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78 Keys
Falling in love and saving the world are not in the cards, or are they?
Devorah Rosten received a pack of tarot cards for her Bat Mitzvah, hid them away, and forgot about them. Years later, she resurrects the cards and discovers her ability with tarot is anything but run-of-the-mill. She uses her extraordinary talents to “reorganize” her wealthy clients’ futures. Dev’s ethically challenged efforts come to the attention of the cosmic powers. To her dismay, she is chosen as their next gladiator. Rich, brilliant, but flawed, Dev has no intention of becoming anybody’s hero.
Laura Bishop, a successful young attorney, is courted by her law firm’s powerful and charismatic partner Elizabeth Stratton. After years of their secret affair, Laura finds herself becoming an impediment to Elizabeth’s ambitions. When the relationship ends, Laura makes choices that have profound effects.
Fighting for survival and unsure whether they are prey or predators, Dev and Laura realize their growing desire for each other. Reluctantly, Dev must decide if she will use her unique skills to save Laura, herself, and even humankind from a force called The Malignity.
Devorah Rosten received a pack of tarot cards for her Bat Mitzvah, hid them away, and forgot about them. Years later, she resurrects the cards and discovers her ability with tarot is anything but run-of-the-mill. She uses her extraordinary talents to “reorganize” her wealthy clients’ futures. Dev’s ethically challenged efforts come to the attention of the cosmic powers. To her dismay, she is chosen as their next gladiator. Rich, brilliant, but flawed, Dev has no intention of becoming anybody’s hero.
Laura Bishop, a successful young attorney, is courted by her law firm’s powerful and charismatic partner Elizabeth Stratton. After years of their secret affair, Laura finds herself becoming an impediment to Elizabeth’s ambitions. When the relationship ends, Laura makes choices that have profound effects.
Fighting for survival and unsure whether they are prey or predators, Dev and Laura realize their growing desire for each other. Reluctantly, Dev must decide if she will use her unique skills to save Laura, herself, and even humankind from a force called The Malignity.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2011
6 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Kristin Marra
3 books4 followersKristin Marra spent the first thirty-five years of her life in Montana where she never learned to love snow. Conceding defeat, she moved to the Pacific Northwest and freely admits she adores the clouds and gloom. Overcast days encourage delightfully obscene hours of reading and more hours for writing. Besides books, cooking, and movies, Kristin enjoys sharing adventures with her partner Judith, daughter Rachel, and varmint canine Spud. Kristin is employed in the public sector. (from the publisher's website)
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 25, 2011
Kristin Marra is a puzzle master. I have to admit that as she began laying out the pieces, I reached a point where I felt totally lost and was considering starting the first couple of chapters over to see what I missed ... because I'm a fast reader and often read a book over immediately to see what I've missed by reading to fast. Then two pieces clicked together, then another, then I caught myself guessing which one fit with the next ... not always correctly. I was so sucked into this story, that I couldn't shake it out of my head while at work. I liked "Wind and Bones" but this one is several steps up. A great story right to the end.
May 7, 2025
This could have been such an interesting story. Devorah's interest in the tarot, the way it intertwines with her Jewish background, made for a really interesting character, especially linked with her visions.
After the first 25% or something I thought I was settling in for quite an interesting read. Devorah being called before the High Priestess sounds like a really interesting twist, as does the way she's called upon to be humanity's champion. However, I have two main gripes with this story.
One, Devorah gets no information, whatsoever, and none of her questions are answered throughout the entire book, which made me cranky. If you want someone to fight for you, the least you could do is treat them decently.
Even more damning, however, is that if you take away the High Priestess, take away the Knight of Pentacles, take away the alternate realm Devorah is summoned to - in short, take away the 'humankind's champion' part - ... you'd get exactly the same story. They don't bring anything, no information, no new challenges, none whatsoever. Devorah was already on track to do exactly what she ended up doing.
The relationship between Dev and Laura is extremely, and I mean, extremely forced. I don't believe in any feelings between them, not even the lust that so completely overtakes Devorah. I just don't buy it.
After the first 25% or something I thought I was settling in for quite an interesting read. Devorah being called before the High Priestess sounds like a really interesting twist, as does the way she's called upon to be humanity's champion. However, I have two main gripes with this story.
One, Devorah gets no information, whatsoever, and none of her questions are answered throughout the entire book, which made me cranky. If you want someone to fight for you, the least you could do is treat them decently.
Even more damning, however, is that if you take away the High Priestess, take away the Knight of Pentacles, take away the alternate realm Devorah is summoned to - in short, take away the 'humankind's champion' part - ... you'd get exactly the same story. They don't bring anything, no information, no new challenges, none whatsoever. Devorah was already on track to do exactly what she ended up doing.
The relationship between Dev and Laura is extremely, and I mean, extremely forced. I don't believe in any feelings between them, not even the lust that so completely overtakes Devorah. I just don't buy it.
November 19, 2019
I wouldn't have imagined I'd enjoy this book as much as I did. It could easily have been a confusing mess with all the 3rd dimension and bad guys chase happening simultaneously but it wasn't. The author cleverly and captivatingly mapped a somewhat funny and charming chase of a story. Look forward to reading more by this author.
January 7, 2020
Tarot is not my cup of tea; however this was very well done and sidestepped a lot of cliches.
November 9, 2020
The idea is interesting but I found the ending a little abrupt. Which kinda made it feel flat.
August 12, 2016
78 Keys is an interesting mixture of tarot, adventure, love, and action. Devorah has been tapped by a higher power to bring balance by fighting the force of The Malignity, which looks to create chaos in the world. The Malignity is looking to strike a big blow against humanity and Dev is the warrior that the 'other side' has chosen to fight it. Caught up in all of this is Laura Stratton, a former client of Dev's, and now the main target of The Malignity's focus.
I highly enjoyed 78 Keys - Ms. Marra has a way of drawing you into the story quickly. I liked the explanation of the tarot cards and their meanings as they came up during the readings Dev did and her travels into the other realm. The story and action were fast-paced and utterly realistic as the evil closes in on Dev and Laura. Is a secret worth killing for...? To those working for The Malignity, the answer is a resounding "Yes". Pick up 78 Keys and be transported...
I highly enjoyed 78 Keys - Ms. Marra has a way of drawing you into the story quickly. I liked the explanation of the tarot cards and their meanings as they came up during the readings Dev did and her travels into the other realm. The story and action were fast-paced and utterly realistic as the evil closes in on Dev and Laura. Is a secret worth killing for...? To those working for The Malignity, the answer is a resounding "Yes". Pick up 78 Keys and be transported...
June 17, 2015
I only initially bought this for the tarot aspect of the novel and thought 'oh I'll just put up with the love story'. But. I would have liked the book to be longer and to have really delved a lot more deeply into the personal relationships between people. It sort of glosses over it all and then the book ends rather abruptly (just my opinion). Other than that I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would based on the reviews. I'll be reading it again, something I don't do too often with a novel as I prefer non-fiction.
February 26, 2013
Very different, I look forward to reading more about Dev.
April 26, 2013
unique & enjoyable
February 12, 2015
Okay Story
Was real slow I found myself skipping pages and couldn't wait for it to end. Maybe I will give it another chance in the future.
Was real slow I found myself skipping pages and couldn't wait for it to end. Maybe I will give it another chance in the future.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews