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The Keeper Chronicles #1-3
The Keeper Chronicles
When Mallon the Undying threatened the land years ago, the elves stopped him—and then disappeared.
Now Mallon's followers seek to bring him back to finish what he started.
Only the Keepers—storytellers, historians, and magic-wielders—are left to stand against them.
Alaric, who betrayed everything he believed to save his wife — and still failed.
Will, a storyteller who’s convinced his weak magic makes him useless.
And Sini, a former slave girl with unimaginable power but no way to wield it.
Can they survive being hunted by dragons, attacked by frost goblins, and betrayed by traitors in their midst?
Or will Mallon's minions overwhelm them and plunge the land into darkness?
Now Mallon's followers seek to bring him back to finish what he started.
Only the Keepers—storytellers, historians, and magic-wielders—are left to stand against them.
Alaric, who betrayed everything he believed to save his wife — and still failed.
Will, a storyteller who’s convinced his weak magic makes him useless.
And Sini, a former slave girl with unimaginable power but no way to wield it.
Can they survive being hunted by dragons, attacked by frost goblins, and betrayed by traitors in their midst?
Or will Mallon's minions overwhelm them and plunge the land into darkness?
794 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 420 reviews
April 15, 2019
“I am on the side of truth and right and goodness.”
“Everything is light. Everything that lives glows with it.It is the source of all vitae, life.”
There’s a layer of complexity to the story line that not only keeps readers guessing, but lends to a closer examination of the emotional and spiritual stakes in life choices. It’s about how far you might push yourself, and how much of your own humanity you might have to sacrifice to save those you love. This story is more like people in real life than typical fictional characters. As the story comes to it’s conclusion, we find ourselves questioning our earlier judgements. Are the good guys really that good? Are the bad guys really that bad? Or is everyone really more alike than different, separated only by matters of degree, on the same scale of good versus bad. I found myself wanting to slow down, almost saddened by the impending end. This is where everything comes to its final, spectacular conslusion. I couldn’t conciliate sleep after finishing the book! It left me with a warm feeling, albeit the loss and sacrifices. It has been an overwhelming experience of hope, resilience, determination, faith in oneself to overcome the fears residing deep within. A thoughtful, captivating and fascinating read! My congratulations to JA Andrews for a magnificent trilogy!
“Everything is light. Everything that lives glows with it.It is the source of all vitae, life.”
There’s a layer of complexity to the story line that not only keeps readers guessing, but lends to a closer examination of the emotional and spiritual stakes in life choices. It’s about how far you might push yourself, and how much of your own humanity you might have to sacrifice to save those you love. This story is more like people in real life than typical fictional characters. As the story comes to it’s conclusion, we find ourselves questioning our earlier judgements. Are the good guys really that good? Are the bad guys really that bad? Or is everyone really more alike than different, separated only by matters of degree, on the same scale of good versus bad. I found myself wanting to slow down, almost saddened by the impending end. This is where everything comes to its final, spectacular conslusion. I couldn’t conciliate sleep after finishing the book! It left me with a warm feeling, albeit the loss and sacrifices. It has been an overwhelming experience of hope, resilience, determination, faith in oneself to overcome the fears residing deep within. A thoughtful, captivating and fascinating read! My congratulations to JA Andrews for a magnificent trilogy!
May 12, 2024
Keeper Chronicles by JA Andrews starts off well and gets better by the book.
The style reminds me of classic fantasy, but with a fresh tone and voice to it, and not as predictable as a lot of the older books are.
The best comparison in my eyes are the Riyria books by Michael J Sullivan, as Andrews also managed to write books that are definitely meant for an adult audience, and have high stakes, but don't need graphic gore or sex scenes to accomplish that.
The focus is on how things like war affect the characters instead of the actual wounds. So while there is plenty of action and fighting, it's not at all a grimdark story.
There's death and sorrow in these books, but there's plenty of light and hope to balance it. So you end up with an epic fantasy that is quite a rollercoaster of a story, but in the end leaves you feeling good and well entertained, even if it's not all roses and sunshine, and not everyone makes it to the end.
I love these characters and the banter and friendships between them! So I wholeheartedly recommend this series.
PS the audio bundle is freaking brilliant!
The style reminds me of classic fantasy, but with a fresh tone and voice to it, and not as predictable as a lot of the older books are.
The best comparison in my eyes are the Riyria books by Michael J Sullivan, as Andrews also managed to write books that are definitely meant for an adult audience, and have high stakes, but don't need graphic gore or sex scenes to accomplish that.
The focus is on how things like war affect the characters instead of the actual wounds. So while there is plenty of action and fighting, it's not at all a grimdark story.
There's death and sorrow in these books, but there's plenty of light and hope to balance it. So you end up with an epic fantasy that is quite a rollercoaster of a story, but in the end leaves you feeling good and well entertained, even if it's not all roses and sunshine, and not everyone makes it to the end.
I love these characters and the banter and friendships between them! So I wholeheartedly recommend this series.
PS the audio bundle is freaking brilliant!
September 6, 2019
There are times when you rate a book or in this case a trilogy and you see the 5 stars you just have it and you think that's not enough this series is an easy 10 stars . If you've ever thought that then you like me understand that sometimes you just need more .
J. A . Andrews trilogy is simple amazing . This story grabs you almost from the start and doesn't let got until the end . The main characters are fleshed out perfectly and you become vested in them and hang on decisions they make and hope it's the right one . The world building is excellent and you feel as if your there .
For older readers and younger readers and everyone in between if you love fantasy then you have to get this series and be prepared to be taken on an unforgettable journey , isn't that what fantasy is about , the adventure . So go buy this series read it review it and spread the word . Now go buy it you will not regret it for one second .
J. A . Andrews trilogy is simple amazing . This story grabs you almost from the start and doesn't let got until the end . The main characters are fleshed out perfectly and you become vested in them and hang on decisions they make and hope it's the right one . The world building is excellent and you feel as if your there .
For older readers and younger readers and everyone in between if you love fantasy then you have to get this series and be prepared to be taken on an unforgettable journey , isn't that what fantasy is about , the adventure . So go buy this series read it review it and spread the word . Now go buy it you will not regret it for one second .
April 5, 2024
Review originally posted to SFF Insiders:
https://www.sffinsiders.com/home/revi...
The Keeper Chronicles is a book that I picked up on audio in preparation for a long drive. I felt like it was too good of an opportunity to pass up on. It is the complete trilogy, following the lives of three Keepers. Each is a self contained story with each of them following the path of one Keeper, with their own struggles and view of life. These stories are deep, with some emotional moments that will definitely impact a reader in a variety of ways. The lives of each of the Keepers is completely different, with a strength that becomes impactful the more the story continues. I was able to connect with two out of the three characters almost instantly, understanding the goals that they were trying to accomplish almost immediately. There are some unexpected twists and turns in each of these unique tales that will keep a reader invested through each of the pages, wondering what could be coming next.
The strength of the novel is definitely the characters. They are varied, unique, and all of them are interesting, including the side characters. I found that they were all deep and believable in each instance that the reader is able to come into contact with them. It appeared to be a strength of the author, as they were able to express the deep history of each of them without focusing solely on them. It was refreshing to see an author not get lost in the side stories of the support characters while still completely allowing them to live their lives. I did struggle with the final novel of the trilogy, wanting to go back to other characters that I had enjoyed. The stories are all self contained but have a small theme that carries over to each one.
This is a great deal of a credit on audible if you are looking for a fun read with a fantastic narrator in Tim Gerard Reynolds. All of the stories are entertaining with a variety of classic fantasy characters from elves of different types to dwarves to dragons, all of which are mixed with some new takes in Keepers. The implications of this mixture is awesome and leads to some very interesting dynamics. There is a lot of heart wrenching moments mixed with a dash of humor, all in some thrilling adventures that will keep you turning the pages (or listening for hours) until you reach the satisfying conclusion. This is definitely worth it if you are a fantasy fan.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
https://www.sffinsiders.com/home/revi...
The Keeper Chronicles is a book that I picked up on audio in preparation for a long drive. I felt like it was too good of an opportunity to pass up on. It is the complete trilogy, following the lives of three Keepers. Each is a self contained story with each of them following the path of one Keeper, with their own struggles and view of life. These stories are deep, with some emotional moments that will definitely impact a reader in a variety of ways. The lives of each of the Keepers is completely different, with a strength that becomes impactful the more the story continues. I was able to connect with two out of the three characters almost instantly, understanding the goals that they were trying to accomplish almost immediately. There are some unexpected twists and turns in each of these unique tales that will keep a reader invested through each of the pages, wondering what could be coming next.
The strength of the novel is definitely the characters. They are varied, unique, and all of them are interesting, including the side characters. I found that they were all deep and believable in each instance that the reader is able to come into contact with them. It appeared to be a strength of the author, as they were able to express the deep history of each of them without focusing solely on them. It was refreshing to see an author not get lost in the side stories of the support characters while still completely allowing them to live their lives. I did struggle with the final novel of the trilogy, wanting to go back to other characters that I had enjoyed. The stories are all self contained but have a small theme that carries over to each one.
This is a great deal of a credit on audible if you are looking for a fun read with a fantastic narrator in Tim Gerard Reynolds. All of the stories are entertaining with a variety of classic fantasy characters from elves of different types to dwarves to dragons, all of which are mixed with some new takes in Keepers. The implications of this mixture is awesome and leads to some very interesting dynamics. There is a lot of heart wrenching moments mixed with a dash of humor, all in some thrilling adventures that will keep you turning the pages (or listening for hours) until you reach the satisfying conclusion. This is definitely worth it if you are a fantasy fan.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
December 19, 2019
Epic
Wonderful characters, dangerous magic objects and adventures found nowhere else. These Keeper stories kept me up late as I tried to find a place in the story that I could bear to close the book... And get some sleep.
Wonderful characters, dangerous magic objects and adventures found nowhere else. These Keeper stories kept me up late as I tried to find a place in the story that I could bear to close the book... And get some sleep.
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 2, 2023Read books 1 and 2 and abandoned the series at that point.
Book 1 showed an interesting world and magic that has potential to be stage for some amazing stories. However, while entertaining, the story at this first volume was a bit weak and repetitive. The characters could have been fleshed out a bit more.
The ending was very cliche and I saw it coming from early in the book.
Having said all that, I still enjoyed it. It was quick, easy and entertaining even with all my cons.
Book 2: I almost dnf this book at the 50% mark. It was slow, repetitive and predictable.
The issue that bothered me the most was how the world building kept telling me that this is a vast world, but so there are so many chance meetings between characters that I ended up with the feeling all of this story happened at the main town square. These conveniences pulled me out of the story every single time.
Not the kind of book I was looking for at this point of my reading journey.
Book 1 showed an interesting world and magic that has potential to be stage for some amazing stories. However, while entertaining, the story at this first volume was a bit weak and repetitive. The characters could have been fleshed out a bit more.
The ending was very cliche and I saw it coming from early in the book.
Having said all that, I still enjoyed it. It was quick, easy and entertaining even with all my cons.
Book 2: I almost dnf this book at the 50% mark. It was slow, repetitive and predictable.
The issue that bothered me the most was how the world building kept telling me that this is a vast world, but so there are so many chance meetings between characters that I ended up with the feeling all of this story happened at the main town square. These conveniences pulled me out of the story every single time.
Not the kind of book I was looking for at this point of my reading journey.
June 20, 2021
The series starts of well enough, the author right from the start seems more eager to write fairy tales than fantasy, but invents some lampshades in book 1 to excuse the random conviences. Book 2 starts even stronger than book 1, much less random nonsense, and a more grounded protagonist, unfortunately by the end it reveals the author's utter lack of geographic or geometric sense, when they can cover underground on foot in a round about way in 2 days, what took 2 weeks on horseback in a straight line. Still book 1 and 2 are good books I would recommend.
Where it falls apart is book 3. Arguably it starts even stronger with an even better protagonist with better motivations and quirks, but by the end and the final showdown has to come to pass, the authors lack of sense of reality, and his missing understanding of maginitudes or even basic numbers combined with his random and utterly insane sense of geography just makes the whole thing a long sequence of pure nonsense.
Where it falls apart is book 3. Arguably it starts even stronger with an even better protagonist with better motivations and quirks, but by the end and the final showdown has to come to pass, the authors lack of sense of reality, and his missing understanding of maginitudes or even basic numbers combined with his random and utterly insane sense of geography just makes the whole thing a long sequence of pure nonsense.
November 19, 2020
I don't think I can even finish the first book the writing is so bad. No character or world building of any kind. Parts of the story are disjointed. There's a milk maid with a farm. You meet her when she's delivering milk yet she ups and leaves on this quest with no mention of anyone caring for her cows or farm. The queen is introduced to a dwarf that explains a conflict between him & another dwarf but within a couple of paragraphs the queen says the feud is legendary. The first dwarf had to tell her first then it's legendary? I'm not characterizing properly, but trust me it makes no sense as do other things. It's just poor writing.
September 25, 2020
The first book in the series was good. But didn't feel it was great. I wasn't totally invested in the characters although I liked the story line. Book two was great. This time I had a hard time putting down the book. It had some developments that were exciting. My interest continued through the third book and I felt good about the conclusion. So often you read a trilogy and the story builds and builds and then the ending seems rushed. This one didn't have that rushed feeling.
December 1, 2021
I got this audiobook because it was the complete trilogy and 46hrs long. The story wasn't to in-depth but it was a great adventure that I couldn't stop listening to. Each book is a stand alone and are sort of entwined together. There were a lot of characters in these books I really liked and some bad guys (mostly the one in 3rd book) I wanted to slap and shake and argh! Even tho it was a good ending overall, I still want more!! Would recommend and probably listen to these again at some point. Also the narrator was excellent
June 12, 2023
Book 1
This book was fun and uncomplicated. Very linear story, and somewhat predictable. The tropes are there, but are very likable. It’s well written, but at some point there was too much “glaring” going around. Overall a fun read.
Book 2
I enjoyed this book more than the first one.
It was better written, the characters were more fleshed out and the story was less predictable. I loved the location of the sweep and the interesting culture of the clans. I loved the backstory for Sora and the developing friendship between Will and Rass. I also really enjoyed Will as the main character. I thought his take on magic - the ability to sense emotions - was really intriguing and cleverly done. I also loved him being a storyteller, that worked really well.
Honestly, I couldn’t put it down.
Book 3
After I loved the second book so much, the third one was a bit of a disappointment.
It’s like the characters reverted back to one dimensional like in the first book. But this time, the plot was a bit too stagnant. I didn’t much like Sini as the main character, I thought she wasn’t very interesting, and most of the time she was too perfect. I thought Lukas was unconvincing as the villain. And I didn’t like the 4 years gap that kept everyone exactly where they were just so that Sini can be older in this book. (And not one mention of Will’s sister? Come on!)
I guess I just missed the complexity and subtleties the author constructed in the previous installment.
However, this was still a fun read and quite gripping.
So overall, this trilogy has its strengths and its weaknesses.
If you’re looking for a light read that doesn’t go to deep - this one fits the bill. The magic is simple and appealing, there’s elves and dwarves and goblins, and there are some really great moments and fun characters. But you need a good dose of suspension of disbelief, because everything gets resolved way too conveniently, and the world feels half baked sometimes.
Is it worth the read? Probably, at least for the second book. All in all, I think it was just a bit too naive and young for me.
And, as always, Tim Gerard Reynolds the audiobook narrator is perfect in this. He can make the phone book sound like a story. Loved his performance throughout.
This book was fun and uncomplicated. Very linear story, and somewhat predictable. The tropes are there, but are very likable. It’s well written, but at some point there was too much “glaring” going around. Overall a fun read.
Book 2
I enjoyed this book more than the first one.
It was better written, the characters were more fleshed out and the story was less predictable. I loved the location of the sweep and the interesting culture of the clans. I loved the backstory for Sora and the developing friendship between Will and Rass. I also really enjoyed Will as the main character. I thought his take on magic - the ability to sense emotions - was really intriguing and cleverly done. I also loved him being a storyteller, that worked really well.
Honestly, I couldn’t put it down.
Book 3
After I loved the second book so much, the third one was a bit of a disappointment.
It’s like the characters reverted back to one dimensional like in the first book. But this time, the plot was a bit too stagnant. I didn’t much like Sini as the main character, I thought she wasn’t very interesting, and most of the time she was too perfect. I thought Lukas was unconvincing as the villain. And I didn’t like the 4 years gap that kept everyone exactly where they were just so that Sini can be older in this book. (And not one mention of Will’s sister? Come on!)
I guess I just missed the complexity and subtleties the author constructed in the previous installment.
However, this was still a fun read and quite gripping.
So overall, this trilogy has its strengths and its weaknesses.
If you’re looking for a light read that doesn’t go to deep - this one fits the bill. The magic is simple and appealing, there’s elves and dwarves and goblins, and there are some really great moments and fun characters. But you need a good dose of suspension of disbelief, because everything gets resolved way too conveniently, and the world feels half baked sometimes.
Is it worth the read? Probably, at least for the second book. All in all, I think it was just a bit too naive and young for me.
And, as always, Tim Gerard Reynolds the audiobook narrator is perfect in this. He can make the phone book sound like a story. Loved his performance throughout.
May 12, 2021
I am genuinely surprised by the rave reviews. Is it a children’s story? It would possibly explain much if it was, but I’ve seen no mention that it is.
The characters seem so very one dimensional and the world in which the book is set feels very small and contrived.
I read upwards of 20 sci-fi/fantasy books a year but with this one I just gave up towards the end of book one as I really didn’t care what happened.
The characters seem so very one dimensional and the world in which the book is set feels very small and contrived.
I read upwards of 20 sci-fi/fantasy books a year but with this one I just gave up towards the end of book one as I really didn’t care what happened.
December 20, 2022
This is a 3 volume set of stories. Tied together by the story's ARC, but told by three different Keepers. I've been personally debating with myself for sometime, wondering if I should get any of JA Andrews books. She's been on my radar for sometime now. And when I found that this set was on sale and that Tim Gerard Reynolds was the narrator the debate was over.
In book 1 A Threat of Shadows ... this is the story of Keeper Alric who shared his story and telling us of how he stumbled and momentarily lost his way as a Keeper. He fell in with a group of adventurers, and discovered that they were seeking the same thing he was after, but unlike him they actually had a map.
In the second book Pursuit of Shadows, It's Will's turn to spin his story. Will was mentioned several times in the last book. Will tells a tale of tragedy and loss, of how his home wasn't the sanctuary that his 11 year old mind thought it was, of the night he lost his innocence, when his father was murdered and his little sister was taken. This is his action-driven story of the search for her.
You'll want to grab the book to find out if he can find his sister.
Here's a quote I really liked:
"Morning sunlight barely dribbled over the edge of the rift, leaving it a dim honey color."
JA Andrews saved the best for last as Andrews presented Seige of Shadows Bk3. In Seige... Sini tells her story. Remember in the last book Sini was rescued from slavery and taken to the Keeper's to finely start learning magic in a traditional manner. Her path was a simple one, all she wanted to do was to collect stories and maybe even share them with others just like Will does, or just stay put and study. Only to find that her easy comfortable path was torn asunder, by the threat of war. Sini soon found her new path with Will and Alric to save everything the Keeper's hold dear! And it takes everything she has to protect this new life of hers
Here a line that made me smile:
"How could the world have survived without knowing about his pet squid?"
The books are full of fae and dragons and remember Tim Gerard Reynolds is ready to share a story with you!
In book 1 A Threat of Shadows ... this is the story of Keeper Alric who shared his story and telling us of how he stumbled and momentarily lost his way as a Keeper. He fell in with a group of adventurers, and discovered that they were seeking the same thing he was after, but unlike him they actually had a map.
In the second book Pursuit of Shadows, It's Will's turn to spin his story. Will was mentioned several times in the last book. Will tells a tale of tragedy and loss, of how his home wasn't the sanctuary that his 11 year old mind thought it was, of the night he lost his innocence, when his father was murdered and his little sister was taken. This is his action-driven story of the search for her.
You'll want to grab the book to find out if he can find his sister.
Here's a quote I really liked:
"Morning sunlight barely dribbled over the edge of the rift, leaving it a dim honey color."
JA Andrews saved the best for last as Andrews presented Seige of Shadows Bk3. In Seige... Sini tells her story. Remember in the last book Sini was rescued from slavery and taken to the Keeper's to finely start learning magic in a traditional manner. Her path was a simple one, all she wanted to do was to collect stories and maybe even share them with others just like Will does, or just stay put and study. Only to find that her easy comfortable path was torn asunder, by the threat of war. Sini soon found her new path with Will and Alric to save everything the Keeper's hold dear! And it takes everything she has to protect this new life of hers
Here a line that made me smile:
"How could the world have survived without knowing about his pet squid?"
The books are full of fae and dragons and remember Tim Gerard Reynolds is ready to share a story with you!
June 4, 2021
I got this cheap on Kindle, either free or $0.99, so my expectations were pretty low. I was pleasantly surprised by a well-told, involving story with good characters. In many ways, standard fantasy fare, with magicians, elves, dwarves and bad guys, but well done. Recommended.
February 21, 2022
Truly epic fantasy that I absolutely fell in love with. The jolt and slight disappointment of starting each book focusing on a different character is swiftly forgotten, and the three books work really well together. What a fantastic tale, and brilliant audiobook narration too.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
June 21, 2024DNF @ 11% (Chapter 20)
too much of a classical fantasy and I'm not in the mood for it atm
too much of a classical fantasy and I'm not in the mood for it atm
February 26, 2021
I absolutely loved all three books. I love the diversity of characters but the common thread of not feeling like they belong, but in reality play a vital role. The new story and new magic wielders is wonderful, it's got humor, excitement, romance and sadness.
August 7, 2024
Leuk en anders dat de hoofdpersoon in elk boek iemand anders is en de drie boeken ook één lang verhaal vertellen.
February 5, 2021
Loved the first book
Want that keen on the other two I’m afraid
Want that keen on the other two I’m afraid
August 29, 2021
On the surface, The Keeper Chronicles may just be another fairly standard fantasy series. You've got elves and dwarves and dragons. There's a ton of magic and a little bit of romance. There are wise wizards and scheming nobles, fearsome warriors and fleet-footed rangers. The villains are complex and the heroes even more. There's a really small hawk.
In other words: The Keeper Chronicles brings on all that good stuff you expect from a fantasy epic.
So, now that that's out of the way, let's talk about what's hidden underneath the surface, because that's where it gets proper good. There are plenty of books that give you magic dragons and daring action, but fewer by far are the fantasy books that give you the depth of life you'll find here.
It's not about the action and adventure, it's about people.
In fairness, the people of the story do have adventures, and they end up in the middle of the action more often than not, but the story still manages to be personal. Little details matter just as much as world-shattering threats.
Even so, that's secondary.
Where this series shines is in how it asks you to think about what it means to be human. It's not overbearing or blunt, but a natural part of the story. Each book focuses on its own central themes, explores them through the eyes of a magic-wielder in a fantasy world, and in doing so, brings the world to life.
Plenty of parallels can be drawn to issues we face in our everyday lives, but the fantasy aspect isn't lessened by this – rather the opposite. The story builds from within the characters, establishes a foundation there, and it makes everything around them feel more real.
I love it.
This process of building from within the character is repeated three times over, as each book features a different main character, and tells a different story.
Sure, all three books play out against the same backdrop, and they're all connected, but again, that's also secondary. It's the keepers and their individual tales that mater.
What I'll whine about
The sense of scale. Reading about Queensland, the place felt rather small, and most locations seemed like they were either just around the corner, or could be reached in a day or two. Perhaps it isn't that big, but it felt like it ought to be larger.
By comparison, the Roven Sweep felt enormous, and it took weeks for the clan to travel to their summer home in the north. All in all, though, that's hardly a big issue.
What I'll gush about
The Life: The realness of the characters and the way they fill the rest of the story and the world with life.
The Themes: Everything in these books support their respective themes, and while this is often clear and present, I never felt like the story hit me over the head with what I was supposed to feel or think.
Supporting characters: It's not just the main characters that come to life. The supporting cast does too, and they're a colorful bunch. They're the ones who had me laughing out loud while walking around town listening to the audiobook.
The bad guys: Each book has its own antagonist, and none of them are bad just for the sake of being bad. They all have their reasons and motivations, and they're of the kind that can be traced back to something relatable. They're not villains because they're evil, but because they couldn't stand up to their own inner weaknesses.
Final Words
Depth, substance, dragons.
(...and if that makes me sound like a pretentious twat, then so be it. :P )
In other words: The Keeper Chronicles brings on all that good stuff you expect from a fantasy epic.
So, now that that's out of the way, let's talk about what's hidden underneath the surface, because that's where it gets proper good. There are plenty of books that give you magic dragons and daring action, but fewer by far are the fantasy books that give you the depth of life you'll find here.
It's not about the action and adventure, it's about people.
In fairness, the people of the story do have adventures, and they end up in the middle of the action more often than not, but the story still manages to be personal. Little details matter just as much as world-shattering threats.
Even so, that's secondary.
Where this series shines is in how it asks you to think about what it means to be human. It's not overbearing or blunt, but a natural part of the story. Each book focuses on its own central themes, explores them through the eyes of a magic-wielder in a fantasy world, and in doing so, brings the world to life.
Plenty of parallels can be drawn to issues we face in our everyday lives, but the fantasy aspect isn't lessened by this – rather the opposite. The story builds from within the characters, establishes a foundation there, and it makes everything around them feel more real.
I love it.
This process of building from within the character is repeated three times over, as each book features a different main character, and tells a different story.
Sure, all three books play out against the same backdrop, and they're all connected, but again, that's also secondary. It's the keepers and their individual tales that mater.
What I'll whine about
The sense of scale. Reading about Queensland, the place felt rather small, and most locations seemed like they were either just around the corner, or could be reached in a day or two. Perhaps it isn't that big, but it felt like it ought to be larger.
By comparison, the Roven Sweep felt enormous, and it took weeks for the clan to travel to their summer home in the north. All in all, though, that's hardly a big issue.
What I'll gush about
The Life: The realness of the characters and the way they fill the rest of the story and the world with life.
The Themes: Everything in these books support their respective themes, and while this is often clear and present, I never felt like the story hit me over the head with what I was supposed to feel or think.
Supporting characters: It's not just the main characters that come to life. The supporting cast does too, and they're a colorful bunch. They're the ones who had me laughing out loud while walking around town listening to the audiobook.
The bad guys: Each book has its own antagonist, and none of them are bad just for the sake of being bad. They all have their reasons and motivations, and they're of the kind that can be traced back to something relatable. They're not villains because they're evil, but because they couldn't stand up to their own inner weaknesses.
Final Words
Depth, substance, dragons.
(...and if that makes me sound like a pretentious twat, then so be it. :P )
August 10, 2020
This trilogy by J.A. Andrews popped up on my recommended reading list at Amazon, and I thoroughly enjoyed the read from first book to last. This is perfect binge reading with escapism for a pandemic-laden summer.
Book one deals with a Keeper on a lonely quest to save his love. Dabbling in dark magic and saved by new companions, Alaric deals with a century's old threat to the intelligent creatures of the lands. Along the way, he's manipulated and is confronted with hard choices that make for the perfect hero's journey.
Book two is a jarring transition to another Keeper, Will, who is also on his own journey across the wild steppes of the Rovers. Along the way, he discovers new friends, new enemies, and a plot threatening the entire world. As the story settles into its pace, Will is an admirable character with real flaws and frustrations that make him more believable that Alaric from book one. But the familiar characters return for a rousing climax.
Book three is my favorite. Andrews shifts to the youngest Keeper and female protagonist. She has the most power of the Keepers and yet has the most restrictions with her gifts. This interface with the need to tackle the world's toughest foes and most difficult enemies leads to a splendid journey across the lands to build new relationships and solidify those of old. The book comes to a tidy conclusion, perfect for any trilogy.
This is excellent fantasy fiction with characters a reader can like while facing down true evil. This is a PG book that satisfies, and I look forward to picking up the next trilogy because this world can offer so much more.
- Mark August
Book one deals with a Keeper on a lonely quest to save his love. Dabbling in dark magic and saved by new companions, Alaric deals with a century's old threat to the intelligent creatures of the lands. Along the way, he's manipulated and is confronted with hard choices that make for the perfect hero's journey.
Book two is a jarring transition to another Keeper, Will, who is also on his own journey across the wild steppes of the Rovers. Along the way, he discovers new friends, new enemies, and a plot threatening the entire world. As the story settles into its pace, Will is an admirable character with real flaws and frustrations that make him more believable that Alaric from book one. But the familiar characters return for a rousing climax.
Book three is my favorite. Andrews shifts to the youngest Keeper and female protagonist. She has the most power of the Keepers and yet has the most restrictions with her gifts. This interface with the need to tackle the world's toughest foes and most difficult enemies leads to a splendid journey across the lands to build new relationships and solidify those of old. The book comes to a tidy conclusion, perfect for any trilogy.
This is excellent fantasy fiction with characters a reader can like while facing down true evil. This is a PG book that satisfies, and I look forward to picking up the next trilogy because this world can offer so much more.
- Mark August
July 5, 2019
A thrilling read
THE Keepers chronicles book one.
If I could give this more stars then I would it’s packed full of adventure betrayal and a little bit of sadness mixed in.
Follow Alaric a keeper wholesale seeks knowledge.
Ayda and elf with a burden she should not carry.
Duglon a dwarf with an axe
Brandson a black smith.
Milly a milk made.
They set off on an adventure to stop a shade seeker, and encounter a lot of trouble along the way,
I’ll be honest I couldn’t put the book down; it’s filled with fun laughter and a tiny bit of sadness to. But what is a book if it does not pull on the heart strings eh?
Book 2 is just as good.
Follow the Keeper Will, as he searches for his long-lost sister Ilisa.
A Ranger Sora who doesn’t know if she should trust Will.
A slave girl Rass who has an unhealthy obsession with Grass, but is there more to her what it seems?
We see old friends from the first book, too, I couldn’t put it down, although a slow start once the pace picked up a bit I was enthralled with the book. I almost don’t want to read book three because it will end….
Book three,
Sini who we met in book two, becomes a keeper though she feels as though she does not belong.
I absolutely love sin, I love her unusual gift. She breathes life in to the old keepers and hope to a better future, I didn’t just read it, I felt it, saw it, smelt it, everything was written as if I was standing next to Sin. I cried, I laughed, my only regret is finishing this book, I didn’t want it to end.
I urge anyone who hasn’t read it yet to read it you will not regret it.
THE Keepers chronicles book one.
If I could give this more stars then I would it’s packed full of adventure betrayal and a little bit of sadness mixed in.
Follow Alaric a keeper wholesale seeks knowledge.
Ayda and elf with a burden she should not carry.
Duglon a dwarf with an axe
Brandson a black smith.
Milly a milk made.
They set off on an adventure to stop a shade seeker, and encounter a lot of trouble along the way,
I’ll be honest I couldn’t put the book down; it’s filled with fun laughter and a tiny bit of sadness to. But what is a book if it does not pull on the heart strings eh?
Book 2 is just as good.
Follow the Keeper Will, as he searches for his long-lost sister Ilisa.
A Ranger Sora who doesn’t know if she should trust Will.
A slave girl Rass who has an unhealthy obsession with Grass, but is there more to her what it seems?
We see old friends from the first book, too, I couldn’t put it down, although a slow start once the pace picked up a bit I was enthralled with the book. I almost don’t want to read book three because it will end….
Book three,
Sini who we met in book two, becomes a keeper though she feels as though she does not belong.
I absolutely love sin, I love her unusual gift. She breathes life in to the old keepers and hope to a better future, I didn’t just read it, I felt it, saw it, smelt it, everything was written as if I was standing next to Sin. I cried, I laughed, my only regret is finishing this book, I didn’t want it to end.
I urge anyone who hasn’t read it yet to read it you will not regret it.
June 28, 2023
Shelved - after reading to the 17th page and feeling depressed at the topic.. I was interested by the synopsis on Amazon for this 3 book collection. but I went to goodreads to read the synopsis available there and saw that this book stating as it did .. the heavy foreshadowing is going to what happens.. maybe I've already seen or read this kinda story line and I just don't want to see someone make these kinda mistakes - its too heart retching.. If maybe it had been mentioned as a back story not a now story it would have been bearable.
possible spoiler
he is trying to find a cure for an uncurable poison - he has already pulled the life essence from his beloved and thinks there is a way to separate the life force form the soul poison, this sounds too much like a monkeys paw situation where you shouldn't bring the dead back to life. It only leads to sadness and horror.
possible spoiler
he is trying to find a cure for an uncurable poison - he has already pulled the life essence from his beloved and thinks there is a way to separate the life force form the soul poison, this sounds too much like a monkeys paw situation where you shouldn't bring the dead back to life. It only leads to sadness and horror.
August 16, 2020
Pretty good. Not epic.
August 22, 2023
Book 1 A Threat of Shadows- Wow Wow Wow! I am listening to the audio of this series and I don’t think I have ever encountered such an epic story. The narrator’s voice made it even more incredible. The story was exciting, thought provoking, powerful, good character development. A keeper, an elf, a dwarf, a wizard, two humans...an unlikely group of characters ended up together on a journey looking for the same thing. There were so many twists and turns and so much magic. It was amazing. I am so ready to listen to the next, but I had to do this review first. I highly recommend this book and if you can listen to the audio, you are in for a real treat! 5***** all the way around.
Book 2 Pursuit of Shadows-This book!! I loved the first one and was hesitant to read this one because it was not Alaric as the main character but boy… so glad I did not listen to myself! I officially have a new book boyfriend and I can’t imagine anyone replacing him ever! His name is Wil and I need him in my life like immediately, if not sooner, and he can tell me stories all day and night in his amazing accent with his amazing charm. He will go to any lengths to get the people he loves back to him. I listened to the audio of this which was incredible and made the book so much more amazing. I finished it 2 nights ago and I am still struggling with how to write this review as I am stuck in a major book hangover. The ending had me swooning and I want more of this story!!
And how wonderful it was to see characters from the first book appear in this story. Oh my heart! Ok let’s see… Wil sets out on a journey to find two people, his sister, and the person who took her. He lies about being a keeper so he can join this clan because he believes his sister is with this clan as a slave.
Rass is a girl who Wil encounters and you will love her, I promise. She ends up being a major help to Wil as he tries to escape being held prisoner once he is found out to be a keeper.
Sora (not sure of the spelling because I listened on audio) is an interesting character who I ended up loving. She is not one to open up. In fact Wil cannot read her emotions at all. She mostly scowls at him and talks rather fiercely to him. He does not know what to think of her and is rather scared of her at times. The chemistry between them as the book goes on is very interesting though. It’s comical at times.
There are quite a few characters in this book. Who are the real enemies? Who can Wil call friends? Who can he trust? Can he trust anyone? It’s very surprising.
What takes place on the journey is just oh my goodness, so much intensity. The word building, the character development, the chemistry building between the characters. all so great. This is quickly becoming a favorite author to read. If you have read the first book you have got to read this one. In my opinion this is 10x better. And if you can listen to this on audio you are in for a real treat.
Book 3 Siege of Shadows-Oh my goodness gracious this book!! The end of the best trilogy I have ever read. I was so drawn in to Sini and her story, by the magic of the author's words. From the beginning of the book until the end, to watch Sini grow in to herself, was amazing. There was so much that happened in this book, but it was so perfectly done. It all flowed so well. I'm sitting here literally shaking my head trying to put into words my thoughts and I don't know how. I can tell you that all your favorite characters are here, it is wonderful! This story had me feeling all the feels. It's just incredible. If you've read the first two you need to read this. I listened to them on audio which just made them all better, in my opinion. I have them on kindle too, which I will probably read one day because they're just amazing. I don't know, I can't put into words the epicness of this book. You just have to read or listen to it. I 1000 percent recommend it.
Book 2 Pursuit of Shadows-This book!! I loved the first one and was hesitant to read this one because it was not Alaric as the main character but boy… so glad I did not listen to myself! I officially have a new book boyfriend and I can’t imagine anyone replacing him ever! His name is Wil and I need him in my life like immediately, if not sooner, and he can tell me stories all day and night in his amazing accent with his amazing charm. He will go to any lengths to get the people he loves back to him. I listened to the audio of this which was incredible and made the book so much more amazing. I finished it 2 nights ago and I am still struggling with how to write this review as I am stuck in a major book hangover. The ending had me swooning and I want more of this story!!
And how wonderful it was to see characters from the first book appear in this story. Oh my heart! Ok let’s see… Wil sets out on a journey to find two people, his sister, and the person who took her. He lies about being a keeper so he can join this clan because he believes his sister is with this clan as a slave.
Rass is a girl who Wil encounters and you will love her, I promise. She ends up being a major help to Wil as he tries to escape being held prisoner once he is found out to be a keeper.
Sora (not sure of the spelling because I listened on audio) is an interesting character who I ended up loving. She is not one to open up. In fact Wil cannot read her emotions at all. She mostly scowls at him and talks rather fiercely to him. He does not know what to think of her and is rather scared of her at times. The chemistry between them as the book goes on is very interesting though. It’s comical at times.
There are quite a few characters in this book. Who are the real enemies? Who can Wil call friends? Who can he trust? Can he trust anyone? It’s very surprising.
What takes place on the journey is just oh my goodness, so much intensity. The word building, the character development, the chemistry building between the characters. all so great. This is quickly becoming a favorite author to read. If you have read the first book you have got to read this one. In my opinion this is 10x better. And if you can listen to this on audio you are in for a real treat.
Book 3 Siege of Shadows-Oh my goodness gracious this book!! The end of the best trilogy I have ever read. I was so drawn in to Sini and her story, by the magic of the author's words. From the beginning of the book until the end, to watch Sini grow in to herself, was amazing. There was so much that happened in this book, but it was so perfectly done. It all flowed so well. I'm sitting here literally shaking my head trying to put into words my thoughts and I don't know how. I can tell you that all your favorite characters are here, it is wonderful! This story had me feeling all the feels. It's just incredible. If you've read the first two you need to read this. I listened to them on audio which just made them all better, in my opinion. I have them on kindle too, which I will probably read one day because they're just amazing. I don't know, I can't put into words the epicness of this book. You just have to read or listen to it. I 1000 percent recommend it.
July 28, 2022
This one had more action in it and also broke my heart!
Book 3 complete! And it was delightfully epic! It took me longer than I wanted to get through it due to my crazy schedule, but I did it.
I really enjoyed Sini as a character. Normally, I'm all about male main characters. Females are not my first choice (with exceptions), because finding a female I like is hard. Sini was a great choice for a lead and her perspective and powers were intriguing and unique. She was gifted, but still made mistakes. She was humble, yet incredible in her talents. She had a good balance.
Though Will holds my heart and I would've have loved to see some of the scenes of this book from his point of view, I enjoyed the story very much.
This is a great fantasy setting and JA Andrews is an excellent writer. I could picture the scenes so well and she does a wonderful job giving character development and her world is beautifully established. This one had more action in it and also broke my heart more than once. If I hadn't been at work, I would've have cried for sure. I certainly felt the emotions well up.
What's so great about these books is that I still got the first characters that I loved from the start, but the adventure in each one is always fresh. It has all the elements of enjoyable fantasy, but in a unique way.
There are dragons, elves, dwarves, magic users, magical objects, bad guys, redemption, betrayal, battles, darkness and the heroes finding something inside of themselves that makes them better. You laugh and cry and cheer and that makes a great story.
Yet, with all these familiar elements, they are all uniquely done, in a clean, often surprising way. There was blood, but not gore. No language, no sexual content, no crude humor. I appreciated that very much, because that's what I prefer. A story that can hold its own without the need for all of that rubbish. And even though I predicted what was happening, I found delight in the reveals.
I also appreciated the unique twist on familiar tropes. The elves were so delightfully elvish...until they weren't. They were different from the norm. The Dwarves weren't crude, boarish characters that belched and were always drinking. They were intelligent and funny (probably the reason I laughed the most throughout). The magic users were each unique, with limits to their skills that made them relatable, yet their talents were so cool when used. The villains were also very well thought out.
I was thrilled with this wonderful trilogy and it had a great ending. Sini's story was really interesting. There were a few personal preferences that I would've liked to see, but that's a "me" thing and it did not in anyway detract from the enjoyment I had!
I highly recommend this to lovers of fantasy everywhere!
"...Fears can overcome almost everything else. But love can overpower things too, as can the truth that we are not hopeless or alone. Breathe deeply."
-Keeper Will
P.S. Will has some of the BEST lines. Very quote worthy. I just had to thrown that out there! 😁👌
Now on to the next project!
Book 3 complete! And it was delightfully epic! It took me longer than I wanted to get through it due to my crazy schedule, but I did it.
I really enjoyed Sini as a character. Normally, I'm all about male main characters. Females are not my first choice (with exceptions), because finding a female I like is hard. Sini was a great choice for a lead and her perspective and powers were intriguing and unique. She was gifted, but still made mistakes. She was humble, yet incredible in her talents. She had a good balance.
Though Will holds my heart and I would've have loved to see some of the scenes of this book from his point of view, I enjoyed the story very much.
This is a great fantasy setting and JA Andrews is an excellent writer. I could picture the scenes so well and she does a wonderful job giving character development and her world is beautifully established. This one had more action in it and also broke my heart more than once. If I hadn't been at work, I would've have cried for sure. I certainly felt the emotions well up.
What's so great about these books is that I still got the first characters that I loved from the start, but the adventure in each one is always fresh. It has all the elements of enjoyable fantasy, but in a unique way.
There are dragons, elves, dwarves, magic users, magical objects, bad guys, redemption, betrayal, battles, darkness and the heroes finding something inside of themselves that makes them better. You laugh and cry and cheer and that makes a great story.
Yet, with all these familiar elements, they are all uniquely done, in a clean, often surprising way. There was blood, but not gore. No language, no sexual content, no crude humor. I appreciated that very much, because that's what I prefer. A story that can hold its own without the need for all of that rubbish. And even though I predicted what was happening, I found delight in the reveals.
I also appreciated the unique twist on familiar tropes. The elves were so delightfully elvish...until they weren't. They were different from the norm. The Dwarves weren't crude, boarish characters that belched and were always drinking. They were intelligent and funny (probably the reason I laughed the most throughout). The magic users were each unique, with limits to their skills that made them relatable, yet their talents were so cool when used. The villains were also very well thought out.
I was thrilled with this wonderful trilogy and it had a great ending. Sini's story was really interesting. There were a few personal preferences that I would've liked to see, but that's a "me" thing and it did not in anyway detract from the enjoyment I had!
I highly recommend this to lovers of fantasy everywhere!
"...Fears can overcome almost everything else. But love can overpower things too, as can the truth that we are not hopeless or alone. Breathe deeply."
-Keeper Will
P.S. Will has some of the BEST lines. Very quote worthy. I just had to thrown that out there! 😁👌
Now on to the next project!
January 1, 2021
Book 1 - I had to have teared up at least 3 times while reading this heart breaking book. But I loved every minute of it, and think you should read it!
the characters or complex, full of emotions, and working through the past life choices, while battling future life choice. It gives one a lot to think about in their own life. I loved this world, and so excited to see where the story takes us. This book was a very complete story in itself, no cliff hanger ending, just a well packaged story.
Book 2 - This series is sooo good. Like the warm hug after a hard day good. Reading a book about storytellers was so intriguing to me, JA Andrews pulls it off so magically. I can't wait to see where the next book takes us.
Her characters are so full of emotions, everyone feels like a main character. They all have troubles, goals, and a growth arc. Thankfully this book was less sad than book one lol I don't know if I could have cried my way through another book! But in seriousness, the plot is well laid out, and fit so seamlessly with book one even though we are seeing the world through a different keeper this round.
I love her version of magic, and the way the keepers operate, the whole world reminds me how vitally important stories are to our society.
Book 3 - This was the perfect ending to an emotionally charged series. Sini was the perfect keeper to bring their adventure to a close. She experiences so much growth through out this book. From a sheltered slave that follows directions, to a strong capable person.
The keepers are some of the most fascinating magical people I've had the pleasure of reading about. I love the complexity of each of them, and how they all have different strengths and weaknesses. I was so glad to read that the author is working on more stories from this world because i have so many more questions about all the other characters she introduced in these these books!
The different arcs of each character is really enthralling. I was sucked into each of their stories, feeling their hopes and fears, rooting for them the whole way. Many great developments woven into the plot. The final twist was fitting, yet unexpected. Left me feeling warm and fuzy after all the emotion that I had to endure lol
the characters or complex, full of emotions, and working through the past life choices, while battling future life choice. It gives one a lot to think about in their own life. I loved this world, and so excited to see where the story takes us. This book was a very complete story in itself, no cliff hanger ending, just a well packaged story.
Book 2 - This series is sooo good. Like the warm hug after a hard day good. Reading a book about storytellers was so intriguing to me, JA Andrews pulls it off so magically. I can't wait to see where the next book takes us.
Her characters are so full of emotions, everyone feels like a main character. They all have troubles, goals, and a growth arc. Thankfully this book was less sad than book one lol I don't know if I could have cried my way through another book! But in seriousness, the plot is well laid out, and fit so seamlessly with book one even though we are seeing the world through a different keeper this round.
I love her version of magic, and the way the keepers operate, the whole world reminds me how vitally important stories are to our society.
Book 3 - This was the perfect ending to an emotionally charged series. Sini was the perfect keeper to bring their adventure to a close. She experiences so much growth through out this book. From a sheltered slave that follows directions, to a strong capable person.
The keepers are some of the most fascinating magical people I've had the pleasure of reading about. I love the complexity of each of them, and how they all have different strengths and weaknesses. I was so glad to read that the author is working on more stories from this world because i have so many more questions about all the other characters she introduced in these these books!
The different arcs of each character is really enthralling. I was sucked into each of their stories, feeling their hopes and fears, rooting for them the whole way. Many great developments woven into the plot. The final twist was fitting, yet unexpected. Left me feeling warm and fuzy after all the emotion that I had to endure lol
August 29, 2024
Short summary: An exciting, great adventure with incredibly great characters. I'm glad I bought the complete trilogy straight away.
A threat of shadows
5 stars
Trigger warning: poisoning, death of a child / parent / sibling / friend, medical experimentation, fire, dead body parts (bones), physical injuries, bow / knife violence, blood, animal injury / abuse / death
Totally interesting right from the start. It’s a wonderful, exciting adventure with lots of love and friendship. I liked Alaric, Douglon, Nox, very much from the beginning and by the end I knew how much I had grown fond of Ayda too.
With the attitude "all's well that ends well", you can definitely read the first part as a standalone, but there's still enough that's left open for the following parts of the series (which I'm very happy about).
Pursuit of shadows
5 stars
Trigger warning: knife / sword / bow violence, death of a friend / parent, home invasion, kidnapping, disappearance of a loved one, slavery, rasicm, pregnancy, childbirth, blood, assault, fire, physical injuries, imprisonment, murder
In contrast to Alaric, I had to warm up to Will first, but then I didn't want to stop reading. I love the interaction between Will & Talen and Will & Rass (she is a pleasure). Sora becomes more interesting and likeable the longer you know her.
And I LOVE the appearance of old friends... :-D
Again, this part is a great, exciting adventure with lots of friendship and love.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next and I'm happy to have more adventures with these beloved characters.
Siege of shadows
5 stars
Trigger warning: assault, knife / sword / bow violence, physical injuries, terminal illness, blood, fire, death of a friend, war, poisoning
I like Sini, but I grew fond of Alaric and Douglon in the first part, and even more so by the end.
Towards the end, there is an unforeseen and interesting twist.
An altogether harmonious end to the book series. I will miss all the beloved characters soooooooooo much ❤️.
A threat of shadows
5 stars
Trigger warning: poisoning, death of a child / parent / sibling / friend, medical experimentation, fire, dead body parts (bones), physical injuries, bow / knife violence, blood, animal injury / abuse / death
Totally interesting right from the start. It’s a wonderful, exciting adventure with lots of love and friendship. I liked Alaric, Douglon, Nox, very much from the beginning and by the end I knew how much I had grown fond of Ayda too.
With the attitude "all's well that ends well", you can definitely read the first part as a standalone, but there's still enough that's left open for the following parts of the series (which I'm very happy about).
Pursuit of shadows
5 stars
Trigger warning: knife / sword / bow violence, death of a friend / parent, home invasion, kidnapping, disappearance of a loved one, slavery, rasicm, pregnancy, childbirth, blood, assault, fire, physical injuries, imprisonment, murder
In contrast to Alaric, I had to warm up to Will first, but then I didn't want to stop reading. I love the interaction between Will & Talen and Will & Rass (she is a pleasure). Sora becomes more interesting and likeable the longer you know her.
And I LOVE the appearance of old friends... :-D
Again, this part is a great, exciting adventure with lots of friendship and love.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next and I'm happy to have more adventures with these beloved characters.
Siege of shadows
5 stars
Trigger warning: assault, knife / sword / bow violence, physical injuries, terminal illness, blood, fire, death of a friend, war, poisoning
I like Sini, but I grew fond of Alaric and Douglon in the first part, and even more so by the end.
Towards the end, there is an unforeseen and interesting twist.
An altogether harmonious end to the book series. I will miss all the beloved characters soooooooooo much ❤️.
August 15, 2023
The Keeper Chronicles, JA Andrews
Kind of feels like cheating, writing one review for three books -- but the story flows so smoothly from book to book that it feels like one long story.
The Keeper Chronicles -- placed centuries after "Keeper Origins." I actually started with the Origins trilogy.. and honestly, I do not think it matters which trilogy is read first. But - that being said -- if you love fantasy, read these books!
Classic epic fiction -- elves, dwarves, and dragons. Oh, and humans, some of whom can wield magic. The "Keepers" are magicians, historians, healers. They live in a hidden valley - and they send out emissaries to find the children with powers who will be the new generations of Keepers. But when Will set out to find the magical children, there were none to be found. Most of the keepers are old men now, living in their hidden tower. The bad guy in this story is Lukas -- who should have been a Keeper, but was stolen into slavery. We meet two young(ish) Keepers -- Alaric and Will, who have very different powers. And Will does find another Keeper, Sini, who, like Lukas, had been stolen into slavery.
The worldbuilding here is outstanding. The characters are richly portrayed -- the elves, in their forest; the stocky and argumentative dwarves in their tunnels and caves. And of course the humans, and especially the Keepers.
And -- I worked as an editor -- and these books are well-written and edited extremely well.
Please -- if you love high fantasy -- read these books!
Kind of feels like cheating, writing one review for three books -- but the story flows so smoothly from book to book that it feels like one long story.
The Keeper Chronicles -- placed centuries after "Keeper Origins." I actually started with the Origins trilogy.. and honestly, I do not think it matters which trilogy is read first. But - that being said -- if you love fantasy, read these books!
Classic epic fiction -- elves, dwarves, and dragons. Oh, and humans, some of whom can wield magic. The "Keepers" are magicians, historians, healers. They live in a hidden valley - and they send out emissaries to find the children with powers who will be the new generations of Keepers. But when Will set out to find the magical children, there were none to be found. Most of the keepers are old men now, living in their hidden tower. The bad guy in this story is Lukas -- who should have been a Keeper, but was stolen into slavery. We meet two young(ish) Keepers -- Alaric and Will, who have very different powers. And Will does find another Keeper, Sini, who, like Lukas, had been stolen into slavery.
The worldbuilding here is outstanding. The characters are richly portrayed -- the elves, in their forest; the stocky and argumentative dwarves in their tunnels and caves. And of course the humans, and especially the Keepers.
And -- I worked as an editor -- and these books are well-written and edited extremely well.
Please -- if you love high fantasy -- read these books!
July 20, 2020
Epic adventure of magic
This trilogy sat in my Kindle library for a long time, and then I started reading it and wondered why! Overall, it earns 4.5 stars.
Book One
This one was the slowest ...and felt the most unlikely. Until Andrews wove the threads and revealed that it was magic that made it so!
I love the little hints in this book that are resolved in later books. So many. Little nuggets.
I was shocked that the villain was defeated rather than being the foe for the overarching series plot. Of which, there wasn’t really one...but you loved the characters so much, you had to keep reading.
Book Two
Will was a more interesting hero than Alaric (although I liked him, too) and this was a great adventure. I loved how the magic system became more in focus as we learned about the different methods of using the vitalle. Douglon reminds me of Gimli, and you can’t go wrong with that comparison.
Book Three
Each story is narrated by a different Keeper. I wasn’t sure what Sini could offer, but her magical abilities are completely different than anyone else’s. Seeing things through her eyes made the magic system even more understandable and interesting.
Yes, I shed a few tears in this one and didn’t completely predict all the twists (a rarity). I hated to come to the end of the tale because these characters became like family.
If you like a fantasy with epic scope but prefer reading stories with a single narrator, this series will check all your boxes.
This trilogy sat in my Kindle library for a long time, and then I started reading it and wondered why! Overall, it earns 4.5 stars.
Book One
This one was the slowest ...and felt the most unlikely. Until Andrews wove the threads and revealed that it was magic that made it so!
I love the little hints in this book that are resolved in later books. So many. Little nuggets.
I was shocked that the villain was defeated rather than being the foe for the overarching series plot. Of which, there wasn’t really one...but you loved the characters so much, you had to keep reading.
Book Two
Will was a more interesting hero than Alaric (although I liked him, too) and this was a great adventure. I loved how the magic system became more in focus as we learned about the different methods of using the vitalle. Douglon reminds me of Gimli, and you can’t go wrong with that comparison.
Book Three
Each story is narrated by a different Keeper. I wasn’t sure what Sini could offer, but her magical abilities are completely different than anyone else’s. Seeing things through her eyes made the magic system even more understandable and interesting.
Yes, I shed a few tears in this one and didn’t completely predict all the twists (a rarity). I hated to come to the end of the tale because these characters became like family.
If you like a fantasy with epic scope but prefer reading stories with a single narrator, this series will check all your boxes.
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