Review: Exiled (The Protector #1)

Author: M.R. Merrick

Format: eARC

Print Length: 264 pages 

Publisher: self-published

Published: June 28, 2011 

Chase Williams is a demon hunter in the Circle, or at least he was supposed to be. On his fifteenth birthday, Chase stepped up to the altar to claim his elemental power, but it never came. Elemental magic is passed down to a hunter through the bloodline, but on Chase's birthday, the bloodline stopped. 

Exiled without the Circle's protection, Chase has spent two years trying to survive a world riddled with half-demons and magic. When he has a run in with a frightened and seemingly innocent demon, he learns the Circle's agenda has changed: the Circle plans to unlock a portal and unleash pure-blood demons into the world. Vowing to stop them, and knowing he can't do it alone, Chase forms a reluctant alliance with Rayna — a sexy witch with an attitude and a secret. 

In their attempt to stop them, Chase and Rayna find themselves in the middle of the Circle's plan, leaving one of them to decide what their friendship is worth, and the other's life depending on it. 

My Thoughts

Fascinating tale of a demon hunter coming of age in a time of great torment. Ever wonder what the guy is really thinking? Exiled, the first book in the Protector series, is written entirely in the guy’s point of view. 

When Chase was 15, his elemental power was supposed to manifest. After all he was a demon hunter, even more so a son of a famous demon hunter, but nothing happened the day of the ceremony. He was cast of the community he grew up in. His mother leaves with him instead of standing with her husband. (Go mommy!) The last two years have been spent surviving- literally. His father had gained a reputation in the demon world as a ruthless demon hunter. So the demons figured why not go after his son- that will show him. Obviously, they missed the memo- daddy dearest was the one who exiled him. 

The book opens with Chase fighting a demon, once vanquished he goes home and goes to sleep. This is where we find out about his shunned status among his people. A little while later a vampire attacks him- here is where things get interesting. A supposedly dead demon hunter, Marcus and a demon girl Rayna save his life. She turns out to be a hybrid. This leaves Chase with a lot of questions- questions only these two can answer. Later he will find out everything he ever learned was well a half-truth/half-non-truth. Not an outright lie but close enough that we would have gotten in trouble for telling those tall tales. 

I liked the book and felt that it was a strong beginning to a series that has great potential. I liked Chase and Rayna. Although to be honest, I expected a bit more sassiness out of her. The ending left me a little shell-shocked. I understand the need to kill of the character that died but I still felt horrible about it. The ending was intriguing enough to leave me wondering what will happen next. 

My Rating 3 stars out of 5 stars (liked it but was okay with interruptions while reading it)

Favorite Quote “More astonishing than her saving me, Rayna hadn’t tried to kill me. Now that was a twist I never saw coming.”

Other Characters

Willy- stuttering demon, who befriends Chase 

Vincent- vampire royalty who seems to have a thing for Rayna 

Marcus- ex-demon hunter who raised Rayna 

Tiki- demon from another dimension, who helps Chase.