Pursuit of Shadows

The Keeper Chronicles #2

by J.A. Andrews

-Killien, the unyielding clan chief who’s becoming increasingly volatile.
-Sora, the suspicious ranger who sees more than she should.
-A swarm of frost goblins that devour with tooth and claw.

The list of people and things that could get Will killed keeps growing.

While Alaric is in Queensland, searching for Kordan’s Wellstone, Keeper Will is over the mountains in the hostile Roven Sweep, searching for his missing sister.

After catching a glimpse of a woman who could be her in a Keeper-hating Roven clan. Will convinces Killien to let him travel north with them to their summer homes.

Under the relentless suspicions of Sora, a tenuous friendship grows between Will and Killien, who talks of building peace among the hostile Roven.

Except Will’s thin disguise as a storyteller is crumbling quickly and Sora may already know who he is.

The more Will gets to know Killien, the more troubling things he learns. Killien’s hatred for Keepers runs deep, and for all his talk of peace, the man’s greatest wish is to control a vicious army.

And a dragon.

But Will doesn’t know that the chief has taken more from him than just his sister.

And Killien controls enough power to gain everything he wants.

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

478 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 18, 2018

Reviews

[Shauni · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in The Keeper Chronicles, Pursuit of Shadows is just as good as the first book. Will is a Keeper, yet is flawed and lacks belief in himself. Years ago, his sister was abducted from their home. Ever since he has searched for her. When he finally may have found her, countless obstacles stand in his way to bring her home. He discovers unlikely friends in his adventure of finding his sister. He also discovers himself in the process. Will is so likeable, I found myself relating to him in many ways.

This book has everything a lover of fantasy looks for. Magic, adventure, dragons, dwarves and elves. What I love about this book, as well as the first, is its heart. The characters are so full of charm and devotion to family and friends. I love the messages of loyalty and doing what is right. I absolutely loved it!

[Meenaz Lodhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fear could punish and rule, but never lead.”
This second installment is a fast-paced,suspense thriller, weaving drama, excitement, grit, raw emotions and mystery through a journey in search of future keepers and Will’s sister. The imagery is awesome; readers are easily brought into the adventure. The characters are well developed and seem so real. A hard to put down series! The excitement continues! 2019 seems so far away, can’t wait to read book 3!
I am voluntarily giving a review of an advance copy I received from the author.

[Andrews WizardlyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 This was an absolute blast! Classic fantasy with tons of entertaining twists and turns that kept me guessing right up to the end. A stellar cast of characters and a maintained level of tension throughout was the icing on the cake!

Do your self a favor and read this series.

[Fee Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pursuit of Shadows by J.A. Andrews is the second book in The Keeper Chronicles. We follow Keeper Will in his search to find his sister.

Plot 5/5: Instead of your usual trope, J.A. has given us a story of one man's determination, and hope in finding his sister, therefore adding something new to the fantasy genre.

Characters 5/5: Great characters full of life and emotions.

World building 5/5: Fantastic world building and magic systems used by different races.

Pacing 5/5: Great pacing with excitement and tension.

Writing 5/5: J.A. knows how to weave a tale to keep you intrigued and wanting more.

Overall 5/5

J.A. Andrews is definitely one of my favorite tale spinners, with the ability to bring me into a story, almost literally, but definitely figuratively, and keep me enthralled.

[Miche · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost dnf this book at the 50% mark. It was slow, repetitive and predictable.

The issue that bothered me the most was how the world building kept telling me that this is a vast world, but so there are so many chance meetings between characters that I ended up with the feeling all of the story happened at the main town square. These conveniences pulled me out of the story every single time.

Not the kind of book I was looking for at this point of my reading journey.

[Lukasz · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC

[Jon Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

We tell stories about everything. We can't escape them. It's how we interact with each other, it's how we keep the things we value close.

One fateful night, young Will awakens to find trouble crawling through his window. The result is a violent encounter that leaves his family in tatters, his younger sister missing, and Will with hands blistered by Keeper magic. Decades pass, and yet he still holds onto the hope that he will locate her. Traveling through a land ripe with enemies, searching for the most minute of clues, Will finds himself recruited as the resident storyteller by the Torch of the Morrow clan for their migration through the grasses. One day, out of the corner of his eye, he catches a glimpse of a woman that looks intensely familiar, but she fails to recognize him during each of their short encounters. With dangers at every turn and treachery simmering, Will must do whatever it takes to get the answers he's been seeking since a child, while also veiling who he truly is.

Pursuit of Shadows is the second installment in Andrews' The Keeper Chronicles series, however it can be read as a completely independent standalone novel. This character-centric journey through the Sweep is a tale of kinship and acceptance, promoting the ideal that regardless of someone's background, they're of value and importance. I've heard mention that this series can be considered Noblebright, and I have to agree with this classification, as the story revolves around beautifully flawed characters that are attempting to make the world a better place by making an impact beneficial for the majority. The deeper we dive, the more apparent it becomes, as we witness characters choosing the best paths towards a greater good, then being forced to live with the consequences of decisions made. With its refreshingly lighthearted approach to tackling serious concepts, this book has earned its place on my personal list of feel-good fantasy.

One of the aspects I appreciate most about this book is that it pays homage to classic fantasy, executed with a fresh and modern twist. It's a clean, exciting, and uplifting adventure in a foreign land filled to the brim with all manner of inhabitants, including humans, elves, dwarves, goblins, and dragons. Magical essence exists in all living things throughout, waiting to be tapped by those skilled enough. And the land is riddled with hidden tunnels and passageways leading to secreted phenomena, awaiting to be discovered by an adventurer brave enough. The level of charm this story contains is something I rarely see - the Sweep, the journey, the surprises - there's always something to unearth in this dazzling world.

In addition to brilliant surroundings, the cast of characters Andrews has given breath and voice to, as well as their dynamics with each other, are absolutely superb. Keeper Will considers himself the weakest of his order due to his lack of magical capacity. However, his ability to read emotions is one of the most important anyone could ever possess. His dedication to locating his kidnapped sister, although decades have passed, is definitely something to admire. Rass is a mysterious girl living in the grasses of the Sweep. She's insistent people need to take a moment to stop and smell the roses, even if there are more pressing matters at hand. You can sense there's more to her than meets the eye, and her reveal is stunning. Sora is an intriguing and enigmatic archer hailing from the mountain clans. She's stoic in nature, rigid and intolerant, but it's evident there's pain and loneliness lurking beneath the surface. Her transformation is wonderful to witness. Killien is the progressive Torch, or leader, of the Morrow clan, who peculiarly promotes education amongst his people, and hopes to bring peace to the clans of the Sweep. However, he's willing to go any length to do so. There are several others that play key roles in this tale, but I'll leave them for you to discover yourself.

Each character is a catalyst for another's transformation in some way, shape, or form, and the farther they journey together, the more discernible their individual changes become and their collective differences diminish. What originally appears to be narrative of a man in enemy territory, becomes an account of companionship as they all work towards a common goal. There are plenty of sincere and emotional moments peppered throughout to reveal their pasts to help satiate your curiosity and further engage you in this absorbing story.

The moon was so low it grazed the horizon, sending a thousand golden fingers dragging through the fur of the giant creature that was the Sweep.

After a bit of a slow start, we're heaved into a world that is so beautifully crafted with secrets that are revealed at just the right times. Gorgeously vivid descriptions of the settings established around us add new fine layers to the immersion that continues getting deeper and deeper. The plot and twists are developed in such a way to drop hints for you to possibly pick up on, and keep the pages flying by at a rapid pace. Splashes of mirthful snark and chill-inducing prose make this a thrilling, stand-out read that is far too difficult to put down. And finally, the inclusion of character illustrations throughout is a wonderful touch.

I thoroughly enjoyed my journey alongside Will and Company in Pursuit of Shadows, and as I approached the final pages, I knew this would be a universe I'd definitely need to revisit in the future. Luckily, the trilogy, along with a separate standalone novel have already been published, and therefore purchased. Reminiscent of classic favorites, this story has everything you'd ever need for an entertaining and absorbing epic fantasy adventure. I highly recommend.

[Alex Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best Sequel Ever!!!

Warm yourself by the fire, while I tell you of an epic story of previously unimaginable quality and filled with characters so deep, the ocean would weep in their presence. This is a story of a man named Will. Will is a Keeper but not a very good one if you were to ask him. He’s no good with languages and he is fairly miserable at magic. However, he knows people as well or better than most and how to tell a story that would coax a tear from a Harpy (maybe even your in-laws!) and that is a great thing indeed, for ‘stories are the most powerful thing on earth.’ *

Will searches the world to find someone. Well actually two someones. His sister…and the man who kidnapped her. To find that man, he agrees to travel with a powerful clan chief, telling him stories and lending what meager aid he can. Before he sets off with Killien and his band of Roven he meets an interesting little girl. Quite unusual but interesting. Her name is Rass and you will fall in love with her. Of that I have no doubt! She is a real contender for taking the top spot from my Dwarf in this story (and I have what some people would call an unhealthy obsession for the Dwarven race).

I completely adore this book for approximately 9 million reasons. One of them is that even though this is a sequel, it can be read as a stand-alone novel as well! I still recommend reading A Threat of Shadows first for all the greatness therein. Another reason is the vast scope of this story is perfect for an epic fantasy fiend like myself and the journey that Will undertakes is utterly enthralling and will have you wondering where the time went as you follow him on a mission to find the man that has torn his family apart.

The amazing ensemble cast in Pursuit of Shadows is possibly the best assortment of characters I’ve seen in a story in a very long time, or at least they are better entwined perhaps. The connection between Rass and Will is wonderfully mysterious and at the same time feels like coming into a warm house after shoveling snow for hours.

Pursuit is a great title for this one because I felt like I was chasing my thoughts throughout the book. Trying to guess what would happen and usually failing terribly (after some minutes of being inconsolable by said failure, I was then…Well I was consoled by reading more :-) I also felt like I was actually there trundling across the Sweep next to Will, in pursuit of the man that took the sister he hasn’t seen in many years. The ability to actually whisk a reader away with the stories you write is the closest thing to magic we may ever find in this world and I’m glad to have gotten a taste of JA Andrews storytelling power!

A Keeper will tell you that stories can change the way you look at the world and how you look at yourself.* This is such a story.

Happy Reading!

*paraphrased from A Keeper’s Tale by JA Andrews

[Julia Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timeless

The world-building and character development was so rich that I was immediately immersed in the story. After the last one, I entered this tentatively, but need not have feared. This was a groundbreaking epic much like the tales I read in childhood, but for adults.

[Suzannah Rowntree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I open this review with the disclaimer that some kind of weakness in my own nature prevents me really enjoying old-fashioned epic fantasy. Very strange for someone whose favourite book of all time is LOTR, but give me an old-style quest across a secondary-world rural landscape with elves, dwarves, and dragons, and I have trouble falling in love. (Give me intrigue in deadly royal courts, however, and I'll eat it up with a spoon.) The tropes of this kind of story just usually don't appeal to me, and that might partly be the reason why although I enjoyed the first book in this trilogy well enough when I read it two years ago, it's taken me such a while to read on.

Despite being the sequel and set in the same world, PURSUIT OF SHADOWS felt like quite a different book, by a much more assured author. The first half in particular is wonderful, a slow simmering burn as a not-particularly-powerful young wizard in disguise finds himself entrapped by a charismatic tribal chief. It's character-driven, suspenseful, wonderfully atmospheric, and I truly fell in love with the characters: Sora had me riveted from her very first appearance, and I was ready to flip tables if Killien didn't redeem himself by the end. To this Andrews adds deep themes, powerful emotion, and some truly beautiful bits of prose. The book also contains two of my very favourite things: a protagonist who's weaker than basically everyone else in the cast, and a story about a weak person in captivity asserting their humanity by making what small choices they can. It was Very Good.

I'll admit that in the second half of the book my attention waned somewhat thanks to the reappearance of characters from the first book, who didn't feel quite as achingly real as the cast introduced in this one (although I'll freely admit that this might be entirely on me, since it's been so long since I read the first book). That said, the story wrapped up well and I loved the themes having to do with power, oppression, empathy, and freedom. (Also, the reveal of Rass's true nature was absolutely delightful and I loved it.)

PURSUIT OF SHADOWS won my heart despite my not being squarely in the target audience, and I can only say that if you like classic LOTR/DnD-style noblebright fantasy, this one ought to knock your socks off.

[T.L. Branson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a wonderfully engaging story about love, friendship, and self-worth that I will be recommending for years to come.

I will start off by saying that I was, at first (and that’s a big at first), a little disappointed to learn Pursuit of Shadows isn’t an immediate sequel to A Threat of Shadows, but rather an almost parallel and stand alone tale for the majority of the book.

Had I bothered to read the book’s description on Goodreads before beginning, I would have known this and saved myself a small let down. That being said, this book is no less fantastic than the first one and I highly recommend it.

Summary
Pursuit of Shadows follows a different Keeper, Will, who was sent to the Sweep to investigate rumors of a growing army planning on attacking the Queensland.

We actually aren’t told what happened during those investigations aside from a few comments from Will, but rather this book does take place after the events of A Threat of Shadows.

But since Will is hundreds of miles away from our heroes from A Threat of Shadows we don’t seem them in the earlier parts of the story. I am pleased to say (though it might be considered a minor spoiler) that Alaric, Douglon, and crew, do show up for the latter portion of the story.

That being said, this story is distinctly Will’s with a new array of characters, a new setting, and new enemies. Thankfully, it does tie into the overall conflict started in A Threat of Shadows, mainly Mallon the Rivor and his desire to destroy Queensland.

I’m going to assume if you’re reading a review of Book 2, that you’ve read Book 1. Thus it is no surprise that Mallon is dead. But it seems there are others on the Sweep who share his murderous feelings and will continue to carry on what he started.

Characters
Pursuit of Shadows begins with a young Will to give us the crucial background that is necessary for understanding the emotions and motivations of our key characters in this book.

It is slightly confusing trying to understand what is happening and why, but the story makes itself apparent the further you go along. The reason for the way the story opens is actually important later on so pay attention.

Will considers himself to be the weakest and most insignificant of Keepers. He’s not that great with magic and he can’t read ancient runes as well the others. But one thing Will has going for him is that he knows how to read people.Sora from Pursuit of Shadows by J.A. Andrews

And this comes out in the story in a big way.

Then there’s Sora.

I love Sora.

She starts as a vague and mysterious character and over the course of the book begins to unveil who she is. with each little peek into her life I loved her more and more.

She’s definitely my favorite character in this book.

Those looking romance in their books won’t find much of it in Pursuit of Shadows, but the thread that does exist revolves around Sora.

Even then, there’s not much there, but there is potential. Oh the potential. I eagerly await Book 3 in hopes to see some more of Sora.

We have an array of other characters like Rass, Killien, and Hal. I don’t have much to say about these characters that wouldn’t spoil the story, but each and every character is crafted with care and are full of life, quirks, and intriguing backstories.

Plot
Will from Pursuit of Shadows by J.A. AndrewsThe story revolves around the opener I mentioned earlier. The short of it is that Will’s sister, Ilsa, was kidnapped as a child. Will was 11, but she was only 2 years old, a fact I somehow missed that caused me to be quite confused until about 50% of the way into the story.

But the book is about Will’s journey to find her and the dark demons he wrestles with between his desire for revenge and the high morals of being Keeper.

There were quite a few surprises along the way. Some I saw coming, and others that were completely surprising. Nothing rocked my world or blew my mind, but they were still pleasant none the less.

However the big draw for the plot is the way that Ms. Andrews continually puts the conclusion of Will’s quest within sight. But also just beyond reach many times over. Pursuit of Shadows gives the reader a thrilling ride page after page.

Final Thoughts
When I read A Threat of Shadows back in January, I had been knee deep slogging through Mistborn.

Last week, I found myself on a long plane from San Diego to England. I had just recently found my paperback copy of Mistborn, still unfinished. I took it with me on the plane, opened it up, read a chapter, and put it down again.

Then I started Pursuit of Shadows, and I proceeded to read it from cover to cover without so much as a breath for air. It’s a wonderfully engaging story about love, friendship, and self-worth that I will be recommending for years to come.

Meanwhile, Mistborn still sits unfinished and likely will be for quite some time.

Once again, Ms. Andrews, you are better than Sanderson. And I believe you deserve all the acclaim that he receives and more, many times over.

5/5 Stars

[Julia Sarene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sequel that's even better than the first one!

Again very likeable - and new - characters. Also again a more classical quest feeling, combined with plenty of storytelling, adventure, loyalties, betrayals, different races (elves, dwarves, goblins) and this time also a different culture and land to explore.

I loved the pace and feel of the story that again is definitely for an adult audience, but doesn't have graphic gore or any sex scenes. I wish there where more books which cover all sorts of topics and have a deep world and good character development, which do have death and loss and bad guys, that don't shy away from harder topics and emotions, and yet focus on the characters and not the violence. That have realistic relationships (friendships as well as romantic ones) but absolutely don't make the romance the focus of the book or even the character ARC. I do like Grimdark, but every so often I really want a break from it and read something less dark but still deep and engaging, and this is exactly that sort of series!

Pursuit of shadows is my third book by the author, and she gets better with each book, and I can't even fathom how much I'll love the next one....

Highly recommended!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very compelling book... a real page turner. There is a clearly defined storyline and a tie in to the first book. The characters from book one appear in this one at a crucial point of the tale. All the characters now have more depth; the story is strong; there is a developing relationship providing a slight romantic element but not one that is fully explored; the fight between good and evil progresses and will continue into the last book of the series. I enjoyed the story and I found the style of writing easy for me to read and I easily became immersed in the book. I hope the last book in the series is a good as this one was.

[Annette Cécile · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot more than the first! Will is an excellent character and I loved following his POV. I think the plot points were fabulously interwoven. I loved the easter eggs mentions of Sable - seeing as it was her story I experienced first! and I'm very excited to get to Tomlin after I finish the next book!

[Miriam Michalak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cracking read in JA Andrews The Keeper Chronicles.

[Jon McClain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice comfortable read to enjoy

[Susan1566 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this is a good book I found it a little slow. The characters and world are interesting it didn’t have enough action for me. But I enjoyed in enough to go on to book 3

[Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This trilogy is Super cute and a quick fun read! No sex, plenty of intrigue and of course dragons, dwarfs, wizards and elves! My favorite genera!!!

[Flashfang Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed the first book of this series and was highly looking forward to reading the sequel and let me tell you I was not disappointed. I think it may have been even better than the first one to be honest with you, the world was built up more and expanded, and it felt very suspenseful at times. The MC Will is literally surrounded by extremely hostile enemies, the only thing protecting him from being literally enslaved or torn to pieces being the goodwill of the clan chief Killian who hates Keepers with a passion. You just know this is going to blow up somehow but you're just not sure how or when and it makes for very exciting reading. As always, I will be breaking up the review into categories based on what I liked and had issues with. Warning there may be spoilers for A Threat of Shadows and this book also but I will try to keep those to a minimum.

What I Enjoyed:

Worldbuilding:
One of my few complaints about the original book was how at times the world building felt a bit generic and Tolkienesque especially in its execution of the dwarves and elves. Well let me tell you that was completely and utterly averted here for the most part and I am delighted. The focus of the story moves to the Sweep populated by the Roven clans who were mentioned to have sided with Mallon the Rivor in the past and we can see why that is the case. They feel that they were cheated a long time ago in the past and left with the barren plains while the Queenslanders have access to very lush and fertile land, classic conflict for sure. Andrews did a great job with making the Roven a very fleshed out society with their own unique traditions and characteristics based on the land they live in. Their buildings are made from a grass based clay material, a definite migration pattern based on the seasons, and even each clan is unique with their own strengths and politics that interact, usually hostilely, with each other though they all universally hate outsiders or 'fett bait' as they call them. They even have a unique way to channel magic called stonesteeping which consists of focusing magical energy into materials like stones and runes for desired effects which is a nice touch.

Characters:
Andrews just has a way with writing characters to make them fully complex and three dimensional people that you feel like you could easily meet one day in real life and that is certainly on display here. There are three main players in this story who really drive the action: Keeper Will, Chief Killien, and his right hand woman Sora.

Will is the PoV and hero of our story. For the last year he has struck out on his own quest to find the sister he lost when he was a boy and so far found a lot of nothing. He then gets roped into playing storyteller for chief Killien which is when he starts catching wind about the shifting tide of events happening that endanger his homeland. Will to me is a fascinating character because of his feelings of insecurity with regards to feeling like a failure for going on wild goose chases, and also his abilities in comparison to his fellow keepers, especially Alaric. It's interesting how Will compares himself to Alaric throughout the story and it shows how the latter is seen as a golden boy ace with regards to the Keepers; it's always fascinating to see how a character in a story is seen by other people without access to the inner thoughts of said character. He's literally surrounded by enemies and despite his own misgivings he is determined to try figuring out what Killien is planning and finding a way to stop it, got to respect that determination.

Killien is I'd argue a quintessential hero of a different story and a fascinating, truly complex character. He's charming, erudite, visionary, highly literate and learned, and cares deeply for his people but yet he has an ax crazy side that at first he hides quite well but it starts to become more and more apparent as the story continues on. This is first really seen when asked what he would do with a dragon for him to say burning his enemies alive, destroying all Keepers, and then conquering Queensland with it. His charming side contrasts in a nearly jarring way compared to the rest of his people. It's so easy to forget he leads a clan of ruthless, vicious, hardcore xenophobes that see all outsiders as only fit to be slaves and make that blatantly apparent to everyone they meet. His friendship with Will is so intriguing given the secrets between them and yet they're nearly two sides of the same coin given they've both suffered losses in their lives. He's just such an amazingly character that you just want to know more about and see what he does next.

Sora rounds out the trio of major characters and she is no less interesting. She starts off as extremely cold and so closed off even Will can't read her emotions with his abilities but as the story goes on you learn she has very good reasons for being the way she is. Her character arc is a classic case of defrosting the personality but it is such a joy to watch her go from hating Will's guts and his stories to really becoming a true friend with him. To say anymore would be spoilers about her but I'll leave it at that.

Theme:
Like the previous book, Pursuit of Shadows has an underlying theme to it in this case discussing the nature of stories and how they effect the way we look at and interact with the rest of the world. Will suffers from a sense of guilt and shame himself but it's not nearly as prominent as it was for Alaric in the first book.

Issues:

The Roven Threaten to be One Dimensional:
This is literally the only thing I can really come up with to actually complain about with this book. The Roven in Queensland are stereotyped as completely vicious barbarians which is how these things usually play out but the sad thing is quite honestly they totally live up to those sentiments and play them totally straight. They sided with the dark lord archetype years earlier, they're unabashed slave traders, a lot of them are barely literate if not completely illiterate, and the horror stories about the various chiefs turn out to also be true. I must say I was honestly expecting a little bit more nuanced treatment here but the Roven act like your typical evil minion race in fantasy stories like how orcs and goblins are usually portrayed. A lot of the time it honestly felt like Killien and Hal (Killien's best friend and right hand man) were the only relatively nice guys out of the whole dang Sweep. I'm guessing that was in some part intentional to be jarring but like I said I was hoping for a bit more nuance.

Conclusion:
This was an amazing follow up to A Threat of Shadows and I loved every minute of it and am looking forward to the last book in the trilogy. Andrews hit it out of the park again with his characterization and general writing and I would recommend The Keeper Chronicles to anyone who wants a grand old school fantasy story especially with deep and sympathetic characters.

[Angel Haze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was, hands down, one of the best books I've ever read!!

One of those books that you get so engrossed in, that you just want to shut out the world and never dig yourself out.

Brace yourself for this heart-stopping, emotionally-charged masterpiece . . . Will's pursuit of his sister is a gripping, nail-biting ride that will have you on the edge of your seat, forgoing food and sleep just to immerse yourself in this grand adventure.

Rass, Will, Sora, Killien, Lucas . . . the characters--their backgrounds--are so riveting, the world so amazing, I want to jump into the book and experience it on a whole other level! Pursuit of Shadows was filled with magic, betrayal, epic battles, goblins, dwarves, a dragon . . . everything you could ever want in a fantasy!

JA Andrews is destined for greatness. Her stories, her characters, and her phenomenal talent easily matches the incredible voices of Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss, Richard A. Knaak, Michael J. Sullivan, and Jeff Wheeler. This is a story you'll want to read again and again--a story that will be passed down for generations to come.

So jump right in and get ready for the ride of your life!

[Ruby McDemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. I will honestly say that the first 20 chapters seemed to take me forever because I just couldn't get my mind to focus on the story. I am in no way saying that they were bad or dragging I'm just saying I had issues getting into the story. It's kinda like Will says and that the thread of the story wasn't something that was smooth of me. I loved the beginning and just about the entire book. Rass is awesome and I really enjoyed everything about her every time she showed up. I think Will is a bit crazy for wanting to be around the Roven even if they do have his sister. Killien starts our nice, but that changes and it turns out that he can be a bit batty. I also really loved Sora because she's just awesome at everything. (feelings don't count) I really enjoyed it when old friends showed back up. Once my mind could settle itself down and let me actually read the story I really loved how well it flowed. This is a great addition to the world of the Keeper;s and it was really awesome showing how being different isn't a bad thing.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This the 2nd book in the Keeper Chronicles deals with a keeper called Will who is in search of his kidnapped sister Llsa, and her kidnapper, Vahe of the Flames. Will has not seen his sister since she was 2 years old and has been searching for her for the past 20 years, but he is dauntless in his search for her. He happens upon a group of wayfarers out in the Roven sweep and is intrigued, so he takes the time to visit and decides to take part in a story telling competition because though Will thinks he is useless as a keeper he knows he is the best storyteller ever. The Rovens hate people from Queensland and even more so they hate Keepers, so Will tries to keep a low profile, however a young girl called Rass and a woman called Sora both see through his magic. The Rovens call him 'fetter bait' however his story intrigues The Torch, the leader of the Morrow clan and Will is forced to travel with this group and tell his tales as he is afraid to try and leave. Many adventures happen during their summer migration when Will gets to know about stonesteeps, compulsion stones, heat stones, and absorption stones all of which are tuned to dark magic which the keepers do not approve of. He also discovers that some slaves are also from Queensland and he thinks they might have the potential to be keepers. Killien, the torch is not a cruel master however he is trying his utmost to learn about the evil magic wielding in order to turn the Morrow from the weakest clan of the Rovens to the most powerful and this is changing him for the worst. The descriptions which went into the world building of the Roven Sweeps were so poetically rendered that they were brought to life for the reader. I particularly loved the drawings which are very well done and give the reader more input about the characters. Rass, the grass elf is a beautifully quirky character who is very lovable and Sora starts off being mean and disliked but then turns into someone the reader can respect and herein lies the strength of JA Andrews who draws her readers with her into the story so completely with her beautifully descriptive narrative. Through this she gave us a story of hope, love, courage, loyalty, friendship and trust amidst a lot of plots and counter plots, political intrigue, use and abuse of magic and a whole lot of enthralling story telling by Will, the best story telling Keeper ever. We get to meet a pratorii, a dragon, dwarves, goblins, a beautiful hawk and the group from book 1 who bring the tale to such a splendid finish. Dying to read book 3 and cannot wait till 2019 to read this for sure as this series makes for very compelling reading.

[Tawnee Wadsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Pursuit of Shadows:
Book 2 of The Keeper Chronicles
By JA Andrews

Finished book 2 just today. Onto book 3, starting next week.

I loved this one! Will was an awesome character to follow. I really enjoyed the introduction to new characters and the acknowledgement of characters from the first book (some really nice comebacks and mentions).

One of my favorite things about these books so far, has been the balance of humor. It's well placed and often makes me look quite silly at work as I grin from ear to ear with my earbuds in. My coworker has given me raised eyebrows more than once when she's looked at me and seen me snickering or smiling randomly.

Will's personality was a delight. Similar to Alaric in tone, yet he was more approachable and open. I loved his tales and his insight and the way his talents were written were superb.

I also enjoyed the new characters (villain and hero alike), though where were a few times that I wondered if I would. Even the main girl, who had the tough exterior that is a normal turn off for me, grew on me and I really enjoyed the slow burn relationship. But then, Will was a enjoyable guy who couldn't be ignored for long in my mind. It was only a matter of time.

I did love the story, and I am excited to start book 3. However, I did have to knock off a star for a couple of things.

First was, though I loved Will's thoughts and observations, it did feel too slow for me. It took a while for real action to happen (a lot of it was storytelling and traveling). Some of it was fine, but I found myself unable to focus on it for long periods of time. Unlike the first book, where I got through it in a couple of work days, this one took longer because I could only listen to it a little at a time at work. It dragged and it made me drag as well. It even put me to sleep once as I lay on my bed.

Part of it, I think, is the narrator's voice, but I think the pacing was off a bit.

The other reason was that I felt a little unsatisfied with the ending. It was good, and almost nailed it, but it felt abrupt. I know there are unresolved things that will be answered in the next one, but I still felt like it didn't give me enough of something. Not enough conclusions to Will's journey before changing to another character's perspective (I won't spoil it though). Perhaps others felt differently. Maybe it was my mindset at the time as well.

Still, despite those things, I was delighted to read this and enjoyed it a lot! I do recommend it and will probably read it again down the road!

Great read! ❤

[Melinda Cater · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It is a terrifying thing to be truly seen—but it is infinitely worse not to be.”

Pursuit of Shadows is one of those books that seeps into every part of your being. As you read it, the ideas and emotions, intertwine and resonate within you. This is a book about emotion, and the basic human need to feel included, seen, and understood. As well as, to see others and understand their motivations and their actions.

Will is a Keeper, although he doesn’t have much belief in his own abilities. However, he is unlike other Keepers because he feels the emotions of others, even when he would rather not.

When Will was eleven a man broke into his house and kidnapped his two year old sister, Isla. This just so happens to have also been the day Will discovered he had Keeper magic. After training to be a Keeper, Will’s ability to feel others emotions and his drive to find his kidnapped sister drive him on a relentless quest to find other Keepers (which there are at least 2 or 3 missing) and hopefully find his sister along the way. This quest takes him from his comforting homeland of Queensland, across the Scales, onto the Sweep where the Roven despise his people. There he finds himself, literally, in enemy territory. Will he find his sister? What about other Keepers? I guess you will just have to read this amazing book to find out.

So…this Keeper book has…romance! Ya! And it made me so very happy. Although, if it hadn’t it still would have been wonderful, my heart did a happy dance because it did! (In my opinion a good, strong, well written romance can make any story better!)

My favorite character was Will, because he was absolutely relatable. His feelings of inadequacy and doubt resonated with me, as did, his knowing that he felt too much. Sometimes I feel that way too. Also, he was just a really nice guy. He was humble and sweet, but determined to stand up for what he knew was right. He was such a well fleshed out character and one of my very favorites that I’ve ever read.

All in all, Pursuit if Shadows had the very classic fantasy feel that I absolutely love! But it also had ideas and themes that stuck with me and will continue to stick with me for many years to come, I am sure. So if you like heartfelt, classic storytelling, with amazing characters, and unbreakable bonds then I definitely recommend you read it!

[Shannan Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book!! I loved the first one and was hesitant to read this one because it was not Alaric as the main character but boy… so glad I did not listen to myself! I officially have a new book boyfriend and I can’t imagine anyone replacing him ever! His name is Wil and I need him in my life like immediately, if not sooner, and he can tell me stories all day and night in his amazing accent with his amazing charm. He will go to any lengths to get the people he loves back to him. I listened to the audio of this which was incredible and made the book so much more amazing. I finished it 2 nights ago and I am still struggling with how to write this review as I am stuck in a major book hangover. The ending had me swooning and I want more of this story!!

And how wonderful it was to see characters from the first book appear in this story. Oh my heart! Ok let’s see… Wil sets out on a journey to find two people, his sister, and the person who took her. He lies about being a keeper so he can join this clan because he believes his sister is with this clan as a slave.
Rass is a girl who Wil encounters and you will love her, I promise. She ends up being a major help to Wil as he tries to escape being held prisoner once he is found out to be a keeper.
Sora (not sure of the spelling because I listened on audio) is an interesting character who I ended up loving. She is not one to open up. In fact Wil cannot read her emotions at all. She mostly scowls at him and talks rather fiercely to him. He does not know what to think of her and is rather scared of her at times. The chemistry between them as the book goes on is very interesting though. It’s comical at times.
There are quite a few characters in this book. Who are the real enemies? Who can Wil call friends? Who can he trust? Can he trust anyone? It’s very surprising.

What takes place on the journey is just oh my goodness, so much intensity. The word building, the character development, the chemistry building between the characters. all so great. This is quickly becoming a favorite author to read. If you have read the first book you have got to read this one. In my opinion this is 10x better. And if you can listen to this on audio you are in for a real treat.

[André · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pursuit of Shadows is the second installment of The Keeper Chronicles. I adore the first book, but this one is even better!
How is that possible, you might ask, since I already had nothing but highest praise for A Threat of Shadows ? JA Andrews writing got even better, smoother, but what made Pursuit of Shadows even better was the character development and the relationships between the characters. This was already a strong point of the first book, but while A Threat of Shadows focussed more or less on two or three characters, there are more in this book that get room to shine. Especially the antagonists of the story have a lot more room than in the first book.

But I am getting ahead of myself here. Pursuit of Shadows ties in perfectly to the series: The main character Will is already mentioned in the first book, but he does not have an appearance there, and there are other connections as well throughout the story (other than Will also being a Keeper).
Will is a very different character than Alaric, the main character of the first book, with his unique character, skillset and voice. "Voice" being the keyword here, because Will is a great storyteller and always interested in other (peoples') stories - and this is something else I adore about this book: the way stories and storytelling are shown here. The importance they have for Will. The disdain some other people have for them/it. But he is not only interested in stories, but in people. And that is his true strength. Therefore the bonds he forms with other characters feel a lot stronger and more real than Alaric's relationships in the first book.

The setting and worldbuilding were also well done in the first book, never pagelong descriptions and/or history lessons, but very subtle. This continues here, and the very convincing setting also becomes a little more room, more stagetime. The setting differs quite a bit from the first book - which had a more traditional feeling -and therefore had even more appeal for me. And with the new landscape there is also a new culture to explore, new fantasy races to meet. And new prejudices to overcome.

The story is great and kept me reading into the wee hours of the night more often than not. As in the first book, there is plenty of action here, but it is never the main focus of the story. The writing is wonderful - again. But then I didn't expect anything else after the high standards the first book has set.

It is all masterfully done: The story, the tone, the setting, the pace, the atmosphere, the characters and their relationships, everything put together make for a truly great read! I know I will re-visit these books again.

[Dana McClenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had the great fortune of discovering for myself a handful of the most incredible authors. And luckily for me, one of those author is J A Andrews! I am completely blown away by the spectrum of excellence I have found between the covers of both her books in the Keepers series. The plot and story development, the characters and their intertwining stories, the vivid world building, and the complexity of the tale being told. I was blown away by the first book A Threat of Shadows which was so good that I was worried that the second book Pursuit of Shadows wouldn't be/couldn't be as good. Then I read it and o m g, it might actually be a little better than the first one!! You will laugh, you will gasp, your pulse will quicken, and you will get angry over the course of this adventure that will have you believing you are right out there on the sweeps living, loving, and embarking on an epic quest with the characters who will be experiencing it all right alongside you as you cannot help but get sucked into this adventure as you read. I am looking forward eagerly to the next chapter of the Keepers series and will be impatiently waiting it's release so I can find out where in this incredible world the next adventure will take me. I would be doing anyone who reads this a great disservice if I did not highly recommend you quit reading reviews and get your copy and start reading this book! Unless you haven't read the first one yet, because the exact same sentiment applys, but you are definitely gonna want to read that first! In my opinion you cannot go wrong nor will you regret letting J A Andrews take you on this journey of adventures with the Keepers series!

[Tanya Marlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Narnia-type sequel to A Threat of Shadows features Will, a Storykeeper who feels shame at his lack of magic, but has a secret power nevertheless: he can feel others’ emotions at will. When a creepy invader devastates his family as a boy, he vows to make things right, but his search for justice leads him to unexpected places, with unexpected inner transformation.

I couldn’t put this down – the plot has twists and turns and gasps, dragons and female warriors, magic and story. Additionally, there is both fascinating discussion on the power of emotion, the danger of a distorted story and what cost you have to pay for unity and safety. A Threat of Shadows, J A Andrews’ first fantasy book was one of my favourites of the year when it came out: this sequel doesn’t pack the emotional punch of the first, but the twists and turns of the plot make it highly enjoyable. Highly recommended for a complete escape.

A note on the series by JA Andrews: These novels (and a wonderful spin-off tale that can be read on its own, A Keeper’s Tale: Tomkin and the Dragon) are in the ‘noblebright’ genre of fantasy, which means they focus on good and evil, and are clean and suitable for family enjoyment. I woudl add, however, that when they mention female slaves and male owners there is an unspoken question of what these slaves might be used for – this may raise questions for younger children. Though the two ‘Shadows books’ are more geared towards adults in the themes so might be worth keeping for teens/YA, my young son absolutely loved A Keeper’s Tale (Tomkin) and declared it his favourite book of the holiday). If you like CS Lewis type fantasy then you’ll love these.

[Camilla Vavruch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was not the sequel/second part to the Keeper Chronicles I expected, as I thought we’d follow Alaric for a second adventure, but it was no less excellent as we followed Will.

The story felt a lot calmer than the first book, at least in the first half. Will, a Keeper mentioned in the first book who relayed some important information but who we never met, is searching the lands for her sister who was kidnapped at age two, when Will was eleven. His path crosses with Killien, clan chief of the Rovens, and Sora, a highly suspicious ranger who can keep her feelings hidden from Will.

I enjoyed both the slower first half, and the action-filled second half (I’m not actually sure if it was half, since I listened to it, but it felt like it was about half-half!). Will had interesting powers—being able to feel others’ feelings and being a great storyteller—although as the story progressed, he found the motivation to learn other magic as well. I also enjoyed seeing the cast of the first book again.

Favorite character was doubtlessly Sora. She was interesting, dark and broody and sarcastic, and her back-story was very different.

As in the first book, some plot twists were very obvious to the point of me rolling my eyes at the MC for not putting two and two together, but they were well-written and highly enjoyable either way.

The narrator did a great job with this too, but I think I would have liked a younger narrator for this since it’s a different MC than the first book, and using the same voice aged up the MC in my head all the time. Still, he does a fantastic job and I definitely enjoyed both the book itself and the reading of it.