ancients Rising paranormal romance and fantasy series. This is a spin-off of her Darkness series, but can be read without reading that series. It is also the second book by this author that I have read. Star’s sister has been abducted and she and her pack mates are determined to rescue her and head to their safe house.

Star and Lachlan are both Alphas of their packs and complement each other well. With two strong protagonists, this story line was bound to be exciting. Their characters are compelling, well-drawn, charming, and at times, funny. Their characters were three-dimensional and their goals were clear. The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story. The internal and external conflicts were well defined and the stakes were high. The prose was well-written, entertaining and engaging. I loved the writing style. The plot twists were believable, but not quite as unexpected as I would have liked. The world building is terrific. There are a few steamy scenes in the second half of the book.

Overall, this was a fun and entertaining book that has depth to it. Themes include shifters, witches, vampires and humans existing in the same world, romance, abduction, rebuilding lives, family relationships, friendship, greed, power and much more. I recommend this to those that enjoy paranormal romantic suspense with plenty of action scenes and some depth to the underlying themes. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series as well as other books by this author.

Many thanks to KR Press, LLC – Author Collective 20 and Katie Reus for a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.