I received this book in exchange for an honest review - for a full review check out my YouTube or Goodreads account

I enjoyed this book. Anaye is a companion to Dalak, a warder, who looks like a demon and keeps bad demons from entering there communal space. One day, members of another tribe come into their village after a vicious attack by a demon desecrating the village and killing nearly all of the tribe. Dalak wants to go kill the demon so a small group head back to the other village to get the few remaining survivors. Jahal is a shaman or healer from that village and once the small group enters his village, he immediately attempts to mend them. As the story goes on, Dalak has set her mind to getting rid of the demon once and for all. During her battle, Dalak becomes injured beyond repair, but stays alive for many many months. As she heals, Anaye becomes pregnant and it is an unnatural pregnancy. She delivers a child that looks like Dalak, but with a human nature.
I would have loved more world building to this story and some background information. We don’t know where these tribes exist as they have two moons. Anaye is a warrior herself, whereas, Jahal makes it clear that he is not a warrior but a healer. In the beginning, Jahal was getting on my nerves, but towards the end of the book, he became likable and more mature. Dalak is selfish and stubborn and clearly does things in her own time and way.
Thank you #netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book

I have very confussed feelings about this book. I liked it... but the first half was too slow for me. I almost DNF it but I was really liking the plot, so I keep going. I am really glad I finished this book. The second half is full of adventure and helps you understand the characters a little bit more. I hope you have plans for a sequel because I would really like to know more about Dalak and Anaye.

Stars: 3.5 out of 5.

It's always interesting to pick up a book written in a world other than the traditional European medieval fantasy. In this case, I think I can see some African roots. To me, that was a breath of fresh air, because I could set aside all of my expectations as to how this story would unfold and just enjoy discovering something new.

The characters are interesting enough, though Jahal started getting on my nerves after a while with his constant repetition that he is not a warrior but a healer. He finds the courage to fight when it counts though. Dalak is... supposed to be alien, I guess. But she mostly comes across as a petulant child who does as she pleases and doesn't listen to anyone, not even her minder. Isn't she supposed to be at least a century old? Anaye is by far my favorite - complex and broken, but also very loving and human.

The story itself could have benefited from a good re-read or a good editor. Some passages are really confusing. This is especially the case with the final battle between Dalak and the demon. It's written in such a confusing way that half the time I wasn't really sure what was going on. 

However, the biggest weakness of this book is that the story is too short. The the author doesn't have time to explore the world in the details it deserves. There are mentions of demons that only come at night, and that human eye cannot see. There is a mention of two moons. There is even mention of ancient ruins belonging to a different and forgotten civilization... But we never dig any further than that.

So is this a different planet than Earth? Are the demons the native species? Are humans descendants of some colonists that landed on this planet, so the ruins are all that remain of their advanced civilization? Have demons always been there? If so, how did the humans even manage to survive that long? From the little we know, not every village has a warder like Dalak, so how do they defend themselves? It's repeated several times that a human cannot kill a demon. And if just breathing the spores of a dying demon results in the creation of a child like Dalak, why aren't there more of them? Why isn't this known? 

In fact, there is no sense of a bigger world in this story. We have these two villages in the jungle. Are there more? Anaye mentions at the beginning of the story that they get refugees sometimes, but it's never mentioned again. So is humanity reduced to just a series of isolated villages that barely communicate? Are there bigger cities? What about trade? Surely, the population must move around at least a little or there is danger of interbreeding? Those are all the questions I would have loved to have answers to in this story, or at least hints of an answer, but then again, I love digging into the lore of a world the author created. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. 

PS: I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

McDonald's writing style is fast-paced and engaging, with plenty of action and suspense to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed, with their own unique personalities and motivations that make them feel like real people. Clara, in particular, is a strong and relatable protagonist who faces challenges with courage and determination.

One of the strengths of "Warded" is the intricate world-building. McDonald does an excellent job of creating a world that feels both magical and grounded in reality, with a complex history and lore that adds depth and richness to the story. The magic system is also well thought-out, with clear rules and limitations that prevent it from becoming too overpowered.

Overall, "Warded" is a fantastic read for fans of urban fantasy and supernatural thrillers. With its well-drawn characters, intricate world-building, and fast-paced action, it's a book that's hard to put down. If you're looking for an exciting and immersive adventure into a world of magic and supernatural beings, "Warded" is definitely worth checking out.

Short and succinct with its well fabricated plot and characters! Really enjoyed reading this book! The plot was immersive and it's really caught my attention.

"It was people who treated Anaye as if she carried disease, ever since her falling out. Dalak was always simply Dalak. Humans are the monsters."

This book was okay. I didn't really feel that connected to the plot or story, and maybe that's because it was such a short read. It was definitely more into the relationship of Anaye and Dalak and figuring out where that went more than I was the rest of the book.. and with that concept only being a little bit of the story, it just didn't really wow me as I had hoped. Again, it was a concise read and fast-paced, so maybe that plays a part in it.

What an interesting concept. I was fascinated at the idea of a creature who protects, and was surprised that I enjoyed this book. Thank you for such an unusual story.

Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read Warded.

I really enjoyed this story. I thought the plot and characters were unique and this story was easy to get into (I read this in one sitting). I wish the story had been longer so the world building could have been a little more in depth but I definitely plan on reading more from this author in the future.

There are a few Pan-African set books at the moment and this is novella fantasy book is another excellent example. Dalak is a demon hunting creature possibly a human demon hybrid, Anaye her human companion needed to make sure Dalak can make sense of the human world and Jamal a trainee healer from a village that has been decimated by demon attack. Can they find a way to work together to save the village survivors? Read the book and find out. This is the first book I’ve read by J.B. McDonald, and I’m sure it won’t be the last for this talented author. Thank you to BuzzBooks.net and NetGalley for letting me read an ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Warded

[Blurb goes here]

Once again, I feel like I'm swimming against the current. After reading the reviews on this book, I feel like the one I've got from NetGalley, is a very different one. Well...some people might think of Vantablack as grayish, others, as the blackest of blacks. There are opinions, as there are stars in the sky...never mind that...here goes my take on "Warded".

This is a fast paced and truly original adventure.

In and unknown world, with two moons (simple as it might be, I loved that, actually,) there are tribes living in fear, for there are demons lurking in the dark. Territorial demons who enjoy the occasional human snack. Specially, when driven by some unknown urge, one of them decides that your village is now their territory, and your people, its food.

One such a settlement is attacked, the survivors fleeing to a neighboring village, where they are welcomed as refugees. In that particular village, they have a female warder. The scary looking creature seems to be half-human, half-demon. The warder protects its people, since no demon would dare come close to the hybrid's land. Also, the warder needs a custodian. Dalak, the creature, is hard to control, and not always "nice" to the inhabitants of said village. Might even had killed a few...reason enough for the rest of them to be wary of her.

As things are, there seems to be survivors in the attacked village, and it is decided (unilaterally, mind you) by the stubborn creature, that the intruding demon has to die. So Dalak, Anaye (her custodian) and Jahal (one of the refugees), go out into the jungle, to look for survivors in the now lost settlement. What could usually take three or four days, turns out to be a two day journey, specially since her companions have to keep Dalak's pace, at night, without the much needed light of a torch. The terrain is treacherous, demons, big and small, might be hiding in the darkness.

Dalak is kind of like a petulant child. Doing whatever she wants, whenever she wants to do it, mostly ignoring her custodian. Anaye is a wonderfully written female lead. Jahal, a young man, on the other hand, is kind of a coward, since he's not a warrior, he's a doctor's apprentice. Jahal's character is a bit tiresome and repetitive, but nothing to be wary about.

Now on to "the problem". The book urgently needs a really good editor before its release. There are really confusing paragraphs and pages in the story, you'll be able to detect them from the start. The main battle between Dalak and the intruding demon is one such an example. Might be obvious to the writer, she wrote it, after all. But to me, your garden variety reader, not so much.

So, esteemed JB McDonalds, if you're reading this half-assed take on Warded, please, think about a good editing session. Just saying. I really would like to read a truly polished version of this great adventure.

Thank you for the free copy!

I’m reviewing an ARC from NetGalley. I’m stuck between 3 and 4 stars and I don’t particularly like to round down.

The world and lore of this book are intriguing. I think what didn’t fit well with me was the complexity of the events with the length. I like shorter books but this was almost so short that I didn’t get any chance to ground myself with any characters or delve into the nuances of this world to make a connection. Even after finishing, I feel more like I’ve read a detailed concept for a story than a story itself.

I was not a fan of this short book. It was very hard to get into. The only reason I kept reading was because it was so short

Warded by JB McDonald is an interesting fantasy read, but I think I enjoyed the relationship between Anaye and Dalak more than other aspects.
This is a fairly short read quick and entertaining.
I do have to say that as a Whovian I struggled with Dalak's name every time I read it I pictured Dalek.
I hope there is a sequel featuring Chikele as the elements of the demons were very interesting.
Also whoever did the cover did an excellent job.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #BookBuzz, and JB McDonald for the ARC of #Warded.