The Keeper Origins

The Keeper Origins #1-3

by J.A. Andrews

Sable just wants an escape from the corner of the world she's trapped in, but what lies outside is far more dangerous…

Sable would do anything to break free from the ruthless gang boss she's indebted to before he corrupts her younger sister or discovers Sable's magical ability to sense the truth in people's words.

In a last desperate attempt at freedom, Sable stumbles into unexpected help—Atticus, the famous playwright, and his traveling theater troupe.

Far more than a means of escape, the mismatched band of actors is destined to become the family Sable never knew she wanted. They help awaken her magic until she becomes the burning symbol of truth that the entire land needs.

As war looms and corruption eats away at the halls of power, Sable's ability to sense—and share—the truth may be the only thing that can save them all.

The Keeper Origins is a complete epic fantasy trilogy with rich characters and a delightfully optimistic flavor that stays just on the right side of epic with all the cozy feels.

It includes all three books:
Dragon's Reach — Sable's rise from a trapped, indebted thief to an actress with words strong enough to change a city.
Raven's Ruin — Embroiled in the politics and scheming of the priories, Sable finds herself drawn to the rebels who fight against them.
Phoenix Rising — With war on the doorstep, Sable and the troupe struggle to keep the foreign Empire from conquering and the corruption in the priories from destroying them from within.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Magic, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Adventure, Dragons

2342 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2023

Reviews

[Elaine HT · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second time I've read this trilogy and I loved it just as much the second time. I would recommend it to everyone, it has such a lovely blend of traditional fantasy elements mixed up with a new take. Here's a list of my favourite bits:
- a female MC who matures and develops, but doesn't suddenly become all powerful
- witty dialogue between supporting characters that feels like real friendships
- multiple mythical creatures
- magic
- a focus on good communication and how this can make all the difference in the world
- the angriest moment in the book is all about books and their restriction
- beautiful vows / sayings for important moments, for example funerals and weddings
- travel involves discomfort and dirt
- and finally, right at the end, the importance of pockets

I'm sure I will read this again and I'm just about to re-read the other trilogy as well. Please write more books...

[Kristina R · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many series end in a way that makes me feel like there is something...incomplete or wrong. But this series makes me feel warm and fuzzy and fulfilled! I still want more- more of this series and more of this world, but the ending is just so....perfect!

I don't remember how I found this series, but I am so glad I stumbled upon it! Based on the synopsis I figured it had potential to be either wonderfully fantastic or just disappointing. I am so glad to report it was the former!

This series is so full of action and excitement but still manages to be so cozy. I loved getting to know all of the characters, and the more I learned about them the more I loved them! I love how there is so much focus on the entire troupe and then some other characters. The world feels well thought out and complete. I laughed so many times at/with so many of the characters! Especially Purnicious. It's so hard to pick a favorite character in the series but I think she might be it! Possibly one of my favorites ever. Also, I feel like her and Dobby from Harry Potter would get along so well!

I hope more and more people start reading this! My only disappointment is how few people are gushing about this series. I have already recommended it to every reader I know and will continue to do so!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

**** Update - Series finished. 4/1/26****

I never thought I'd find a fantasy series to write a whole post about but here I am.
This Audiobooks series, The Keeper Origins by JA Andrews has been the best fantasy series I've experienced in a long time.
Fantastic, intricate and interesting characters who experience growth and natural plot progression - there's no Mary Sueism here.
Our female protagonist is relatable, grounded, and doesn't automatically level up every chapter but makes solid growth and level headed decisions.
The world building is brilliant, if you weren't aware of the dwarves and elves (among other things like dragons) in the story you'd be forgiven for believing that this world wasn't set in a medieval reality.
I don't give out 5 stars very often, but I'm pleased to say that for my first series of the year, this will remain a life long favourite and definitely worthy of the 5 stars 🌟
I highly recommend the audiobook. 💯👌🏻


20/12/25
Just finished Book 1.
Honestly, this is the best fantasy I've read in many, many years.
Well written, fantastic and endearing characters, great world building and intensely interesting.
I can't believe it's taken me this long to find it or how it hasn't been recommended to me before.
I highly recommend this story, especially, the audibook. 👌🏻

[Juan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think I probably chose a wrong introduction to this series. This feels like it would be more enjoyable to people who already have a connection to this world and characters. The plot, a zero to hero story that probably took itself too seriously, I'm honestly not sure because, there wasn't a tone to it that would connect in my mind.
Sable and Vivaine are constantly shooting themselves in the foot for some reason which makes for a stumbly and not very compelling good versus evil arc.

The characters are likeable (yes, even Sable in spite of her very questionable rationality at times) but having too much of a good thing can actually be counter productive.

Frustrating, anticlimactic, disappointing, predictable and (for an outsider like me) shallow.

Always open to a civilized discussion. This book is not bad but definitely not for me. And for what I see I'm part of a really small minority. I doubt very much I'll pick up the other books in the series unless, someone who had a similiar experience with this specific book as mine, would recommend it.

[Lily Sanborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes. 10/10. Magical, whimsical, dragons, and masterfully written. I suppose it could have had a deeper meaning or some big twist but honestly if you just want a fantastic fantasy trilogy give it a shout.

[Giulia Pellegrino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eine sehr schöne, vergnügliche Geschichte mit spannenden und glaubhaften Charakteren. Man merkt, dass die Autorin immer mehr "in ihr Talent hineinwächst" und die Welt, die sie erschaffen hat, insbesondere auch die Form der Magie darin, ist super spannend.

[Kristina Enriquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read

I know I’m a bad person, I’m not great at leaving reviews. But when I stumbled across The Keeper Origins box set, it was my lucky day. It’s very rare that something has had me captivated for so long. I literally ate, drank, and slept these books. When I wasn’t reading them or able to read them I was listening to them while I worked. It was great to watch Sable grow. I was a little worried about her in the beginning. I was like oh no! Please don’t make her wishy washy. She is stubborn. Every character in the book was written well Leonis and Thulan’s chemistry was epic. I don’t want add any spoilers. But this is a great read Thank you JA Andrews amazing.

[Toby Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm terrible at remembering to write reviews but for this I really must (and hope it starts a better trend).
I saw a comment before buying the audio book which said 'it reminds you of why you fell in love with the genre' and that's exactly how my experience felt. I've raced through the trilogy in 2 weeks with a smile on my face and a warmth that made me feel like I had a phoenix perched on my arm.
Loved the story and I've become attached to all characters, it's only a shame it had to end.
I thoroughly recommend the series and particularly the audio book. Kate Reading masterfully brings this tale to life and her reading of Pern is one of my highlights of the year.

[Mike Willoughby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

[Beba Andric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is superb! Goodness me did I go for a ride! But boy oh boy, I was not prepared the emotional rollercoaster! The fabulous Ms Andrew's draws one in so skillfully yet so subtly, that before I realised it, I felt as though I was living with the troupe! What starts of as a story of a young woman's love for her 2 sisters, where she will do whatever she can to protect them and keep them safe, quickly escalates into a rich exciting tale of mystery, lies and betrayal. This series kept me on my toes throughout, nothing is how I presumed it would be! Let's face it, when one reads a book, one gets a sense of what will or could happen. Boy oh boy, not this one! As Sable's character expands and her knowledge of her power starts evolving, and she gets stronger, both emotionally and mentally. The allegiances Sable makes, her companions and her strong presence throughout is a delight to follow! From personal issues to military issues, the story flows smoothly, albeit totally unpredictably!

This series has been a beautiful journey, to see the development of each character, the banter between them, the heartbreaker and tears (yes, I cried real tears too), their triumphs and their defeats, was first class penmanship.
I loved this story, every character is wonderful yet complex. And the ending! My word! Of all the scenarios I came up with, NOTHING prepared me for that! I was left totally gobsmacked! Wonderful, wonderful read!

[synekqw · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just finished The Keeper Origins by J.A. Andrews, and I have to say, despite the glowing reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, I ended up severely disliking the trilogy. I pushed through to the end purely out of stubbornness, but by the last book, I was thoroughly frustrated.

The writing leaned heavily into an immature, soapy YA style, with characters constantly huffing and pouting—how many times can that be a reaction? The plot relied on overly convenient devices, like introducing a character who can read minds just because the magic system is so vague it allows for anything the plot demands. The worldbuilding was shockingly unoriginal, filled with tired tropes like “the North,” “the Northern Lords,” and “the South,” and even the theater troupe felt like a borrowed idea without much innovation.

Worst of all, the story bait-and-switched its premise. It started as an intimate, heartfelt tale with local stakes and interesting characterization, but it devolved into a diluted, unfocused attempt at epic fantasy. The main character’s behavior became increasingly inconsistent and illogical, making it harder to stay invested. The book’s lack of originality, poor worldbuilding, and reliance on convenient or nonsensical twists made it a deeply frustrating read by the end.

[Manie · Rating 5 out of 5]

is not so often that you will come across a trilogy exceeding 2300 pages. The Keeper Origins does.
And every single book will keep your fingers flipping pages as if you are possessed. Which, of course, means your spending many days in a daze as you read this epic fantasy written by an eminently talented young author, J. A. Andrews.
This series tells the story of Sable. And her two sisters. And a magical cast of characters that will evolve in major players of the formidable kind the further you get into the tale of Sable starting of as a common (or perhaps not so common)thief working for Kiva, a gangster that will have even you gritting your teeth.
It follows her trials and tribulations on her way up as the renowned Flame of the North. And so much more.
You will meet a unicorn, a dragon and a Phoenix And elves, dwarves and kobolds. And some characters possessing some very unique "magical" abilities .
Ah, well, sleep is sometimes very overrated anyhow.
Enjoy.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A review in numbers.

2342. That’s how many pages are across this entire trilogy.

63. That’s how many highlights I made in this series.

18. That’s how many nights I spent going to sleep wondering if Sable and Reese would EVER get their happy ending (please keep in mind that I have read The Keeper Chronicles, so I should know enough of the backstory to have known that)

3. How many times Janice assured me personally that they’d have a happy ending.

2. That’s how many hours I stayed up past my bedtime tonight to finish this.

1. Well-Satisfied and content reader. (That’s me)

Good job Janice! You gave us a villain to hate, characters to love (Thulan and Leonis bickering was a bright spot constantly), and a well-built world. You gave us despair and hope and tears and laughter and after everything you put us (and your characters through), you gave us the happy ending we wanted and they deserved. Thank you!

[Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the beginning of this series, and was looking forward to recommending it to my kids. I'll still recommend it to them, but although I finished the story, I think I'm done with the author.

Creativity in the world-building elements of this story takes center stage. The races, creatures, and magical elements aren't entirely novel, but they are presented in interesting ways with key elements tweaked from the familiar, stoking the fires of one's imagination. The prose and overall wordcraft also contributed to my enjoyment, but the quality of world building was the primary motivatiom for my finishing the story. I'd love to read other stories set in this world... but maybe not by this author. I have a suspicion that the aspects that frustrate me so much about her writing might be intentional and linked to what motivates her stories.

The question that this series explores might very well be described as, "What would happen if all of the really rash, often ill-advised decisions you made somehow all worked out instead of biting you in the butt?" I read some of the other reviews beforehand remarking on how unrealistic encounters with the unsavory elements were. I'm a big Sanderson fan, and didn't mind a little "optimism" in the story. I actually appreciate that Sanderson doesn't get explicit in his descriptions of abuse. Some have complained that his books are too YA. I dismissed the negative comments as not applicable for my tastes in literature.

It turns out that, although I still appreciated being spared graphic descriptions of the worst that can happen, I need that to be coupled with scenarios that are... more predictive of favorable outcomes. The protagonist came off as naive, almost to the point of irrationality. I had hoped that this would lead to a satisfying character ark where she learns to temper idealism with realism, or at least some accountability within the story (maybe some of the supporting characters sympathetic to her gently making her aware of the cost of her reactionary behavior). Unfortunately, the only people who ever confront her on this are written to be unsympathetic and ultimately motivated by darker objectives.

The protagonist even seems to get a "free pass" when she suddenly does a 180 and now thinks that what she was previously, vehemently opposing is now the only possible course of action. This happens in life, but within the story it's like everyone (including the protagonist) has collective amnesia that she recently railed against what she's now championing. This disconnect between cause and effect permeates the storyline and frequently disrupted my suspension of belief. I don't mean to be offensive with the analogy, but it was like I was reading a very, very skillfully fleshed out stream-of-consiousness plotline initially created by a super-creative grade schooler.

The other aspect that got in the way of my enjoyment was how one-dimensional the male characters were. I've, of course, heard similar complaints about female characters written by male authors. In that sense, I guess turn about is fair play, but the overprotective, super-supportive persona of the "arm candy" and other stereotypical male characterizations were off-putting and took me out of the story.

I firmly believe that there's no virtue in disliking something. I'm glad for all the people who have really enjoyed this story! It was very well written in some aspects and well written in most. I just probably wasn't the intended audience, and wanted those who might have an experience like mine to go into it knowing what they're getting into.

[Gustavo Steinmetz · Rating 3 out of 5]

📖 Rating based on Immersive Reading 🎧

Story: 3 ⭐/ 5 ⭐
Narration: 4 ⭐/ 5 ⭐
General: 3 ⭐/ 5 ⭐

A Tale of Disconnected Threads: The Keeper Origins, the Complete Trilogy

-- NO SPOILER SECTION --

Main Points Summary:

-> Lack of connection with protagonists and their journey, despite initial intrigue and the author's bold narrative choices.
-> Slow pacing and storytelling development detract from overall engagement.
-> Third-person perspective hinders deep immersion and emotional connection, suggesting a first-person viewpoint might have been more effective.
-> Technical issues with the Audible version disrupt the immersive reading experience, especially problematic for such a lengthy compilation.

A Struggle for Engagement:
From the outset, "The Keeper Origins, the Complete Trilogy" promises intrigue and bold narrative risks, such as the willingness to eliminate key characters early on. Yet, the spark of excitement for these elements quickly dims. By page 150, the absence of empathy for the protagonists becomes a glaring issue, highlighting a disconnection that persists stubbornly throughout. Despite containing many appealing aspects for an avid reader, the slow pace and difficulty in establishing a bond with the characters render the journey more laborious than enjoyable.

Narrative Perspective and Pacing Concerns:
The choice of a third-person perspective, focused predominantly on one character, emerges as a significant barrier to immersion. This narrative distance prevents readers from fully engaging with the protagonist's emotions and experiences, suggesting that a first-person narrative might have fostered a more intimate and compelling connection. Furthermore, the story's pacing struggles to maintain momentum, leading to periods of boredom and a waning interest in continuing the trilogy.

Audible Experience Problems:
The journey through "The Keeper Origins" on Audible proved to be an exercise in frustration, far from the seamless experience one might expect. For a trilogy celebrated for its vast narrative landscape, the technical mishaps encountered were both surprising and disappointing. Frequent, abrupt disruptions in playback and the Audible app's inability to accurately bookmark listeners' progress were particularly jarring. These technical failings, exclusive to this title among hundreds experienced on the platform, not only broke the narrative immersion but also posed a significant challenge to maintaining story continuity. Such problems magnified the existing disconnects within the story, ultimately contributing to a decision to disengage from the trilogy entirely. However, it's worth noting that this critique does not lie with the audiobook itself but with Audible's handling of long-duration content, which may vary by region.

Final Thoughts:
"The Keeper Origins, the Complete Trilogy" contains elements that should, in theory, weave an enthralling narrative tapestry. However, the reality falls short due to a lack of emotional connection, narrative pacing issues, and technical disruptions in the audiobook experience. While the trilogy may hold potential for some, my journey through its world was marked more by disappointment and disengagement than the anticipated adventure.

[André · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars! This is quite the chonker of a book, but don’t let that intimidate you, it is more than worth it. Now, J.A. Andrews wrote The Keeper Chronicles before the Origins, so I read the Chronicles first – and straight away fell in love with them. Wonderful stories with great characters – what was there not to love?! So, saying that the author set the bar very high might even be something of an understatement. But not only does she not disappoint, no, she raises the bar even higher, because the Origins are even better! It is a wholesome and beautiful tale about people. About their relationships. Their hopes, their fears, their worries. And it is a tale about stories. How they can affect other people. How they even have the power to influence what might happen on a grand scale if you do everything right.

Now that I read it, it sounds almost boring. But believe me when I say that The Keeper Origins are anything but. But let’s start at the beginning, shall we?! The story starts with a bang and managed to suck me right into it from the very first page, then slowly builds up tension, stakes, and momentum, always twisting and turning. But it leaves enough room for the characters to breathe and, even more importantly, to evolve. Yes, there is action, but if you are looking for a book filled with battle-scene after battle-scene, you might want to look somewhere else. This feels more…’old school’, I guess, and I mean this in the best sense. Classic fantasy, like the Forgotten Realms- or Dragonlance-books, but differently (and in my opinion, a lot better). Oh, and there is magic. I don’t think I have seen this type and description of magic before, it is masterfully done. And this brings me to the world-building that is masterfully done. You pretty much get to know the world as the main character does. There are no info-dumps, I was eased into it and never feel lost.

But let’s get to the even better part and – in my opinion – the true strength of this series: The characters! The story is told from Issable’s – Sable’s – point of view and she is a remarkable main character. She starts out as the big sister who does everything in her power to protect her sisters. She also finds out that she has a certain type of magic that she can use. But she does not get powerful from one day to the other, nor is she the snarky and somewhat aggressive kick-ass female lead that we see quite a lot these days. Sable is strong and Sable is a fighter, but she is not a warrior. And she has quite a way to go before she can do what she wants to do most: To help the people she cares about.
Then there are a lot of truly wonderful side characters that sometimes outshine the MC. One of them, Thulan, is a female dwarf and for me this is the first story that features a female dwarf as an important character. Her relationship to Leonis is so beautiful. There is always banter when these two are around, but in the important moments you see how deeply they care about each other. It would have been easy to only use them for comedic relief and they would have worked great. But by giving them more depth, the author makes them my favorite characters in the series. And that means something in a story filled with great characters. You can even understand the antagonists. J.A. Andrews puts the ‘care’ in all her characters and you can feel it while going through the story. It feels like you could just go outside and meet them, because they feel like real people with their hopes and fears, strengths and weaknesses, each with their own package to carry. You feel for them, root for them, fear for them, cheer them on, … and it feels like you read about a group of friends.

Do yourself the favor and read this truly captivating tale of all these unique characters! It’s one of the best ways to spend your time.

[Christina Morley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragon's Reach is the first book in The Keeper Origins trilogy by J.A. Andrews. It's a page-turner Epic Fantasy that's unique and unpredictable with a hint of romance. There's danger at every turn. J.A. Andrews creates colorful characters, brilliant world-building, and witty dialogue. This is the first book in a new series and will leave you hanging. I can’t wait to find out what happens to Sable and the others!

Raven's Ruin is the second book in The Keeper Origins trilogy by J.A. Andrews. The first book ended with Sable being trapped into serving Vivaine, a powerful and conniving High Prioress, in order to save her friends and spare Reese from a hanging. Sable has been there a year when the second book starts.

Sable wants the Kalesh presence removed from their borders. The Kalesh say that they are interested in making trade deals with both nations benefiting, but they have a reputation for conquering nations and absorbing them into the empire. There are many different players taking different sides. What can one young woman do?

Sable needs allies but she's making enemies faster. She's also under Vivaine's machinations.

This story is full of suspense and intrigue. There's also an interesting magic system. Sable experiences character growth and learns new skills. My favorite moment is when she sees/hears Reese for the first time after their separation at the end of Book 1.

Even though the book is nearly 600 pages long, it's a page-turner of a story with twists and turns, fascinating characters, and magical creatures. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

Phoenix Rising is the third book in The Keeper Origins trilogy by J.A. Andrews. It's a big book at 732 pages, but it's a big story with lots of things to wrap up, which it does nicely. This story is full of danger and intrigue. It's impossible to predict what's going to happen to our heroes, anti-heroes, and villains.

Reading Phoenix Rising is like returning to visit old friends. J.A. Andrews creates distinct characters with colorful personalities. It's so sweet to watch the friendship grow between Purnicious and Reese. My favorite new character (we met her briefly earlier in the series) is Ayda the elf. She's so vibrant. Andrews also creates a wonderful balance between the danger/drama and the happy times.

Here's an example from Chapter 31:
The sun set and the army camp fell into darkness. The world shrank down to the circle of firelight reflecting off the wagon walls and the soft green glow of Leonis's tree. Innov moved over to roost among the coals of the fire, and Sable sank back against the wagon, letting the familiar conversations wrap around her.

[Sheena E · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this series before the Keeper Chronicles which was good and bad. It set the foundation for a lot of the type of characters you run across in later books but there are major plot holes and little to know character development. Several times throughout the book there is monologue about the world being changed due to the series of events in these books and saying it was all done for her sisters. Yet for the entirety of the story Sable is a passenger to the happenings around her. She can’t fight, has no real strategical prowess or even cunning. She is either positioned in events and told what to do or she barrels towards danger with no forethought of danger or any real clue how to get out of it. This book and Sable would not exist without the supporting cast yet so little time is spent really developing them in non stereotypical ways. The plot hole…. This woman does everything for her sisters yet when they seemingly die she weeps a bit and then continues on a trek through the woods? There should have been an explosion of emotions her powers should have transformed and fully awakened yet it felt like just a random day and the characters that were supposedly dead were 3rd cousins. Such that it was obvious they weren’t really dead because the author did not even write the character in a real state of grief. It was anticlimactic when they were revealed to be alive. Yet, Victis, an elf barely got a paragraph acknowledging his death and the repurcussions. An elven general dies and is barely mentioned? What happened to his daughter? How was the news carried back to the king? It’s like she wrote elves, ELVES, to be disposable after spending soooo much time trying to make the story line for getting their help make sense. And Aydalya is from another set of elves entirely yet they don’t interact much if at all. The Queen of the North was nothing more than a figurehead with no real power of her own. Even the ability to know when people were speaking the truth was flawed. I would have loved to see Talia more developed and Riah but the book focused on Sable only to make her a week pawn. She would be dead without LITERALLY everyone else and when given the opportunity to learn how to defend herself (knowing war is coming) she argued against it and doesn’t bother to try hard. The same person who
Saw her parents cut down and claims they died fighting does NOT want to learn how to fight? It doesn’t make sense. The books had so much potential to be great. So many original avenues to take only for it to fall in the same tropes as other books with elves and Dwarves. As a fan of elves I’m highly disappointed in what she did to them and to these characters as a whole.

[Mike Hrycyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favourite epic series that I’ve read all at once in the past few years. It brings together a very interesting and complete world building, absolutely fabulous, layered, dynamic characters, an intriguing and well thought-out magic framework and a complex well conceived plot. The story follows a reasonable arc with distinct books that match together intelligently to come to a final and complete conclusion.

Sable is a great main character that seems real and nuanced with a great growth path through the series. She’s flawed, knows about some of them and doesn’t know about the others that we the readers can perceive. It occurs to me as I type this that that is a masterful way to present a character. Having a character that has flaws is step one, having a character that recognizes their flaws is step two but having a character that only recognizes some of their flaws is the pinnacle. ‘Recognizes all of your flaws’ falls into the trap (at least somewhat) of superpowering your main characters. In short, Sable is a great main character and the cast of characters in this book, throughout, are marvelous.

I love that the magic, while being part of the same framework, is able to be so different for different characters and applications. It’s also not very understood by the people of this world and we, the readers, get to build our own understanding as the characters build their own. Sable’s magic of being able to determine the truth of statements being made is handled very interestingly. On the face of it, it might seem like a pretty low power capability but Andrews handles it very well and imaginatively allowing it to contribute to the story, plot and Sable’s growth really interestingly.
In all, I really enjoyed this series. I became fully invested in the story and characters early on and maintained it throughout.

[Cmoore · Rating 5 out of 5]

1) Dragon's Reach

I prolly wouldn't have continued listening to the book if it hadn't been narrated by Kate Reading. With her mesmerizing voice performance I believe her tale as she magic'd me right into Sable's world and I continued to listen as JA Andrews words flowed out. And by the time I got to the end found that I wasn't able to stop as I needed more.

I love posting quotes that amuse me:

"If you’re called away in the middle of the night it seems best to hurry."

“Amah’s shiny bum! That’s amazing!”

2) Raven's Ruin

Wow again Kate Reading along with JA Andrews words magic'd me right back into Sable's world. With so much fire 🔥 and magic how could I not love Raven's Ruin in this fantastic trilogy.

And my quote for bk2 is:

“You’re taking me on a trip out of the Sanctuary,” Pixy said. “I’ll get a message to the moon if you want it.”


3) Phoenix Rising

This was such a mesmerizing saga. A tale so full of angst, and hope, and tears, and happiness. It's just so full, I can't even begin to describe it without spoilers. Just be assured that Dragons, and Phoenix' fly high in this book along with some very tricky politics to skate past and Humans, Dwarves, Elves and maybe some Kobalds hafta choose sides.

Here's the quotes I found to share with you:

"He caught her eye. “I have an idea.” “If you’re talking about the same idea I just had,” she said, “it’s a bad one. You could barely walk across the room with my help.”

“Brilliant ideas like that are why we keep her around,” Leonis said to Thulan. “Avoid dragon fire…” Thulan patted her vest as though searching for something. “If only I had something to write such sage advice down on.”

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit I’m a bit confused by the glowing reviews - this story frustrated me from start to finish. I think this was written after The Keepers Chronicles, which seems to have been very popular and so maybe people are more forgiving because they want more of the world.

Everything just feels very contrived. It can’t just be one thing occurring, there’s always two to ram home the point. The characters feel one dimensional, and there’s little to no growth. The first book felt like it was written to a list - at point a) supervillain is villainish; go to point b) meet perfect group of people who have the solution; c) oh no, betrayal! etc. There was little to nothing happening character-wise even though there were events happening - every character had their ‘moment’, again like ticking off a list: ‘we need an explanation of grumpy dwarf, done’, ‘now an explanation of mysterious elf, done’

The thing is, it wasn’t bad - it just wasn’t good.

[Paul Buchanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good solid book, something I would have no problem recommending to friends. It leaves me wanting more, and I'm excited to read the Keeper Chronicles after having this wonderful world built up for me.

The bond between siblings is so special, and the way the author tackles the distance that grows between family as people age and grow apart is done well.

Romance is done well in this as well, I don't find myself absolutely hating the characters choices, as they are very easy to empathize with. I find it exhausting in other books when characters seem to be so self destructive. The mistakes they make are grounded (at least as grounded as I like for a incredibly unrealistic fantasy book) and the story has the right amount of plot "armor" that makes me feel good at the end and doesn't make me feel hopeless.

It ends well and give plenty of closure.

[Jacob · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kobolds

Kobolds inspired by house elves, including the "bound to families" even if they're mistreated, really ruined it for me.

It's never addressed after initially introduced, and there's no point to the plot or world that makes sense for the magic system being set up like that for kobolds.
There's no movement to fix it, not even an inkling of how to prevent it aside from kobolds being isolated on their own and timid when around a human for fear of being enslaved.
And, of course, the play-bullying got uncomfortably frequent when the one kobold in the bulk of the story was in scene.

A dedication to JK Rowling in the year of 2023 was also quite the choice. Incredibly disappointing.

[Eileen McMullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I both read and listened to the three book series and hope to do both again. There was something about the cover that grabbed me and I thought I'd give it a go. I'm so glad I did. This is the first time I've read anything by JA Andrews and also the first time I've listened to anything narrated by Kate Reading. Both are brilliant and I've already started recommending both to fellow fantasy enthusiasts. The story moves along at just the right pace with the character development. I can honestly say that I really loved each and every character in the 3-book series. I loved the interactions between Purn and, well, everyone.

This series deserves more than 5 stars.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this was so good! I read the trilogy and it was riveting. I ached for the tragedy Sable and her sisters endured. And I soared as Sable found her gifts and her resolve to make her world a better place. She and her band of friends were able to save their world, unite the races of humans, elves and dwarves, defeat intractable enemies and forge a new nation. This story was so powerful and inspiring. And for the four days I didn’t have time to read it the suspense was terrible! And there are so many more stories I want to know about this world. I hope to find many more stories! A keeper!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

I really enjoyed this trilogy. It was so fun to stay in one point of view for this whole epic tale. Most stories like this rely on multiple points of view, but Sable kept my interest the whole time. It was truly like I was Sable.

The glimpses of intriguing comments at the beginnings of acts were really fun and worked so well.

The supporting characters were truly realistic and nuanced. The good and bad characters were not entirely either. Surprises abounded but we're definitely realistic. The magic was cool.

This is probably my favorite trilogy of the whole year thus far (end of August) and I read several books a week.

[Darielle Pettem · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love epic fantasy - especially trilogies. Especially noble bright (as opposed to grimdark). This trilogy was everything I look for - great character development, story, world building, magic system. I typically read one in a series of epic fantasy, take a break with a lighter non fantasy read, then go back. This trilogy - I didn't stop reading it until I was done. And I felt sad I was done. So many characters I felt invested in...Sable, Atticus, Serene, Reese, Narine....but my all time fav was Purn. We need more Purn!

[Ray Storer · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.A. Andrews weaves a great story. Andrews makes you care about the characters. Kate Reading, as narrator, brings this story to life. Reading gives each character a voice, so you know who's talking (or thinking). I found myself unable to stop listening to the story on many occasions (causing some late-night listening and a few next day rewinds for things I missed when I fell asleep).

If you like stories with a strong heroine, tight knit groups of friends, and a compelling enemy to overcome you may like this one. I did.

[Peewee Peeper · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.
Meh… Some good elements, but some not so good. On the one hand, the book is entertaining enough and easy to read, a few plot twists were not expected, and a few traits of humor here and there were really funny. On the other hand, most of the story feels contrived (so many convenient events to make the story go into the "right" direction), too many predictable things, a writing that can be plain more often than not (the amount of nodding in this book is astounding), and characters that were under developed. So not a bad book, but not a really good book either. Average.

[Jennifer Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook, and it was fun. The narrator did a fantastic job, and the story was an interesting one - although I did struggle to follow along the motivations of the characters. If you're prone to yelling at the TV when movie characters seem to obliviously ignore the obvious, the FMC will annoy the crap out of you.

A fun world and different takes on some of the fantasy races, and I particularly enjoyed the dwarves. In fact, I enjoyed them so much I named one of my chickens after Thulin - for her magnificent beard.