The Harp and the Ravenvine

The Keepers #2

by Ted Sanders

IN THE WORLD OF THE KEEPERS, IT'S BEST NOT TO SPEAK IN TERMS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE.

Horace F. Andrews, Keeper of the fabled Box of Promises, knows that nothing is impossible. After all, he has the ability to see into the future, and his friend Chloe can walk through walls. But before either of them can master their Tan'ji--their talismans of power--a new threat looms over all Keepers, and they must prepare to battle their eternal enemies--the Riven.

Far away, drawn by an irresistible summons, a mysterious girl is making her way to the Warren, the Keeper stronghold. She wears the Ravenvine and is learning to wield its fascinating power; but this Tan'ji is damaged. There's no telling what will happen to the instrument or its Keeper if it cannot be made whole again. April's journey is long and dangerous, with strange new companions at her side and a pack of sinister hunters tracking her. Will she reach the Warren in time, and is it a safe haven, or will it offer only more danger?

Ted Sanders's magical series began with The Box and the Dragonfly and continues with this powerful sequel that expands the extraordinary world of the Keepers, where nothing is ever ordinary and three words rule: Curiosity. Discovery. Possibility.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction, Adventure, Science Fiction, Animals

662 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2016

About the author

Ted Sanders is the author of The Box and the Dragonfly, the first book in the new middle grade series The Keepers, coming in 2015 from HarperCollins Children's. His first book, the short story collection No Animals We Could Name (Graywolf 2012), was the winner of the 2011 Bakeless Prize for Fiction. His stories and essays have appeared in publications The Southern Review, Cincinnati Review, Georgia Review, and the O. Henry Prize Stories anthology. A recipient of a 2012 National Endowment for the Arts literature fellowship, he lives with his family in Urbana, Illinois, and teaches at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Reviews

[christine ✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

11/22/23: there are in fact spoilers here bc i have read this series like 5 times and i yell about it a lot
(see at first i was like ok im going to reread the anne of green gables books when im home then i saw thes ebooks sitting innocently on my bookshelf and it was all over)

book 1 might be the cool expository "hey look at this neat world" one and book 3 might be the insane fight one and book 4 might be the tear your heart out one but book 2 is the unreasonably funny one.
Meister what did you EXPECT?? you put a bunch of teens (not even) together and not expect utter chaos to ensue?? you put BRIAN and CHLOE together and not expect sheer insanity? yell. Brian is hysterical btw he is just offputting in the right way for a 13 year old that hasn't been outside in 3 years. Yknow, the usual.
I forgot that I actually fr love April she is just so sensible and also a kid. she definitely balances H&C out with her animal practicality. and Joshua this kid is insane hello yes memorize every single geographical location in Illinois and the world and read atlases for fun. love them both.
I have never wanted to throw hands more with a middle grade novel parent than Isabel. OR EVEN MATTHEW LIKE.. in a Mr Bennet P&P style kind of way. Isabel makes me FURIOUS and Matthew does too for letting her do these things. It is Complicated yes but also. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. the sheer rawness of the "reunion" gets me. i want to deck someone in the face. Isabel is in fact a deeply complicated character but she drives me insane and i like her less and less the older i get even if i can more appreciate the absolute mess that is Tuners and Meister. but Isabel has no excuse. her masterplan... go AWAY!
I really really enjoy the complicated not black and white morality of Meister and the Wardens. Bc the kids are just kids but the adults.. there is So Much going on over there and Jessica Andrews is the best of them all btw. Crazy to think Isabel was once 9 and a Tuner, and Jessica was once 13 and a Tuner.. yeesh.

This book introduces even more unanswered questions L but also even more cool things that just so happen to exist in this world. Ethel and Morla?!? I always forget about them but that is CRAZY and literally never mentioned again. the way so many things in here exist and then are never mentioned again because of course they wouldn't be but my interest is PIQUED so much. My "notes" on this book are so stupid there are so many question marks.
ok. well. WHO IS BECK???? and why did a mint remind Neptune of something?
that is all.

AUDITORS! THE FORSWORN! FALKRETE STONES! PHALANXES! LOOMDAUGHTERS! SIL'FALO TENEVES! THE MOTHERGATES! there is so much going on in here!! worldbuilding go crazy!! falkrete stones intrigue me so deeply they are so cool.
the Mordin AAAAAAAAAAA I cannot remember my first reactions upon reading this book but it must've been INSANE the amount of revelations in here is shocking (i can remember where i read it because of how fast i tore through this book). Anyway Auditors terrify me too they're such an insane thing. evict you from your OWN INSTRUEMNT Ghost stones?? How do they WORK?? how are auditors chosen and trained? why are they all feminine & mordin all seem to be masculine? also continuity thing that isnt a big deal but i notice everytime but also auditors are described as having big blue or green eyes but theres one bit where an auditor is said to have small black eyes

i freakin love the scene where Brian fixes the Ravenvine. the magnitude and power of the Medium plus the fact that this kid is thirteen >>

AND THEN THE POTENTIAL OF THE TAN'JI! the Box has become a weapon alongside an advantage. The Ravenvine working so beautifully w the humour. Neptune doubling as a spy and a weapon, and of course Chloe. Chloe is fascinating and that is all.

idk just the way literal catastrophe is compounded by kids being kids is real funny to me. mg novels are so fun. (i Know this series wouldn't have worked as a YA series but ye the characters. dont read like 12 year olds.) you always gotta have the mysterious weird old guys with dubious plans and the unhinged new kids with no sense of self preservation against a cosmic problem heck yea!!
the moment sanders was like how can i add a layer of teenagers being teenagers and was like yea N definitely likes G
im not mad tho it gave me something to be even more insane about when i was 13 loll. i say that like i'm still not six years later

lolo poor Derek bro is dragged unwittingly into chaos bc his younger sister just so happened to stumble across a piece of jewelry once.

5* left by 13 year old me and untouched almost 6 years later because i can't be bothered. idk what else to rate it tbh this whole book is so completely deranged in the right way

.. anyway, time to go back to reading about east asia after WWII

4/16/21: aajlksJFEIOFUNSK
i might be just dumb and have a weird sense of humor but this book has no right to be so randomly funny (note to self: page 465)
(Also I accidentally stayed up until 3:30 last night reading bc I lost track of time and I'm pretty sure that's doubly ironic because the literal protagonist of this book has perfect time and then there's me)



Jan 2018: I broke my fast reading record with this one - 650 pages in 2 1/2 flippin' hours!
It was hard not to read so fast though - this book is about 10x better than the first one.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic follow-up to a near-perfect book--so good, in fact, that I loved it more than the first--how is that even possible? In THE HARP AND THE RAVENVINE, we follow more (dangerous) adventures of Keepers Horace and Chloe, and we meet a new Keeper, April, whose Tan'ji holds a most spectacular power, even as it draws danger closer to the Warren and the rest of the Keepers. Sanders uses brilliant pacing and some of the strongest character building (and most delightfully terrible villains) I've met in a novel to masterfully construct a world where bright children form bonds with singular objects that are sought after (and fought for) by an ancient, merciless people.
This series is perfect for readers who love the depth and detail of Harry Potter and the off-kilter, dark fantasy of Neil Gaiman.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why, but even though this novel is written for a younger audience, the complexities within the 'action scenes' are so damn good. Sanders somehow manages to portray these complex moments involving time and substance in simple language, perfect for younger readers.

I know it sounds a little weird that I'm this into a book meant for middle-graders, but it's a series that has a very creative idea behind it...definitely would recommend it :)

[Analie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another page-turner! I loved the addition of Isabel and the complexity she adds to an already-rich story. I can't wait to read what happens next with her character and the intrigue surrounding Mr. Meister and his questionable decisions. The only downside for me was that new character and "empath" April became more distant and hard to like as the story developed.

[Amita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first one, and the first one was already great.

My favorite thing about this series is the characters. Brian, Isabel, and April are new, but they integrate really well into the story. April is quiet, but delivers deadpan lines that are s o unintentionally funny. Brian is an interesting character with an interesting power, and I can’t wait to learn more about him. I don’t trust or like Isabel, but I also feel bad for her, but I also feel worse for Chloe, and this character complexity is so damn satisfying.
And the dynamics?? Chloe and Brian have, without fail, the funniest interactions ever. The chaos that is the grouping of Horace, Chloe, April, and Brian. Family dinner with Horace, Jessica, Chloe, Isabel, and Joshua which was a nightmare and ergo, highly entertaining. Neptune, Chloe, and Horace just trying to have a conversation while their brains were basically fried. Chloe’s torment over Isabel and her intentions. April wanting to be friends with Chloe and Chloe reluctantly doing so 🥺🥰. And through it all, the rock solid relationship between Horace and Chloe that worked so well in the first book.

All the plot twists that the book throws land perfectly.

I also want to appreciate the climax. Chloe’s solo moment highlighted her bravery so well and was one of my favorite scenes from both books. Then later, she kills the auditor and has to deal with the consequences of it, really showing the nuance of the situation. Horace getting his solo moment later and successfully bluffing Dr. Jericho? The whole thing is just *chef’s kiss*.

Finally I want to say that we respect Chloe 24/7 out here. The fact that she’s still able to drop the coldest lines around (i.e. “We already have a bird. Her name is Neptune.”) while struggling through the 300 problems she had this book just proves how iconic she is.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Harp and the Ravenvine is a worthy sequel to the first book of the "Keepers" series, the Box and the Dragonfly. It has a familiar sound to it, that reminds you of the previous book, but also contains some unfamiliar elements and new characters, such as April and Isabel, and expands upon lightly introduced characters like Brian. These new characters not only add to the story and contribute to the plot in a new and great way, but they also expand the world. They add a whole new depth to this story's reality, and answer some previously dodged questions, like Chloe's background and the history of the tan'ji, and how they're made. The effective writing explains the plot thoroughly while leaving room for humor and action-packed fighting scenes. However, some of the limitations of April's broken tan'ji seem to be sporadic, like they don't always apply, and sometimes things seem easy for her, but in other situations, they are inexplicably harder to do. I will continue to read the series, for as many books as there are, because this amazing novel has captured my imagination and continues to hold me in its grasp. I think all other readers will appreciate it the way I do, because it is made very well, and has a very thoroughly developed plot that is inescapably intricate and beautifully written. The story begs you to come back for more, hooking you even more with every line written, and for that I think you, and anyone else, like me, will continue to read it and be glad that you are doing so.

[Matthew Kuns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still a Fantastic book, every side character is developing at a wonderful rate. Isabel is the best one of them all.

[Averie Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

ted sanders scored when he wrote this book! I love it so much! the Tanji (think that's how you spell it) are just too cool. the characters make me very very happy and content. my favorite book in this series!

[Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that feeling of loving a book that almost no one else has read, loving it so much that it feels incredibly personal, like it was written for you?
Well, this is me with this series. My love for this series is unparalleled. The characters, the world, the plot. These books are just so SMART. They’re so well-crafted, with so much thought dedicated to each small plot point and extreme attention to detail and foreshadowing. There’s literally a reference in the first book to an object that only becomes important and is mentioned again in the fourth and last book. I mean…come on. It’s genius because the way in which it’s constructed - with the cliffhanger chapters and endings - has you absolutely hooked from beginning to end. I had to stop reading at midnight because I had school the next day, but I would literally have been reading for two hours and still want to keep going. It’s VERY RARE for me to read continuously for two hours without any breaks whatsoever, so I think that says something. And everything I just wrote goes for all the books in the series.
So, in conclusion, PLEASE read the first book and if you like it please read the whole series, it’s an absolutely wild ride and such an emotional one by the end. This is so criminally underrated that I literally want to scream. Why is no one talking about this? Why isn’t it getting the praise that it deserves? I cannot and will not even begin to fathom the answer to that question. All I know is that if I hadn’t picked up a random book with a cool cover that I’ve never heard of before from my primary school library, I would have missed out on what is know one of my absolute favourite series of all time.

[Kellie V · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved it you are able to read the second book without reading the first book. even after i finished reading it i cant stop reading it!

[Corey Naire · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXELLENT. SPECTACULAR. READ IT, ALL OF YOU. (but read the first one first.)

[Katherine Kirkpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Harp and the Ravenvine, #2 in The Keepers series by Ted Sanders (Harper, 2016). Middle grade fantasy. Children who like fantasy, and adults who like children’s book fantasy, will likely enjoy this series. Start with Book #1, The Box and the Dragonfly. I began with Book #2, and I would have benefitted from a better introduction to the characters of Horace and Chloe. Even so, I was able to mostly follow the fairly complicated plotline and enjoy the book. The Keepers are magical people within the regular human population who funnel their talents through talismans of power, tan’ji. These objects, which could be something as simple as a box, or a piece of jewelry, live with their keepers in a similar way that the characters in the Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass, etc.) live with their animal daemons. Without their objects, the keepers are not fully complete. And the objects, from time to time, need tuning up, missing parts replaced, or a total energy realignment if inherited by a new Keeper. Just as an aside, this is where the magical harps in the story come in—the harps are the instruments of Tuners. (Ha, ha, the Tuners are the magical equivalent in our world to the Lyon & Healy/Salvi harp technicians who travel around the country to regulate people’s harps). One of the main tween protagonists of this second book in the series, April, can understand animal communication, especially when she wears a piece of broken jewelry behind her ear, “the ravenvine.” April becomes aware that there’s a missing half to her tool of power, and she must find it. The quest leads her on a dangerous journey to the Warren, the stronghold of the Keepers. April does not yet know enough about the magical world to realize whether or not Isabel, the companion guiding her and protecting her from the Riven, who are ancient, diabolical beings, is a friend or foe. As it turns out, the Keepers have quite a few antagonists around them who aim to steal their tan’ji. The plot is fast-paced and absorbing, the writing first rate. Kids will appreciate the author’s kid humor. Available as an audiobook.

[Marlana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both more and less than I expected from the sequel to The Box and the Dragonfly.

The Harp and the Ravenvine begins with an introduction to a new character and from this new character's point of view. This was a bit off putting for me. I know and adore Horace and Chloe. After the astonishing ending of the second book I wanted to check in on them. Not meet some new character that I don't really know or care about.

And sadly, April never really does grow on me. She has her own distinct personality. She's nothing like Horace or Chloe, but her personality doesn't really lend itself well to the story. She's more of an animal person than a people person, reserved at times and quiet, and overall with characters as strong as Horace and Chloe and even Isabel, April just sort of fades into the background. Almost unnecessary except for as a plot device.

The Harp and the Ravenvine is full of suspense and some unexpected twists and turns and revelations. Some I could guess at, but some were totally new information completely out of left field. Overall, however, I didn't find this book as thrilling as its predecessor. Alas, therein lies the rub with many a sequel.

The writing is lively and detailed as always, there are some really great scenes and plot twists, and I do quite enjoy the series as a whole. For that more than anything else I give this novel 4 stars.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVEDDDDD this book, maybe even more than the first one. It gives you more action sequences than the first, and so MUCH more character development and insight. I found myself actually chuckling aloud during some of the dialogue or the actions of the characters. I LOVEEEDDDD the end of the book so much and the cliffhanger it was left on, which I see is how all the books will probably end until the last book. This book answered many questions from the first book while weaving in new characters and their Tanji, and then posed more questions. I love Horace and Chloe's friendship so much and Chloe's relationship with Horace's mom and how cool and understanding Horace's mom is. I loved April's introduction and her introduction with her Tanji and what she can do with it! I also loved and hated Isabel's character but I suppose that is par for the course when reading about her and her mistakes and behavior throughout the book and what transpired in her past. I absolutely loved that the chapters went back and forth between narratives and did it so well! This series is quickly making its way to some of my most favorite books I have ever read. I cannot wait to start the next one and then the last one although I am already feeling bittersweet about it ending and I am not that close yet. lol.

[Auryn Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am pretty sure that I enjoyed this book more than the first one, but it is hard to compare. It seems so different, with three different perspectives and many new characters and threats to the main characters, and a lot of new information. At first, I really liked April, and she started to become one of my favorite characters, although after reading further and further, Chloe remained my favorite. I am super excited to read the next book, where Joshua gets a perspective too, although I'm also starting to be sad because I'm more than halfway through the series, having finished the longest book.
When I started to get nearer to the end of the book, I thought that the climax was going to be disappointing in comparison to the climax of the first book, but it wasn't. It was a lot more surprising than I thought.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just gets better and better. In this second book Horace and Chloe are back, but now they are dealing with greater dangers than Dr. Jericho and the Riven. A girl is being called by the missing piece of her talisman of power--her Tan-ji. A young boy accompanies her. The adult they're with has her own agenda with the Keepers. There will be magical battles, new uses for old talismans, and new characters introduced. This is a fabulous series that every fantasy lover should try. The complex threads weaving its tapestry are too myriad to examine in depth in a review. You just have to read it yourself...in order. I'm shocked I hadn't stumbled on the series before. Book three is waiting for me on my tablet. Hurrah!

[Line · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book at a library and thought it sounded interesting, and yes I read this book series completely out of order, first this book, then the last book, and finally the first book. This book series grabs my attention and like almost every book series I’ve read, left me looking at the world differently and having dreams about it for a month. You feel as if your battling along with the Keepers and had me wondering what my Tan’ji is, and recently for some reason I’ve been thinking about this book series a lot that’s also because I never truly finished it.

[Violetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the book, the plot was amazing and everything. I was slightly confused of what they were talking about, and don't hate on my opinion but I kinda don't like Chloe. I skipped most pages because everything was about her and her family problems, which I feel sorry for her but I wanted to know more about April and the Ravenvine and etc. Though, maybe I'd change my mind when I read book one because I bought book two instead. It was the only book in the shop, it looked old and torn up so I had to get it. Anyways, I recommend this book for anyone who loves fantasy. Have a nice day!

[Maire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this to my eldest but I love it as much as she does. It’s such a brilliant book - better than the first story (maybe by now we know what most of the strange words are!!). New characters in the form of April and Isabel expand the story and we liked the way it veers between these and our regular characters. Our library doesn’t have the next one in and there’s a wait in Amazon of between 1-3 months argh!!!

[Sherry Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty fabulous read with interesting characters and a great plot. It feels like there is so much depth in this world of Keepers and their objects that give them special powers. The villains are scary; bad things happen to good people and there are lots of secrets coming out all the time. Can't wait for book 3!

[Stephanie C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but not quite as much as the first of the series. The first hundred pages tried to convey all the technical info from the previous book for the sake of new readers. Having just finished The Box and the Dragonfly I found it repetitive. Some excitement in the second half though! I still really love our two main characters.

[Scott Wozniak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complex characters and secret society that's deeper and more developed each chapter--this series is even better than I expected. Too often young adult authors equate teenage themes with simple stories. But this book is a brilliant example that coming of age can be set in a deep world with characters that aren't motivated by only one thing. Plus, the story is truly creative and exciting.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't let the size scare you - this book is absolutely incredible! This book is so complex that you'll never be able to guess what happens next! I love how Ted Sanders is able to make a fantasy series feel almost like science fiction - I have never found any author who is able to do that.

[Steve Fink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent continuation. Sanders got plenty of new developments and ideas, and rounded out the bulk of the worldbuilding in this book. Excellent story, well written. Excitement and intellectualism both done very well.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised with this 2nd book on the series. It had a bit more excitement and intrigue. At some parts a bit spooky. I am going to hold off on the 3rd book for a little while though as I don’t like getting sucked into long series of books.

[Paula Newbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this follow up, more characters to like and just enough mystery to keep it interesting, endless ways these stories could go, looking forward to the next one for sure!!!

[jpnmusings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is seriously one of my new favorite series...

[Katie Carver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good second book in the series. Love the addition of Joshua, April and Isabel.

[TheUltimateRealNate · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great book with lots of adventure and suspense; just like the last one!

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

New characters were introduced. A great book!