Friday First Chapters #41: Shara Curlett reads ‘Protector of Beyond’

July 10, 2026

In this episode of the Your Kid’s Next Read Friday First Chapters series:

Shara Curlett reads ‘Protector of Beyond’

Shara Curlett reads from ‘Protector of Beyond’, the first book in her new middle-grade fantasy series

About Shara Curlett

Shara Curlett grew up surrounded by stories, from her mum’s bedtime reads to her dad’s whimsical space adventures.

She wrote her first ‘novels’ at ten and rediscovered her passion for writing in 2016, completing two full-length manuscripts. A lifelong fantasy fan, she now writes to spark imagination in young readers, believing creativity fosters resilience.

Shara lives on Auckland’s Hibiscus Coast with her husband, two kids, two dogs, and a dragon (bearded, but she’s still claiming it).

Find out more.

About ‘Protector of Beyond’

Magical creatures, perilous trials, and one unbelievable adventure in this new blockbuster fantasy series.

The moment you enter the Arbiter, your fate is sealed. If you spark, you fight!

Twelve-year-old Elder Triss never expected to produce a spark so rare – and so dangerous. But when she is torn from everything she knows and thrown into the mysterious world known as Beyond, she learns there is only one path forward: survive the trials and earn a place at the Academy of Protectors.

To get there, Elder must train for battle, face terrifying magical creatures and outlast friends who are quickly becoming rivals.

But Beyond is more dangerous than itseems, and someone is trying to stop Elder from reaching the academy – and making it out alive . . .

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Published by Penguin Books Australia