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The Keepers #3
Voidbreaker
Perfect for monster slayers and dungeon crawlers everywhere, Voidbreaker is the final book in the unmissable new fantasy series from USA Today bestselling author David Dalglish.
Monsters have begun retaking the capital city of Londheim and claiming it for themselves. Humanity, fearful of being pushed out for good, has reacted with violence and destruction. Peace between the two races seems all but impossible.
Devin will need to bring all his skills to bear in order to protect his friends and family amid the chaos. But the greatest threat to humanity's safety may well be closer than he expects. His sister is the most powerful priestess the world has ever seen . . . and she's fighting for the monsters.
Monsters have begun retaking the capital city of Londheim and claiming it for themselves. Humanity, fearful of being pushed out for good, has reacted with violence and destruction. Peace between the two races seems all but impossible.
Devin will need to bring all his skills to bear in order to protect his friends and family amid the chaos. But the greatest threat to humanity's safety may well be closer than he expects. His sister is the most powerful priestess the world has ever seen . . . and she's fighting for the monsters.
458 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 2021
75 people are currently reading
1020 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
March 8, 2021
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ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit—in exchange for an honest review.
Great conclusion to The Keepers trilogy; such a hugely underrated series.
This is a bit unrelated to the review, but finishing Voidbreaker made me realize that I haven’t finished reading a series in half a year. That’s insane; I really need to work on finishing a series more often like I used to. Voidbreaker is the final book in The Keepers trilogy by David Dalglish, and finishing it made me remember how much I loved reading a satisfying conclusion to a series.
Plot-wise, there isn’t much left to say here. This is the final book of a trilogy, and the story continues immediately from where Ravencaller ended. Judging from how the previous book ended, I did expect that the story will immediately rack in the tension, and don’t get me wrong, tensions and pulse-pounding moments were still there, but I’m glad that characterizations and developments remained the most integral element in this concluding installment. Once again, I wish there was a recap of the previous books or—at least—glossary of characters to remind readers what happened before. It’s 2021 already, and I’m honestly annoyed that this still hasn’t become a norm in a series; this is why sometimes I buy the books first but doesn’t read them until the series is done. This way, I can enjoy reading the books to the fullest rather than spending hundreds of pages trying to remember who’s who and what happened before in every sequel I read. I mean, it has been 100+ novels since I’ve read Ravencaller, and if it weren’t due to the detailed note of what happened before that my friend— Nils—wrote herself and showed to me, it would’ve taken me even longer to remember things. Fortunately, the focus on characterizations, dialogues, and relationships did make me remember the necessary details and feel invested in the characters again.
Now, did Dalglish nailed the conclusion of this book? I’ll say yes, but with a caveat, and it’s one that I know the author can understand. Whether it’s dialogues or small skirmishes, there were plenty of intense moments throughout the entire book. This is the third book by Dalglish I’ve read, and I’ve come to really love reading Dalglish’s action sequences. Seriously, he’s one of the better skilled battle-scene writers in the genre. If I was asked to describe the final confrontation in Voidbreaker with one word, I will answer it with the word chaotic. It was pulse-pounding, compelling, and insane. I’m not kidding, there were so many things going on; the power of darkness, devastating magic, terrifying monsters, and practically everything in the trilogy came head to head in the final few chapters. However, I did feel that the “everyone’s banding together to fight the big baddies” moment felt a bit forced because some of the participants came out of nowhere. And whether it’s intentional or not, I have to say that Lyra is one of the most idiotic goddesses I’ve ever read in a fantasy novel; every line of reasoning she mentioned just made her stupider and stupider. It’s shocking to me that someone that dumb is a goddess.
As to the caveat I mentioned earlier, I loved how satisfying the final chapters were, and this was proven even further in the epilogue. But despite how satisfying it felt, Dalglish utilized a “deus-ex-machina” execution to pull off the epilogue, and I’m usually not a fan of this. Then I read the author’s note that came after the epilogue, and reading Dalglish’s reasonings to do that has earned him my approval for the ending. And you know what? Maybe that’s indeed what the story and the world needs. We all know that sometimes bad things happen for no reason, right? Who says good things can’t be the same?
Voidbreaker and The Keepers trilogy may not be treading any new ground in the genre, but if you want an engrossing fantasy trilogy about love, kindness, hope, cooperation, and faith, you can’t go wrong with choosing this series to read. I have a good feeling I would’ve loved this trilogy even more if I binged read it. I know that I’ve failed to walk the talk regarding reading Dalglish’s previous books—I still plan to do that one day—before this trilogy ended, but considering how much I enjoyed reading this trilogy, allow me to instead conclude this review by saying that Bladed Faith—Dalglish’s upcoming book in a completely new series—is now one of my most anticipated book releases. And I plan to read that immediately the moment it appeared on my doorstep/kindle.
Series review:
Soulkeeper: 4.5/5 stars
Ravencaller: 4.5/5 stars
Voidbreaker: 4/5 stars
The Keepers: 13/15 stars
You can order the book from: Book Depository (Free shipping) | Bookshop (Support Local Bookstores!)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Alya, Annabeth, Ben, Blaise, Devin, Diana, Edward, Ellen, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Lufi, Melinda, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas, Seth, Shaad, Summer, Zoe.
ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit—in exchange for an honest review.
Great conclusion to The Keepers trilogy; such a hugely underrated series.
This is a bit unrelated to the review, but finishing Voidbreaker made me realize that I haven’t finished reading a series in half a year. That’s insane; I really need to work on finishing a series more often like I used to. Voidbreaker is the final book in The Keepers trilogy by David Dalglish, and finishing it made me remember how much I loved reading a satisfying conclusion to a series.
Plot-wise, there isn’t much left to say here. This is the final book of a trilogy, and the story continues immediately from where Ravencaller ended. Judging from how the previous book ended, I did expect that the story will immediately rack in the tension, and don’t get me wrong, tensions and pulse-pounding moments were still there, but I’m glad that characterizations and developments remained the most integral element in this concluding installment. Once again, I wish there was a recap of the previous books or—at least—glossary of characters to remind readers what happened before. It’s 2021 already, and I’m honestly annoyed that this still hasn’t become a norm in a series; this is why sometimes I buy the books first but doesn’t read them until the series is done. This way, I can enjoy reading the books to the fullest rather than spending hundreds of pages trying to remember who’s who and what happened before in every sequel I read. I mean, it has been 100+ novels since I’ve read Ravencaller, and if it weren’t due to the detailed note of what happened before that my friend— Nils—wrote herself and showed to me, it would’ve taken me even longer to remember things. Fortunately, the focus on characterizations, dialogues, and relationships did make me remember the necessary details and feel invested in the characters again.
“I have a million words, so many I wish to say that they tie my tongue and clog my throat. I want to tell you that you are loved. I want to tell you that you are worthy. I want to spend hours soothing your hurt and banishing your loneliness so that you never again believe you are undeserving of happiness. We were not made to suffer. We were not born for sorrow. I would speak a thousand hours of joy, if you only you would believe me as I spoke them.”
Now, did Dalglish nailed the conclusion of this book? I’ll say yes, but with a caveat, and it’s one that I know the author can understand. Whether it’s dialogues or small skirmishes, there were plenty of intense moments throughout the entire book. This is the third book by Dalglish I’ve read, and I’ve come to really love reading Dalglish’s action sequences. Seriously, he’s one of the better skilled battle-scene writers in the genre. If I was asked to describe the final confrontation in Voidbreaker with one word, I will answer it with the word chaotic. It was pulse-pounding, compelling, and insane. I’m not kidding, there were so many things going on; the power of darkness, devastating magic, terrifying monsters, and practically everything in the trilogy came head to head in the final few chapters. However, I did feel that the “everyone’s banding together to fight the big baddies” moment felt a bit forced because some of the participants came out of nowhere. And whether it’s intentional or not, I have to say that Lyra is one of the most idiotic goddesses I’ve ever read in a fantasy novel; every line of reasoning she mentioned just made her stupider and stupider. It’s shocking to me that someone that dumb is a goddess.
“History erases the ugliness of our heroes. Our sermons elevate the righteous while diminishing their failures."
As to the caveat I mentioned earlier, I loved how satisfying the final chapters were, and this was proven even further in the epilogue. But despite how satisfying it felt, Dalglish utilized a “deus-ex-machina” execution to pull off the epilogue, and I’m usually not a fan of this. Then I read the author’s note that came after the epilogue, and reading Dalglish’s reasonings to do that has earned him my approval for the ending. And you know what? Maybe that’s indeed what the story and the world needs. We all know that sometimes bad things happen for no reason, right? Who says good things can’t be the same?
Voidbreaker and The Keepers trilogy may not be treading any new ground in the genre, but if you want an engrossing fantasy trilogy about love, kindness, hope, cooperation, and faith, you can’t go wrong with choosing this series to read. I have a good feeling I would’ve loved this trilogy even more if I binged read it. I know that I’ve failed to walk the talk regarding reading Dalglish’s previous books—I still plan to do that one day—before this trilogy ended, but considering how much I enjoyed reading this trilogy, allow me to instead conclude this review by saying that Bladed Faith—Dalglish’s upcoming book in a completely new series—is now one of my most anticipated book releases. And I plan to read that immediately the moment it appeared on my doorstep/kindle.
Series review:
Soulkeeper: 4.5/5 stars
Ravencaller: 4.5/5 stars
Voidbreaker: 4/5 stars
The Keepers: 13/15 stars
You can order the book from: Book Depository (Free shipping) | Bookshop (Support Local Bookstores!)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Alya, Annabeth, Ben, Blaise, Devin, Diana, Edward, Ellen, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Lufi, Melinda, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas, Seth, Shaad, Summer, Zoe.
January 22, 2021
“History erases the ugliness of heroes.”
Chaotic is really the only word I can find to describe this finale. Just full of chaotic energy! Review to come on my YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks
Chaotic is really the only word I can find to describe this finale. Just full of chaotic energy! Review to come on my YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks
February 3, 2024
Soulkeeper ★★★★ 1/4
A Gift of Faeries & Firekin ★★★★
Ravencaller ★★★★
Voidbreaker ★★★★ 1/2
Most readers enjoyed this finale despite some not being the biggest fans of the final chapters and I can see why given the Deus Ex Machina mentioned in those reviews. Personally, I loved this conclusion and in fact, it was my favorite entry in the series.
I am going to be honest as it's been more than a year since I have read this, and I forgot the details, but I do remember the big things. It takes place after the events of book two immediately and as in all of Dalglish's books that I read so far -including ones I finished after this series- it jumps into the action and there is a fast pacing that makes the story gripping.
As I said in my previous reviews, the world-building and magic in this world are very interesting. And though I haven't read all of Dalglish books, I can tell he is a creative author. The characters are also well written and they're never flat despite all the adrenaline going on. I think it is a bit rare to find this mix in adult fantasy where things tend to be slower.
Also, I always enjoy reading the author's note at the end as they give me another perspective to the story and add something to the story. I already started the author's latest series and I believe will continue to discover his future works.
A Gift of Faeries & Firekin ★★★★
Ravencaller ★★★★
Voidbreaker ★★★★ 1/2
Most readers enjoyed this finale despite some not being the biggest fans of the final chapters and I can see why given the Deus Ex Machina mentioned in those reviews. Personally, I loved this conclusion and in fact, it was my favorite entry in the series.
I am going to be honest as it's been more than a year since I have read this, and I forgot the details, but I do remember the big things. It takes place after the events of book two immediately and as in all of Dalglish's books that I read so far -including ones I finished after this series- it jumps into the action and there is a fast pacing that makes the story gripping.
As I said in my previous reviews, the world-building and magic in this world are very interesting. And though I haven't read all of Dalglish books, I can tell he is a creative author. The characters are also well written and they're never flat despite all the adrenaline going on. I think it is a bit rare to find this mix in adult fantasy where things tend to be slower.
Also, I always enjoy reading the author's note at the end as they give me another perspective to the story and add something to the story. I already started the author's latest series and I believe will continue to discover his future works.
March 16, 2021
This series have some of the most precious characters ever. I weep from how much I love them. And this book is solid most of the way through. Had some struggles getting into it despite paging through passages of Ravencaller to jog my memory. Also I didn't much like the ending.
April 16, 2022
I was honestly surprised by how moved I was by this trilogy. It depresses me how hard-pressed you are to find fantasy books these days that focus on themes of hope, but this trilogy pulled it off perfectly, and I appreciated the author’s note at the end.
Sometimes when real life is tough, it’s encouraging to read stories where, though everything is going wrong, the characters are battered and bloody and broken, and all seems hopeless, they still fight through it and come out stronger on the other side, with hope for the future.
Sometimes when real life is tough, it’s encouraging to read stories where, though everything is going wrong, the characters are battered and bloody and broken, and all seems hopeless, they still fight through it and come out stronger on the other side, with hope for the future.
May 3, 2021
A solid finale for the series with bigger and more brutal large scale battle scenes then the previous books. At times the scope went so big it overshadowed the players but overall it was a nice way to finish the series. 3.5
February 20, 2021
I really like this trilogy, the ending was a bit much though and things felt rushed somehow, which is why I took a star off. To be fair I usually enjoy books less when I finish them at 2-3 AM because of insomnia, so it could just be that.
The characters have been great throughout the entire trilogy, Puffy is awesome.
I loved the sappy romance parts because the relationships were well-written and who doesn't love a heartwarming romance with some funny/witty lines thrown in?
Come for the worldbuilding, stay for the characters.
I want to edit this review today or tomorrow to make it more useful, these are just the pre-coffee ramblings of a crazy person.
The characters have been great throughout the entire trilogy, Puffy is awesome.
I loved the sappy romance parts because the relationships were well-written and who doesn't love a heartwarming romance with some funny/witty lines thrown in?
Come for the worldbuilding, stay for the characters.
I want to edit this review today or tomorrow to make it more useful, these are just the pre-coffee ramblings of a crazy person.
June 18, 2021
The finale of this trilogy was good but not great, which is probably a fair summary of the series. It was entertaining and fast paced with well written characters and genuine tension due to some clever plotting. Something was missing for me though. I think the narrow scope of the story, limited to a single city, had diminishing returns for me as the series went on. The interpersonal conflict, well written though it was, seemed to sometimes overwhelm the plot.
Despite my minor gripes, it was still a fun series with a heavy old school dungeons and dragons vibe.
Despite my minor gripes, it was still a fun series with a heavy old school dungeons and dragons vibe.
February 13, 2021
"I have lost friends... I have lost family. I have seen the home of my people destroyed, and yet when I come here, do you weep for them? Do you feel sorrow for the loss? No, you don't..."
This quote sums up my feelings on the journey these characters have been through in these three books and I couldn't have asked for a better end to this story than what David Dalglish gave us.
This book did what many try and fail to do and it gave us a literal Deus-ex machina and it made perfect story sense *gasp*
Let's start the review!
4/5 Stars
From here on out this is going to be slightly spoiler-y given this is the third book in a trilogy and if you're here to read reviews still after reading the prior two books then let me give you the cliffnotes: READ THE DAMN BOOK!
Why the 4 stars? Well, as heartbreaking as it may be, I couldn't give this book the ever elusive, arduously achievable 5 stars because the few problems I had with the book were just too weighty to hold that last star up.
Let's start with my critiques so I can leave you with the praises I will heap onto this book. My main critiques of this book (and Ravencaller as well) all stem from the POV choices the author made. Now I understand some may not have a problem with the POV switches but I did. I counted 11 different POVs in this book. ELEVEN! I'm all for telling an ensemble cast story, but that's usually reserved for books with at least a 700+ page count. My biggest problem with this started to be felt in Ravencaller and only intensified as I read this book as well.
Let's dig a little deeper into this. After reading Soulkeeper, it became fairly clear that this was more of a plot driven story than a character driven one and I had zero issues with that because I loved (most) of the characters that he introduced to us in that first book. Then came Ravencaller and Voidbreaker and the introduction of about 7 more POVs and it started becoming clear that the story was being pushed along by the characters actions and less by the demands of the plot and that was great. However, what nagged at me the entire time was this feeling that we weren't really diving into these characters motivations or choices or consequences enough. Now I'm not going to say that the characters actions weren't believable because they were. But, what I will say is that certain characters that were introduced to us as main characters, most prominently Devin and Tommy (and to an extent my main man Puffy) were relegated as less main agents of the story and more so side characters to everyone else's story, mainly Jac, Adria, and Logarius's.
And then there's the POV's given to Tes, Brittany, Wren, Dierk, Puffy (no offense), Janus (though he most definitely deserved his), Lyssa, Sena, and Evelyn. Not all of these deserved to be cut, but some of them definitely did. At times it felt like the story shifted to a random POV character that could have been used to give us more of the main characters POVs and let us get deeper into their heads. To sum this all up, I think the story would have been better served giving us more POV's from character's perspectives that were supposed to be main drivers of the story.
And that is why I knocked off a star. On to why I did give it 4 more though.
Damn was this story GOOD!
For all my issues with the POV's, it didn't take away from the fact that I downright loved a lot of these characters. From Devin to Tes to Logarius and even Janus's crazy ass, these were some fun characters to spend time with. Many of them came into this story haven been previously beaten down by the world only for the dragon-sired and magic to return and beat them down some more and I am a sucker for putting characters through the wringer and Dalglish knows how to twist the knife as he does. The journey these characters go on is one of pain and suffering and hopelessness, only for (some of them) to come out the other side and see that there was, indeed, hope after all. The only character I didn't love by the end was Jac and that's for two reasons: First, I think he unwittingly (or maybe wittingly) wrote her to be selfish and in my humble opinion, undeserving of Devin (she cheated on him, lied to him about it and moved on like it was nothing while constantly disregarding how he felt about her actions because muh-revenge) and Second, she never faced any consequences for killing the bedwarmer who did nothing wrong and I understand that she's supposed to be one of the good guys but to get off scot-free was just ridiculous to me.
Back to your regularly scheduled praises
What can I say about the plot of this book? Fast-paced, yes. Action-packed, yes. Heart-wrenching, hell yes. The plot in Voidbreaker was exactly what I needed it to be and then some. It took one or two detours but they were like hitting a speedbump going 100m/ph and somehow not going into a tailspin afterword. What I'm trying to say is, it was worth it to get to where we were going in the most exhilarating way possible.
The themes that this series touched on were only intensified and brought to a head in this conclusion. Throughout the entire book I felt myself going back and forth on whether I rooted for Adria to defy the Goddesses or stick by her faith and even now I couldn't tell you if I agree with her final choices or not. I truly enjoyed watching everyone struggle to understand their place in the world and still not coming out knowing if it was the best solution because that's what it means to be human (even if they all weren't human, they sure acted like it). How many of us have faced hard-times in our lives where we felt like we wanted to rebel against our makers, be they your preferred deity or even your own parents. I think that's why I loved Devin's character so much. Even through moments of doubt and questioning and anger he was still able to pull himself out of it with his faith still intact and that's commendable.
This review is getting long in the tooth so I won't keep you much longer. All in all, if for some reason you made it to the end of this review, haven't picked up the series, and are still on the fence, then let me make this easy for you: If you like a great cast of characters in a world full of magic and mayhem that doesn't get too preachy even though it's a story about religion (crazy, I know) then this is the series for you. If you like your fantasy mixed with some real horror-filled s*** then this is the story for you.
Seriously, PICK UP THE BOOK AND START READING ALREADY.
If you made it to the end then thank you for sticking with me in my first review ever and expect many, many more to come. Thanks!
Voidbreaker
This quote sums up my feelings on the journey these characters have been through in these three books and I couldn't have asked for a better end to this story than what David Dalglish gave us.
This book did what many try and fail to do and it gave us a literal Deus-ex machina and it made perfect story sense *gasp*
Let's start the review!
4/5 Stars
From here on out this is going to be slightly spoiler-y given this is the third book in a trilogy and if you're here to read reviews still after reading the prior two books then let me give you the cliffnotes: READ THE DAMN BOOK!
Why the 4 stars? Well, as heartbreaking as it may be, I couldn't give this book the ever elusive, arduously achievable 5 stars because the few problems I had with the book were just too weighty to hold that last star up.
Let's start with my critiques so I can leave you with the praises I will heap onto this book. My main critiques of this book (and Ravencaller as well) all stem from the POV choices the author made. Now I understand some may not have a problem with the POV switches but I did. I counted 11 different POVs in this book. ELEVEN! I'm all for telling an ensemble cast story, but that's usually reserved for books with at least a 700+ page count. My biggest problem with this started to be felt in Ravencaller and only intensified as I read this book as well.
Let's dig a little deeper into this. After reading Soulkeeper, it became fairly clear that this was more of a plot driven story than a character driven one and I had zero issues with that because I loved (most) of the characters that he introduced to us in that first book. Then came Ravencaller and Voidbreaker and the introduction of about 7 more POVs and it started becoming clear that the story was being pushed along by the characters actions and less by the demands of the plot and that was great. However, what nagged at me the entire time was this feeling that we weren't really diving into these characters motivations or choices or consequences enough. Now I'm not going to say that the characters actions weren't believable because they were. But, what I will say is that certain characters that were introduced to us as main characters, most prominently Devin and Tommy (and to an extent my main man Puffy) were relegated as less main agents of the story and more so side characters to everyone else's story, mainly Jac, Adria, and Logarius's.
And then there's the POV's given to Tes, Brittany, Wren, Dierk, Puffy (no offense), Janus (though he most definitely deserved his), Lyssa, Sena, and Evelyn. Not all of these deserved to be cut, but some of them definitely did. At times it felt like the story shifted to a random POV character that could have been used to give us more of the main characters POVs and let us get deeper into their heads. To sum this all up, I think the story would have been better served giving us more POV's from character's perspectives that were supposed to be main drivers of the story.
And that is why I knocked off a star. On to why I did give it 4 more though.
Damn was this story GOOD!
For all my issues with the POV's, it didn't take away from the fact that I downright loved a lot of these characters. From Devin to Tes to Logarius and even Janus's crazy ass, these were some fun characters to spend time with. Many of them came into this story haven been previously beaten down by the world only for the dragon-sired and magic to return and beat them down some more and I am a sucker for putting characters through the wringer and Dalglish knows how to twist the knife as he does. The journey these characters go on is one of pain and suffering and hopelessness, only for (some of them) to come out the other side and see that there was, indeed, hope after all. The only character I didn't love by the end was Jac and that's for two reasons: First, I think he unwittingly (or maybe wittingly) wrote her to be selfish and in my humble opinion, undeserving of Devin (she cheated on him, lied to him about it and moved on like it was nothing while constantly disregarding how he felt about her actions because muh-revenge) and Second, she never faced any consequences for killing the bedwarmer who did nothing wrong and I understand that she's supposed to be one of the good guys but to get off scot-free was just ridiculous to me.
Back to your regularly scheduled praises
What can I say about the plot of this book? Fast-paced, yes. Action-packed, yes. Heart-wrenching, hell yes. The plot in Voidbreaker was exactly what I needed it to be and then some. It took one or two detours but they were like hitting a speedbump going 100m/ph and somehow not going into a tailspin afterword. What I'm trying to say is, it was worth it to get to where we were going in the most exhilarating way possible.
The themes that this series touched on were only intensified and brought to a head in this conclusion. Throughout the entire book I felt myself going back and forth on whether I rooted for Adria to defy the Goddesses or stick by her faith and even now I couldn't tell you if I agree with her final choices or not. I truly enjoyed watching everyone struggle to understand their place in the world and still not coming out knowing if it was the best solution because that's what it means to be human (even if they all weren't human, they sure acted like it). How many of us have faced hard-times in our lives where we felt like we wanted to rebel against our makers, be they your preferred deity or even your own parents. I think that's why I loved Devin's character so much. Even through moments of doubt and questioning and anger he was still able to pull himself out of it with his faith still intact and that's commendable.
This review is getting long in the tooth so I won't keep you much longer. All in all, if for some reason you made it to the end of this review, haven't picked up the series, and are still on the fence, then let me make this easy for you: If you like a great cast of characters in a world full of magic and mayhem that doesn't get too preachy even though it's a story about religion (crazy, I know) then this is the series for you. If you like your fantasy mixed with some real horror-filled s*** then this is the story for you.
Seriously, PICK UP THE BOOK AND START READING ALREADY.
If you made it to the end then thank you for sticking with me in my first review ever and expect many, many more to come. Thanks!
Voidbreaker
March 7, 2021
This was a very good conclusion to The Keepers trilogy and I absolutely loved it!
Honestly, I love this world and all of the magical creatures in it, it's probably my most favourite part about the books.
Here The plot deepens even more and we finally see how the characters resolve everything and my personal favourite was the epilogue. If I cried on books, I would've she'd a tear at what happened because I was so happy!
All of the character arcs are so well-written and well done, I love them and for fear of spoiling even a little bit I'm trying to be vague.
I could probably write a whole essay on how well Adria's character is written. While I find her POV very annoying at time, I enjoyed how her story was concluded.
Overall, I really enjoyed all of these books and am excited to try the author's next books.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the eARC for this book.
Honestly, I love this world and all of the magical creatures in it, it's probably my most favourite part about the books.
Here The plot deepens even more and we finally see how the characters resolve everything and my personal favourite was the epilogue. If I cried on books, I would've she'd a tear at what happened because I was so happy!
All of the character arcs are so well-written and well done, I love them and for fear of spoiling even a little bit I'm trying to be vague.
I could probably write a whole essay on how well Adria's character is written. While I find her POV very annoying at time, I enjoyed how her story was concluded.
Overall, I really enjoyed all of these books and am excited to try the author's next books.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the eARC for this book.
February 19, 2021
4.5*
Review to come!!
Review to come!!
March 17, 2021
A satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, filled with hope despite all the brutality and ugliness of the world. Dalglish wrapped up things beautifully in the epilogue, and I couldn't be more happier. I don't know if the author will write another series in the world of Cradle, but, there are possibilities for more tales to be told.
This is a very fast paced book, and the action is quite heavy in places. Dalglish writes magical combat scenes and sword fights pretty well. I enjoyed it immensely. Apart from the thrill, this is also a book that makes us think - What makes monsters out of men, and what makes the monsters human? What is the cost of power, and what consequences come along with it? Is co-existence possible between humans and whom they categorize as the "Other?" This is a book that tells us a story of choices, of flawed beings trying to survive in a deeply flawed world.
I love the characters of this trilogy, be it the dragons, the faery, or the villains. They aren't tropey, rather new and refreshing. I love how Dalglish has explored the interpersonal dynamics between the various characters. I rooted for Devin, I rooted for Adria, Wren, and Jacaranda. And, it's such a delight to read about these strong, beautiful women trying to fight and find a place in the world. The emotion is palpable throughout the story. I could even relate to the complex/evil Janus who performs his role with wild flair and abandon.
This is standard fantasy that brings back the memories of Tolkien and Jordan, but with brevity and precision in expostulating the story. In an era populated by the grimdark and its cynicism, Dalglish brings a breath of fresh air, filled with wonder, beauty, and harshness in equal measure. There's always the light of hope, no matter the loss. This book made me hopeful and brought a smile towards the end.
This is a very fast paced book, and the action is quite heavy in places. Dalglish writes magical combat scenes and sword fights pretty well. I enjoyed it immensely. Apart from the thrill, this is also a book that makes us think - What makes monsters out of men, and what makes the monsters human? What is the cost of power, and what consequences come along with it? Is co-existence possible between humans and whom they categorize as the "Other?" This is a book that tells us a story of choices, of flawed beings trying to survive in a deeply flawed world.
I love the characters of this trilogy, be it the dragons, the faery, or the villains. They aren't tropey, rather new and refreshing. I love how Dalglish has explored the interpersonal dynamics between the various characters. I rooted for Devin, I rooted for Adria, Wren, and Jacaranda. And, it's such a delight to read about these strong, beautiful women trying to fight and find a place in the world. The emotion is palpable throughout the story. I could even relate to the complex/evil Janus who performs his role with wild flair and abandon.
This is standard fantasy that brings back the memories of Tolkien and Jordan, but with brevity and precision in expostulating the story. In an era populated by the grimdark and its cynicism, Dalglish brings a breath of fresh air, filled with wonder, beauty, and harshness in equal measure. There's always the light of hope, no matter the loss. This book made me hopeful and brought a smile towards the end.
February 9, 2023
A solid ending for a solid series. Highly recommended.
January 25, 2022
I really liked Adria’s character for the most part in both Soul Keeper and Raven Caller. It was at the end of the second book that my opinion of her really started to change when she brought Brittany back by putting her soul inside of a soulless. Not only did Adria take away any possibility of that soulless gaining her own soul back, but bringing Brittney back now could very easily have caused nothing but pain for everyone. Devin was moving on with another woman. Jacaranda was going to feel like she was being replaced. And Brittney now had to come to terms with not only being trapped inside a different body, but with everything that has changed in the last six years without her. Adria says she brought Brittany back because she thought it was the right thing to do, yet I don’t see that at all.
In Void Breaker, the only thing I truly sided with Adria on was returning the souls to all of the soullesses. Other than that, from the “good guys” perspective, I didn’t like at all where her character was going. She became a great villain though. Her new found friendship with Janus and Wren at the end was fun to watch play out.
The explanation that the Goddess Lyra gave to Devin about what had happened to all of the mythical creatures and the dragons centuries ago, and why they were suddenly all brought back was interesting. The last scene with Lyra was intense too. She said herself that she could only see the future in pieces and that it was cloudy. I loved this because it showed that even the Goddess could be mistaken and get things wrong. They are not as “all knowing” as they try to make everyone believe.
I hated Dierk’s father and I was so proud of him for being able to gain the upper hand from the abusive man. Dierk may be a tad slow in some regards, and had gained a bit of a temper after everything his father put him through, but he was far smarter than his father ever gave him create for and there was absolutely no excuse for the way that man tried his son. If only Dierk hadn’t allowed the power to go to his head so fast.
I also hate it when authors choose to bring characters back to life (one of the many reasons why I’m not happy about Brittany coming back), but I am happy with how the author dealt with Tesmarie at the end of this book. It was more like Tes was plucked out of her time period, right before she dead, and then dropped back into the present. It also explains why Adria couldn’t bring Tesmarie back to life when she tried before. That didn’t make since to me because she had done that so many times before, but if it was really this lookalike doll that Tommy and Elebell had dropped in . . . I like this explanation so much better than just reviving her from death.
I loved how David Dalglish kept me on my toes throughout this whole trilogy. Due to all the changes and growth amongst the huge array of characters, my favorites continued to change from book to book. The only one that I truly loved all the way through was Puffy (the firekin). I just wish we got to see more of him throughout the trilogy.
In Void Breaker, the only thing I truly sided with Adria on was returning the souls to all of the soullesses. Other than that, from the “good guys” perspective, I didn’t like at all where her character was going. She became a great villain though. Her new found friendship with Janus and Wren at the end was fun to watch play out.
The explanation that the Goddess Lyra gave to Devin about what had happened to all of the mythical creatures and the dragons centuries ago, and why they were suddenly all brought back was interesting. The last scene with Lyra was intense too. She said herself that she could only see the future in pieces and that it was cloudy. I loved this because it showed that even the Goddess could be mistaken and get things wrong. They are not as “all knowing” as they try to make everyone believe.
I hated Dierk’s father and I was so proud of him for being able to gain the upper hand from the abusive man. Dierk may be a tad slow in some regards, and had gained a bit of a temper after everything his father put him through, but he was far smarter than his father ever gave him create for and there was absolutely no excuse for the way that man tried his son. If only Dierk hadn’t allowed the power to go to his head so fast.
I also hate it when authors choose to bring characters back to life (one of the many reasons why I’m not happy about Brittany coming back), but I am happy with how the author dealt with Tesmarie at the end of this book. It was more like Tes was plucked out of her time period, right before she dead, and then dropped back into the present. It also explains why Adria couldn’t bring Tesmarie back to life when she tried before. That didn’t make since to me because she had done that so many times before, but if it was really this lookalike doll that Tommy and Elebell had dropped in . . . I like this explanation so much better than just reviving her from death.
I loved how David Dalglish kept me on my toes throughout this whole trilogy. Due to all the changes and growth amongst the huge array of characters, my favorites continued to change from book to book. The only one that I truly loved all the way through was Puffy (the firekin). I just wish we got to see more of him throughout the trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2021
Holy shit..
March 20, 2022
Not in love with the trilogy but stellar ending.
April 17, 2022
Wow! All the stats, all the freakin' stars! Not sure how I'm going to write a review that fully captures my feelings for this but for now, I'll just say that was incredilble!
November 12, 2021
5 / 5 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
The awakened monsters have claimed half of the Cradle, and set siege to Londheim itself. Shinnoc son of Cannac seeks to atone for his father’s death, the whole of the Dragon-sired following in his wake. ‘Men have begun to flee the city come night, leaving the city weakened and ripe for the taking. But still the monsters sit, for within the city another war rages.
The Forgotten Children have taken over a district of Londheim and driven the humans out. Here they wait while tensions grow ever higher. The dam may yet break, but not while Devin Eveson has anything to say about it. Though he is no longer the Soulkeeper he once was, instead taking a more liberal, cavalier approach to just what constitutes a “monster”. Adria—the Chainbreaker—has turned further still from the church, to the point where she is no longer sure which side of the conflict she’s on. Though it’s becoming increasingly clear that it’s a side all of her own. But when the Goddesses themselves come calling, which side will each Eveson choose? Will it be a common one, or will the siblings fight to the death for ownership of the Cradle?
Meanwhile, Dierk, Jacaranda, Tommy, Brittany, Wren, and Janus all have chosen a side, if not a common goal. Each has their own agenda independent of this war, one that will surely come into conflict with their chosen leaders. But as alliances form and shift and fade, which side will end up on top—and is there any room for the losing side in the future of the Cradle at all?
We seek peace. We seek sleep. We seek oblivion.
Voidbreaker wraps up the Keepers series, another by David Dalglish that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. While I quite liked the Shadow dance hexalogy, I have to admit its books were a bit hit-or-miss. The Keepers may only have half as many entries, but it commands way more consistency between them. Nothing under 4-stars, with both Ravencaller and Voidbreaker yielding perfect 5/5’s. I so enjoyed this series, yet I’m only slightly disappointed it had to end here. Because while I could’ve read another three or four or eight novels in the same world, Voidbreaker gives the series the end it deserves. A damn good one.
I really enjoyed how the characters of Devin and Adria evolved. Sure, there are others as well—Jacaranda, Sena, Logarius, Janus and more—but these two central figures helped guide the plot from the beginning, and as their motivations change, so does the direction of the story. At first it was Us versus Them. Then the lines began to blur. By this point in the series, I’m not even sure whose side anyone thinks they’re on—let alone where their allegiances actually fall. The thin red line has to be blurred to the size of a demarkation zone, and coated red from the blood of all that have fallen to progress this far. I’m not sure what side I would be on, let alone what the “right” one is.
I mean, Crksslff (Puffy) is on the right side. We all know that. It’s just where everyone else falls that is confusing. Incidentally, the little firkin remains my favorite minor character. It plays its part in this story, to be sure, and plays it well. Just waiting for the spinoff that’s sure to come now.
A few minor hiccups over the course of the text could not dull the majesty that chaos hath wrought. For this tells a story of pure chaos. Dark, bloody, epic, desperate, hope-inspired chaos. And it’s glorious. About halfway through, the air of tension escalates to full-on SHTF. And just keeps at it. The whole latter half of the book was a dash through fire, a desperate fight to the finish, a last stand with but the most-unlikely glimmer of hope. And it’s truly a treasure. An incredible read. One of my books of the year, surely.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
The awakened monsters have claimed half of the Cradle, and set siege to Londheim itself. Shinnoc son of Cannac seeks to atone for his father’s death, the whole of the Dragon-sired following in his wake. ‘Men have begun to flee the city come night, leaving the city weakened and ripe for the taking. But still the monsters sit, for within the city another war rages.
The Forgotten Children have taken over a district of Londheim and driven the humans out. Here they wait while tensions grow ever higher. The dam may yet break, but not while Devin Eveson has anything to say about it. Though he is no longer the Soulkeeper he once was, instead taking a more liberal, cavalier approach to just what constitutes a “monster”. Adria—the Chainbreaker—has turned further still from the church, to the point where she is no longer sure which side of the conflict she’s on. Though it’s becoming increasingly clear that it’s a side all of her own. But when the Goddesses themselves come calling, which side will each Eveson choose? Will it be a common one, or will the siblings fight to the death for ownership of the Cradle?
Meanwhile, Dierk, Jacaranda, Tommy, Brittany, Wren, and Janus all have chosen a side, if not a common goal. Each has their own agenda independent of this war, one that will surely come into conflict with their chosen leaders. But as alliances form and shift and fade, which side will end up on top—and is there any room for the losing side in the future of the Cradle at all?
We seek peace. We seek sleep. We seek oblivion.
Voidbreaker wraps up the Keepers series, another by David Dalglish that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. While I quite liked the Shadow dance hexalogy, I have to admit its books were a bit hit-or-miss. The Keepers may only have half as many entries, but it commands way more consistency between them. Nothing under 4-stars, with both Ravencaller and Voidbreaker yielding perfect 5/5’s. I so enjoyed this series, yet I’m only slightly disappointed it had to end here. Because while I could’ve read another three or four or eight novels in the same world, Voidbreaker gives the series the end it deserves. A damn good one.
I really enjoyed how the characters of Devin and Adria evolved. Sure, there are others as well—Jacaranda, Sena, Logarius, Janus and more—but these two central figures helped guide the plot from the beginning, and as their motivations change, so does the direction of the story. At first it was Us versus Them. Then the lines began to blur. By this point in the series, I’m not even sure whose side anyone thinks they’re on—let alone where their allegiances actually fall. The thin red line has to be blurred to the size of a demarkation zone, and coated red from the blood of all that have fallen to progress this far. I’m not sure what side I would be on, let alone what the “right” one is.
I mean, Crksslff (Puffy) is on the right side. We all know that. It’s just where everyone else falls that is confusing. Incidentally, the little firkin remains my favorite minor character. It plays its part in this story, to be sure, and plays it well. Just waiting for the spinoff that’s sure to come now.
A few minor hiccups over the course of the text could not dull the majesty that chaos hath wrought. For this tells a story of pure chaos. Dark, bloody, epic, desperate, hope-inspired chaos. And it’s glorious. About halfway through, the air of tension escalates to full-on SHTF. And just keeps at it. The whole latter half of the book was a dash through fire, a desperate fight to the finish, a last stand with but the most-unlikely glimmer of hope. And it’s truly a treasure. An incredible read. One of my books of the year, surely.
January 27, 2021
Some reviews are more difficult to write than others. For me, this is not usually because I did not like a book (good reviews are often harder to write than bad ones), but the actual truth of the matter that it is just harder to explain the reasons for liking or disliking some books more than it is for others. Certain books make it easy to gush about them; something about them brings the words out like a tide. That is exactly how I feel about Voidbreaker: there is so much to say about it I can barely contain the words. It is utterly gushable.
Let’s start with this: Voidbreaker is out of control. The Keepers series has always been action-packed. From the first page to the last, it has not let up. I remember reading Soulkeeper (the first book in the series) and thinking how cool the magic and the monsters were. It was such an entertaining book that I was not sure how it could get much better (read my review of Soulkeeper here). Book 2, Ravencaller, upped the ante as the plot goes, but I did not rate is as highly because the shine wore off from the first book slightly without any other big reveals to take its place (my Ravencaller review can be found here). While still incredibly well-written and entertaining, the “Wow!” factor was not as present in Ravencaller as it had been in Soulkeeper. The good news: in Voidbreaker, author David Dalglish brings the heat back with twists and turns, surprises, and absolute chaos.
And boy do I love the chaos.
To say that the characters power up would be an understatement. For some of the characters, we are talking Final Form Frieza power levels. What I find so interesting about this is that it was easily forecast for some characters, but not so much for others. And, yet, some I expected to be given God-like treatment never receive it. In this way, Dalglish keeps me guessing throughout all the way through, an aspect of the book that I thoroughly enjoy.
Even with this book being very character-driven, there is much to say about the plot, too. Monsters, magic, and mayhem have been the tagline I have been using – but let’s go ahead and add Gods to that, too, shall we? The Keepers series has been building up to the events in this book all along, and the tension could not be higher coming in. Voidbreaker only contributes to that crescendo, keeping readers on edge until the very end. And what an ending it is! To say the series ends with a bang would be an understatement. Dalglish is an expert at pay off, and those skills are clearly demonstrated in this series.
And so, to the The Keepers series I say: “I am utterly sad to see you go, but boy did I love watching you leave.” Voidbreaker is everything I hoped it would be and more. The perfect rating I have given the book reflects that fact. As much as I tried, I just could not find a flaw. It is a phenomenal finale to what has turned out to be one of my favorite fantasy series. If you are a fan of The Keepers, my bet is you will love this book, too. If you have yet to begin this series, I suggest you do. It gets my highest recommendation.
Let’s start with this: Voidbreaker is out of control. The Keepers series has always been action-packed. From the first page to the last, it has not let up. I remember reading Soulkeeper (the first book in the series) and thinking how cool the magic and the monsters were. It was such an entertaining book that I was not sure how it could get much better (read my review of Soulkeeper here). Book 2, Ravencaller, upped the ante as the plot goes, but I did not rate is as highly because the shine wore off from the first book slightly without any other big reveals to take its place (my Ravencaller review can be found here). While still incredibly well-written and entertaining, the “Wow!” factor was not as present in Ravencaller as it had been in Soulkeeper. The good news: in Voidbreaker, author David Dalglish brings the heat back with twists and turns, surprises, and absolute chaos.
And boy do I love the chaos.
To say that the characters power up would be an understatement. For some of the characters, we are talking Final Form Frieza power levels. What I find so interesting about this is that it was easily forecast for some characters, but not so much for others. And, yet, some I expected to be given God-like treatment never receive it. In this way, Dalglish keeps me guessing throughout all the way through, an aspect of the book that I thoroughly enjoy.
Even with this book being very character-driven, there is much to say about the plot, too. Monsters, magic, and mayhem have been the tagline I have been using – but let’s go ahead and add Gods to that, too, shall we? The Keepers series has been building up to the events in this book all along, and the tension could not be higher coming in. Voidbreaker only contributes to that crescendo, keeping readers on edge until the very end. And what an ending it is! To say the series ends with a bang would be an understatement. Dalglish is an expert at pay off, and those skills are clearly demonstrated in this series.
And so, to the The Keepers series I say: “I am utterly sad to see you go, but boy did I love watching you leave.” Voidbreaker is everything I hoped it would be and more. The perfect rating I have given the book reflects that fact. As much as I tried, I just could not find a flaw. It is a phenomenal finale to what has turned out to be one of my favorite fantasy series. If you are a fan of The Keepers, my bet is you will love this book, too. If you have yet to begin this series, I suggest you do. It gets my highest recommendation.
February 22, 2022
Voidbreaker is a very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. The finale or last stand-off, if you will, is quite literally a cosmic smack upside the head with so much going on that I couldn't even fathom putting the book down until I was finished reading it.
And boy-howdy, I'll tell ya what, that David Dalglish writes incredible characters with emotion and depth, creates fascinating and intricate worlds, and can write an action scene like nobody's business. The Keepers trilogy has definitely made me a fan and I will most certainly be on board for his next series on its day-1 release. What a fantastic ride all three books were.
Also...I swear those weren't tears in my eyes from that epilogue.
And boy-howdy, I'll tell ya what, that David Dalglish writes incredible characters with emotion and depth, creates fascinating and intricate worlds, and can write an action scene like nobody's business. The Keepers trilogy has definitely made me a fan and I will most certainly be on board for his next series on its day-1 release. What a fantastic ride all three books were.
Also...I swear those weren't tears in my eyes from that epilogue.
March 28, 2024
Void Breaker by David Dalglish is the third book in "The Keepers" trilogy. While this book had its ups and downs, and sometimes made me wonder where exactly the storyline was going, it ultimately was a great book. It's undeniably a satisfying ending to the series which answered all of my questions and more. I was left with a bittersweet feeling after I finished the last page but I was very much satisfied with the ending. I highly recommend this book and this entire trilogy to all fantasy fans.
November 20, 2022
A fairly meh ending to a decent series. I was glad when it was over to be honest.
My biggest issue with this series was that it claimed to be some monster hunting/dungeon crawling adventure, yet I think the only left the main city less than 5 times the whole book, despite a much, much larger world being presented and referenced.
My biggest issue with this series was that it claimed to be some monster hunting/dungeon crawling adventure, yet I think the only left the main city less than 5 times the whole book, despite a much, much larger world being presented and referenced.
May 23, 2021
The finale to the Keepers series. First off I really enjoyed this series! It kept the same formula throughout the entire series. If you liked book one you will enjoy the rest.
The ending was satisfying and fitting I think for this series. What I liked most is the communication in this series. Sure the characters didn't discuss everything and kept their secrets at times but when they talked they listened to eachother. Gave eachother space to entirely unload wether they were friends or lovers there was understanding and empathy.
I loved the whole magical world coming back. I would've loved to see more of those folks. I wouldn't mind a sequel where they are at peace, have their own space and adventures
The ending was satisfying and fitting I think for this series. What I liked most is the communication in this series. Sure the characters didn't discuss everything and kept their secrets at times but when they talked they listened to eachother. Gave eachother space to entirely unload wether they were friends or lovers there was understanding and empathy.
I loved the whole magical world coming back. I would've loved to see more of those folks. I wouldn't mind a sequel where they are at peace, have their own space and adventures
October 16, 2021
I have no words to express how much I adore everything about this series and I mourn the fact that it’s over now.
Would 100% kill for 99% of the characters in this book. Even Janus.
Dierk can choke tho.
Would 100% kill for 99% of the characters in this book. Even Janus.
Dierk can choke tho.
July 29, 2022
I don't know why this didn't capture me like the others, but it's a worthy conclusion of epic proportions. This would make a very good RPG videogame. Overall, the thing I like most about this trilogy is that it's a story about hope and kindness. Too many modern epics feel the need to be "gritty" and "dark" with "realistic" consequences that ultimately end ashen rather than bittersweet.
I think I just became a bit disconnected to the characters of this book by the sheer epic scale of the plot. But it's a fantastically imaginative tale centred around beautifully good people.
I think I just became a bit disconnected to the characters of this book by the sheer epic scale of the plot. But it's a fantastically imaginative tale centred around beautifully good people.
March 27, 2021
Although my initial reaction was very positive with the first book, I had a lot of trouble getting through the last. So much of this story became just boring personal drama of the characters. The plot seemed stuck in a rut without any gripping action. All the real adventure came in the last quarter with who dies and who wins. The end becomes a little too Kumbaya.
July 5, 2021
This was in no way what I expected, and I mean that in the best possible way. It built and built and built, and paid off in such a wonderful, mindbending way. I was worried it might have gotten too big for itself, but I think it handled everything nicely. The ending is sugary sweet, but I miss happily ever afters.
I hope Dalglish writes more in this world. I love it.
I hope Dalglish writes more in this world. I love it.
March 4, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Orbit for the e-arc
“History erases the ugliness of heroes.”
I love trilogies which can land the ending and this one did. I loved this book all the characters had such a good arc. It was action packed with full of magic and plot twists. Loved how monsters and magic developed from the second book.
This series is really underrated u need to read it.
Magic and Monsters are the best parts of this book.
Adria and Jacaranda were really my favorite characters. I love how they develop inner conflict and the world
“History erases the ugliness of heroes.”
I love trilogies which can land the ending and this one did. I loved this book all the characters had such a good arc. It was action packed with full of magic and plot twists. Loved how monsters and magic developed from the second book.
This series is really underrated u need to read it.
Magic and Monsters are the best parts of this book.
Adria and Jacaranda were really my favorite characters. I love how they develop inner conflict and the world
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