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The Eden East #1
Keepers
Saving the world is easy: all Eden has to do is die.
Seventeen-year-old Eden East’s life is perfect... until her soul is bound to her worst nightmare. Then her parents are brutally murdered, and everyone’s a suspect, including her best friend.
As her world spirals out of control, a charismatic Siren, from a past she can’t remember, returns offering help, hope, and a heap of distractions.
Eden must put aside her grief to solve the mystery of her parents' murder. In a race against time, can she break the binding to her enemy before he destroys her and her world?
Three lives.
Two murdered parents.
One deadly choice.
Seventeen-year-old Eden East’s life is perfect... until her soul is bound to her worst nightmare. Then her parents are brutally murdered, and everyone’s a suspect, including her best friend.
As her world spirals out of control, a charismatic Siren, from a past she can’t remember, returns offering help, hope, and a heap of distractions.
Eden must put aside her grief to solve the mystery of her parents' murder. In a race against time, can she break the binding to her enemy before he destroys her and her world?
Three lives.
Two murdered parents.
One deadly choice.
Paperback
Published November 1, 2017
88 people are currently reading
1724 people want to read
About the author
Sacha Black
18 books303 followersIf you'd like a FREE villains mini course to help you master superbad villains go here:
https://sachablack.co.uk/newsletter
Sacha Black is an author, rebel podcaster, and professional speaker.
She has five obsessions; words, expensive shoes, conspiracy theories, self-improvement, and breaking the rules.
Sacha writes books about people with magical powers and other books about the art of writing.
When she’s not writing, she can be found laughing inappropriately loud, sniffing musty old books, fangirling film and TV soundtracks, or thinking up new ways to break the rules.
She lives in Cambridgeshire, England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son.
https://sachablack.co.uk/newsletter
Sacha Black is an author, rebel podcaster, and professional speaker.
She has five obsessions; words, expensive shoes, conspiracy theories, self-improvement, and breaking the rules.
Sacha writes books about people with magical powers and other books about the art of writing.
When she’s not writing, she can be found laughing inappropriately loud, sniffing musty old books, fangirling film and TV soundtracks, or thinking up new ways to break the rules.
She lives in Cambridgeshire, England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
November 5, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
This book is everything I want from a YA fantasy. It has awesome characters, great world building, a well thought out plot, and lots of action.
The world of Trutinor is so creative and such a refreshing change from the majority of YA fantasies I've been reading lately. Sacha built such an amazing world and she did it in a way that was easy to understand and I was able to picture everything clearly.
I absolutely loved the main character, Eden. She was so well written and complex.
There is a love triangle but I, hater of all love triangles, didn't mind it at all. There's just something about how Sacha wrote it that was so well done.
Overall, I really loved Keepers. It's one of my favorite books I've read this year and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. If you're looking for an action packed YA fantasy, I definitely recommend Keepers by Sacha da Black.
This book is everything I want from a YA fantasy. It has awesome characters, great world building, a well thought out plot, and lots of action.
The world of Trutinor is so creative and such a refreshing change from the majority of YA fantasies I've been reading lately. Sacha built such an amazing world and she did it in a way that was easy to understand and I was able to picture everything clearly.
I absolutely loved the main character, Eden. She was so well written and complex.
There is a love triangle but I, hater of all love triangles, didn't mind it at all. There's just something about how Sacha wrote it that was so well done.
Overall, I really loved Keepers. It's one of my favorite books I've read this year and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. If you're looking for an action packed YA fantasy, I definitely recommend Keepers by Sacha da Black.
November 7, 2017
What a great start to a new series!
Keepers is a book that can certainly be enjoyed by young adults and adults alike. It actually transported me back in time making me feel like a teenager again. Sadly that is some years ago now!
Eden is a character that really grabbed me. Through her I felt like I was going through everything she was going through, which was quite a lot. To lose her parents whilst trying to find her feet in the world she lives in, I certainly didn’t envy her. She has a good friend in Bo, who is a bit of an under dog yet really stood out to me throughout the book and would love to see more of her. Eden certainly has to grow up quite quickly and has some very hard decisions to make.
I have to admit that I don’t read many books in this genre but I do know that it would certainly appeal to readers of the Percy Jackson series and Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. It transports you to a different world whilst having a lot of elements of the real world that we do live in.
Keepers is a strong and solid start from a very promising author. It was a relatively quick read due to the tension and steady speed at which the story is set. Having left me wanting more, I can not wait to read the next one to see where things go after that ending, of which I loved by the way.
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Keepers is a book that can certainly be enjoyed by young adults and adults alike. It actually transported me back in time making me feel like a teenager again. Sadly that is some years ago now!
Eden is a character that really grabbed me. Through her I felt like I was going through everything she was going through, which was quite a lot. To lose her parents whilst trying to find her feet in the world she lives in, I certainly didn’t envy her. She has a good friend in Bo, who is a bit of an under dog yet really stood out to me throughout the book and would love to see more of her. Eden certainly has to grow up quite quickly and has some very hard decisions to make.
I have to admit that I don’t read many books in this genre but I do know that it would certainly appeal to readers of the Percy Jackson series and Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. It transports you to a different world whilst having a lot of elements of the real world that we do live in.
Keepers is a strong and solid start from a very promising author. It was a relatively quick read due to the tension and steady speed at which the story is set. Having left me wanting more, I can not wait to read the next one to see where things go after that ending, of which I loved by the way.
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
January 15, 2021
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This book... was not for me.
When I first saw the book and read the synopsis I got really excited - it sounded like a phenomenal YA dystopian/mystery and I was really keen to get my hands on the book and delve into the world. So when I got the opportunity from Netgalley I jumped at the opportunity! When I actually started reading it though... I got confused and disappointed rather quickly.
This book follows Eden, a member of a royal Fallon family and one of the "Keepers" - tasked with keeping the balance in a universe seemingly ruled by fate. The world has what is essentially arranged marriages; being bound to your "other half" for all eternity - but that other half is typically not chosen by those involved, but by the "First Fallon" and "fate" itself. So Eden has the unlucky fate to be bound to her apparent worst enemy, and she's known that for a while and has tried to come to terms with it and get over her immense dislike of the guy. But when it's time for their fated "Binding" to occur something goes horribly wrong, and Eden goes through what is known as an "inheritance" following the death of her parents off camera (so to speak).
Honestly though, from there? I just spent was seemed like the entirety of the novel confused. Eden hates (or at least GREATLY dislikes) her "soulmate" yet goes along with some antiquated tradition that he must be right for her because that's what their leader says! And meanwhile she's having feelings for a childhood friend that is bound to another and who she has this whole mysterious history with. And there's the mystery behind why her parents were murdered, and the reveal of an unbalanced child that they were apparently investigating when they were killed, and this whole "in between" realm of... the dead?
I spent far too much time revisiting the glossary in order to try and work out what the heck was going on, and yet STILL being utterly lost. The amount of characters that seemed to be brought in that weren't properly introduced or explained until later and you were just kind of expected to know their purpose? It just didn't make sense. It's like the author tried to do this epic high-fantasy world but didn't follow through on anything and just made an overly complicated society for no reason.
I think the only thing that the book had going for it was that it was an easy read. I tried my very best to suspend my disbelief and continue until the end because surely there was some twist coming where everything would suddenly make sense, or that the ending would be this phenomenal follow through. Surely something would bring up the rating! But the whole ending was just... meh. That's the only way I can describe it :/
Very disappointing read. Wouldn't recommend.
This book... was not for me.
When I first saw the book and read the synopsis I got really excited - it sounded like a phenomenal YA dystopian/mystery and I was really keen to get my hands on the book and delve into the world. So when I got the opportunity from Netgalley I jumped at the opportunity! When I actually started reading it though... I got confused and disappointed rather quickly.
This book follows Eden, a member of a royal Fallon family and one of the "Keepers" - tasked with keeping the balance in a universe seemingly ruled by fate. The world has what is essentially arranged marriages; being bound to your "other half" for all eternity - but that other half is typically not chosen by those involved, but by the "First Fallon" and "fate" itself. So Eden has the unlucky fate to be bound to her apparent worst enemy, and she's known that for a while and has tried to come to terms with it and get over her immense dislike of the guy. But when it's time for their fated "Binding" to occur something goes horribly wrong, and Eden goes through what is known as an "inheritance" following the death of her parents off camera (so to speak).
Honestly though, from there? I just spent was seemed like the entirety of the novel confused. Eden hates (or at least GREATLY dislikes) her "soulmate" yet goes along with some antiquated tradition that he must be right for her because that's what their leader says! And meanwhile she's having feelings for a childhood friend that is bound to another and who she has this whole mysterious history with. And there's the mystery behind why her parents were murdered, and the reveal of an unbalanced child that they were apparently investigating when they were killed, and this whole "in between" realm of... the dead?
I spent far too much time revisiting the glossary in order to try and work out what the heck was going on, and yet STILL being utterly lost. The amount of characters that seemed to be brought in that weren't properly introduced or explained until later and you were just kind of expected to know their purpose? It just didn't make sense. It's like the author tried to do this epic high-fantasy world but didn't follow through on anything and just made an overly complicated society for no reason.
I think the only thing that the book had going for it was that it was an easy read. I tried my very best to suspend my disbelief and continue until the end because surely there was some twist coming where everything would suddenly make sense, or that the ending would be this phenomenal follow through. Surely something would bring up the rating! But the whole ending was just... meh. That's the only way I can describe it :/
Very disappointing read. Wouldn't recommend.
October 26, 2017
I downloaded this book Monday afternoon and already finished it. I loved it so much and found myself so lost in the story that I stayed up reading all night! I’m going to try to not give any spoilers so apologies if my review seems too broad.
First off, the world of Trutinor. In a world of literature where everything is borderline over done, Sacha has developed a new world that includes all the dynamics that we love but with a new spin. Kingdoms separated by abilities, a mysterious kingdom that perhaps we will see in the future (?!?!), guided by fate. Corruption, mystery, etc. Its all happening in Trutinor.
The characters. With female protagonists being the new rage, I can only imagine how difficult it is to create a female character who isn’t just... blah. Eden East is everything but... well blah.
While some characters are sort of thrown into the mix, I have my favorites (but I won’t say because I don’t want to sway anyone). The friendships and familial ties present in the story bring a-whole-nother level of conflict to everything! An interesting dynamic that binds characters together (wink wink) and challenges friendship, blood, and fate.
Love triangle? Oh yeah... BUT not at all how it’s been done before. (Really! I promise!) Just when you think you have figured it out, nope sorry!
There were parts where the storyline was predictable and a little jumpy... At times things seemed to button up just a little too perfectly... mistakes and betrayals were forgiven almost instantly with little thought or processing of the situation. It was bothersome at times... But then there were times where I turned the page and BAM! something happens that I wasn’t expecting at all and it twisted my mind in pleasant ways as I had to reorient my thinking away from the predictable. There was a lot of give and take with this.
If it wasn’t clear by my review, I highly recommend this book. Like I mentioned at the beginning, I read it very quickly because I couldn’t put it down and just HAD to know what was going to happen.
I CANT WAIT for the next part of Eden’s story! If anyone would like to know more beyond my broad comments, let me know :)
First off, the world of Trutinor. In a world of literature where everything is borderline over done, Sacha has developed a new world that includes all the dynamics that we love but with a new spin. Kingdoms separated by abilities, a mysterious kingdom that perhaps we will see in the future (?!?!), guided by fate. Corruption, mystery, etc. Its all happening in Trutinor.
The characters. With female protagonists being the new rage, I can only imagine how difficult it is to create a female character who isn’t just... blah. Eden East is everything but... well blah.
While some characters are sort of thrown into the mix, I have my favorites (but I won’t say because I don’t want to sway anyone). The friendships and familial ties present in the story bring a-whole-nother level of conflict to everything! An interesting dynamic that binds characters together (wink wink) and challenges friendship, blood, and fate.
Love triangle? Oh yeah... BUT not at all how it’s been done before. (Really! I promise!) Just when you think you have figured it out, nope sorry!
There were parts where the storyline was predictable and a little jumpy... At times things seemed to button up just a little too perfectly... mistakes and betrayals were forgiven almost instantly with little thought or processing of the situation. It was bothersome at times... But then there were times where I turned the page and BAM! something happens that I wasn’t expecting at all and it twisted my mind in pleasant ways as I had to reorient my thinking away from the predictable. There was a lot of give and take with this.
If it wasn’t clear by my review, I highly recommend this book. Like I mentioned at the beginning, I read it very quickly because I couldn’t put it down and just HAD to know what was going to happen.
I CANT WAIT for the next part of Eden’s story! If anyone would like to know more beyond my broad comments, let me know :)
February 6, 2019
I feel somewhat hesitant to write my thoughts on this book because for me it was a conflicted read. The first half introduces Eden, Victor and Trey but I'm loathe to describe this as a love triangle because honestly that's not how it felt. Eden is I suppose in a relationship that resembles an arranged marriage but as this magical society is all about balance and fate a huge part of me questioned things and that's when Treys presence started to make sense. Amidst all this confusion Eden experiences a devastating loss but then everything just seemed to speed up and it almost felt as if someone else was writing the remainder of the book !
Amazing train journeys and new characters got suddenly thrown in which certainly helped make it more interesting. I honestly did enjoy the way the author upped the ante although suddenly having characters using wands ( I just pictured Bellatrix Lestrange !) complicated the world building and muddied the waters. I guess for me it felt uneven and I would have much preferred that the world building had been less vague and wordy initially. I wanted to like Eden but with obvious cliches and conflicting ideas it really wasn't that interesting to me. There is a sequel and I sincerely hope it's a much more balanced book.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair.
Amazing train journeys and new characters got suddenly thrown in which certainly helped make it more interesting. I honestly did enjoy the way the author upped the ante although suddenly having characters using wands ( I just pictured Bellatrix Lestrange !) complicated the world building and muddied the waters. I guess for me it felt uneven and I would have much preferred that the world building had been less vague and wordy initially. I wanted to like Eden but with obvious cliches and conflicting ideas it really wasn't that interesting to me. There is a sequel and I sincerely hope it's a much more balanced book.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair.
January 22, 2025
i hate victor.
July 28, 2018
I consider myself lucky to have been given the opportunity to review this book by the author Sacha Black. Why? Because this book ended up being one of my 2018 favorites!
The book started out with a really good introduction to the story. The world building is fantastic and you do not get bored while reading about a new fantasy and somewhat dystopian world. The concept of the book is about people with special abilities (ex: sirens, elementals, shapeshifters etc.) who try to keep the balance in life on earth. They are all bound to potential partners for their lifetime once they complete their academy acceptance exam. It feels kind of like the concept of arranged marriage but without the consent of the children involved.
This book had an amazing glossary (which I really appreciated) that allowed me to go back and forth to read about and understand the elements in this world. In addition, each chapter starts with the definition of an important concept that will be introduced to the story, which means you don't have to go back and forth to the glossary section to understand the story as it unfolds.
And a HUGE shout out to the author (Sacha Black's) mom who illustrated the beautiful map of this world!
Some elements of this book reminded me of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. So if you're a fan to either series, you should definitely read this one because you'll probably enjoy it.
This book features complex character and backstories. You'll love this strong heroine and you'll sympathize with her. You wouldn't know who to trust, and who is the villain of the story. I kind of disliked the name of one of the characters but I guess it's ok because I also disliked the character himself. 🤭
Even though I was supposed to read this book months ago, I am actually quite happy that I was only able to read this book in July because the second book (Victor) already came out this MONTH!!! Which means I don't have to wait for it because that book ended on a HUGE cliffhanger and I cannot wait to know what happens. 😏
And great news for fans of this series. I originally thought this was going to be a trilogy but the author told me that it is going to have SIX books and a prequel novella!!! Consider me a happy reader!
October 9, 2018
This is a fantastic YA read, perfect for fans of fantasy or steampunk. The concept is brilliant - the Keepers of the title are beings in another realm (who are altogether too human) who 'nudge' things on Earth to help maintain the balance. Only the balance goes horrifically out of whack in their own world, and it's up to the feisty heroine Eden to start putting things right. Trouble is, she has to do that while dealing with the death of her parents, working out her feelings for her childhood best friend, and coping with the fact she's intended to be bound (basically married) to one of the most odious characters in her world!
I read the last three-quarters in one go. I should note that Sacha Black is a phenomenal writer, evidenced by the fact that not once but twice she had me welling up. And that NEVER happens. So if you love strong female characters, interesting concepts, fast-paced action and great writing then I highly recommend Keepers. I've already pre-ordered book 2!
I read the last three-quarters in one go. I should note that Sacha Black is a phenomenal writer, evidenced by the fact that not once but twice she had me welling up. And that NEVER happens. So if you love strong female characters, interesting concepts, fast-paced action and great writing then I highly recommend Keepers. I've already pre-ordered book 2!
February 20, 2019
This book has everything that I enjoy about YA Fantasy novels; wonderful characters, a well-built world with mysterious rules and rulers, and a lot of twists and turns in the plot. I received a copy of this book for an honest review. Keepers by Sacha Black tells the story of a seventeen-year-old girl, Eden East, who has extraordinary powers. After her parents are murdered and she is bound to an arrogant boy named Victor, Eden begins the journey to solving the mystery behind her parents' murder. Along the way, Eden learns the dark truths about her life in Trutinor; the history that she was once told is a lie. She must find the truth; about her parents' murder, about her destiny, and how to save herself, her remaining loved ones, and her State.
While the beginning of this book is a bit choppy and slow-building, the story is completely engaging. When we first meet Eden, we are introduced to the magic she possesses and the four States that comprise Trutinor. The background information that is needed to understand the rest of the story takes a bit of explaining, hence the slow beginning. Once the plot thickens and the events of the book become more fast-paced, Sacha keeps you on your toes. Just when you think you know what is in store for Eden and the others, she changes the pace. I loved the whole cast of characters! They were so fantastically developed that I fell in love with them; even the supporting characters were wonderful! I wholeheartedly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys action-packed, YA novels with a fantasy element to them!
While the beginning of this book is a bit choppy and slow-building, the story is completely engaging. When we first meet Eden, we are introduced to the magic she possesses and the four States that comprise Trutinor. The background information that is needed to understand the rest of the story takes a bit of explaining, hence the slow beginning. Once the plot thickens and the events of the book become more fast-paced, Sacha keeps you on your toes. Just when you think you know what is in store for Eden and the others, she changes the pace. I loved the whole cast of characters! They were so fantastically developed that I fell in love with them; even the supporting characters were wonderful! I wholeheartedly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys action-packed, YA novels with a fantasy element to them!
November 17, 2017
Choices are hard enough to make. But what about when the life of your soulmate hangs in the balance? Elemental Eden East is bound to Shifter Victor Dark, who seems to be just about the worst person ever – surely she can’t be destined to spend eternity with him? But there’s more to her binding than meets the eye and, when fate brings her back into contact with Trey, a seductive Siren, she finds herself drawn into a plot that could threaten the stability of the worlds, sending everything into chaos.
De Black builds an entirely believable world peopled with dynamic, realistic characters. Keepers is her first fiction book and is a solid debut, with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing. Add in some sizzling hot characters, a wonderful new world and I have to say I can’t wait for book two!
*I received an advance copy in return for an honest review
De Black builds an entirely believable world peopled with dynamic, realistic characters. Keepers is her first fiction book and is a solid debut, with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing. Add in some sizzling hot characters, a wonderful new world and I have to say I can’t wait for book two!
*I received an advance copy in return for an honest review
June 29, 2018
I received a free ARC of this novel via Hidden Gems in exchange for an honest review.
I have not enjoyed a YA story this much since I read Harry Potter. I binge read it in about five hours, it was that good. The story was gripping, the characters compelling and the world base was great too. I cannot wait to see where this series goes!
I have not enjoyed a YA story this much since I read Harry Potter. I binge read it in about five hours, it was that good. The story was gripping, the characters compelling and the world base was great too. I cannot wait to see where this series goes!
Read
November 11, 2017Sacha de Black has created a magical mythology of balance and imbalance peopled with compelling characters in her first Eden East novel, Keepers. Young Eden faces life changes without realizing her intrinsic place in a prophesy, political intrigue, and an unspoken war. Instead of becoming a pawn, she seizes her own fate and fights for her rights, her choices, and a life she loves. I especially enjoyed the journey into the author's creepy unbalanced world. As can be expected from a writer who's asserted the importance of the villain to a good story, there are some wonderful bad guys to encounter, and fans will look with eager anticipation for the next instalment of the series.
June 20, 2018
I’m starting to really love science-fantasy books, and the first book in the “Eden East Series” helped build that love and appreciation even more. This is the story of Eden, a young woman with elemental magic, whose purpose is to bring Balance to the world, namely Earth. Her people do this by Binding themselves (think soulmates) and together, finding ways to bring peace and harmony to others. It’s a cute premise to be honest, and I loved how different families became essentially city states for each type of magic. There are Sirens who control emotion, Elementals who are pretty self-explanatory, Sorcerers who have legit wands that they use a-la Harry Potter style, Dryads who are healers (obviously), and Shifters who can—you guessed it—change into different animals. It’s honestly a really fun world and Black makes wonderful characters and has the building blocks for a really amazing YA series, but I wanted more.
I don’t want to spoil anything so this review is going to be vague, because honestly the novel moves so quickly that even mentioning much beyond what you get in the synopsis might spoil the fun ride “Keepers” will take you on. But let me just say what isn’t there: after the introduction, the story doesn’t focus on what Keepers are supposed to bring to Earth, which is Balance. Beyond the characters you meet with different powers, you don’t see those different areas of the world or see how they all fit together. You don’t see much of the world outside of a few key areas. I wanted more of each of those things because they’re so interesting! The author writes the characters well and clearly has her magic systems set up that I felt it was a shame to not show the reader more of that, especially for the first book in a series. Maybe it’s just me and I enjoy more world building (which can lead to slower reading), but without that I had a hard time being swept up in all the different conflicts—big and small—that the author places in the book.
So lots talk about what was there that was awesome: entertaining magic, a compelling love story, stakes that gradually get larger as the book progresses, and villains you love to hate. There is a lot of really fun elements in this book that fans of magical fantasy with light science fiction are going to love, so I highly recommend this if that’s your jam. Also, the last few chapters have some serious Harry Potter vibes from the last book, so there’s that to look forward to as well. The book moves extremely fast, there’s a lot of action always going on from basically the third chapter on. The whole plot is a sprint to the finish line which is wonderful! But, again, it did mean that a lot got thrown at the reader and resolved very quickly, negating a lot of potential tension.
This is honestly a hard book for me to rate. I really enjoyed the ride Black took me on, but as the book progressed, the lack of world building became all the more noticeable even though it was easy to kind of ignore as the “boss battle” loomed. It did make things a bit muddy when it came to some of Eden’s friends and how they were related, and who was in what faction. You just don’t see enough of those things to get a good sense of them, at least in my opinion. But even knowing that, I still had a great time reading this book and even though I knew where it was going, I enjoyed the journey and am looking forward to the next book. So why am I giving this a 3.75 stars instead of a 4 or higher? Because of the world building, to be honest. Maybe it was left on the editing room floor for word count purposes—which I totally get—but my personal preference is for thorough world building especially for the first book in a series. I liked Eden as a character, but she could have fit in any magical realm, and I wanted her to fit in only with the world Black created. But given how Black set everything up and how much I did actually enjoy reading it, I’m confident that as the series progresses, the world will be developed further and we’ll see more of it. So, should you read this book? YES! Am I excited about the sequel? YOU BET YOUR BUTT I AM! And thanks to the author for providing me a review copy!
I don’t want to spoil anything so this review is going to be vague, because honestly the novel moves so quickly that even mentioning much beyond what you get in the synopsis might spoil the fun ride “Keepers” will take you on. But let me just say what isn’t there: after the introduction, the story doesn’t focus on what Keepers are supposed to bring to Earth, which is Balance. Beyond the characters you meet with different powers, you don’t see those different areas of the world or see how they all fit together. You don’t see much of the world outside of a few key areas. I wanted more of each of those things because they’re so interesting! The author writes the characters well and clearly has her magic systems set up that I felt it was a shame to not show the reader more of that, especially for the first book in a series. Maybe it’s just me and I enjoy more world building (which can lead to slower reading), but without that I had a hard time being swept up in all the different conflicts—big and small—that the author places in the book.
So lots talk about what was there that was awesome: entertaining magic, a compelling love story, stakes that gradually get larger as the book progresses, and villains you love to hate. There is a lot of really fun elements in this book that fans of magical fantasy with light science fiction are going to love, so I highly recommend this if that’s your jam. Also, the last few chapters have some serious Harry Potter vibes from the last book, so there’s that to look forward to as well. The book moves extremely fast, there’s a lot of action always going on from basically the third chapter on. The whole plot is a sprint to the finish line which is wonderful! But, again, it did mean that a lot got thrown at the reader and resolved very quickly, negating a lot of potential tension.
This is honestly a hard book for me to rate. I really enjoyed the ride Black took me on, but as the book progressed, the lack of world building became all the more noticeable even though it was easy to kind of ignore as the “boss battle” loomed. It did make things a bit muddy when it came to some of Eden’s friends and how they were related, and who was in what faction. You just don’t see enough of those things to get a good sense of them, at least in my opinion. But even knowing that, I still had a great time reading this book and even though I knew where it was going, I enjoyed the journey and am looking forward to the next book. So why am I giving this a 3.75 stars instead of a 4 or higher? Because of the world building, to be honest. Maybe it was left on the editing room floor for word count purposes—which I totally get—but my personal preference is for thorough world building especially for the first book in a series. I liked Eden as a character, but she could have fit in any magical realm, and I wanted her to fit in only with the world Black created. But given how Black set everything up and how much I did actually enjoy reading it, I’m confident that as the series progresses, the world will be developed further and we’ll see more of it. So, should you read this book? YES! Am I excited about the sequel? YOU BET YOUR BUTT I AM! And thanks to the author for providing me a review copy!
November 3, 2017
Literally just finished this and will review in the next few days, need to gather my thoughts! Amazing story though
October 31, 2017
Keepers by de Black. I received a free copy and volunteered to read it. It is a delightful YA story with plenty of magic and at least one villain. Eden is the heroine and we follow her thoughts and actions throughout the book. There is Binding and Balance but not necessarily the best without the opposite. Eden is Bound to someone else, other than the one she loves. Will they unite or will the villain destroy them?
November 17, 2017
“It is the duty of a Keeper to keep the Balance of fate.”
The Fallon’s wield the power of the people as shapeshifters, sirens, elementals, and dryads. Their job is to save lives and to make things right for the kingdom of Trutinor. The Keepers read the Balance of fate, remove Imbalance, and realign the people to their intended path in life so they can find their true destinies.
Trutinor is separated into four territories (north, south, east and west), each ruled by the specific abilities of the Fallons who balance the fate in that area. A coming of age exam pairs a male and female Fallon together – whether they like it or not, resulting in a binding ceremony where the two are bound for life. Remember, there must always be a balance, so it is not unusual for opposites in personality to be united.
Eden East, an elemental, has been promised to be bound to Victor, an evil shapeshifter. The boy failed his final exam, and Eden passed, creating bad blood between them. Trey Luchelli, a siren Fallon from the South is named head boy of Stratera Academy, while Eden East has made head girl. When they were children, Trey and Eden were the best of friends. What fate has conspired to bring them together again and for what purpose?
The night of the binding ceremony draws near, and events are set in motion that will change Eden’s life forever. Mystery and treachery swirl around Eden when an ancient prophecy is revealed that will change the balance in Truitnor which sets up a power struggle of epic proportions – if she survives.
The plot to Keepers is tight, and as hard as I tried, I couldn’t foresee the next twist in the story as it progressed. The characters are well rounded and easy to relate to. Eden East as the protagonist is the perfect kick-ass heroine you would expect the author, Sacha de Black to create. The ending is spectacular, and once again I must emphasize, I never saw it coming as the setup to the next book in the series falls into place.
As a high fantasy adventure, I must say, Keepers has found a place as one of the most creative fantasy novels I’ve read. I know of nothing written like it. The descriptions of the magical binding ceremony were so fantastic that I read them twice. This is the kind of storytelling that leaves the reader with a book hangover. I couldn’t get this story or the characters out of my head. I loved this book!
I’ve added this novel to my ME TIME category for Fantasy because the book literally blew me away. Step into the world of Truitinor and let the magic sweep you away! ❤
MY RATING:
Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 Fairies
The Fallon’s wield the power of the people as shapeshifters, sirens, elementals, and dryads. Their job is to save lives and to make things right for the kingdom of Trutinor. The Keepers read the Balance of fate, remove Imbalance, and realign the people to their intended path in life so they can find their true destinies.
Trutinor is separated into four territories (north, south, east and west), each ruled by the specific abilities of the Fallons who balance the fate in that area. A coming of age exam pairs a male and female Fallon together – whether they like it or not, resulting in a binding ceremony where the two are bound for life. Remember, there must always be a balance, so it is not unusual for opposites in personality to be united.
Eden East, an elemental, has been promised to be bound to Victor, an evil shapeshifter. The boy failed his final exam, and Eden passed, creating bad blood between them. Trey Luchelli, a siren Fallon from the South is named head boy of Stratera Academy, while Eden East has made head girl. When they were children, Trey and Eden were the best of friends. What fate has conspired to bring them together again and for what purpose?
The night of the binding ceremony draws near, and events are set in motion that will change Eden’s life forever. Mystery and treachery swirl around Eden when an ancient prophecy is revealed that will change the balance in Truitnor which sets up a power struggle of epic proportions – if she survives.
The plot to Keepers is tight, and as hard as I tried, I couldn’t foresee the next twist in the story as it progressed. The characters are well rounded and easy to relate to. Eden East as the protagonist is the perfect kick-ass heroine you would expect the author, Sacha de Black to create. The ending is spectacular, and once again I must emphasize, I never saw it coming as the setup to the next book in the series falls into place.
As a high fantasy adventure, I must say, Keepers has found a place as one of the most creative fantasy novels I’ve read. I know of nothing written like it. The descriptions of the magical binding ceremony were so fantastic that I read them twice. This is the kind of storytelling that leaves the reader with a book hangover. I couldn’t get this story or the characters out of my head. I loved this book!
I’ve added this novel to my ME TIME category for Fantasy because the book literally blew me away. Step into the world of Truitinor and let the magic sweep you away! ❤
MY RATING:
Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 Fairies
April 5, 2019
Arc provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
DNF at 41%
This won’t be a long review because Keepers was just intensely bad. I refuse to waste much more time on it, but I do want to share my thoughts and hopefully no one else will waste their time either. I am baffled by all the glowing reviews...like….did I get a different book???
For one thing, I am always wary when the first pages of a book are the glossary. If you can’t introduce these terms in your writing and make me understand them as part of your world-building process, then we have a problem. THIRTY-TWO TERMS, YOU GUYS. Thirty-two. And the brief definition in the glossary is not enough for them to actually make sense in the world. More explanation was needed and never given. Just these terms thrown around. And also WHY THE FUCK is one of those terms “Steampunk Transporter” when there is no reason for this society to call anything “Steampunk.” The person with this title is a fucking bodyguard. There is nothing “Steampunk” about him. This society is run by magic. If there was supposed to be a Steampunk vibe, it did not come across. And even if it did this term would still be stupid af.
The writing was bad. Very bad. I understand that I was given an ARC, and that the final polishing is still to come, but even beyond the blatant misuse of commas on almost every page, the writing was just amateurish. Too many sentences just made me cringe because there was no subtlety, no sophistication. Too many times the characters would be referring to something that happened in a scene that we just saw...except what they are talking about didn’t happen. The explanation is that our MC blacked out….except she didn’t black out in the scene? She went all rage monster, but never blacked out as far as I can tell. It’s just poor editing, and I wish it had been gone over more thoroughly before being released, even as an ARC.
While the idea is initially interesting, it just wasn’t written well enough to keep my interest.
DNF at 41%
This won’t be a long review because Keepers was just intensely bad. I refuse to waste much more time on it, but I do want to share my thoughts and hopefully no one else will waste their time either. I am baffled by all the glowing reviews...like….did I get a different book???
For one thing, I am always wary when the first pages of a book are the glossary. If you can’t introduce these terms in your writing and make me understand them as part of your world-building process, then we have a problem. THIRTY-TWO TERMS, YOU GUYS. Thirty-two. And the brief definition in the glossary is not enough for them to actually make sense in the world. More explanation was needed and never given. Just these terms thrown around. And also WHY THE FUCK is one of those terms “Steampunk Transporter” when there is no reason for this society to call anything “Steampunk.” The person with this title is a fucking bodyguard. There is nothing “Steampunk” about him. This society is run by magic. If there was supposed to be a Steampunk vibe, it did not come across. And even if it did this term would still be stupid af.
The writing was bad. Very bad. I understand that I was given an ARC, and that the final polishing is still to come, but even beyond the blatant misuse of commas on almost every page, the writing was just amateurish. Too many sentences just made me cringe because there was no subtlety, no sophistication. Too many times the characters would be referring to something that happened in a scene that we just saw...except what they are talking about didn’t happen. The explanation is that our MC blacked out….except she didn’t black out in the scene? She went all rage monster, but never blacked out as far as I can tell. It’s just poor editing, and I wish it had been gone over more thoroughly before being released, even as an ARC.
While the idea is initially interesting, it just wasn’t written well enough to keep my interest.
December 19, 2018
“Until the next life”
Eden, special family, special friends, special child. Her giving off an annoying vibe is maybe not the character‘s fault but the less than ideal writing. Green orbs, yawning doors,.. I am a very visual person but that was just too much. Not sure if I was just in a bad mood every time I picked the book back up. The story idea itself isn‘t bad at all, I very much like it, it’s different, just badly executed. Plus this annoying forbidden but destined romance pushed into every crack.
I could choose to ignore these things for the story’s sake but I hate lies, I hate when information is withheld and people are betrayed and it happens a lot. This one is up to taste but it certainly isn’t mine and I had no way of knowing this book would be filled with my most hated tropes. It got better towards the and and I‘m considering to keep reading when the next part comes out so let‘s see.
Eden, special family, special friends, special child. Her giving off an annoying vibe is maybe not the character‘s fault but the less than ideal writing. Green orbs, yawning doors,.. I am a very visual person but that was just too much. Not sure if I was just in a bad mood every time I picked the book back up. The story idea itself isn‘t bad at all, I very much like it, it’s different, just badly executed. Plus this annoying forbidden but destined romance pushed into every crack.
I could choose to ignore these things for the story’s sake but I hate lies, I hate when information is withheld and people are betrayed and it happens a lot. This one is up to taste but it certainly isn’t mine and I had no way of knowing this book would be filled with my most hated tropes. It got better towards the and and I‘m considering to keep reading when the next part comes out so let‘s see.
January 22, 2023
Keepers is a book that is difficult to understand. The surface plot seems fairly simple, but the why is more difficult to figure out. The writing is good – kept me reading right along. The main problem I found was that there was less time spent unraveling the mysteries that cropped up early in the book and more time arguing between the main characters than I would have liked to see.
Trutinor is a world related to but separate from Earth. Its culture is ostensibly all about keeping Balance. All of its people are Keepers, and that is their job – to keep the Balance. The heads of the ruling houses of each area of Trutinor are called Fallons. They are like Keepers, but with special powers. The ruler of the whole country is called the First Fallon. She has the power to read Prophecies and to select which Keepers and Fallons should be bound to each other to keep the Balance. She is all about Balance and has become obsessed with it. Or maybe it is power she is obsessed with. I can’t tell.
Eden East is a Fallon of the East region. She is an Elemental, and as a Fallon, she can control all the Elements. At the beginning of the story, she is finishing up what must be their equivalent of high school. She is taking a final exam – a session in a simulator – along with the boy who is supposedly going to be Bound to her the next day. This boy is Victor, a Fallon of the North region. Victor fails his exam, but curiously Eden passes, although a fail for one of them is supposed to mean a fail for both.
Most of the book deals with the tensions between Eden, Victor, Trey (the man Eden really loves), and a mysterious person, Cassian, who has been in hiding on Earth and who turns out to be Victor’s brother. Eden has just lost both of her parents, and as a result, has received a gift of extra power. Trey had the same thing happen to him several years earlier. This has created a lot of Imbalance, which is to be used, according to some Prophecy, to fight a war. But they are all confused as to what the war is to be about. (Me too.)
Trutinor is a world related to but separate from Earth. Its culture is ostensibly all about keeping Balance. All of its people are Keepers, and that is their job – to keep the Balance. The heads of the ruling houses of each area of Trutinor are called Fallons. They are like Keepers, but with special powers. The ruler of the whole country is called the First Fallon. She has the power to read Prophecies and to select which Keepers and Fallons should be bound to each other to keep the Balance. She is all about Balance and has become obsessed with it. Or maybe it is power she is obsessed with. I can’t tell.
Eden East is a Fallon of the East region. She is an Elemental, and as a Fallon, she can control all the Elements. At the beginning of the story, she is finishing up what must be their equivalent of high school. She is taking a final exam – a session in a simulator – along with the boy who is supposedly going to be Bound to her the next day. This boy is Victor, a Fallon of the North region. Victor fails his exam, but curiously Eden passes, although a fail for one of them is supposed to mean a fail for both.
Most of the book deals with the tensions between Eden, Victor, Trey (the man Eden really loves), and a mysterious person, Cassian, who has been in hiding on Earth and who turns out to be Victor’s brother. Eden has just lost both of her parents, and as a result, has received a gift of extra power. Trey had the same thing happen to him several years earlier. This has created a lot of Imbalance, which is to be used, according to some Prophecy, to fight a war. But they are all confused as to what the war is to be about. (Me too.)
January 6, 2018
This is the first in the Eden East Novels series and the first of the author’s novels. Eden is a Fallon – a royal Keeper whose role it is to ensure Balance in the world of Trutinor. The Keepers have different powers and are either Elementals, Shifters, Sirens or Sorcerers. Eden, an Elemental, is destined to be bound forever to another Fallon – a Shifter for whom she feels no attraction. But it isn’t up to her. Things change when there is a murder, and when Trey, a Siren who was Eden’s close childhood friend, reappears after a long absence, and confuses Eden further. They are forced together as they try to find the killers and avoid a fate that could have far-reaching consequences.
The author builds her world compellingly. There are some really well-crafted scenes here and the dialogue is, on the whole, authentic. Eden is a strong yet sympathetic main character and it’s always great to have strong female leads, whatever the genre. And Eden is also a character that a reader will care about – her strength is balanced well with her vulnerability, which adds depth to the narrative.
The writing is technically sound, and the plot has enough intrigue, mystery and surprises to hold the reader’s attention.
There were a few places where I felt the writing could be tightened a bit, and where the focus was too heavily on Eden’s reactions and feeling. There were also lots of characters that it was sometimes hard to keep track of. I do have a problem with fantasy books in that I always find the characters’ names and the names of imaginary places distracting– but I do appreciate that this goes with the territory. The definitions of the terms and traditions/conventions of Trutinor were also very long.
That said, this is a solid first novel from a debut author, and Eden has great potential for future books in the series.
The author builds her world compellingly. There are some really well-crafted scenes here and the dialogue is, on the whole, authentic. Eden is a strong yet sympathetic main character and it’s always great to have strong female leads, whatever the genre. And Eden is also a character that a reader will care about – her strength is balanced well with her vulnerability, which adds depth to the narrative.
The writing is technically sound, and the plot has enough intrigue, mystery and surprises to hold the reader’s attention.
There were a few places where I felt the writing could be tightened a bit, and where the focus was too heavily on Eden’s reactions and feeling. There were also lots of characters that it was sometimes hard to keep track of. I do have a problem with fantasy books in that I always find the characters’ names and the names of imaginary places distracting– but I do appreciate that this goes with the territory. The definitions of the terms and traditions/conventions of Trutinor were also very long.
That said, this is a solid first novel from a debut author, and Eden has great potential for future books in the series.
November 19, 2017
I watched the growing excitement surrounding the release of Sacha Black’s debut YA novel on social media with interest. As an avid YA fan, I knew this would be my kind of book. I didn’t quite understand just how much I needed it until I turned the first page.
I read YA fantasy as a form of escapism. I need the tales to transport me to alternative realms, times, or worlds and Keepers does this beautifully. The author takes us to Trutinor one minute and then to Camden, London the next, seamlessly blending the familiar with the unknown.
The characters are fully formed and well written. They are easy to connect with, and I found myself rooting more and more for Eden as she was dealt heartache, anguish, and fear at every turn. Trey was a complicated character with his own history and secrets, but this offered the reader an adequate pull to want to know him better.
As I read this book I kept thinking about some of my other favourite authors; Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series as well as Victoria Scott’s Fire & Flood and thinking how Keepers was just as well written, detailed, and thrilling as these works.
I need a novel to transport me out of my day-to-day life and immerse me in the ‘save the world’ or ‘rescue the hero’ plot line. I like good winning over evil, and I enjoy a thrilling climax that leaves me wanting more. Keepers delivers all of this and more.
The plot is complex but easy to follow. The author provides a summary of terms at the start of the book to help you make sense of the ‘what’ and ‘who’ of the story. Although it was interesting to read this, I found it comfortable to follow the story and not be jarred out of the action by an unusual phrase or reference. The pace was just right and the simmering relationships handled with care and attention.
With regards to character development, Eden East changes irrevocably through the book, but there is still room for her to evolve and grow.
Before I’d reached the half-way mark, I was already eager to read the sequel, but upon the final twist, I’m now desperate to find out what happens next.
A fabulous debut novel.
I read YA fantasy as a form of escapism. I need the tales to transport me to alternative realms, times, or worlds and Keepers does this beautifully. The author takes us to Trutinor one minute and then to Camden, London the next, seamlessly blending the familiar with the unknown.
The characters are fully formed and well written. They are easy to connect with, and I found myself rooting more and more for Eden as she was dealt heartache, anguish, and fear at every turn. Trey was a complicated character with his own history and secrets, but this offered the reader an adequate pull to want to know him better.
As I read this book I kept thinking about some of my other favourite authors; Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series as well as Victoria Scott’s Fire & Flood and thinking how Keepers was just as well written, detailed, and thrilling as these works.
I need a novel to transport me out of my day-to-day life and immerse me in the ‘save the world’ or ‘rescue the hero’ plot line. I like good winning over evil, and I enjoy a thrilling climax that leaves me wanting more. Keepers delivers all of this and more.
The plot is complex but easy to follow. The author provides a summary of terms at the start of the book to help you make sense of the ‘what’ and ‘who’ of the story. Although it was interesting to read this, I found it comfortable to follow the story and not be jarred out of the action by an unusual phrase or reference. The pace was just right and the simmering relationships handled with care and attention.
With regards to character development, Eden East changes irrevocably through the book, but there is still room for her to evolve and grow.
Before I’d reached the half-way mark, I was already eager to read the sequel, but upon the final twist, I’m now desperate to find out what happens next.
A fabulous debut novel.
May 18, 2018
Hello readers! Today I’m reviewing a book called Keepers by Sacha de Black, I was kindly sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions in this review are entirely my own – please feel free to comment and share your thoughts/ ask questions too!
Female protagonists are so common these days in YA books so it’s truly something for an author to be able to pull off a unique, likeable, and interesting character, and Sacha manages this with Eden. This character has to be one of my favourites every; she goes through such a rough time, she stumbles, and inside she is more than overwhelmed by the turn her life has taken, yet she remains so level-headed. Even at her young age she puts the good of Trutinor first.
Other characters are well-developed, and Sacha has been able to develop each of them into individuals with complex stories, something that really helps bring them to life. Another really great aspect about Keepers is the world building which occurs; it’s narrated perfectly, and the reader is able to build a clear and vibrant picture in their mind’s eye from the wonderful descriptions provided throughout the book. Sometimes world building can lead an author to concentrate too much on this in areas, and neglect the story, but in this book it’s entwined with a brilliant and fast paced plot.
The plot has many twists and turns and is just captivating in every way. Usually I steer clear of a story with a love triangle, but as with the rest of this book – this love triangle has a twist.
In a world where the North, South, East, and West are separated by ability, the story reflects on themes that threaten to affect this world sooner than we may realise. The whole purpose is to keep the balance, and so each child has a potential – the person who balances their power, and the one they will likely be bound to and spend the rest of their life with. I think it’s a real accomplishment to be able to entwine such thought-provoking themes so delicately into such an action-packed and captivating read without drawing away from the entertainment aspect of the novel.
This story is just strong in so many ways and I’m so excited to see what happens in book #2. Eden is a character that just engages with the reader, and even the secondary characters are relatable and well-developed. I’d recommend this to fans of the Divergent series, or the Monsters of Verity duology.
Overall I’m awarding this book 5*/5. I thought the pace was great, and the plot twists were amazing – it’s a story that really grips the audience and provides an entertaining and thrilling read. The protagonist is perfect in her own actions and interactions with others. I just loved it!
Thank you so much to Sacha for providing me with a copy of this book for review – I’ll definitely be diving into Victor (The Eden East #2) as soon as it is released – because OMG that ending! The e-book is available to pre-order is expected to be published on 5th July 2018.
Female protagonists are so common these days in YA books so it’s truly something for an author to be able to pull off a unique, likeable, and interesting character, and Sacha manages this with Eden. This character has to be one of my favourites every; she goes through such a rough time, she stumbles, and inside she is more than overwhelmed by the turn her life has taken, yet she remains so level-headed. Even at her young age she puts the good of Trutinor first.
Other characters are well-developed, and Sacha has been able to develop each of them into individuals with complex stories, something that really helps bring them to life. Another really great aspect about Keepers is the world building which occurs; it’s narrated perfectly, and the reader is able to build a clear and vibrant picture in their mind’s eye from the wonderful descriptions provided throughout the book. Sometimes world building can lead an author to concentrate too much on this in areas, and neglect the story, but in this book it’s entwined with a brilliant and fast paced plot.
The plot has many twists and turns and is just captivating in every way. Usually I steer clear of a story with a love triangle, but as with the rest of this book – this love triangle has a twist.
In a world where the North, South, East, and West are separated by ability, the story reflects on themes that threaten to affect this world sooner than we may realise. The whole purpose is to keep the balance, and so each child has a potential – the person who balances their power, and the one they will likely be bound to and spend the rest of their life with. I think it’s a real accomplishment to be able to entwine such thought-provoking themes so delicately into such an action-packed and captivating read without drawing away from the entertainment aspect of the novel.
This story is just strong in so many ways and I’m so excited to see what happens in book #2. Eden is a character that just engages with the reader, and even the secondary characters are relatable and well-developed. I’d recommend this to fans of the Divergent series, or the Monsters of Verity duology.
Overall I’m awarding this book 5*/5. I thought the pace was great, and the plot twists were amazing – it’s a story that really grips the audience and provides an entertaining and thrilling read. The protagonist is perfect in her own actions and interactions with others. I just loved it!
Thank you so much to Sacha for providing me with a copy of this book for review – I’ll definitely be diving into Victor (The Eden East #2) as soon as it is released – because OMG that ending! The e-book is available to pre-order is expected to be published on 5th July 2018.
November 21, 2017
What a fantastic book!
Honestly, I wasn't expecting to get hooked, but oh my did I!
From the moment I stepped into the realm of Trutinor and the life of Eden East, with her powers and all the angst of being a teenager with so much pressure upon you, I was sunk.
I ended up reading the whole book in a day!
The characters are written well, with a depth to them which leaves you caring a lot about the protagonist and wishing evil thoughts upon the villains!
There is a love story, a family saga, and fantasy all in one, with the reality we know, Camden Town, woven into the cloth of the story that is set in a world that is unknown.
I loved the short glossary of terms at the beginning that shows just how well thought out this whole new realm is. And each chapter starts with a snippet from ancient scriptures from Trutinor, which again show the immense planning that has been done in conjuring up this story.
I can honestly say this was 'unputdownable' and I was left hanging, in a good way, desperate for the sequel to be published!
Honestly, I wasn't expecting to get hooked, but oh my did I!
From the moment I stepped into the realm of Trutinor and the life of Eden East, with her powers and all the angst of being a teenager with so much pressure upon you, I was sunk.
I ended up reading the whole book in a day!
The characters are written well, with a depth to them which leaves you caring a lot about the protagonist and wishing evil thoughts upon the villains!
There is a love story, a family saga, and fantasy all in one, with the reality we know, Camden Town, woven into the cloth of the story that is set in a world that is unknown.
I loved the short glossary of terms at the beginning that shows just how well thought out this whole new realm is. And each chapter starts with a snippet from ancient scriptures from Trutinor, which again show the immense planning that has been done in conjuring up this story.
I can honestly say this was 'unputdownable' and I was left hanging, in a good way, desperate for the sequel to be published!
February 20, 2019
This book was received as an ARC from Kobo Writing Life in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I absolutely loved this book from cover to cover. This was unlike anything I have read before. I am also in love with books that take you away in one direction and then as you read on out of nowhere it takes you in a completely different directions with shockingly exciting twists and turns left and right. Eden also reminded me a lot of Mare from Red Queen but also of Merida from Brave because of her rebellious attitude and willingness to fight for what she believes in. I really desperately hope this book becomes a series because I know our readers are going to be highly anticipating the await for this book and the next.
We will consider adding this title to our YFantasy collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
I absolutely loved this book from cover to cover. This was unlike anything I have read before. I am also in love with books that take you away in one direction and then as you read on out of nowhere it takes you in a completely different directions with shockingly exciting twists and turns left and right. Eden also reminded me a lot of Mare from Red Queen but also of Merida from Brave because of her rebellious attitude and willingness to fight for what she believes in. I really desperately hope this book becomes a series because I know our readers are going to be highly anticipating the await for this book and the next.
We will consider adding this title to our YFantasy collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
November 20, 2017
This book wasn’t from my normal genre and I am glad I tried something different. I loved this story. The concept worked and the author cleverly weaved the balance / imbalance message throughout. By the end even I could sense the imbalance.
I have a huge crush on Trey and the scene where he takes away a piece of Eden’s pain in the palm of his hand was beautiful. I loved how he took away her painful memories of them being together before he was bound to Evelyn. I could see why she was angry but I thought it was sweet. The author has done an excellent job in creating the chemistry for Eden and Trey.
The detailed world the author created boggled my mind in a good way. I could picture the elaborate and lavish dinners, celebrations in my head.
The Dusting Ceremony was a hard read and I felt Eden should have been more disturbed by this, but after reading on I think she’s the type of person who goes on auto pilot / deals with her emotions later.
My life will feel ‘imbalanced’ until book 2
I have a huge crush on Trey and the scene where he takes away a piece of Eden’s pain in the palm of his hand was beautiful. I loved how he took away her painful memories of them being together before he was bound to Evelyn. I could see why she was angry but I thought it was sweet. The author has done an excellent job in creating the chemistry for Eden and Trey.
The detailed world the author created boggled my mind in a good way. I could picture the elaborate and lavish dinners, celebrations in my head.
The Dusting Ceremony was a hard read and I felt Eden should have been more disturbed by this, but after reading on I think she’s the type of person who goes on auto pilot / deals with her emotions later.
My life will feel ‘imbalanced’ until book 2
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2019
True rating; 4.5 stars
A solid debut novel, mixing together some of my favourite concepts into a new fantasy world, such as people with elemental powers, shapeshifters, sirens/mermaids, interdimensional transport, and Earth being a place you can visit because having Earth as a base point always helps so you can understand what on . . . dirt is going on.
Loses half a star because it has one of those cliffhanger endings, though in its favour I am intrigued by the worldbuilding and in the characters to want to continue. But still, why that ending Sacha?
A solid debut novel, mixing together some of my favourite concepts into a new fantasy world, such as people with elemental powers, shapeshifters, sirens/mermaids, interdimensional transport, and Earth being a place you can visit because having Earth as a base point always helps so you can understand what on . . . dirt is going on.
Loses half a star because it has one of those cliffhanger endings, though in its favour I am intrigued by the worldbuilding and in the characters to want to continue. But still, why that ending Sacha?
June 17, 2018
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review, from Hidden Gems ARC reading.
I WAS SO IMPRESSED. 👏👏
The amount of world building, mythology, magic, fantasy, and character progression blew my mind. I just jumped into a whole new existence and didn't look back. Beautifully written, action packed, and definitely left me wanting MORE. I will be paying attention to ALL updates on this series now! Fantastic. 😄
I WAS SO IMPRESSED. 👏👏
The amount of world building, mythology, magic, fantasy, and character progression blew my mind. I just jumped into a whole new existence and didn't look back. Beautifully written, action packed, and definitely left me wanting MORE. I will be paying attention to ALL updates on this series now! Fantastic. 😄
December 15, 2017
very thrilling. keeps you hooked.
December 12, 2017
Have you ever wondered about those chance moments that can make all the difference in a person's life? The spilled coffee that sparks the initial conversation with your future soulmate? The breeze that sends a flyer detailing the open position in your dream field tumbling your way. What if these moments aren't coincidences at all but are the work of beings known as Keepers.
What I enjoyed most about this book was its spin on traditional fantasy creatures. While there are still magic powers, Elementals, Sorcerers, Sirens, and Shifters, the characters talk, think, and struggle just like any of us would.
Eden East, an Elemental, for example, is the heir to the ruling family and chaffs under that distinction. If it were up to her she would be a regular keeper and a field agent at that. Instead, she is destined to be bound to the heir of the North, an odious, but well-crafted Shifter. Still, she understands her place in the world and is trying to make the best of it, even if it means fighting against her feelings for a Siren, who happens to be bound already to another.
Then disaster happens and as a result, Eden inherits a power she never dreamed of nor wanted. Left unchecked, it is a power that could disrupt the very fabric of their world, as well as ours by association.
Love, in its many forms, is central to the plot and romantic elements abound so those who aren't into that sort of thing be warned, but this is no simpering heroine romance. Someone has to die. Eden has to choose who.
Eden is a fighter and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. The supporting characters are equally enjoyable as were their interactions with Eden. My favorite was the platonic brother/sister style relationship she has with her best friend's intended, a boy named Kato, but there are plenty of others for readers to choose from.
This is a strong first offering from this author and a nice change of pace from the more traditional YA fantasy. I'm looking forward to the next one.
What I enjoyed most about this book was its spin on traditional fantasy creatures. While there are still magic powers, Elementals, Sorcerers, Sirens, and Shifters, the characters talk, think, and struggle just like any of us would.
Eden East, an Elemental, for example, is the heir to the ruling family and chaffs under that distinction. If it were up to her she would be a regular keeper and a field agent at that. Instead, she is destined to be bound to the heir of the North, an odious, but well-crafted Shifter. Still, she understands her place in the world and is trying to make the best of it, even if it means fighting against her feelings for a Siren, who happens to be bound already to another.
Then disaster happens and as a result, Eden inherits a power she never dreamed of nor wanted. Left unchecked, it is a power that could disrupt the very fabric of their world, as well as ours by association.
Love, in its many forms, is central to the plot and romantic elements abound so those who aren't into that sort of thing be warned, but this is no simpering heroine romance. Someone has to die. Eden has to choose who.
Eden is a fighter and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. The supporting characters are equally enjoyable as were their interactions with Eden. My favorite was the platonic brother/sister style relationship she has with her best friend's intended, a boy named Kato, but there are plenty of others for readers to choose from.
This is a strong first offering from this author and a nice change of pace from the more traditional YA fantasy. I'm looking forward to the next one.
June 24, 2019
Arc provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is going to contain spoiler.
Ok, so I get very angry at book summaries that lead you along, hint at thing that you then don't get in the book.
The one on NetGalley is the one I read, that made me interested to read the book.
(What if your enemy was your soulmate?
Seventeen-year-old Eden East lives in a world ruled by fate. And as the heir to the ruling Elementals, her fate is bound to the odious son of their enemies: the Shifters.
Unwilling to accept her destiny, Eden rebels and unearths dark secrets. Then Trey Luchelli appears – a blue-eyed Siren who seems strangely familiar... The more Eden tries to ignore him, the more they are drawn together.)
I was interested in the idea of fated soulmates, but the book didn't do much with it. The characters are not fully explained. They were not human and had diff superpower. Ok but not much is explained about that. I don't know if this took place on a diff planet? Or a diff dimension? There is earth and you get to it by train, passing a weird in between place. But I didn't feel it gave enough information about it.
Her worst enemy? Just a guy she really does not like. They have been mean to each other since being kids and yet they are partnered in their school work, destined to be her soulmate. Everything about him makes her go "Ewwww" but SHE DOES NOT REBEL. Like at all. She is always convinced, for the majority of the book, that he's her soulmate, despite LOGICALLY not liking anything about him. She never thinks any deeper than that. Does not question the power who chooses which people are due to be soulmates.
As to the mysterious and 'strangely familiar' Siren boy.... dude he's her childhood friend. The moment she hears his name, she's like "oh yeah, its my friend from childhood who had moved."
His brother is one of her friends now! He's not mysterious at all. He's a Siren who has the ability to manipulate peoples emotions and memories. MEMORIES.
This we find out right off, the moment he's back in her life. And he's married or bonded or whatever to a diff girl. And being bonded is like for life and for the after life. It's unbreakable. People die when their soul mates die.
And yet he instantly flirts with her, ignores his wife. She is all "omg he's hot, how sexy this sexual tension is!" ....I call bullshit. In a society where soulmates and being bonded is practically holy. Kids born before a pair is bound are like bastards and are killed. Or are SO RARE! (eyeroll) So to have a married man hitting on her, should shock her so fucking much. It should be blasphemy! And yet she's just infatuated with him while never questioning any of it and keeps telling herself, no he's not mine, WHILE STILL NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING.
I didn't like the Siren guy. All he had going for him was he was hot. But there was this big thing about him taking away his own emotion to never deal with anything hard, like the death of his parent. He was pathetic and he didn't change, didn't grow. His big angsty thing was that he loved her, not his wife and his desire for her was the only emotion he could not take away from himself...-___-
It was easy to read, and despite all this, I kept reading, hoping at the end there would be a big reveal! The sexual tension would turn out to be just sexual tension but her soulmate would turn out to be someone completely different. Nether of the dudes, but a third person who comes into play later on...but no. No at the end she ends up being bound to the siren dude. His wife conveniently dies in a battle. Its never addressed if its a shock to him, or how he gets over it. Nope they are simply bound to each other now and are disgustingly happy.
Overall, I don't recommend. It didn't make me super angry or make me hate it. I just didn't like where it went and how much it missed out on. How simple it all was and that it didn't do anything to challenge the characters to grow. Won't be reading the next one.
This is going to contain spoiler.
Ok, so I get very angry at book summaries that lead you along, hint at thing that you then don't get in the book.
The one on NetGalley is the one I read, that made me interested to read the book.
(What if your enemy was your soulmate?
Seventeen-year-old Eden East lives in a world ruled by fate. And as the heir to the ruling Elementals, her fate is bound to the odious son of their enemies: the Shifters.
Unwilling to accept her destiny, Eden rebels and unearths dark secrets. Then Trey Luchelli appears – a blue-eyed Siren who seems strangely familiar... The more Eden tries to ignore him, the more they are drawn together.)
I was interested in the idea of fated soulmates, but the book didn't do much with it. The characters are not fully explained. They were not human and had diff superpower. Ok but not much is explained about that. I don't know if this took place on a diff planet? Or a diff dimension? There is earth and you get to it by train, passing a weird in between place. But I didn't feel it gave enough information about it.
Her worst enemy? Just a guy she really does not like. They have been mean to each other since being kids and yet they are partnered in their school work, destined to be her soulmate. Everything about him makes her go "Ewwww" but SHE DOES NOT REBEL. Like at all. She is always convinced, for the majority of the book, that he's her soulmate, despite LOGICALLY not liking anything about him. She never thinks any deeper than that. Does not question the power who chooses which people are due to be soulmates.
As to the mysterious and 'strangely familiar' Siren boy.... dude he's her childhood friend. The moment she hears his name, she's like "oh yeah, its my friend from childhood who had moved."
His brother is one of her friends now! He's not mysterious at all. He's a Siren who has the ability to manipulate peoples emotions and memories. MEMORIES.
This we find out right off, the moment he's back in her life. And he's married or bonded or whatever to a diff girl. And being bonded is like for life and for the after life. It's unbreakable. People die when their soul mates die.
And yet he instantly flirts with her, ignores his wife. She is all "omg he's hot, how sexy this sexual tension is!" ....I call bullshit. In a society where soulmates and being bonded is practically holy. Kids born before a pair is bound are like bastards and are killed. Or are SO RARE! (eyeroll) So to have a married man hitting on her, should shock her so fucking much. It should be blasphemy! And yet she's just infatuated with him while never questioning any of it and keeps telling herself, no he's not mine, WHILE STILL NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING.
I didn't like the Siren guy. All he had going for him was he was hot. But there was this big thing about him taking away his own emotion to never deal with anything hard, like the death of his parent. He was pathetic and he didn't change, didn't grow. His big angsty thing was that he loved her, not his wife and his desire for her was the only emotion he could not take away from himself...-___-
It was easy to read, and despite all this, I kept reading, hoping at the end there would be a big reveal! The sexual tension would turn out to be just sexual tension but her soulmate would turn out to be someone completely different. Nether of the dudes, but a third person who comes into play later on...but no. No at the end she ends up being bound to the siren dude. His wife conveniently dies in a battle. Its never addressed if its a shock to him, or how he gets over it. Nope they are simply bound to each other now and are disgustingly happy.
Overall, I don't recommend. It didn't make me super angry or make me hate it. I just didn't like where it went and how much it missed out on. How simple it all was and that it didn't do anything to challenge the characters to grow. Won't be reading the next one.
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