Shield of the Palidine (Cerny)

Shield of the Palidine 
Barbara T. Cerny, 2012
Strategic Book Publishing
364 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781631353390


Summary
Finalist - 2015 National Indie Excellence Book Awards
Finalist - 2015 Reader's Favorite Awards

What happens when you throw a spoiled French princess and a stinky peasant boy into the world of Greek Mythology? Chaos, intrigue, adventure, and love.

Accidently discovering a portal between Earth and Amorgos, Pierre and Elise find themselves surrounded by frightful creatures from beyond their imagination.

Princess Elise d’Orleans, niece to King Louis XIII, is a spoiled brat used to having everyone cater to her every need. She hates Amorgos, hates the races of people populating Amorgos, and hates the fact that everyone believes she is their Redeemer, the One to free them from enslavement of their common enemy, the Asmodai.

But most of all, she hates the fact that the only other human in Amorgos is a stinky peasant that doesn't kowtow to her every whim.

Pierre Tonnelier, the village's journeyman cooper, found an extraordinary necklace in the woods outside Chateau de Saint-Germain en Laye, a castle in the French countryside. He is forced to sell this unusual piece to pay off his father's debts. What he didn't contend with was it taking him on a strange journey with an egotistical royal pain in the derriere.

Shield of the Palidine chronicles the journey of Elise to the true Redeemer, of Pierre to a warrior of immense abilities, and their unbridled love, despite all the tensions of class, bigotry, and intolerance.

Author Bio
• Birth—N/A
• Where—Denver, Colorado, USA
• Education—A.S., Mesa State College; B.S., Arizona State University; M.S., Lehigh University
• Currently—Oakwood, Ohio


Author Barbara T. Cerny grew up in Grand Junction, Colorado, which at that time was a small town of 30,000 people.

She left that little burg to see the world, garner three college degrees, and to serve in the US Army. After eight years on active duty and fourteen years in the reserves, she retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2007.

While deployed to the Middle East in 2005, Ms. Cerny finally figured out she had to get going on the real love of her life, writing. She wrote her first two novels during that time and hasn’t stopped. She is presently working on novels number seven, eight, and nine.

When not writing, Ms. Cerny works as an information technology specialist and supervisor for the US Air Force. She lives with her loving husband, their two active teenagers, two needy cats, and two turtles. The turtles patiently watch her write and listen to her intently as she discusses plot lines with them. (From the author.)

Visit the author's website.
Follow Barbara on Facebook...and Twitter.

Book Reviews
5 Stars: Tremendous action, historical references and fantastic imagination combine in Shield of the Palidine by Barbara T. Cerny to create an excellent story of hope, dedication, loss and love. An incredible number of well-developed characters, both historical and mythical, take part in several quests to find the tools mentioned by the prophecies to aid in the final battle. This story is full of emotion and clearly follows the growth in maturity of the young French princess and the peasant she thinks is beneath her. It is an outstanding book for fantasy readers of all ages.
Melinda Hills, Readers' Favorite


5 Stars: Shield of the Palidine is a great fantasy adventure for young adult readers. The cast of main characters is broken down by geography. It provides a pronunciation guide, and includes information such as fairy, minotaur, gnome, etc. The illustrations are beautifully drawn, and add depth to the story. And I learned a little French.
Jada Ryker, author of the Takes a Dare mystery series


5 Stars: It is in a word, Amazing. This beautiful new world is filled with creatures from Greek Mythology. Centaurs, Griffons, Satyrs, Elves, Witches and more live in this strange new place. Not only do these creatures welcome the human teenagers to their world, they expect them to save it. [Pierre and Elise] embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Cerny has written these adventures with vivid details, characters you will laugh with, cheer for, and come to love as they work together to save their world. I know I certainly did, and cannot wait to read the sequel.
Melissa Brown, author

Discussion Questions
1. SotP is set in the mid-1600s in France. Does this time period work best for this story?    

2. Elise is a spoiled brat. Why do you think she acts this way? Would the story have been better or worse if Elise had been a good person at the start?

3. Elise treats Pierre like dirt under her feet. Is this realistic? Pierre fought back, treating her with as much distain. Have you ever felt like someone treated you this way? What was your reaction?

4. Pierre falls in love Elise long before she falls in love with him. Is this possible? Was it love or something else? Have you ever had that kind of slow-building chemistry with someone you've met, either in a friendship or a romantic relationship? Do you believe it's a physical response or an emotional one?

5. Pierre kills many Asmodai after Lomo loses his life. Where do you think he found the strength, fortitude, or hatred (whatever you want to call it) to rush into battle with nary a thought? Did he deserve the berating the centaurs gave him?

6. Did you find the jealousy of Elise toward Anya substantiated? Do people actually fly off the handle like that, not believing in their lovers?

7. If you were writing the ending of Elise and Pierre’s story, what would it be?

8. SotP is the first in a series of four. Is the rest of the series needed or can it stand on its own?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)

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