The Watcher Key

by Troy Hooker

“At one time the Watchers walked the earth as humans did. They were sent to protect and guide them, even after the Darkness entered the land. The Creator’s sole passion is, and has always been, to ensure mankind’s survival...”

The Watcher Key is the opening stanza of an epic Christian Fantasy journey into a fantastic parallel world, where powerful angels have been battling Nephilim Dark Watcher foes for eons and dragons, giants and demons flourish. Based in part on the real lost Bible book of Enoch, Author Troy Hooker weaves complex teen heroes and a clean teen romance into an imaginative plot that features an intense battle of good vs evil, complemented by the maturation of the group of teenage friends.

In the land of Lior, the Darkness is rising, and Sam is caught in the middle. Abandoned by his foster parents at 15 years old, the moody orphan boy is sent to live with his grandfather, where he meets some unlikely people with an unusual secret ... they are the descendants of immortal beings. Sam's new friends lead him to their home, where the Descendants of the Light have been battling the forces of Darkness for generations. They soon discover there is an evil plot brewing in the darkest reaches of Lior that will not only change Sam's own destiny, but also threaten the future of both worlds. Follow Sam as he uncovers the ancient mystery of the Watcher Key.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Troy is the author of the Descendants of Light Series The Watcher Key and The Watcher Tower.

Troy is an author, former high school teacher, and follower of Jesus. When he is not hiking the mountains or exploring lost beaches in his converted school bus, he is authoring new stories. Often you may find him in a hammock in the woods with a laptop and a cup of coffee, dreaming of his next epic adventure. Troy is the author of the Descendants of Light and Demon Tide series, with many more books to come. Through his writing, he is always seeking to bring others to God by using imaginative plots where light overcomes darkness, fantastical worlds abound, and incredible creatures flourish. Troy lives close to a coffee shop in a small town in Michigan with his wife, Stacy.

Reviews

[Lilian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised at The Watcher Key! I’ve never heard anything about this book or Troy so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Having finished this book, I can already tell you that I’m looking forward to the release of the second book. 😉

Pros:

- Great expressive writing. Troy writes extremely well- I was never confused while reading the book.
- Clear imagery. You can definitely picture the scenes in your mind while reading easily and without much effort.
- This isn’t really related to the writing? but it’s okay. The formatting in the book works so well with the feel of the book. Like… I really like it (those trees in the header? thing? !!!)
- Troy builds the worlds of White Pine and Lior excellently and integrates them really well.
- and I also want to see more of Chivler. I love librarians and book store keepers.
- and Gus.

Cons:

- Some of the characters (Emma and Sayvon specifically) seemed a little shallow to me. They almost seemed like they were there just to serve as a distraction to Sam romantically. They’ll probably become more fleshed out in the second book though.
- A kiss happens before the two characters fall in love. While this isn’t exactly approved, it’s certainly not spoken of as a bad thing, so if you’re against that, just be careful. ;P
- There’s kind of a minor love triangle. It isn’t the main focus at all, but I still wasn’t a fan of it (even though I normally kind of like them in books?).

Content:

- Words like “bullcr-p” are mentioned, but nothing more than that
- (I mentioned this earlier. It was highlighted as a spoiler, but if you’re on the cautious side about content and don’t really care about really really minor spoilers- at least I think it’s a very minor one, then read this. ;P) A kiss happens before two characters fall in love.
- In-the-middle-of-detailed-and-barely-detailed description of some gruesome/frightening creatures

Overall:

Brilliant book! I definitely enjoyed reading it and learning about Lior. Troy has a fantastic writing style that’ll definitely keep me looking out for Book #2. 4.5 stars.

Recommended to 12+ for minor romance and PG-rated descriptions.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Like my reviews? Read more on my blog.

[Celestria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy is definitely one of my favorite genres, but trying out new fantasy novels can be a hit or miss. They are often a little too weird or confusing.

I'm happy to say that The Watcher Key was neither! It took me several chapters to really get into the story, but once I was in, I was in! All the mystery surrounding Sam and the prophecy had me hooked. Not to mention DRAGONS!—er, A dragon. But seriously I love dragons and if the next book has more dragons in it, I won't be complaining. (Hint, hint🐲😏)

I look forward to reading book 2 when it comes out!

Thank you so much Troy for sending me this book in exchange for a review!!

[Loretta Marchize · Rating 3 out of 5]

So... I had to DNF this book. I pride myself on never ever DNFing books. Ever.
I don't know why I couldn't read it. I don't know if I just didn't get pulled into the story and then I just kept putting it down, or if it just didn't click. I loved the idea of the book, I loved the characters, the setting, I just couldn't finish it.
Now, I will say that if you are intrigued by this book you should try it. You really should. Just because I DNFed it does not mean you shouldn't read it. I am sure many people will love it, as it is well-written and a very good story.
I am actually very about for DNFing this book. I tried, and I tried, but I finally had to say 'I'm done' because I have several other books on my reading list right now, and I need to finish them too.
Perhaps someday I can come back to it and try again because my policy is to never give up.

[Dawn Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading this book! The Watcher Key is a Christian fantasy novel about a boy that is sent to live with a grandfather he barely knows and discovers that he may be part of something amazing, yet daunting. I would highly recommend this book to anyone 14 or older that enjoys fantasy novels. What I love most about this book is that there is no cursing, no gory violence, and no cringe-worthy sex scenes; the book is so well-written that the author doesn't need to resort to those tactics to keep the story moving. A word of caution, you do need to read the first chapter carefully, because it lays the groundwork for the rest of the book. The remainder of the book flows quickly and easily though. I honestly would give The Watcher Key 4 3/4 stars, but since only whole stars can be given, I gave it 5 stars. I highly recommend The Watcher Key!

[Catalin Negru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Target audience: Young adults.

About the author: According to the last page of the book, the author is an independent first time author, who loves fantastical and science fiction novels.

Structure of the book: The book has 449 pages in PDF format and it is divided in 18 chapters, each chapter having a unique title.

Overview: No spoilers! When I read the first chapter of the book I said to myself: “Ok. This is a 2-stars book”. At the fifth chapter I was: “Ok, 3 stars.” At the seventh chapter I said: “Definitely 4 stars!” and at the eleventh chapter I said: “Five stars!”
I like non-fiction more than fiction and, except for Game of Thrones, I do not have a pleasure reading about dragons and other fairy-tale creatures. But this book caught me. It is very catchy. To be honest, sometimes I felt I was seeing patterns and themes from Matrix (the messianic character whose destiny is revealed by others and Emma falls in love with him), or World of Warcraft (when Sam entered the world of Lior), other times I thought I read parts of Harry Potter (the games in the City of Lior), sometimes I saw things from Lost (the manifestation of darkness as a smoke), scenes from Avatar (when Emma showed to Samuel the Lazuli during a night) or even themes from Diablo III (the angles that turn from light to darkness and the fight between them). Moreover, there are parts that look like clichés; Sam being bullied at school or Emma’s crush on Sam reminded me of the American movies with teenagers. But it does not matter because the author managed to put all these things together harmoniously and came up with a story that captivates the mind and makes the reader live what he is reading. The journey of the four characters to the Old Lior is amazing; I could not wait to see what they were going to discover there. For a fiction fan, this is a wonderful book, and after he reads this first part I’m sure he will be eager to read the next one.


Quote: Choices—the choices of men, and of those that live here. It thrives on evil acts. The more bad people choose to do, the more the Darkness grows. It gives power to the Dark Forces.

Strong points: The book is very well written and there is a good balance between details provided and the speed of the story. Even thought the book is long, the reader does not get bored. And the jump from one scene to another is perfect.

Weak points: I noticed a couple of logical/religious inconsistencies and in some areas it seems that the author wants to make the story too “shiny”: putting dragons, dinosaurs, angels, god, humans, magic and science in the same universe is not a good idea (in my opinion at least). But, given it is a work of fiction, this aspect can be easily ignored. However, it cannot be ignored the fact that that the author is heavily advocating for the Christian religion. Not only he tries to make the reader to think that there is a divinity in the real world (through Sam’s experiences, thoughts and questions), but he also tried to explain its Christian (true) form. Instead, he should have stated plain and simple that there is a divinity and nothing more. Damn it, Troy! This could have been so much better!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost five stars

It’s unfortunate that the author dropped decision theology with an ugly thud at the end. The gift is freely given and freely received, without any merit or worthiness in the recipient. Rejection is an intentional decision.

[Merenwen Inglorion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. So. I had to DNF this.

BUT:
I loved the idea. The Main Character was likeable (a bookworm!), and the little bits of worldbuilding were amazing.
Dinosaurs, dragons, light travel, angels, demons--an exciting combination! Plus, all the things that set off the different inhabitants of Lior were reminiscent of the worldbuilding in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Lillia was...annoying (a "snarky" character who can't seem talk without "sneering" or "snickering")...
But as a whole, the group that takes Sam in--Lillia, Emma, Gus, and their parents--is likeable and stays true to character.
I only made it to Chapter Twelve, but I have to say that Boggle is my favorite side-character. The classic, crazy, hermit inventor. :D My second favorite--even though he only has an appearance lasting a paragraph--has to be Achiam. He's an enthusiastic bear of a guard. One of my favorite tropes. XD

I felt that Sam, being a bookworm (it's said he prefers history, but he makes one or two LotR references which makes me think he enjoys fantasy at least a little), would have come to terms with the existence of another world a bit sooner. He used the words "unrealistic" and "crazy" many times, all of them from a position of utter disbelief, rather than stunned wonder. But, maybe that's just me...

The plot is a classic "good vs. evil" affair. I kind of skimmed, and it seems to come to an equally classic end: a view of the big bad, exulting in a "traitor" (maybe a spy? Like I said, I just skimmed) to the Light.

A great read for younger audiences.
Though, there is a bit of kissing. Which kind of confused me, because Sam has reportedly been "average," to the point of having two girlfriends throughout his lifetime: one in fourth grade, and one in high school that lasted a month. And now he's got two girls (who appear to be the only semi-attractive girls in this world??) cat-fighting over him. And he gets kissed by both?_?
Anyways.

A few reasons I had to stop:
The five-mile-long sentences. It felt like the author was trying to go for a flowing narrative, but a majority of the sentences were so long, I had to read over them several times to understand what they were referencing and sometimes they changed subject in the middle, only to try to loop back around to the beginning, and there were just so many "ands" and commas, it felt like reading some of Paul's letters in the New Testament, just without the semi-colons. (<-- Most of the sentences were this length. I literally gasped in relief when I came across a five-word sentence: "Perhaps they didn't know how." I don't remember what chapter it was in, but I remember that sentence. XD )

The jerky Point of View. It was so erratic and inconsistent--going back and forth between cinematic/omniscient and close 3rd--that I got lost several times throughout. It took me about three and a half chapters to be certain that Sam was the MC. There were also a few instances where the transition between the two POVs was non-existent, and so made for...rather awkward...reading...(Tell me, what do you think when a scene starts in a close POV--basically being inside someone's head--and then reading that someone else has "perfect," "beautiful," and "glistening" lips? :P)

There were a few other things that turned me off, but they were mostly offshoots of these problems or minor grammar issues.

I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of the book to rate and review. :)

[Joshua Schut · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Watcher Key by Troy Hooker is a good first book.

Knowing that this was a Christan novel I was worried that this would be on the Davey and Goliath/ the lame videos I was forced to watch in Sunday school or catechism after church. Something made by someone who doesn’t get how to convey these themes to children without being condescending.

But within the first few pages, I came across a shocking revelation. That this was going to be a good book. The setup and characters in the prologue got me invested instantly, in chapter one I found myself interested in Sam as a character and I couldn’t wait to see him move onto a better life and when we finally got a taste of that at the end of chapter four I had a legitimate smile on my face and the last two chapters were a sweet end with a good cliffhanger that I can’t wait to see continued in the following books.

But the biggest problem I have with The Watcher Key is with sadly my boy Sam. I rooted with him in the beginning and at the end, but between those two sections, I felt like he should’ve spoken out more or be more annoyed or mad about not getting more information from his friends or the adults in the group or standing up for himself when people (Lillia and Gus) bad mouth the people in Creation. But this just might be a nitpick on my part since this is something that always bugs me personally in stories like this, but it might not bother others and it does slide by most times considering the previous homes in Sam has had and his relationship with his Grandfather. I just thought Sam’s character kinda took a dive between getting to Lior and their journey to and from the Old City.

I also think he let his Grandfather off the hook a little too easily at the end, but again that’s just my opinion and it didn’t completely ruin the story for me.

And his relationship with Emma I felt was a little undercooked and could’ve been a little more interesting and as I mentioned above I think Sam should’ve called her out more for being so blind to the Descendants flaws. This is something I hope we can see go a little deeper into the following books.

But if you're looking for a good fantasy novel for your kids or you're a fan of young adult fantasy I think this book is worth the read and I’d recommend it to fans of stuff like Percy Jackson and Harry Potter.

The world is fun, the lore is interesting and I’d like to see it expanded upon in more books, and it’s full of charming and funny moments that’ll bring a smile to your face.

And I can’t wait to see where Troy takes Sam in the Watcher Tower

[Ayezu Tamarapreye Okoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK:THE WATCHER KEY+DESCENDANTS OF LIGHT SERIES-BOOK ONE BY TROY HOOKER.
BOOK REVIEWER-OKOKO AYEZU TAMARAPREYE.
SYNOPSIS
A folklore and satire of some sort, on the watcher as angels searching for traces of darkness ( the ark ness)and protector of the people and office in a society of wild life extinction.This is told through the character of Amos ,Samantha and Sam and the the charge on him of the protection of the child Sam who has to fight as a watcher with other watchers evil and the name Sevel( "serve -el" as pronounced) to progress to Lior(pronounced "Lee or" city) of tomorrow ( pronounced "to more row").The story speaks of watchers of light leading dark watchers through sacred Gates of darkness loyalists.Lior is described as a creation of the people of light and descendants of immortal beings.In the story we see the watchers from the dark described as seer( see errs/sea errs) checking out Sam to make sure dark ( the ark) creatures don't get into the city ( sea-t/ see-t as pronounced for perfect sea ,see or vision).It looks at a restricted centre and the choice between power hungry politics and raising a child( chilled) and the importance of paying mind attention to the child.The story highlights the invasion of the dark forces by descendants of light leading to the Intervention of the watchers to destroy the invading dark forces.It also takes a satirical outlook using sports and teams to describe the games for survival and triumph among the Red(pronounced re-aired ) hall team; the Thalo ( pronounced Ta-low for "source low" in ijaw or "source marry " in Ikwerre;the blue( be loo/ toilet or cess pit ) team;the Telok;and Themane teams.The story sheds light on and laments the lack of clarity of the future of the Lior(Lee or) and it's desception leading to fall of old cities in time past even as the leaders struggle to keep Lior safe from inexperienced descendants of the light..It raises questions whether Christain values were a requirement for being a politician. There is a twist as we see legion of watchers surrender to the dark one/ the ark won.

LESSONS LEARNT FROM THE STORY READ
⛹️A watcher requires being stubborn , fearless and untrusting but these can make the watcher lonely.

[Nicole Dust · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

3.5 stars

Okay. That was a lot better than I thought it would be - especially the ending. YOU CANNOT JUST LEAVE ME THERE. WHERE’S BOOK 2???

LIKES:
- Sam. I really liked this character! Conflictedness, a few fandom references, and courage - sign me up!
- Gus. This kid . . . amazing. Simply amazing. I don’t even know where to begin with him.
- The description. I forgot to mark any of the parts that really stood out to me (I’m regretting that now), but the author definitely has a way with words. At one part towards the beginning, he described a storm, and I don’t know why I loved it so much, but it’s still one of my favorite parts of the book. *shrugs*
- The last two-thirds of the book. Seriously, that was AWESOME. I even tried reading another book when I was reaching the end, but I couldn’t stop thinking about The Watcher Key. *applause*

DISLIKES:
- The first third or so was so slow. I understand that there was a lot of info that had to be said, but still. That was one of the reasons why it took me so long to read. Once I hit Chapter Seven (or whichever chapter referred to Sam as “boy of the shadows” for the first time), I was hooked, and I finished reading it in a day.
- This is more personal preference, but I typically am somewhat uncomfortable with books about angels or their descendants. It wasn’t overwhelming in this book, which was a relief, but it still felt kind of weird. Again, though, that’s just personal preference, and if you’re fine with that kind of stuff, you’d probably really enjoy this book.
- There were a few spelling and grammatical errors.

Content:
A few kisses. Some cursing, but never worse than “bullcr*p.” Some violence, but not overly described. A pretty clean book!

Overall, this was really good! I’m looking forward to the second book in the series. Hopefully it starts off on a high note, unlike this book’s beginning.

[BooksCoffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooker’s outstanding epic Christian Fantasy series pits a 15-year-old teenager and his friends against dark forces as the war that has been going on for eternities between the powerful angels and Nephilim Dark Watcher enemies intensifies.

Abandoned by his foster parents at 15 years old, the temperamental Sam is sent to live with a grandfather he barely knows in the first book in the series. After meeting mysterious Emma, Lillia, and Gus, Sam finds himself in the middle of an age-old war between the Descendants of Light and the vicious forces of Darkness. To save the Land of Lior from the rising darkness, the teens must unravel the ancient mystery of the Watcher Key.

The Darkness has risen once again and with the rumors of the Dark One broken free, the future of Lior depends on Sam and his friends who must unravel the secrets held by the Watcher Tower in the second outing in the series.

Hooker’s prose is simple, but he writes with characteristic verve, injecting his fantasy and SF atmosphere with grit and darkness. Hooker does an expert job of creating a vivid fantasy world; dragons, dinosaurs, angels, gods, humans, and magic merge with elements of science fiction as the Darkness sets on to swallow a land in-flux and the battle between the good and evil intensifies.

The threads of the friends’ different plots weave together tightly, and Sam’s increasingly complicated relationship with Emma provides romantic intrigue. Though the plot is slow to develop, plenty of surprising revelations and introduction of a fantasy world create tension along the way.

With excellently crafted battle scenes and a dash of romance, Hooker keeps the reader turning pages nonstop.

These excellent first two installments will delight lovers of YA fantasy, leaving them holding their breath for the next in the series.

[Michaela Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

FTC: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated in this review are my own.

The Watcher Key is something that I'd describe as "Star Wars Meets LOTR" with its own modern-day uniqueness. The characters were ones that I wanted to cheer on, and the storyline was gripping, a good example of Christian sci-fi/fantasy. Through the first five chapters, I had to force myself to read -- some bits caught my attention, but I grew bored quickly with the length of the chapters. However, once the characters start out on their quest, I found it very easy to read, and I wanted to keep reading (even had a dream about reading it one night). The characters were relatable and the fantasy elements within the book were fairly easy to grasp and visualize. The final battles were gripping and heart-pounding. Not story-related, but I also loved the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. While I found myself bored with the beginning, I'm glad I kept reading, and now I'm pretty excited to see what the next books in the series have to offer. If you enjoy sci-fi, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Star Trek, you'll probably enjoy this book.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more like 3.5 to 4 stars

I had a hard time getting into this story. For some reason, after the beginning (the prologue), I had a hard time gaining traction until nearer the end. But honestly, I think that I wasn't super in the mood for this for some odd reason. So, with that being said...

I liked the idea here. It's a unique story perspective and a new way to look at Good and Evil. Sam's growth was maybe a little under-developed but it was clear and his turmoil at the end was believable. The world was definitely interesting and I liked Sam's astonishment :)

There were times I felt the story was a bit rushed through something or some point was not as well developed, but overall it was a good story. There is clearly something to work with here and much more story to be told!

I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Joshua Chadd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Troy Hooker’s debut delivers a heartfelt and imaginative tale that blends classic fantasy with a touch of faith. Sure, there are signs of a first-time author, but the interesting characters and powerful story more than make up for it. Fans of Percy Jackson and The Wheel of Time will feel right at home. Clean, engaging, and perfect for readers of all ages.

Bonus points for the audiobook—James’s narration truly brings the world to life—and for the custom art chapter images. Well done, Troy!

Now I need to go pick up Book 2!

[Johnie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good

I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who like war between good and evil

[Red Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!
I liked the way Troy is using Christianity in the book. Not my belief, but this is a work of fiction and works better than other books! Great job!

[Joshua David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watcher Key is a deep, rich fantasy adventure that's engrossing from the first scene. There's a good mix of vibrant characters, lots of magic, and other realms to experience. The real strength of the book, though, is the metaphysical scaffolding the author builds around the quest-driven narrative. There's a beautiful mix of Biblical revelation and Biblical lore that underpin all the action. The themes aren't laid on too thick or so outlandish as to be offensive. It all fits together in a fun but meaningful way.

It's a good book to get lost in.