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S.A. Shaffer
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The Protectorate Wars: Born Hero Kindle Edition

by S.A. Shaffer (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 139 ratings
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#1 Bestseller in STEAMPUNK FICTION and RELIGIOUS SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

It’s an uncertain time in the Fertile Plains. Sixty cycles have passed since Alönia won The Protectorate War, but time and conflict have eroded the security gained through that great struggle. As Alönia wades through internal squabbling, David rises above his tragic childhood and earns a place as an aide to a powerful politician. Only time will tell if he can overcome petty disputes and uncover a hidden enemy before everyone he knows is dead.

Embark on an airship adventure. Feel the wind in your hair as you soar through the clouds. Solve mysteries, forge friendships, and watch an ordinary boy become the hero he was born to be.
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Protectorate Wars
  2. Print length
    368 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    June 5, 2019
  6. File size
    3638 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Every once in a while, I stumble upon a book that is so entertaining, I don't need to think about why I like it, I just do. The characters aren't developed by taking sidebars that interrupt the flow but rather we are immersed in their world and it feels like we're part of it without being detached like tourists only scratching the surface. Even their technology didn't seem forced and details on how it worked wasn't needed. Everything just is without needing explanation." Amazon.ca Reviewer.

"If you enjoy steampunk adventures, political intrigue, and plots of corruption then this epic tale by SA Shaffer is perfect for you." Five stars. Readers' Favorite Review.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07SVJ2QBC
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 5, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3638 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 139 ratings

About the author

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S.A. Shaffer

S.A. Shaffer

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I'm a husband, a lawyer, an expert roto-rooter, and can screw in most lightbulbs on my first attempt (righty-tighty, lefty-loosey). I won 1st place in the Participation Trophy Contest and recently had to put down my slightly used Toyota Corolla (rest in pieces, Silver Fox). I live in Texas, and my yard was recently nominated for best-dead-lawn. I also write books. For more about me visit sashaffer.com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
139 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

CourtneyE
5.0 out of 5 stars On how wonderful!
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2020
Verified Purchase
I stumbled upon this jewel while doing a search for Christian science fiction. I thought that was going to be a stretch of a search that wouldn't return much, but how wrong I was. Through that search I think I discovered another favorite author.
This book was wonderful on so many levels. There is a true and honorable hero in the main character David. I loved him because he wasn't that fake do no wrong perfect hero. However, I also loved that he wasn't a bad boy turned good. David is just a hard working individual with a big and kind heart that sometimes makes the mistakes that many of us do. What truly makes David a hero is he doesn't let anything keep him down, and he is constantly working in hopes of ultimate good.
Shaffer takes the reader on this journey featuring David's strong work ethic and desire to better his world and others. The story was mainly unpredictable and made me want to keep reading. I am so looking forward to the next installment in this series.
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Phil Bolos
4.0 out of 5 stars Good story
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2019
Verified Purchase
The Protectorate Wars: Born Hero (A Steampunk Adventure Book 1) by S. A. Shaffer is a fantasy story set after a war ravaged the world. David is an aid to a politician in the Fertile Plains of Alonia. Everything seems to be going really well since the war came to an end. David's job is going well and the area that he lives is prospering. However, when it comes to politics and a world that has gone without conflict for such a long time, you know that something is about to go down. Soon, his boss is having his name dragged through the mud and people around David are ending up dead. It is now up to David to try to solve the murders and determine what is really going on before the Fertile Plains, or worse the entire world, gets plunged back into the darkness of war and blood.
A long time ago I read a book series which was labeled as Steampunk. It was a young adult series with the titles Leviathan, Behemoth, and Goliath. I really enjoyed the world that existed inside of this story, so when I got world that this was a similar title I grabbed a copy right away. I am happy that I did. This was a fun read and I enjoyed the characters. I was disappointed at how quickly David became the hero that he is. Meaning, he was suddenly good at everything. At the same time, the characters who could have supported his slow rise to heroics kept getting bumped off, which made it difficult to find other to cheer for. Overall though, it fits the genre and was a fun fantasy escape.
One person found this helpful
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Scotty L. Wharton
5.0 out of 5 stars This book was masterfully written.
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2020
Verified Purchase
If you are interested in intricate plot, thrilling adventure, and twists that you never anticipated, then this is the book for you. It is certainly an enjoyable read, and it can greatly alter how you view politics. It shows that critical thinking is necessary, not only accepting the outside appearance, but looking deeper. I found that it kept me on my toes, and i constantly looked to the next chapter, and then came the next cliff hanger. It was well worth reading!
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John H. Manhold
4.0 out of 5 stars 4* 5* Interesting multi-generic plot; -1 because of questionable feature for some.
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2019
Verified Purchase
The Protectorate Wars: Born Hero. Assumed published, copyright and written by S. A. Shaffer, Esq.
This is the story that takes place in a mythical land “of vast wealth and power, towering mountains and lush plains ….a bastion of hope between sweltering deserts and the raging ocean.” Within this land are individual countries that have been peaceful for a number of years but now unrest again is arising both within the countries and among them producing further tensions. The protagonist, David Ike, is a very young man who is the son and grandson of heroic pilots who are legends as saviors of the country in which he lives. Presently, his circumstances are rather dire. His father was killed heroically saving the boy and his mother in a disastrous air crash and his illustrious grandfather passed away shortly thereafter. He lost an arm in the crash and the bionic replacement, although quite adequate, precludes continuing his air cadet training. Responsible for his mother’s care, an invalid unable even to speak, he is her caretaker and ekes out a meager living until by routine mandatory public testing, it is discovered that he is of superior intelligence and is hired by one of the major representatives in the country’s parliament. Unfortunately, David is a quite naive, sincere individual with a strong work ethic and a strong belief in principles. As a result, from this initiating step, he is poorly fitted to be involved in the political arena replete with maneuvering that involves deceit, distrust, betrayal, treachery and even murder. The story continues until somewhat unexpected activity produces a conclusion that leaves little closure and only begs for further action.
Discussion: A somewhat unusual book with an interesting plot, set in a mythical world of the future with many sci-fi features, some mystery and a hint of romance. The characters are well portrayed and the plot provides several surprises. As such the reader will enjoy, but must be aware of a rather slow beginning consisting of largely unbroken prose with few conversational or other breaks - a tendency that persists throughout much of the ensuing material.
7 people found this helpful
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Joy Freed
5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasantly surprised
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2019
Verified Purchase
As someone who had never heard of steampunk, I figured I'd give this book a try since it's free lol, and I am glad I did! The characters were very well written and really drew me into the story line. It has a great mix of action, interesting plot line, some romance, and quite a few unexpected twists. No spoilers, but the last few chapters of the book have some great reveals that I didn't see coming! I actually can't wait for book 2 to come out!! If you enjoy a bit of historical fiction, action adventures, mystery, or just great writing in general, I'd highly recommend reading.
4 people found this helpful
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Jaquie B
5.0 out of 5 stars Stepping off into an Adventure.
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2019
Verified Purchase
Loved this book! The story line was great and was written in such a way that kept you on your toes and wanting more. Great descriptive writing and made me feel like I was in the story observing the characters. Great story of perseverance, loyalty, empathy all while really developing the main characters. Awesome job Stuart! Can’t wait for the next one!
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Top reviews from other countries

Cogenguy
5.0 out of 5 stars Start to Finish, this book was thoroughly engrossing
Reviewed in Canada on June 19, 2019
Verified Purchase
Every once in a while, I stumble upon a book that is so entertaining, I don't need to think about why I like it, I just do. The characters aren't developed by taking sidebars that interrupt the flow but rather we are immersed in their world and it feels like we're part of it without being detached like tourists only scratching the surface. Even their technology didn't seem forced and details on how it worked wasn't needed. Everything just is without needing explanation.
Really enjoyable and I hope I don't miss when the second one comes out.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A good yarn
Reviewed in Australia on December 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
Enough steam, action and intrigue to keep anyone busy.
Heroes always tend to be a bit shallow, too busy being heroic but here we have a couple of Heroes who have some depth though we'll have to wait for book two for one to shine.
Recommended.
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TLKM
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Reviewed in Australia on January 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
This is the first steampunk novel have finished, as the others did not grab my attention to a sufficient degree. This story was simply endearing, and fabulously told, and I will now continue on to the second installment.
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Wendy
5.0 out of 5 stars I could't put it down!
Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2019
Verified Purchase
This was a super fun book to read! The characters of the book were well-developed and defined, and I enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. Interesting and perfect mix of adventure, mystery, and politics in the one book. I highly recommend it! You won't regret reading this!
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