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Keeper of Scarlet Petals
To be a Keeper was to dedicate one’s life – and heart – to protecting another. Jasmine wasn’t ready for it. Less than a year into her training at Sanctuary, a college for Keepers and mages alike, and with a fresh start from a brutal life of thievery in the slums, all she wanted to do was continue mastering the sword arts and avoid her other responsibilities. Those plans are ruined when she's assigned to be the protector of a young nobleman whose family was murdered. Her new charge is cocky, smug, and drives her up a wall at every opportunity. Forced to protect a man she can’t stand with her life, Jasmine needs to find time that isn’t there to continue her training and keep assassins from killing both of them, all the while learning magic and discovering that there’s more to life than survival. And yet, Jasmine starts to find herself inexplicably drawn to him. In the slums, Jasmine never had room to care about anything other than putting food on the table. But she’s not in the slums anymore, and she can’t keep her feelings tied down forever. Unfortunately, burgeoning love is the least of Jasmine’s problems. As pieces of a malevolent plot start to unfold around them, she and her charge realize that there might be only one thing left that they can rely on. Each other.Keeper of Scarlet Petals is the first book in a new romantasy series with a strong female lead, heartwarming romance, and cursed magic. It's perfect for fans of Scholomance and Fourth Wing! Grab your copy today!
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2024
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7215 people want to read
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March 21, 2024
➸ 3 stars
— thank you to netgalley for the arc!
keeper of scarlet petals is a fast paced romantasy read that had me hooked from the start. I enjoyed this story, the characters were really likeable and their banter was fun to read about! the magic was pretty cool too even though it confused me a bit at times and the action and assassins had me turning the pages to find out what happened next! I will admit I was suspecting the wrong person the whole time and the reveal made sense even though I convinced myself it was someone else haha and the plot twist at the end got me I didn’t expect it. overall a very enjoyable and faced paced fantasy book!
𓍢ִ໋˖🥀 → fantasy/romance
𓍢ִ໋˖🥀 → she protects him
𓍢ִ໋˖🥀 → forced proximity
𓍢ִ໋˖🥀 → magic
𓍢ִ໋˖🥀 → action/fighting
𓍢ִ໋˖🥀 → plot twists
the only thing about this book I didn’t like that much was that it is an NA book that felt like a YA book which I don’t mind at all, I love young adult but it read as a YA book with added spice which I thought was a bit unnecessary and the book could’ve gone without it added since it didn’t really add much to the plot. the romance also felt a little rushed to me.
𓍢ִ໋ ˖ ➸ quotes
— ⊹˖ “𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 - 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠.”
— ⊹˖ “𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐈 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭.”
— ⊹˖ “𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲. 𝐀𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞.”
“To be a keeper was to dedicate one’s life, completely and utterly, to protecting another.”
— thank you to netgalley for the arc!
keeper of scarlet petals is a fast paced romantasy read that had me hooked from the start. I enjoyed this story, the characters were really likeable and their banter was fun to read about! the magic was pretty cool too even though it confused me a bit at times and the action and assassins had me turning the pages to find out what happened next! I will admit I was suspecting the wrong person the whole time and the reveal made sense even though I convinced myself it was someone else haha and the plot twist at the end got me I didn’t expect it. overall a very enjoyable and faced paced fantasy book!
𓍢ִ໋˖🥀 → fantasy/romance
𓍢ִ໋˖🥀 → she protects him
𓍢ִ໋˖🥀 → forced proximity
𓍢ִ໋˖🥀 → magic
𓍢ִ໋˖🥀 → action/fighting
𓍢ִ໋˖🥀 → plot twists
the only thing about this book I didn’t like that much was that it is an NA book that felt like a YA book which I don’t mind at all, I love young adult but it read as a YA book with added spice which I thought was a bit unnecessary and the book could’ve gone without it added since it didn’t really add much to the plot. the romance also felt a little rushed to me.
𓍢ִ໋ ˖ ➸ quotes
— ⊹˖ “𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 - 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠.”
— ⊹˖ “𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐈 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭.”
— ⊹˖ “𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲. 𝐀𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞.”
February 28, 2025
Im giving this book 4 ⭐ i overall really enjoyed this book and the story it hold and the quest to uncove and the touch of magic it have as well and the journey the character go as well to understand her power in the quest im not saying much because i don't want to spoiled the book overall im recommend this book 😊
May 9, 2024
I was given a copy of Keeper of Scarlet Petals early for my honest review.
This one definitely had potential but sadly it fell flat for me. This was described as an enemies to lovers with cursed magic and a badass heroine. But I really just didn’t feel much of any of these tropes (besides the cursed magic)
I really had a hard time getting into this one and I couldn’t connect with the characters. At the beginning both characters really hated each other but then it just… stopped and then they randomly like each other?
The plot was definitely interesting and at times I felt engaged but in all honesty I was pretty bored 70% of the time.
- YA
- cursed Magic
- female keeper (bodyguard)
- forced proximity
This one definitely had potential but sadly it fell flat for me. This was described as an enemies to lovers with cursed magic and a badass heroine. But I really just didn’t feel much of any of these tropes (besides the cursed magic)
I really had a hard time getting into this one and I couldn’t connect with the characters. At the beginning both characters really hated each other but then it just… stopped and then they randomly like each other?
The plot was definitely interesting and at times I felt engaged but in all honesty I was pretty bored 70% of the time.
- YA
- cursed Magic
- female keeper (bodyguard)
- forced proximity
May 18, 2024
3.75. Keeper of Scarlet Petals is a fun fantasy with a unique storyline and romance!
A keeper is someone is who is assigned to protect another. The story is set at Sanctuary which is a school for keepers and mages where they train and learn. Jasmine is assigned a young man to protect and although she can’t stand him, he might become tolerable at some point. Jasmine is continuously training in order to fight off assassins for both of them and it just might cause a friendship between them. I love a badass female main character. This book was so fun and I loved the idea of the keeper! The characters were lovable and had me giggling at times. I can’t wait to continue this series!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, A.N. Skye, and Aethon Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This published today on May 14th!
A keeper is someone is who is assigned to protect another. The story is set at Sanctuary which is a school for keepers and mages where they train and learn. Jasmine is assigned a young man to protect and although she can’t stand him, he might become tolerable at some point. Jasmine is continuously training in order to fight off assassins for both of them and it just might cause a friendship between them. I love a badass female main character. This book was so fun and I loved the idea of the keeper! The characters were lovable and had me giggling at times. I can’t wait to continue this series!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, A.N. Skye, and Aethon Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This published today on May 14th!
March 8, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc. These are my honest opinions.
I really liked this book! I went in not too sure what it was about but I quickly understood the premise and the main characters. I enjoyed the progression of the beginning and the dynamic between Jasmine and Asher. This book has some spice but not too much! Also really enjoyed the side characters Lydia is hilarious and I love her relationship with both Asher and Jasmine. The mystery of not knowing who is behind everything and then learning it at the end was great! Can’t wait to read the next book.
I really liked this book! I went in not too sure what it was about but I quickly understood the premise and the main characters. I enjoyed the progression of the beginning and the dynamic between Jasmine and Asher. This book has some spice but not too much! Also really enjoyed the side characters Lydia is hilarious and I love her relationship with both Asher and Jasmine. The mystery of not knowing who is behind everything and then learning it at the end was great! Can’t wait to read the next book.
April 16, 2024
This book really surprised me. I thought the concept was really cool and I breezed through this book. This book read more like a young adult fantasy book with minimal spice. This series has so much potential and I would like to read the next book to see where it goes! I loved Asher and Jasmine and I think their relationship could be built even stronger in the next book.
June 3, 2024
This is a NA fantasy romance story perfect for fans of academy settings (like Fourth Wing!) but with a plot full of mystery and secrets 👀 top it off with a slow burn bodyguard romance 🔥
We follow, Jasmine, a first year Keeper in training who is mysteriously assigned to protect a magic yielding noble. Without understanding why she is being put on duty so early, Jasmine is cast into a world of assassins & cursed magic. To make matters even more complicated, the noble shes assigned to protect was her top rival as a Keeper! 😍 the story reads full of suspense as we try to uncover alongside Jas and Asher what is going on. I love the bodyguard trope and I specially enjoyed the reverse grumpy - sunshine trope, Jaz is focused and doesn’t want anything to mess up with her training. While Asher is more easy going and a jokester! ❤️
What to expect:
✨Rivals to friends to Lovers
✨bodyguard dynamic
✨forced proximity
✨badass and fierce FMC
✨reverse grumpy - sunshine
✨she saves him
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy for review
We follow, Jasmine, a first year Keeper in training who is mysteriously assigned to protect a magic yielding noble. Without understanding why she is being put on duty so early, Jasmine is cast into a world of assassins & cursed magic. To make matters even more complicated, the noble shes assigned to protect was her top rival as a Keeper! 😍 the story reads full of suspense as we try to uncover alongside Jas and Asher what is going on. I love the bodyguard trope and I specially enjoyed the reverse grumpy - sunshine trope, Jaz is focused and doesn’t want anything to mess up with her training. While Asher is more easy going and a jokester! ❤️
What to expect:
✨Rivals to friends to Lovers
✨bodyguard dynamic
✨forced proximity
✨badass and fierce FMC
✨reverse grumpy - sunshine
✨she saves him
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy for review
May 12, 2024
2.5/5 rounded up
I loved the idea of this story but there was a lot of issues. Everything felt very surface level. There wasn’t much world building. There wasn’t a lot of explaining what all the different types of people there were. The two main characters have very little depth and lacked chemistry. I felt like the dialogue was strange and unnatural at times. The constant talk about Jasmine’s lack of cooking skills was strange to me. She also was supposedly lacking in all other skills besides fighting but a couple of hour long sessions with Riker and she was good. I don’t know. It just didn’t really work for me.
I do feel like it holds a lot of potential. The idea of it is great. I just think we need more in depth descriptions and world building to flesh it out a little bit.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc. All opinions are my own.
I loved the idea of this story but there was a lot of issues. Everything felt very surface level. There wasn’t much world building. There wasn’t a lot of explaining what all the different types of people there were. The two main characters have very little depth and lacked chemistry. I felt like the dialogue was strange and unnatural at times. The constant talk about Jasmine’s lack of cooking skills was strange to me. She also was supposedly lacking in all other skills besides fighting but a couple of hour long sessions with Riker and she was good. I don’t know. It just didn’t really work for me.
I do feel like it holds a lot of potential. The idea of it is great. I just think we need more in depth descriptions and world building to flesh it out a little bit.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc. All opinions are my own.
March 17, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story started out great with Asher and Jasmine sparring one another and their banter is just so wonderful. I thought it would be an enemies to lovers kind of thing, but it was not. They just love making fun of one another. I'm not disappointed it wasn't an enemies to lovers situation. It was actually kind of a relief since it's been a while since I haven't read such relationship for a while. I almost panic when they said Asher dropped from the Keeper academy because I absolutely fell in love with him immediately. But when it was told he was the noble that Jasmine was to protect, my excitement rocketed once again. They're just so cute together! I love seeing Jasmine fail as her duties as a Keeper especially when she is cooking. I actually love that scene of seeing how badly she fails. You get an insight of how truly terrible she as her other duties as a Keeper. If it was just merely told that she fails at all the other duties besides fighting, we would just have to believe the author's words, but with the details, she becomes a well rounded-out character. In regards to her fail cooking scene, I love the scene where she is learning how to cook eggs with Asher. It's absolutely adorable to see her learning alongside Asher. Another duty she fails at is giving advice to Asher. Their banter is just so much fun. They dislike one another at the beginning, but it isn't to the point of hatred. Plus, such dislike easily gets dissolved into trust one another and it makes sense. Knowing that they were in it together so quickly doesn't seem out of place because they never really hated each other in the first place. One other scene I love between them is when Asher cuts and feed pieces of steak to Jasmine because she was tired from Riker's training. I'm going to keep emphasizing my point that I absolutely love them together. They're charming with one another and I want more of them.
In regards to the plot, I just couldn't stop turning the page. I wanted to find out more about the assassins that targeted Asher's family and why they were so important considering he was just from a minor noble family. I wanted to learn the world of the Starvein and Keeper. What exactly their duties are to the kingdom. What makes them so important. I can understand the Keeper's role of protecting Starveins, but I don't really understand why they need to be proficient in all their duties. Fighting makes sense. But having proper etiquette? That just seems weird. Other than not really have any explanation on the strange duties that the Keepers has to be proficient in besides fighting, I like the concept of Keepers. The concept of Starvein is pretty much the average magic user, but they can't use magic on the fly. Hence, needing Keepers. In addition, being a Starvein makes it seem like they're the most powerful warrior in the Whitewater Kingdom, but I could hardly see that when with Asher. I could see such description apply to Qien though. It makes sense not seeing such strength in the students we pass by since they're merely first years, but I was hoping there would be some more examples to such statement. Also to note, even though Qien can be seen as strict, I actually like him a bit. He can be funny at times. Same goes for Riker.
Overall, I absolutely love Asher's and Jasmine's relationship. I hope there will be more of them. In addition, the possibility of other possible magic users besides the Starvein intrigued me throughout. I was curious if Jasmine will become of anything of special or if she was merely just a Keeper. Discovering the truth behind Asher's family murders and both figuring out their place in the world, is what made this book so intriguing. I enjoy that all the conclusions they come to makes sense and it isn't grab it out of nowhere. Even though it was a slow pace book, there is a purpose to every chapter and we are along on the journey as well. The discoveries they find out also comes to us. I would say this book brought warmth and comfort to me. I really hope more books are to come after this.
This story started out great with Asher and Jasmine sparring one another and their banter is just so wonderful. I thought it would be an enemies to lovers kind of thing, but it was not. They just love making fun of one another. I'm not disappointed it wasn't an enemies to lovers situation. It was actually kind of a relief since it's been a while since I haven't read such relationship for a while. I almost panic when they said Asher dropped from the Keeper academy because I absolutely fell in love with him immediately. But when it was told he was the noble that Jasmine was to protect, my excitement rocketed once again. They're just so cute together! I love seeing Jasmine fail as her duties as a Keeper especially when she is cooking. I actually love that scene of seeing how badly she fails. You get an insight of how truly terrible she as her other duties as a Keeper. If it was just merely told that she fails at all the other duties besides fighting, we would just have to believe the author's words, but with the details, she becomes a well rounded-out character. In regards to her fail cooking scene, I love the scene where she is learning how to cook eggs with Asher. It's absolutely adorable to see her learning alongside Asher. Another duty she fails at is giving advice to Asher. Their banter is just so much fun. They dislike one another at the beginning, but it isn't to the point of hatred. Plus, such dislike easily gets dissolved into trust one another and it makes sense. Knowing that they were in it together so quickly doesn't seem out of place because they never really hated each other in the first place. One other scene I love between them is when Asher cuts and feed pieces of steak to Jasmine because she was tired from Riker's training. I'm going to keep emphasizing my point that I absolutely love them together. They're charming with one another and I want more of them.
"This is impossible. Maybe I'm adopted and I was never a Starvein at all."
"Do you think that's possible? It could explain why you haven't awakened."
Sitting up, Asher squinted at Jasmine. "Just so you know, that's generally the point where you try to assure me that I was definitely my mother's son, not agree with me."
"Why? It was a good theory."
In regards to the plot, I just couldn't stop turning the page. I wanted to find out more about the assassins that targeted Asher's family and why they were so important considering he was just from a minor noble family. I wanted to learn the world of the Starvein and Keeper. What exactly their duties are to the kingdom. What makes them so important. I can understand the Keeper's role of protecting Starveins, but I don't really understand why they need to be proficient in all their duties. Fighting makes sense. But having proper etiquette? That just seems weird. Other than not really have any explanation on the strange duties that the Keepers has to be proficient in besides fighting, I like the concept of Keepers. The concept of Starvein is pretty much the average magic user, but they can't use magic on the fly. Hence, needing Keepers. In addition, being a Starvein makes it seem like they're the most powerful warrior in the Whitewater Kingdom, but I could hardly see that when with Asher. I could see such description apply to Qien though. It makes sense not seeing such strength in the students we pass by since they're merely first years, but I was hoping there would be some more examples to such statement. Also to note, even though Qien can be seen as strict, I actually like him a bit. He can be funny at times. Same goes for Riker.
Overall, I absolutely love Asher's and Jasmine's relationship. I hope there will be more of them. In addition, the possibility of other possible magic users besides the Starvein intrigued me throughout. I was curious if Jasmine will become of anything of special or if she was merely just a Keeper. Discovering the truth behind Asher's family murders and both figuring out their place in the world, is what made this book so intriguing. I enjoy that all the conclusions they come to makes sense and it isn't grab it out of nowhere. Even though it was a slow pace book, there is a purpose to every chapter and we are along on the journey as well. The discoveries they find out also comes to us. I would say this book brought warmth and comfort to me. I really hope more books are to come after this.
April 16, 2024
Thank you so much to the author and the publisher, Aethon Books, for sharing an ARC of this book with me on NetGalley!!
“The first and final steps in the path of a Keeper were death.”
"Pain can be overcome.
Broken bones can be surpassed. Your mind must not break."
This book was unexpected. I have to admit that I came into it completely blind, without any previous idea of what to expect. And I was pleasantly surprised!!! A fantasy book with Keepers and people with magic, it is perfect for people who loved Vampire Academy but without vampires!!! In a rivals to lovers, forced proximity, reverse grumpy sunshine fantasy romance story, Asher and Jasmine will have to figure out what’s happening when his life is put on the line. And when more secrets and plot twists were uncovered, I found myself very intrigued by the possible consequences of it all. the magic system is interesting and the plot development sparked my curiosity enough to keep me focused on the action and the turns of events. The main characters were good and their dynamics (both with one another and with other people) were fun and enjoyable. There were some quite entertaining romantic scenes (some spicier than the other) that I appreciated and liked more than I should have. And the ending made me feel like I need book two now!!! Overall, I’m really glad I had a chance to read this !!
"If you stress about something you can't control, you only suffer twice."
"If you don't have something in life worth fighting for, then you have nothing worth winning for."
“The first and final steps in the path of a Keeper were death.”
"Pain can be overcome.
Broken bones can be surpassed. Your mind must not break."
This book was unexpected. I have to admit that I came into it completely blind, without any previous idea of what to expect. And I was pleasantly surprised!!! A fantasy book with Keepers and people with magic, it is perfect for people who loved Vampire Academy but without vampires!!! In a rivals to lovers, forced proximity, reverse grumpy sunshine fantasy romance story, Asher and Jasmine will have to figure out what’s happening when his life is put on the line. And when more secrets and plot twists were uncovered, I found myself very intrigued by the possible consequences of it all. the magic system is interesting and the plot development sparked my curiosity enough to keep me focused on the action and the turns of events. The main characters were good and their dynamics (both with one another and with other people) were fun and enjoyable. There were some quite entertaining romantic scenes (some spicier than the other) that I appreciated and liked more than I should have. And the ending made me feel like I need book two now!!! Overall, I’m really glad I had a chance to read this !!
"If you stress about something you can't control, you only suffer twice."
"If you don't have something in life worth fighting for, then you have nothing worth winning for."
February 25, 2024
I loved this book! The twists, turns, and suspense made for an exciting reading experience. The way the relationship developed between the two main characters had me rooting for their romance from the beginning. I loved that they both were strong fighters and worked so well together. The unique bond between them enhanced their relationship even more after they’d already chosen each other. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I’m excited to see what the author has in store for potential future installments!
Thank you so much to Aethon Books for providing this ARC book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Thank you so much to Aethon Books for providing this ARC book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 15, 2024
Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- He falls first
- Cursed magic
- Forced proximity
I would have to give this book a 3.5-3.75/5 stars (and I’m a tough reviewer for sure)! I have a lot of good things to say, plus a few things that I would love to see expanded upon in the rest of the series.
First things first, I read this in 2 days and really enjoyed myself. The magic system is interesting, the plot had me on the edge of my seat, and I really enjoyed a lot of the characters.
I’ll be honest and say that initially I had a hard time with jasmine because she felt very negative and spent a lot of time complaining and being angry for reasons that felt a little immature, but she definitely develops throughout the book and I ended up really loving her character. I really loved the character Lydia! She was my favorite by far. She’s a queer girls girl with a great sense of humor. Love that and love everything about her in this book. And the wow representation made me so happy! Would love to see this expanded on in future books.
The characters felt realistic and natural instead of the copy paste caricatures, rather than the copy/paste characters and personalities we so often see in romantasy. The dialogue felt natural and flowed easily, and it didn’t feel cringey or forced.
In terms of romance I feel like this reads more as a YA, but I don’t at all mean that as a bad thing. I would love to see some more depth in the Asher/Jasmine relationship because it felt very fast moving. It would be great to know more about how Asher fell first and their history prior to the start of the book.
I would have loved more world building and more detailed character descriptions/backgrounds because they sometimes felt a little simple or lacking in depth to me. I would love to know more of the history/lore of the world that we’re in and for there to be more opportunities to connect with characters and relate to their stories. Some of the world building/character histories felt a little bit vague and I would have loved to know more! There are also parts of the magic system that I don’t fully understand and had me a bit confused so I’m going to reread parts of it but I’m not knocking points for that because that’s a pretty common experience for me when reading fantasy.
I have high hopes for any sequels because I think it was set up to be a really amazing series, and I know that often the first book in a series can leave you feeling like you don’t know enough (I definitely felt this way with some series that ended up becoming my favorites!). There’s so much room for growth with these characters, lots of room for world building, and a I’m looking forward to reading the next book and hopefully going much deeper into this world.
- Enemies to lovers
- He falls first
- Cursed magic
- Forced proximity
I would have to give this book a 3.5-3.75/5 stars (and I’m a tough reviewer for sure)! I have a lot of good things to say, plus a few things that I would love to see expanded upon in the rest of the series.
First things first, I read this in 2 days and really enjoyed myself. The magic system is interesting, the plot had me on the edge of my seat, and I really enjoyed a lot of the characters.
I’ll be honest and say that initially I had a hard time with jasmine because she felt very negative and spent a lot of time complaining and being angry for reasons that felt a little immature, but she definitely develops throughout the book and I ended up really loving her character. I really loved the character Lydia! She was my favorite by far. She’s a queer girls girl with a great sense of humor. Love that and love everything about her in this book. And the wow representation made me so happy! Would love to see this expanded on in future books.
The characters felt realistic and natural instead of the copy paste caricatures, rather than the copy/paste characters and personalities we so often see in romantasy. The dialogue felt natural and flowed easily, and it didn’t feel cringey or forced.
In terms of romance I feel like this reads more as a YA, but I don’t at all mean that as a bad thing. I would love to see some more depth in the Asher/Jasmine relationship because it felt very fast moving. It would be great to know more about how Asher fell first and their history prior to the start of the book.
I would have loved more world building and more detailed character descriptions/backgrounds because they sometimes felt a little simple or lacking in depth to me. I would love to know more of the history/lore of the world that we’re in and for there to be more opportunities to connect with characters and relate to their stories. Some of the world building/character histories felt a little bit vague and I would have loved to know more! There are also parts of the magic system that I don’t fully understand and had me a bit confused so I’m going to reread parts of it but I’m not knocking points for that because that’s a pretty common experience for me when reading fantasy.
I have high hopes for any sequels because I think it was set up to be a really amazing series, and I know that often the first book in a series can leave you feeling like you don’t know enough (I definitely felt this way with some series that ended up becoming my favorites!). There’s so much room for growth with these characters, lots of room for world building, and a I’m looking forward to reading the next book and hopefully going much deeper into this world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2024
Thank you Aethon books and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.
I was very interested when I saw this book on NetGalley so I decided to read it as soon as I got the earc of it. Unfortunetely this book didn’t work for me, the characters felt flat and I didn’t feel a connection with them. Beside that, there was almost no world building and no chemistry between the main characters.
March 26, 2024
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)
I enjoyed the start of this but after the first third it slowed down for me. May in part be due to the little world building. I enjoyed the friendships and banter between the characters but the romance felt rushed and lacked chemistry to me. The spice was pretty mild and didn't add anything imo.
I enjoyed the start of this but after the first third it slowed down for me. May in part be due to the little world building. I enjoyed the friendships and banter between the characters but the romance felt rushed and lacked chemistry to me. The spice was pretty mild and didn't add anything imo.
March 1, 2024
To begin with, I’d like to thank NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
To say that Keeper of Scarlet Petals has been incredibly enjoyable would be a lie, for it has been a crazy wild ride. The book managed to get me hooked with just a few pages and at some point, definitely in chapter 2, I was already unable to put the book down. To be honest, I get hooked rather easily, but Keeper of the Scarlet Petals has managed to keep me interested in reading until the end.
I am insanely satisfied with the development of the plot, although I wish we could’ve learnt more about the world building and the history behind the Sanctuary, the Keepers and Starveins. For a debut, I believe this has so much potential to become incredibly popular and I’m currently awaiting for sequel news… especially after that ending!
All in all, Keeper of Scarlet Petals has the right amount of twists and turns, and romance! I’ve been throughly entertained and I’m ready for what the author has in mind for the future.
To say that Keeper of Scarlet Petals has been incredibly enjoyable would be a lie, for it has been a crazy wild ride. The book managed to get me hooked with just a few pages and at some point, definitely in chapter 2, I was already unable to put the book down. To be honest, I get hooked rather easily, but Keeper of the Scarlet Petals has managed to keep me interested in reading until the end.
I am insanely satisfied with the development of the plot, although I wish we could’ve learnt more about the world building and the history behind the Sanctuary, the Keepers and Starveins. For a debut, I believe this has so much potential to become incredibly popular and I’m currently awaiting for sequel news… especially after that ending!
All in all, Keeper of Scarlet Petals has the right amount of twists and turns, and romance! I’ve been throughly entertained and I’m ready for what the author has in mind for the future.
May 14, 2024
✨Keeper of Scarlet Petals✨
Firstly, thank you @thenerdfam and @aethonbooks for the gifted ARC! This was a read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Keeper of the Scarlet Petals follows Jasmine, a new Keeper (bodyguard/steward) student, working to find a life outside the poverty of the gutters until her training partner suddenly goes missing. She’s then given the task of becoming a Keeper of a student at risk for assassination despite being barely trained. Jasmine and her protected, Asher, then find themselves with their lives on the line as assassins target them for a power that no one can explain.
KOSP reads more like an upper YA than NA with spice but I didn’t mind it at all because I felt like it was just a wonderfully wholesome romance. I loved the character growth and the relationship that developed between Jasmine and Asher. I rooted for them from the very beginning and immediately felt their connection. The fact that Asher literally did not care- about rules, opinions, forbidden love, etc- was so refreshing. And Lydia was an utter delight. She brought all the comic relief. World building is minimal but the ending was left open to hopefully discover more!
Tropes you can see within KOSP are forced proximity, school/program based location, rivals to lovers, bodyguard, she protects him, unique bond, forbidden love, flirty banter, moderate language, spice 2/5 that was just above cracked door.
Keeper of Scarlet Petals releases May 14!
#keeperofscarletpetals #thenerdfam
Firstly, thank you @thenerdfam and @aethonbooks for the gifted ARC! This was a read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Keeper of the Scarlet Petals follows Jasmine, a new Keeper (bodyguard/steward) student, working to find a life outside the poverty of the gutters until her training partner suddenly goes missing. She’s then given the task of becoming a Keeper of a student at risk for assassination despite being barely trained. Jasmine and her protected, Asher, then find themselves with their lives on the line as assassins target them for a power that no one can explain.
KOSP reads more like an upper YA than NA with spice but I didn’t mind it at all because I felt like it was just a wonderfully wholesome romance. I loved the character growth and the relationship that developed between Jasmine and Asher. I rooted for them from the very beginning and immediately felt their connection. The fact that Asher literally did not care- about rules, opinions, forbidden love, etc- was so refreshing. And Lydia was an utter delight. She brought all the comic relief. World building is minimal but the ending was left open to hopefully discover more!
Tropes you can see within KOSP are forced proximity, school/program based location, rivals to lovers, bodyguard, she protects him, unique bond, forbidden love, flirty banter, moderate language, spice 2/5 that was just above cracked door.
Keeper of Scarlet Petals releases May 14!
#keeperofscarletpetals #thenerdfam
May 15, 2024
Jasmine wants to become Keeper as a means to escape the gutters. Her charge? Well he is being pursued by assassins. What could go wrong?
I think ultimately the pacing was incredibly slow for me. Not much really happened here in book one. The world building didn’t feel well fleshed out.
Overall the book was enjoyable. It’s got romance, action, an academia setting, magic, and mystery. I enjoyed hanging out with Asher and Jasmine for a bit.
Thank you to Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC.
I think ultimately the pacing was incredibly slow for me. Not much really happened here in book one. The world building didn’t feel well fleshed out.
Overall the book was enjoyable. It’s got romance, action, an academia setting, magic, and mystery. I enjoyed hanging out with Asher and Jasmine for a bit.
Thank you to Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC.
May 14, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. Love the magic., force, proximity , keeper and charge and the twist at the end was really good. I can’t wait for the next book.
March 22, 2024
Book Ratings:
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5)
🌶️🌶️
Book Review (no spoilers):
Ok that ending?!?!?!? I was honestly shocked at who was actually behind everything!!!
This was such a fun and enjoyable read! I loved the characters, their banter, their drive to do better, the forced proximity, the honesty between them, and the friendships! This was more YA or NA but so enjoyable. The spice was not graphic which I enjoyed but there was definitely romance and tension.
The love interest I thought would develop didn’t, which I always like when I’m surprised.
I am so eager to see what is to come in book 2!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5)
🌶️🌶️
Book Review (no spoilers):
Ok that ending?!?!?!? I was honestly shocked at who was actually behind everything!!!
This was such a fun and enjoyable read! I loved the characters, their banter, their drive to do better, the forced proximity, the honesty between them, and the friendships! This was more YA or NA but so enjoyable. The spice was not graphic which I enjoyed but there was definitely romance and tension.
The love interest I thought would develop didn’t, which I always like when I’m surprised.
I am so eager to see what is to come in book 2!!!
April 19, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me access to this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
« Agh. I hate this. Why couldn’t stabbing things just fix all my problems? »
Rating: 3 ⭐️
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Format: ARC Ebook
Pages: 364
Spice: 1 🌶️
POV: Third POV
S/S: book #1
Check trigger warnings for any book
Being a Keeper sounds like being a nanny for rich adults, what a nightmare.
I’ll say that I did enjoy Jasmine as our main character, even though we don’t know much more about her from the beginning to the end of the story. She’s bad at being a Keeper, she’s good with her sword, she comes from the gutters and she has something else going on with her. Nothing evolved.
Asher follows the same fate, other than the reveal we have at the beginning which creates the plot, nothing else evolves.
Lydia might be my favorite and we barely see her. And Pina lolll
Plot-wise, it’s quite predictable. Nothing was very surprising. As for the world-building… Other than the Sanctuary and one history lesson that wasn’t very clear, we don’t know anything of this world. The magic system was confusing as well. The Starvein and the Xolani? Their differences weren’t clear…
The romance was fine at best. A rivals to friends to lovers? It felt very sudden and just a « well might as well make them lovers since they’re stuck together » and not a thought-out relationship.
So overall, the writing was enjoyable, however, the story wasn’t outstanding, nor was the romance. I don’t think I’ll pick up book two.
Favorite quotes (MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS):
« The first and final steps in the path of a Keeper were death. Their order was not one of glory, nor was it one of joy. »
« You can’t read my mind. You aren’t Starvein, so you don’t have any magic in you. You’re just a competent asshole. »
« Tomorrow’s match will be fun. That match never came. »
« Silver eyes. You are a Xolani. »
« Failure was impossible. It wasn’t - it couldn’t be an option. »
« This is assistance. I’m giving you advice. » « Telling me to stop being bad at something is not advice. » « That kind of just sounds like an excuse to keep being bad. » « How is this meant to make me feel better? » « It’s not. It’s advice. »
« Just because I don’t know how to fly doesn’t mean I can’t point out when a bird is drunk. »
« Truce, but it’s going to mean you’ll have to try not to be insufferable for too much of the day. » « Please don’t make unreasonable demands. »
« He nodded to the pan, and Jasmin tried to pretend she wasn’t vividly aware of the warmth of his hand against hers. »
« Let’s head back to my room and see if you can manage to stress me out enough to force my magic to awaken, shall we? »
« Pain can be overcome. Broken bones can be surpassed. Your mind must not break. »
« It was wrong, but he couldn’t pull his gaze away. She was beautiful - but not as beautiful as she was when she was awake and smiling. »
« For now, all he could do was lie there and try not to feel too guilty about how much he was enjoying the feeling of Jasmine beside him. »
« You are drawing magic from the Xolani. Congratulations. You have found a new way to disappoint me. »
« Ask before you touch her. She’s not your student. She’s my Keeper. »
« Watcher help me, I think I’ve fallen for Asher. »
« You’re mine. I’m your Keeper, remember? » « I’d never even think about forgetting it. »
« Maybe you would be better suited to cleaning toilets. You have the intelligence of a steamed rat. The gutters grew smarter on the day you left. »
« If you stress about something you can’t control, you only suffer twice. »
« Yes, Jas. I passed. Qien judged that the three of us defeating an assassin was slightly more difficult than fighting another Keeper. »
« Rougher. I don’t need protection. »
« That’s very… romantic of you. » « What can I say? I’m a pretty fantastic person. »
Leena - Leena.reader review - @leena.reader on tiktok and instagram
« Agh. I hate this. Why couldn’t stabbing things just fix all my problems? »
Rating: 3 ⭐️
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Format: ARC Ebook
Pages: 364
Spice: 1 🌶️
POV: Third POV
S/S: book #1
Check trigger warnings for any book
Being a Keeper sounds like being a nanny for rich adults, what a nightmare.
I’ll say that I did enjoy Jasmine as our main character, even though we don’t know much more about her from the beginning to the end of the story. She’s bad at being a Keeper, she’s good with her sword, she comes from the gutters and she has something else going on with her. Nothing evolved.
Asher follows the same fate, other than the reveal we have at the beginning which creates the plot, nothing else evolves.
Lydia might be my favorite and we barely see her. And Pina lolll
Plot-wise, it’s quite predictable. Nothing was very surprising. As for the world-building… Other than the Sanctuary and one history lesson that wasn’t very clear, we don’t know anything of this world. The magic system was confusing as well. The Starvein and the Xolani? Their differences weren’t clear…
The romance was fine at best. A rivals to friends to lovers? It felt very sudden and just a « well might as well make them lovers since they’re stuck together » and not a thought-out relationship.
So overall, the writing was enjoyable, however, the story wasn’t outstanding, nor was the romance. I don’t think I’ll pick up book two.
Favorite quotes (MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS):
« The first and final steps in the path of a Keeper were death. Their order was not one of glory, nor was it one of joy. »
« You can’t read my mind. You aren’t Starvein, so you don’t have any magic in you. You’re just a competent asshole. »
« Tomorrow’s match will be fun. That match never came. »
« Silver eyes. You are a Xolani. »
« Failure was impossible. It wasn’t - it couldn’t be an option. »
« This is assistance. I’m giving you advice. » « Telling me to stop being bad at something is not advice. » « That kind of just sounds like an excuse to keep being bad. » « How is this meant to make me feel better? » « It’s not. It’s advice. »
« Just because I don’t know how to fly doesn’t mean I can’t point out when a bird is drunk. »
« Truce, but it’s going to mean you’ll have to try not to be insufferable for too much of the day. » « Please don’t make unreasonable demands. »
« He nodded to the pan, and Jasmin tried to pretend she wasn’t vividly aware of the warmth of his hand against hers. »
« Let’s head back to my room and see if you can manage to stress me out enough to force my magic to awaken, shall we? »
« Pain can be overcome. Broken bones can be surpassed. Your mind must not break. »
« It was wrong, but he couldn’t pull his gaze away. She was beautiful - but not as beautiful as she was when she was awake and smiling. »
« For now, all he could do was lie there and try not to feel too guilty about how much he was enjoying the feeling of Jasmine beside him. »
« You are drawing magic from the Xolani. Congratulations. You have found a new way to disappoint me. »
« Ask before you touch her. She’s not your student. She’s my Keeper. »
« Watcher help me, I think I’ve fallen for Asher. »
« You’re mine. I’m your Keeper, remember? » « I’d never even think about forgetting it. »
« Maybe you would be better suited to cleaning toilets. You have the intelligence of a steamed rat. The gutters grew smarter on the day you left. »
« If you stress about something you can’t control, you only suffer twice. »
« Yes, Jas. I passed. Qien judged that the three of us defeating an assassin was slightly more difficult than fighting another Keeper. »
« Rougher. I don’t need protection. »
« That’s very… romantic of you. » « What can I say? I’m a pretty fantastic person. »
Leena - Leena.reader review - @leena.reader on tiktok and instagram
May 10, 2024
Rating: 4.5/5
I received eARC for my honest opinion.
In this book you have the Keepers and the Starveins, the keepers are the protectors of the Starveins. However, they’re not just protectors, they're also there to give advice & cook, basically to take care of them because Starveins are the magic welders of their society, but their magic has a small downside. It’s slow to cast, so they need the help of Keepers to make sure that they will not be harmed during a battle. In this book you will meet Jasmin who is in the middle of her first year of training to become a Keeper at Sanctuary, she wakes up to find out that she is getting pulled out of her training to become a Keeper to a Starvein whose family was assassinated. It turns out that Starvien is her number one rival, Asher. He was a keeper until that horrible day with his family. With the assassins still out there, they now have to make them stay alive to figure out who and why they want Asher dead.
I really loved this book right away. The world building in this book was done well, the pace of the book was perfect for fantasy lovers and the characters were easy to connect with. I thought the plot was well done, with the right amount of chemistry, to the action in the book, the drama, and the mystery of trying to figure out what is going on. I loved the little twists and turns that the author put in the plot, I am happy that I was right on who the traitor in the group was though, but I didn’t guess the spy.
I liked Jasmine right away in this book, she is funny, smart, strong, and determined not to become a street rat ever again in her life. I liked that you gotta see her character developed throughout the book but at the same time she still is true to the person that she is. I found her to be easy to connect with and I would love to have a friend like her or to have her as my Keeper if I was a Starvien. I loved getting to see the relationship change and develop between Asher and Jasmine. Asher is quiet and a good fighter, that is why he joined to become a Keeper instead of a Starvine, but with the events of his family he must jump into Starvine training now. I liked that he is a thinker and likes to have a plan for situations that might come up. I really loved the protective side of Asher when it came to Jasmine, a few times I was like Aw! They really do make a cute couple and I am one that loves forced proximity in books so when that scene came up, I had a huge smile on my face.
I hate cliffhangers in books but honestly, I cannot wait until the next one comes out and we get to see more of those two. I recommend this book to anyone who likes romantasy, forced proximity, books with action, plot twists, and great characters.
I want to thank NetGalley and Aethon Books for the opportunity to review this book.
I received eARC for my honest opinion.
In this book you have the Keepers and the Starveins, the keepers are the protectors of the Starveins. However, they’re not just protectors, they're also there to give advice & cook, basically to take care of them because Starveins are the magic welders of their society, but their magic has a small downside. It’s slow to cast, so they need the help of Keepers to make sure that they will not be harmed during a battle. In this book you will meet Jasmin who is in the middle of her first year of training to become a Keeper at Sanctuary, she wakes up to find out that she is getting pulled out of her training to become a Keeper to a Starvein whose family was assassinated. It turns out that Starvien is her number one rival, Asher. He was a keeper until that horrible day with his family. With the assassins still out there, they now have to make them stay alive to figure out who and why they want Asher dead.
I really loved this book right away. The world building in this book was done well, the pace of the book was perfect for fantasy lovers and the characters were easy to connect with. I thought the plot was well done, with the right amount of chemistry, to the action in the book, the drama, and the mystery of trying to figure out what is going on. I loved the little twists and turns that the author put in the plot, I am happy that I was right on who the traitor in the group was though, but I didn’t guess the spy.
I liked Jasmine right away in this book, she is funny, smart, strong, and determined not to become a street rat ever again in her life. I liked that you gotta see her character developed throughout the book but at the same time she still is true to the person that she is. I found her to be easy to connect with and I would love to have a friend like her or to have her as my Keeper if I was a Starvien. I loved getting to see the relationship change and develop between Asher and Jasmine. Asher is quiet and a good fighter, that is why he joined to become a Keeper instead of a Starvine, but with the events of his family he must jump into Starvine training now. I liked that he is a thinker and likes to have a plan for situations that might come up. I really loved the protective side of Asher when it came to Jasmine, a few times I was like Aw! They really do make a cute couple and I am one that loves forced proximity in books so when that scene came up, I had a huge smile on my face.
I hate cliffhangers in books but honestly, I cannot wait until the next one comes out and we get to see more of those two. I recommend this book to anyone who likes romantasy, forced proximity, books with action, plot twists, and great characters.
I want to thank NetGalley and Aethon Books for the opportunity to review this book.
March 24, 2024
I got this as a netgalley ARC.
To be a Keeper was to dedicate one’s life – and heart – to protecting another. Jasmine wasn’t ready for it. Less than a year into her training at Sanctuary, a college for Keepers and mages alike, and with a fresh start from a brutal life of thievery in the slums, all she wanted to do was continue mastering the sword arts and avoid her other responsibilities. Those plans are ruined when she's assigned to be the protector of a young nobleman whose family was murdered. Her new charge is cocky, smug, and drives her up a wall at every opportunity. Forced to protect a man she can’t stand with her life, Jasmine needs to find time that isn’t there to continue her training and keep assassins from killing both of them, all the while learning magic and discovering that there’s more to life than survival. And yet, Jasmine starts to find herself inexplicably drawn to him. In the slums, Jasmine never had room to care about anything other than putting food on the table. But she’s not in the slums anymore, and she can’t keep her feelings tied down forever. Unfortunately, burgeoning love is the least of Jasmine’s problems. As pieces of a malevolent plot start to unfold around them, she and her charge realize that there might be only one thing left that they can rely on.
There are some things I really liked about this book. I enjoyed the magic system it was interesting and strange. I've never read a magic system quite like this one. I really liked the banter and friendships in this. The characters did seem a little underdeveloped especially the 2 main characters but I did enjoy them.
The thing I had a hard time with is plot. I was bored through a good portion of the middle of this book. Stuff was happening but it didn't grip me so it didn't feel like the plot was going anywhere. There is a lot of slow places in the pace of this book. The urgent things didn't feel urgent. The characters strength kinda felt like it was thrown in there to give cool fight scenes.
This a supposed to be a enemies to lovers......ya no they liked each other the entire time they were never mean to each other they had crushes on each other from the very beginning. Don't say its an enemy to lovers if it's not. Also Jasmine's character is supposed to be a scary criminal from the slums who clawed her way up to be a Keeper but I forgot she was even from the slums only other characters reminding me at random times did I really remember. There was no depth put into this part of the character and I believe it would have made her a more compelling character.
I have found the older I'm getting the more Young Adult is a miss instead of a hit. So if you are a Young Adult reader and like romance with some plot then this might be for you.
To be a Keeper was to dedicate one’s life – and heart – to protecting another. Jasmine wasn’t ready for it. Less than a year into her training at Sanctuary, a college for Keepers and mages alike, and with a fresh start from a brutal life of thievery in the slums, all she wanted to do was continue mastering the sword arts and avoid her other responsibilities. Those plans are ruined when she's assigned to be the protector of a young nobleman whose family was murdered. Her new charge is cocky, smug, and drives her up a wall at every opportunity. Forced to protect a man she can’t stand with her life, Jasmine needs to find time that isn’t there to continue her training and keep assassins from killing both of them, all the while learning magic and discovering that there’s more to life than survival. And yet, Jasmine starts to find herself inexplicably drawn to him. In the slums, Jasmine never had room to care about anything other than putting food on the table. But she’s not in the slums anymore, and she can’t keep her feelings tied down forever. Unfortunately, burgeoning love is the least of Jasmine’s problems. As pieces of a malevolent plot start to unfold around them, she and her charge realize that there might be only one thing left that they can rely on.
There are some things I really liked about this book. I enjoyed the magic system it was interesting and strange. I've never read a magic system quite like this one. I really liked the banter and friendships in this. The characters did seem a little underdeveloped especially the 2 main characters but I did enjoy them.
The thing I had a hard time with is plot. I was bored through a good portion of the middle of this book. Stuff was happening but it didn't grip me so it didn't feel like the plot was going anywhere. There is a lot of slow places in the pace of this book. The urgent things didn't feel urgent. The characters strength kinda felt like it was thrown in there to give cool fight scenes.
This a supposed to be a enemies to lovers......ya no they liked each other the entire time they were never mean to each other they had crushes on each other from the very beginning. Don't say its an enemy to lovers if it's not. Also Jasmine's character is supposed to be a scary criminal from the slums who clawed her way up to be a Keeper but I forgot she was even from the slums only other characters reminding me at random times did I really remember. There was no depth put into this part of the character and I believe it would have made her a more compelling character.
I have found the older I'm getting the more Young Adult is a miss instead of a hit. So if you are a Young Adult reader and like romance with some plot then this might be for you.
April 15, 2024
Being a Keeper means you’ve trained and put down your entire heart and soul to protect high ranked people. It’s what Jasmine wanted to do since she’s escaped the slums on the street and learn to master sword arts in class. She had a tough past, and being assigned the role of a Keeper to Asher after an incident within his family, her rival, have proven how powerful she really is. I really like to see how a woman is represented as a “guardian” for a
man and her skills in protection him really shows how strong and smart she is, and even though they’re rivals, she makes sure he’s always safe and well taken care of around him 🥹. Yes it’s her job to do but with all the banter I love to see this soft side of her checking up on him and all. Who wouldn’t?
The mystery and magic gives the story a big push and the reader learning the magic system, as well as Jasmine and Asher, is really interesting. Both working together to figure it all out is within the twists and turns of the dark side of the story is really sweet and it’s a big step for them to actually understand and get to know each other. I’m a sucker for forced proximity and the story has really gripped on to it which I looveee to see!
Although I couldn’t quite connect with Asher. I mean, he’s really sweet and funny. He’s the one who knows how to make Jasmine take an extra deep breath through all of it, but other than that it wasn’t something special about it. The love part was a bit rushed as well and even though this story is said to be NA, it had more elements of YA the more I read. It didn’t put me off though and I still enjoyed the story. So if you’re more of an YA reader I would totally recommend this!
Thank you NetGalley and A.N. Sky for the eArc 🤍
man and her skills in protection him really shows how strong and smart she is, and even though they’re rivals, she makes sure he’s always safe and well taken care of around him 🥹. Yes it’s her job to do but with all the banter I love to see this soft side of her checking up on him and all. Who wouldn’t?
The mystery and magic gives the story a big push and the reader learning the magic system, as well as Jasmine and Asher, is really interesting. Both working together to figure it all out is within the twists and turns of the dark side of the story is really sweet and it’s a big step for them to actually understand and get to know each other. I’m a sucker for forced proximity and the story has really gripped on to it which I looveee to see!
Although I couldn’t quite connect with Asher. I mean, he’s really sweet and funny. He’s the one who knows how to make Jasmine take an extra deep breath through all of it, but other than that it wasn’t something special about it. The love part was a bit rushed as well and even though this story is said to be NA, it had more elements of YA the more I read. It didn’t put me off though and I still enjoyed the story. So if you’re more of an YA reader I would totally recommend this!
Thank you NetGalley and A.N. Sky for the eArc 🤍
May 8, 2024
Thank you to the nerd fam and aethon books for the gifted arc!
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. Personally, I think it read as more YA, since it didn’t have particularly adult themes or anything. The sex scenes are already pretty non descriptive, so I think it should’ve just been closed door and classified as YA. I also felt like this book started in a weird place—right in the middle of a sparring match between the FMC and MMC.
This book is severely lacking in any character descriptions. If someone offered me a million dollars to tell them what the characters looked like, how old they were, and what their personality traits are, I would come up blank. I couldn’t picture the characters at all, which made me feel very disconnected from the story. I tried to look up the author on social media to see if they had any character art, but no social accounts came up which was a little odd, but I’m assuming the author is using a pen name.
There wasn’t really any world building or history/lore. Why do the keepers have to do tasks like cooking for the starveins? What brought about the keeper/starvein relationship? What’s the political structure? How did Jasmine become a keeper? Etc, etc.
I also really disliked the third person POV with first person inner monologues. It felt weird and choppy.
Lastly, I felt like the romance was very bland and one dimensional. The FMC and MMC didn’t really have any connection then all the sudden they’re in love? Okkkkk….
At least this was a really fast and easy read, so I don’t feel like I wasted too much time on it. It had a really interesting premise and had the potential to be good but just fell really flat.
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. Personally, I think it read as more YA, since it didn’t have particularly adult themes or anything. The sex scenes are already pretty non descriptive, so I think it should’ve just been closed door and classified as YA. I also felt like this book started in a weird place—right in the middle of a sparring match between the FMC and MMC.
This book is severely lacking in any character descriptions. If someone offered me a million dollars to tell them what the characters looked like, how old they were, and what their personality traits are, I would come up blank. I couldn’t picture the characters at all, which made me feel very disconnected from the story. I tried to look up the author on social media to see if they had any character art, but no social accounts came up which was a little odd, but I’m assuming the author is using a pen name.
There wasn’t really any world building or history/lore. Why do the keepers have to do tasks like cooking for the starveins? What brought about the keeper/starvein relationship? What’s the political structure? How did Jasmine become a keeper? Etc, etc.
I also really disliked the third person POV with first person inner monologues. It felt weird and choppy.
Lastly, I felt like the romance was very bland and one dimensional. The FMC and MMC didn’t really have any connection then all the sudden they’re in love? Okkkkk….
At least this was a really fast and easy read, so I don’t feel like I wasted too much time on it. It had a really interesting premise and had the potential to be good but just fell really flat.
May 12, 2024
First, I would like to thank @thenerfam and the author, A. N. Skye, for gifting me the ARC to read and review.
Keeper of Scarlet Petals by A. N. Skye is a truly unique and enjoyable fantasy book. As the first installment in the series, it sets the stage with its rich story and background, and introduces a cast of intriguing characters. The inclusion of the bodyguard trope, a personal favorite of mine in fantasy books, added an exciting twist to the plot. The main character, Jasmine, is training to be a Keeper, a bodyguard/steward/advisor to a member of the upper society, those holding the magic. However, her life takes a sudden turn when she is forced to become a true Keeper to a young noble, who is revealed to be none other than her friend, Asher. Their journey, filled with danger and intrigue, kept me on the edge of my seat as we unraveled the mysteries together.
The emotional journey of the characters was the true highlight of the book. The slow development of love between Jasmine and Asher, progressing from friends to allies and finally to lovers, was a joy to witness. While this part may read a bit YA, it didn't detract from the depth of their relationship. Their love, their protectiveness towards each other, and their shared battles were truly magical, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way.
There is a wealth of untold stories waiting to be discovered in future installments, and I am eagerly anticipating it all.
What will you find in Keeper of Scarlet Petals?
- forced proximity
- friends to allies to lovers
- forbidden love
- hidden identities
- political intrigue
- interesting magic system
- betrayal
- bodyguard trope.
Keeper of Scarlet Petals by A. N. Skye is a truly unique and enjoyable fantasy book. As the first installment in the series, it sets the stage with its rich story and background, and introduces a cast of intriguing characters. The inclusion of the bodyguard trope, a personal favorite of mine in fantasy books, added an exciting twist to the plot. The main character, Jasmine, is training to be a Keeper, a bodyguard/steward/advisor to a member of the upper society, those holding the magic. However, her life takes a sudden turn when she is forced to become a true Keeper to a young noble, who is revealed to be none other than her friend, Asher. Their journey, filled with danger and intrigue, kept me on the edge of my seat as we unraveled the mysteries together.
The emotional journey of the characters was the true highlight of the book. The slow development of love between Jasmine and Asher, progressing from friends to allies and finally to lovers, was a joy to witness. While this part may read a bit YA, it didn't detract from the depth of their relationship. Their love, their protectiveness towards each other, and their shared battles were truly magical, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way.
There is a wealth of untold stories waiting to be discovered in future installments, and I am eagerly anticipating it all.
What will you find in Keeper of Scarlet Petals?
- forced proximity
- friends to allies to lovers
- forbidden love
- hidden identities
- political intrigue
- interesting magic system
- betrayal
- bodyguard trope.
April 1, 2024
*I received this as an ARC, but all opinions are completely my own!*
I absolutely LOVED this book!
Jasmine and Asher are such lovable characters and the chemistry between them is really cute!
Jasmine is one of my favorite characters. I love that she is a highly skilled fighter but she can’t cook to save her life. She will, quite literally, burn eggs. Since cooking for Asher is one of her tasks as a keeper, this goes horribly. But, Asher is more than willing to help Jasmine with all of her tasks and is so sweet to her. The romance between the two of them is super adorable!
There are lgbtq+ side characters as well (wlw) which I really enjoy. They are also absolutely so cute together!
There is a slight amount of spice. It’s nothing too crazy, but there are some spicy scenes and some spicy jokes. If you’re someone who wants a lot of spice this won’t be for you. The scenes aren’t super detailed, but it isn’t a fade to black book either. For me personally, it’s the perfect amount! I don’t love when scenes are going on for pages or when there are scenes every few chapters, but that is just my personal preference.
The plot was also super engaging! As much as I was reading to see how the relationship between Asher and Jasmine developed, I was also quite curious what was going on with the assassins. It does end in a bit of a cliffhanger though (and a shocking twist). It isn’t an unbearable cliffhanger. You aren’t waiting for answers on some huge important question, but I’m definitely eagerly waiting the next book. I think it’s just enough to keep the reader sucked into your series without angering them with a huge unknown that they want answers to immediately.
However, if you are someone who absolutely HATES cliffhangers or typically waits until the series is completed to start a series, I still think you can enjoy this book. The cliffhanger is exclusively in the epilogue, which in my opinion you don’t need to read to get closure on the book. You’ll definitely need to read it before moving on to the next book, but you can wait until the next book comes out to read the epilogue. Without the epilogue you’re still given a resolution to the immediate problems. There are still lingering problems that need to be solved, but the biggest most urgent issues are solved.
Slight Disclaimer: There were some typos or errors when I read it, nothing that ruined my experience, but they were still there. I’ve let the author know about the ones I caught when reading, so hopefully they’ll be fixed by the time the book releases. I personally don’t find typos to be a big deal, as long as I can still figure out what is being said, but I know some people can’t stand them so I figured I’d mention them.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book! I’m a huge sucker for forced proximity, which this book does SO well.
I can’t wait until the next book comes out, which will unfortunately probably be a while since the first book hasn’t even officially released yet, lol. If you are a fantasy or romantasy lover I highly recommend checking it out!
I absolutely LOVED this book!
Jasmine and Asher are such lovable characters and the chemistry between them is really cute!
Jasmine is one of my favorite characters. I love that she is a highly skilled fighter but she can’t cook to save her life. She will, quite literally, burn eggs. Since cooking for Asher is one of her tasks as a keeper, this goes horribly. But, Asher is more than willing to help Jasmine with all of her tasks and is so sweet to her. The romance between the two of them is super adorable!
There are lgbtq+ side characters as well (wlw) which I really enjoy. They are also absolutely so cute together!
There is a slight amount of spice. It’s nothing too crazy, but there are some spicy scenes and some spicy jokes. If you’re someone who wants a lot of spice this won’t be for you. The scenes aren’t super detailed, but it isn’t a fade to black book either. For me personally, it’s the perfect amount! I don’t love when scenes are going on for pages or when there are scenes every few chapters, but that is just my personal preference.
The plot was also super engaging! As much as I was reading to see how the relationship between Asher and Jasmine developed, I was also quite curious what was going on with the assassins. It does end in a bit of a cliffhanger though (and a shocking twist). It isn’t an unbearable cliffhanger. You aren’t waiting for answers on some huge important question, but I’m definitely eagerly waiting the next book. I think it’s just enough to keep the reader sucked into your series without angering them with a huge unknown that they want answers to immediately.
However, if you are someone who absolutely HATES cliffhangers or typically waits until the series is completed to start a series, I still think you can enjoy this book. The cliffhanger is exclusively in the epilogue, which in my opinion you don’t need to read to get closure on the book. You’ll definitely need to read it before moving on to the next book, but you can wait until the next book comes out to read the epilogue. Without the epilogue you’re still given a resolution to the immediate problems. There are still lingering problems that need to be solved, but the biggest most urgent issues are solved.
Slight Disclaimer: There were some typos or errors when I read it, nothing that ruined my experience, but they were still there. I’ve let the author know about the ones I caught when reading, so hopefully they’ll be fixed by the time the book releases. I personally don’t find typos to be a big deal, as long as I can still figure out what is being said, but I know some people can’t stand them so I figured I’d mention them.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book! I’m a huge sucker for forced proximity, which this book does SO well.
I can’t wait until the next book comes out, which will unfortunately probably be a while since the first book hasn’t even officially released yet, lol. If you are a fantasy or romantasy lover I highly recommend checking it out!
April 26, 2024
3.5 ⭐ rounded up
1 🌶️
Keeper of the Scarlet Petals by A.N. Skye is a new adult romantasy that takes you on a wild ride. Jasmine is a Keeper, trying to start fresh after growing up in the slums. In her first year at the magical college, Sanctuary, she is assigned to protect a young nobleman who's whole family was slaughtered. Unfortunately, the nobleman she is tasked to protect, Asher, doesn't want her protection. He is cocky and feels like he can do whatever he wants, making her job harder than it needs to be. It takes an assassination attempt on his life for them to realize this won't be a normal assignment and there is a mystery taking place that needs to be solved.
I think the romance is meant to be enemies to lovers, but they aren't enemies at all... at most its reluctant lovers. The romance was sweet, the spice was MEH - not bad, but honestly not very memorable.
The world building was a bit lacking as I wanted to know more about Sanctuary and the history of the Keepers and Starveins, however, the twists and turns of the plot definitely kept me satisfied enough. The romance was entertaining and it felt like a great debut to hook us into a new fantasy world.
The first 20% and the last 20% were great. Everything in between was lackluster at best.
🍳 You'll love this is you really love scrambled eggs... 🙃🙃🙃
🥀 Upper YA (Lower NA w/Mild spice)
🥀 Twists & Turns
🥀 Intriguing magic system
🥀 Forced Proximity
🥀 Bodyguard - she protects him!
🥀 Banter & strong friendships
🥀 Epilogue cliffhanger
Thank you to The Nerd Fam & Aethon Books for the gifted eARC of Keeper of the Scarlet Petals by A.N. Skye
1 🌶️
Keeper of the Scarlet Petals by A.N. Skye is a new adult romantasy that takes you on a wild ride. Jasmine is a Keeper, trying to start fresh after growing up in the slums. In her first year at the magical college, Sanctuary, she is assigned to protect a young nobleman who's whole family was slaughtered. Unfortunately, the nobleman she is tasked to protect, Asher, doesn't want her protection. He is cocky and feels like he can do whatever he wants, making her job harder than it needs to be. It takes an assassination attempt on his life for them to realize this won't be a normal assignment and there is a mystery taking place that needs to be solved.
I think the romance is meant to be enemies to lovers, but they aren't enemies at all... at most its reluctant lovers. The romance was sweet, the spice was MEH - not bad, but honestly not very memorable.
The world building was a bit lacking as I wanted to know more about Sanctuary and the history of the Keepers and Starveins, however, the twists and turns of the plot definitely kept me satisfied enough. The romance was entertaining and it felt like a great debut to hook us into a new fantasy world.
The first 20% and the last 20% were great. Everything in between was lackluster at best.
🍳 You'll love this is you really love scrambled eggs... 🙃🙃🙃
🥀 Upper YA (Lower NA w/Mild spice)
🥀 Twists & Turns
🥀 Intriguing magic system
🥀 Forced Proximity
🥀 Bodyguard - she protects him!
🥀 Banter & strong friendships
🥀 Epilogue cliffhanger
Thank you to The Nerd Fam & Aethon Books for the gifted eARC of Keeper of the Scarlet Petals by A.N. Skye
May 14, 2024
Review of Keeper of Scarlet Petals
“If you don’t have something in life worth fighting for, then you have nothing worth winning for.”
To be a Keeper was to dedicate one’s life, and heart, to protecting another. And, that’s what Jasmine was training to be, but she was less than a year into her training at Sanctuary. Sanctuary was her escape from her brutal life in the slums and all she wanted to do was continue learning everything she needed to become the best in her class. But, those plans are ruined when she’s assigned to become the protector to a young nobleman whose entire family has been murdered. He’s cocky and arrogant and completely drives Jasmine up the wall. But, she’s going to have to put aside her feelings to keep him safe, while still trying to keep up with her class…despite not being allowed to attend her classes. I truly enjoyed this rivals to lovers story! The banter between Jasmine and Asher was so much fun. I truly loved their relationship and the way they push each other in their training. They really learned to work together well. I really enjoyed most of the side characters and the friends they both make along the way. I could have used more world building but I am assuming that will come in further books.I’d really love it if more of both Jasmine’s and Asher’s family histories could be explored. It just seems like this would be important information as to why an entire group of assassins would be going after Asher’s family. All in all, this was a fun, exciting read and I am completely excited about reading the next book when it’s ready.
Thank you The Nerd Fam and Aethon Books for the gifted Arc.
“If you don’t have something in life worth fighting for, then you have nothing worth winning for.”
To be a Keeper was to dedicate one’s life, and heart, to protecting another. And, that’s what Jasmine was training to be, but she was less than a year into her training at Sanctuary. Sanctuary was her escape from her brutal life in the slums and all she wanted to do was continue learning everything she needed to become the best in her class. But, those plans are ruined when she’s assigned to become the protector to a young nobleman whose entire family has been murdered. He’s cocky and arrogant and completely drives Jasmine up the wall. But, she’s going to have to put aside her feelings to keep him safe, while still trying to keep up with her class…despite not being allowed to attend her classes. I truly enjoyed this rivals to lovers story! The banter between Jasmine and Asher was so much fun. I truly loved their relationship and the way they push each other in their training. They really learned to work together well. I really enjoyed most of the side characters and the friends they both make along the way. I could have used more world building but I am assuming that will come in further books.I’d really love it if more of both Jasmine’s and Asher’s family histories could be explored. It just seems like this would be important information as to why an entire group of assassins would be going after Asher’s family. All in all, this was a fun, exciting read and I am completely excited about reading the next book when it’s ready.
Thank you The Nerd Fam and Aethon Books for the gifted Arc.
May 19, 2024
I had such a good time reading this!! It was fast paced, full of action and intrigue, and had such a cute romance! The banter between all of the characters was great and had me laughing out loud several times. The epilogue definitely got me with that reveal and cliffhanger, and now I am impatiently waiting for book 2! 😆
To be a Keeper is to dedicate one's entire self to their charge. Servant, advisor, shield, whatever a charge may need, the Keeper will provide.
Jasmine is a first year Keeper-in-training. Raised in the gutters and determinednever to return, she works hard to become the top fighter in her class. But fighting is only one of the tenants of a Keeper, and she will need to master them all if she ever hopes to graduate.
When Jasmine is pulled from training to take on a charge, she is less than thrilled. Especially when the boy she is assigned to protect has a way of getting under her skin. Jasmine is determined to prove that she has what it takes to be a Keeper, but with assassins targeting them and no idea who they can trust, she may not even survive her first year of training.
If you are looking for a fun, fast-paced fantasy with a rivals-to-lovers romance, lots of action, cool magic 😉, and a strong FMC, then this needs to be at the top of your list!
To be a Keeper is to dedicate one's entire self to their charge. Servant, advisor, shield, whatever a charge may need, the Keeper will provide.
Jasmine is a first year Keeper-in-training. Raised in the gutters and determinednever to return, she works hard to become the top fighter in her class. But fighting is only one of the tenants of a Keeper, and she will need to master them all if she ever hopes to graduate.
When Jasmine is pulled from training to take on a charge, she is less than thrilled. Especially when the boy she is assigned to protect has a way of getting under her skin. Jasmine is determined to prove that she has what it takes to be a Keeper, but with assassins targeting them and no idea who they can trust, she may not even survive her first year of training.
If you are looking for a fun, fast-paced fantasy with a rivals-to-lovers romance, lots of action, cool magic 😉, and a strong FMC, then this needs to be at the top of your list!
April 3, 2024
Many thanks to NetGalley and Aethon Books for this ARC.
« Forget if it’s the right thing or it’s the safe thing. For once, I want to do something because I want to do it. » Although she only comes to this on the verge of kissing someone she is not supposed to kiss, and hasn’t even admitted to herself that she likes, this aptly sums up the key lesson Jasmine learns as she trains to be a Keeper. It will not only take her through her duties but will inform her life’s path.
The teenaged Jasmine, abandoned by her struggling parents, was born in the gutters of Rodridge in the kingdom of Whitewater, now threatened by an alliance determined to use magic to conquer and subjugate. When the King suddenly offered her a way out of the slums by training as a Keeper—a rare opportunity for a lowborn—her only thought was the escape promised. But being a Keeper is not altogether a prize. The training, mostly in sword fighting, is dangerous. Once it is complete, they are assigned to a Starvein, a noble with magical powers, whom they must protect with their lives. The survival rate is low, especially since the enemy has increased its attacks and is finding new ways to use magic for murder.
When one of her especially competitive fellow students, Asher, suddenly disappears, the others are told that he has dropped out. Just as suddenly, Jasmine is removed from class and sent to serve as Keeper for a noble, completing her fight training on the job. Even more surprising, the noble is Asher. As a Starvein, his choice of training is highly unusual too. His family has been obliterated and he is in danger. The highly promising Jasmine, who seems to contain a low level of magic herself, must give her all to save a young man far above her station whom she thought she despised. Asher isn’t any happier to be protected by her. Of necessity, that soon breaks down for both of them.
As YA novels go, this one contains all the required elements to entice its readership. There is magic, the fight of good vs evil, the promise and frequent failure of the entrenched older generation. There is adolescent cliquishness and backbiting, but also loyalty and genuine friendship. And there is young love against the odds: very different backgrounds and families, different expectations, a world in danger of disintegration. There is the mystery of who is behind the attacks on Asher, and why, as well as the question of Jasmine’s heritage. At times, the story takes too long to move towards resolution, and I got bogged down in the true nature of the Keeper role, just as Jasmine does. But this is, on the whole, a great start to a new series. And not just for young readers.
« Forget if it’s the right thing or it’s the safe thing. For once, I want to do something because I want to do it. » Although she only comes to this on the verge of kissing someone she is not supposed to kiss, and hasn’t even admitted to herself that she likes, this aptly sums up the key lesson Jasmine learns as she trains to be a Keeper. It will not only take her through her duties but will inform her life’s path.
The teenaged Jasmine, abandoned by her struggling parents, was born in the gutters of Rodridge in the kingdom of Whitewater, now threatened by an alliance determined to use magic to conquer and subjugate. When the King suddenly offered her a way out of the slums by training as a Keeper—a rare opportunity for a lowborn—her only thought was the escape promised. But being a Keeper is not altogether a prize. The training, mostly in sword fighting, is dangerous. Once it is complete, they are assigned to a Starvein, a noble with magical powers, whom they must protect with their lives. The survival rate is low, especially since the enemy has increased its attacks and is finding new ways to use magic for murder.
When one of her especially competitive fellow students, Asher, suddenly disappears, the others are told that he has dropped out. Just as suddenly, Jasmine is removed from class and sent to serve as Keeper for a noble, completing her fight training on the job. Even more surprising, the noble is Asher. As a Starvein, his choice of training is highly unusual too. His family has been obliterated and he is in danger. The highly promising Jasmine, who seems to contain a low level of magic herself, must give her all to save a young man far above her station whom she thought she despised. Asher isn’t any happier to be protected by her. Of necessity, that soon breaks down for both of them.
As YA novels go, this one contains all the required elements to entice its readership. There is magic, the fight of good vs evil, the promise and frequent failure of the entrenched older generation. There is adolescent cliquishness and backbiting, but also loyalty and genuine friendship. And there is young love against the odds: very different backgrounds and families, different expectations, a world in danger of disintegration. There is the mystery of who is behind the attacks on Asher, and why, as well as the question of Jasmine’s heritage. At times, the story takes too long to move towards resolution, and I got bogged down in the true nature of the Keeper role, just as Jasmine does. But this is, on the whole, a great start to a new series. And not just for young readers.
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