This is definitely one of my favorite books so far this year. Smart, creative and populated with bold, larger than life characters, this is the best I've read by this author to date. This is a crazy good start to a series and I will be snatching up any and all books that follow!

Oh Yes! After the final installment of the Darkness Series, I was a bit sad to see the end of the series. But now we have a spin off: Ancients Rising. Starting with Ancient Lachlan, who has arisen from his thousand of years of hibernation. After his mate died, he couldn't live on. And now he is in a different world, where women don't appeal to him any longer. Except for Star, the strange woman who he meets and helps when she tries to rescue her sister.
Star doesn't trust dragons, because they have killed her family. So, she and her sister have been hiding what they are for all of the world. And even that wasn't enough, because now Aurora has been kidnapped. Star and her band are determined to save her from the clutches of the evil dragon who has kept her captured.
She didn't count on a stubborn, but hot as hell dragonshifter to help her save her sister.
And she also doesn't understand the strange dreams, she keeps having. Do they have something to do with the alpha dragon, who keeps appearing everywhere?
Find out for yourself if Star is able to keep her sister save. And whether Lachlan and Star will keep on fighting or not. Five out of five stars from me and already I'm awaiting the next part in the series: Ancient Enemy. With a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

His morning star 💫

Ancient Protector is the first book in the Ancients Rising series, which is a spin off from the amazing Darkness series❣️ The story starts off with Star about to participate in a celebrity auction and then for her and her band to give a performance. However, they have ulterior motive for being at this location. Star is “purchased” by Lachlan for an obscene amount of money and when her and her crew ditch the concert, Lachlan is determined to find her😍

I loved this story and getting more of a glimpse into King and I hope Katie gives him an HEA as he definitely deserves one too❤️ I received an advanced copy via Netgalley and I’d like to thank the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book voluntarily😁

Loved this book. I'm never disappointed in Katie Reus. In a world where shifters were hidden, and then they are outed in a violent way, it must have been shocking to humans. I loved the characters. Star and Aurora were shifters, but no one really knew what and they weren't telling. I was very surprised when I found out. I kept trying to guess but didn't guess that. Again the book showed in every breed, there are good and bad people and shifters. I've always liked dragon stories and this one was excellent. Wolves, dragons, lions, tigers, etc., they were all there. Excellent read.

Oh my gosh! It ended! I can’t wait for the next book! Star is a well u will have to read the book. When she goes to rescue her sister, she meets Lachlan , but somehow he seems strangely familiar. Can we say lions and tigers and dragons oh my! Love this author no matter what she writes she leaves you wanting more!

I read and reviewed this advanced complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley

I'm a real fan of Ms Reus' books and this was yet another great start to a new series, a spin-off of the Darkness series.

The first book is about Lachlan and Star. Lachlan is a dragon just out of Hibernation. He is still mourning his lost love. Star is a famous singer. When she is attacked, he steps up to protect her and off course they fall in love.

There was lots of action, banter and romance.

I'm already looking forward to the next book. Highly recommended!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this ARC!!😊

<I>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request for an arc of this book. The review below is entirely my own opinion. </I>

This is the first book in a new spinoff series set in the same world as the author’s Darkness series and the circumstances or setting picks up just about right where Darkness Rising ends.

I really liked Lachlan and Star.

He’s an ancient dragon, who just woke up from his Hibernation of thousands of years. He’s an Alpha Laird of a clan of dragons from Scotland. He knows he wants Star and is determined to court and mate her.

Star, otoh, is a superstar singer, and is some kind of supernatural shifter. She doesn’t reveal her animal until later on; although I guessed what kind of shifter she was right away. I thought her powers were really cool!

The story is very interesting and moves quickly. Lachlan and Star’s relationship left me feeling warm and fuzzy. I also liked getting to know Star’s crew of misfits. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of them in the books to come.

I actually can’t wait to read the next book already. I’m hoping it will be about King and Aurora.

Ancient Protector's is the first in Katie Reus series, she does have characters from past stories show up but you would not need to read their stories prior to understand this one. Lachlan and Star's story is fun and romantic, silly at times but in a very good way. I can't wait for more stories from this series, so many characters to choose from. Ms. Reus never disappoints her readers, you sit back and easily sucked into her stories and can't wait to get back to them once you set them down.

I love Katie Reus' Darkness Series and couldn't wait to get my grubby hands on Ancient Protector. I thought this story started a little slow, perhaps because it's the first of the series. I pushed through the start and then began flying through the pages. I liked both Star and Lachlan. Although personally, if a hot dragon says he's my mate and wants to get it on, it's on - no hesitation here. I figured out what type of animal Star was early on. It bugged me how long it took for the 'big' reveal to happen. I do think I had a bit more trouble with this novel because of the Corona crisis. Personally, I have no interest in reading about the world falling apart. I want to escape all that while I'm reading. So, the "Fall" aspect of the novel didn't interest me. Overall, a great read. I can't wait for the rest of the series.

I am a sucker of the "love story for the ages" kind of trope, and I just loved this one. Lachlan and Star have an amazing connection, and I loved seeing their relationship progress. The suspense angles were great, and I enjoyed the battle scenes. I also love the secondary characters and can't wait to see what happens with them. I assume Aurora and King's story will be next, which I am so excited for!

*I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Ancient Protector by Katie Reus, published by KR Press, LLC, is book one in her new Ancients Rising Series.
Meet Star, she's a famous singer and she needs help from the last man she wants to.
Lachlan is a powerful dragon shifter, milleniums old, and he has seen it all. He suffered great loss and is still mourning. But now Star needs his help. He can't say no to the beauty at his fingertips.
Ancient Protector is a well written pnr read, fast paced with twists and turns that kept me in suspense from start til the end. I read the whole book, cover to cover, in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. A great read, fantastic storyline and characters - 4,5 stars.

Phenomenal!

I love the start to this series! Unique story lines, beautiful twists, action, sweetness, heat, humor.....and dragons!! Plus, it is great seeing some of my favorites from other books.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

Ancient Protector (Ancients Rising, #1) by Katie Reus ...I love Katie's books and this new series is a real winner... Dragons are a real favorite of mine and this book does not disappoint. There is everything ...dragons and all kinds of shifters working together....drama...plenty of hot stuff...some fear, some revenge and some very HEA. I can't wait for the next book.

ARC received for review

Great first book in a spin-off series to the Darkness series. This book takes places after the ending of Darkness Rising. No, you don't have to have read it to understand this book, but it sure makes it better.

Well actually, the first five chapters of this book are right before the fall and gives you history of Star and her peeps, the danger they are in, and we meet Lachlan. Then we fast forward to right after the fall where humans are now aware of supernatural beings (ie dragons, vampires, shifters). We are in New Orleans, King's domain. YAY! Lachlan helped save Star's sister and has the hots for Star. Star wants to give in but is afraid if he finds out what kind of shifter she is that it won't be good for anyone. Drama, action, chemistry, and lots more are in this book. Several peeps from the Darkness series make appearances and help Star's family (family by choice, not necessarily blood) in defeating the bad guy. King has the hots of one Star's family.

I can't wait to see what happens next, and hopefully we won't have to wait until the last book to get King's HEA.

I really enjoyed this spin-off to the Darkness series. We see some familiar faces in Ancient Protector. :) Like Reaper! Lachlan is a Scottish dragonshifter and he might be my new book boyfriend. :) I really love him!

I'm so happy that we are back into this world again. This is a spinoff of the Darkness series and I love seeing some of my favorite characters again. Especially the ancient dragon shifters.

Out of all the dragon shifter books I have read, Katie Reus has created my absolute favorite dragons. They are dominant, territorial, and extremely possessive of their mates. Plus, they are so old, they come off a bit quirky in today's world.

Lachlan's intensity right from the very beginning had me sold. Especially since all that intensity was aimed at Star. He proved he would do anything for her. That's exactly what I'm looking for in a hero.

What Star was a mystery for most of the book. I did guess it, but I will admit I doubted my guess a couple of times. That just made it more fun. She was cool character. I don't normally like Alpha females but she was strong without being in your face about it. Plus she had some cool powers.

I loved it and I want more. I'm glad this is the start of a new series. There are so many characters still to explore in this world.

A rising music singer, Star an Alpha, looked for her abducted sister for a year and now she’s found her. Star and her band mates plan to rescue her from the dragon that kidnapped her. After the rescue, some dragons tried to take over the world and destroyed most of it. They relocate to New Orleans and are trying to rebuild. Lachlan, a Scottish Alpha dragon shifter, wakes up from hibernation after many many years of sleep. He hears Star sing and feels a connection to her. He helped them escape when rescuing her sister and he wants to be closer to her. When she’s attacked, he and some of his clan mates stay and protect her and her small clan. Star hasn’t let anyone close to her but her close friends and only they know what her and her sister really are. The more Star and Lachlan are around each other, she keeps having strange dreams she doesn’t understand. Lachlan knows she’s his mate but he’ll have to earn her trust first. Can they find the dragon that kidnapped her sister and take him down before he tries again?

First in a brand new series from Katie Reus. Awesome story about shifters and humans living together. A second chance for two people who have been apart for thousands of years. Some old friends from other series come to visit. Everyone needs their own dragon mate because I absolutely loved this one. Sexy and suspenseful with some secrets thrown in.

* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *

Yes!! Ancient Protector was an amazing start to a new series. We get shifters, which I love. Star and Lachlan were so meant to be. The struggles they go through makes them a stronger couple in the end. Now, I need more of this series, cause I can tell it is gonna be a favorite. I love Katie and her writing, so keep them coming!