What do you think?
Rate this book
The Keep
Stay away from the Old Manor.
Everyone in Town knows, if it lures you in there is no escape. No one returns. And yet despite this, the castle still calls victims to their doom.
The Town has lived under the shadow of this curse for so long, no one dares to dream of change.
One man tried, sacrificing himself in the attempt to free the Townsfolk from their grim reality.
His son, Grange the Younger, dreams of living up to his father’s legacy. When a stranger arrives in Town and scoffs at the tale of his father, Grange finds himself torn between preserving his father’s memory or protecting the Town’s hope for freedom.
Everyone in Town knows, if it lures you in there is no escape. No one returns. And yet despite this, the castle still calls victims to their doom.
The Town has lived under the shadow of this curse for so long, no one dares to dream of change.
One man tried, sacrificing himself in the attempt to free the Townsfolk from their grim reality.
His son, Grange the Younger, dreams of living up to his father’s legacy. When a stranger arrives in Town and scoffs at the tale of his father, Grange finds himself torn between preserving his father’s memory or protecting the Town’s hope for freedom.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2020
19 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 7, 2021
A slow-unfolding flower of a tale about magic, love, and loss.
Personally, I could have done without the framing device (which I won't explain because spoilers), but the world of the book was deep and full of history. I can imagine it could hold many more magical tales, which I'd be happy to read.
Personally, I could have done without the framing device (which I won't explain because spoilers), but the world of the book was deep and full of history. I can imagine it could hold many more magical tales, which I'd be happy to read.
January 28, 2021
I think The Keep would've been a good story if these 'Objects of Power' had more explanation and if things would've actually happened. It was about halfway-in before the MC goes to the manor and intrigue happens, but it wasn't enough to keep me excited or worried for the MC.
December 21, 2020
a great debut! a little slow start to the book, with a lot of characters, but the story pulls you in, just like the Old Manor. looking forward to what the author has up next!
May 10, 2021
The Keep drew me in immediately. There’s a welcoming ease as well as playfulness in the flow of its prose, the introduction of its world, and the inner musings of its characters.
The first half of the novel, set in the Town, establishes a pleasant, grounded, and engaging tone to the narrative. The persistent shift between points of view worked seamlessly for the most part, adding sparks of life with the rich array of characters, but ultimately created what I felt to be more distraction than depth to the central plotline. In a way, it is as though the narrative needed time to determine which direction it would take, and with whom. Generally, the young protagonist, Grange, is kept near the center of action; however, it is as though he does not offer enough to remain focused on until certain events. Moreover, as the shifting point of view resumes during the narrative denouement, the distancing from Grange distanced me from what had previously culminated as the novel’s thematic heart.
As a technical footnote, while I appreciate the subtextual wordplay inherent to using the term, “the Keep”, I did find it jarring that it was referred interchangeably as a keep, a manor, and a castle, all of which are quite different when in comes to evoking a structural image.
Nonetheless, the characters are full of life—if one can keep track of who is who, and what each one’s role is (so many names)—many of whom could provide their own interesting tales. On the other hand, while the details of the story suggest a vast world history, at the same time everything feels quite detached from a larger world. In the end, I could not help but think of the Shire as portrayed at the end of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings (2002-2004) where, unlike at the end of J.R.R. Tolkien’s three-part novel, the Hobbits of the Shire seem to have remained completely oblivious and unaffected by all that has happened beyond their small borders. In The Keep, it leaves me with both a sense of ongoing story, which is a good thing, but also a loss of lasting meaning. Everything resolves so quickly, I wonder if I need to reread the last 30 pages or so for having missed or failed to connect to the points of emotional transformation for the hero.
I am not sure that can be held against The Keep, however, for it still provides a delightful tale full of small wonders, enticing mysteries, and a bit of magic in the best sense of the word. Aside from one of my favorite aspects of the novel—the philosophical, introductory musings for each chapter, almost like a discussion of literary criticism, that alone merit a re-reading to better dissect the narrative—the story seems well suited to an adult audience wishing to look at the world for a while through the lens of the optimism of youth. That may be one of the greatest gifts Olson’s debut novel offers, a goodness that the world needs more of.
The first half of the novel, set in the Town, establishes a pleasant, grounded, and engaging tone to the narrative. The persistent shift between points of view worked seamlessly for the most part, adding sparks of life with the rich array of characters, but ultimately created what I felt to be more distraction than depth to the central plotline. In a way, it is as though the narrative needed time to determine which direction it would take, and with whom. Generally, the young protagonist, Grange, is kept near the center of action; however, it is as though he does not offer enough to remain focused on until certain events. Moreover, as the shifting point of view resumes during the narrative denouement, the distancing from Grange distanced me from what had previously culminated as the novel’s thematic heart.
As a technical footnote, while I appreciate the subtextual wordplay inherent to using the term, “the Keep”, I did find it jarring that it was referred interchangeably as a keep, a manor, and a castle, all of which are quite different when in comes to evoking a structural image.
Nonetheless, the characters are full of life—if one can keep track of who is who, and what each one’s role is (so many names)—many of whom could provide their own interesting tales. On the other hand, while the details of the story suggest a vast world history, at the same time everything feels quite detached from a larger world. In the end, I could not help but think of the Shire as portrayed at the end of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings (2002-2004) where, unlike at the end of J.R.R. Tolkien’s three-part novel, the Hobbits of the Shire seem to have remained completely oblivious and unaffected by all that has happened beyond their small borders. In The Keep, it leaves me with both a sense of ongoing story, which is a good thing, but also a loss of lasting meaning. Everything resolves so quickly, I wonder if I need to reread the last 30 pages or so for having missed or failed to connect to the points of emotional transformation for the hero.
I am not sure that can be held against The Keep, however, for it still provides a delightful tale full of small wonders, enticing mysteries, and a bit of magic in the best sense of the word. Aside from one of my favorite aspects of the novel—the philosophical, introductory musings for each chapter, almost like a discussion of literary criticism, that alone merit a re-reading to better dissect the narrative—the story seems well suited to an adult audience wishing to look at the world for a while through the lens of the optimism of youth. That may be one of the greatest gifts Olson’s debut novel offers, a goodness that the world needs more of.
May 19, 2021
This is a review for the second half of The Keep (chap 13 onward). I wanted to read something short, and was told by a friend that this part had all the crazy stuff. And it did in fact feel like reading a complete story.
This is a magical escape room story. I had never considered this a trope until reading The Keep, but it shows up in a surprising variety of places: the Minotaur’s labyrinth, Merlin’s crystal cave, Steven Brust’s Issola, The Promised Neverland, the game Myst, etc. Alternatively, you can think of it as a magical dungeon crawl story where Level 1 is really hard.
Reading this book gives the feeling of solving an escape room (or playing Myst), albeit with less effort. Interpersonal conflict is largely replaced with the mysteries surrounding the place and the struggle to find a way out. There is also a bit of magical psychological horror, which does a great job of keeping the pace up – the hero must solve the mysteries before he is no longer his old self. While reading I expected the psychological assaults to conveniently explain away some of the mysteries, a la horror stories like the Shining, but was ultimately given unique (afaik), satisfying, even cool explanations for the nature of this magical prison.
That is my biggest praise for The Keep: it takes a widespread story element and digs deep into it, reaching some new ideas while making you feel witness to their discovery. Maybe I’ll get around to the earlier chapters sometime…
This is a magical escape room story. I had never considered this a trope until reading The Keep, but it shows up in a surprising variety of places: the Minotaur’s labyrinth, Merlin’s crystal cave, Steven Brust’s Issola, The Promised Neverland, the game Myst, etc. Alternatively, you can think of it as a magical dungeon crawl story where Level 1 is really hard.
Reading this book gives the feeling of solving an escape room (or playing Myst), albeit with less effort. Interpersonal conflict is largely replaced with the mysteries surrounding the place and the struggle to find a way out. There is also a bit of magical psychological horror, which does a great job of keeping the pace up – the hero must solve the mysteries before he is no longer his old self. While reading I expected the psychological assaults to conveniently explain away some of the mysteries, a la horror stories like the Shining, but was ultimately given unique (afaik), satisfying, even cool explanations for the nature of this magical prison.
That is my biggest praise for The Keep: it takes a widespread story element and digs deep into it, reaching some new ideas while making you feel witness to their discovery. Maybe I’ll get around to the earlier chapters sometime…
May 18, 2021
This is a strong debut novel with a strong concept: a boy who does odd jobs for folks around his town in exchange for stories about his long-dead father, one of many victims of the mysterious nearby castle. Eventually, he decides that the stories - and questions - aren’t enough.
The novel felt like two nearly separate stories: in the first half, the story is from the point-of-view of a dozen characters of the town, revolving around local events as well as the main character. In the second half, the point-of-view drops to just the main character as he finally strikes off on his own. While both stories are good, the transition is a bit jarring. However, the story really comes into its own in the second half with imaginative characters - including the Keep itself - and the unraveling some of the big questions hinted at in the first half. The story has a satisfying ending, though there are enough questions about the magic left unanswered that I suspect (and hope) we’ll be treated to a sequel.
The novel felt like two nearly separate stories: in the first half, the story is from the point-of-view of a dozen characters of the town, revolving around local events as well as the main character. In the second half, the point-of-view drops to just the main character as he finally strikes off on his own. While both stories are good, the transition is a bit jarring. However, the story really comes into its own in the second half with imaginative characters - including the Keep itself - and the unraveling some of the big questions hinted at in the first half. The story has a satisfying ending, though there are enough questions about the magic left unanswered that I suspect (and hope) we’ll be treated to a sequel.
March 16, 2021
An amazing concept and a truly original story.
The dynamics between the main character and everyone else in Town were delightful to read, and I could have honestly spend a lot more time wandering with Grange from one task to the next, hearing stories.
However, the main subject of the novel is extremely complex and obscure-and intentional or not-hard to follow. Not that it wasn't intriguing or made me want to stop reading. I simply felt there was a lot of information that didn't need to be there, and other details that I wanted to learn. There are amazing characters I felt were left out, and their paths deserved to be followed.
I loved the way the story ended! At some point, I feard everything was lost, but the twist at the end made all the suffering worth it. And from now on, I'll treat my furniture with more kindness.
The dynamics between the main character and everyone else in Town were delightful to read, and I could have honestly spend a lot more time wandering with Grange from one task to the next, hearing stories.
However, the main subject of the novel is extremely complex and obscure-and intentional or not-hard to follow. Not that it wasn't intriguing or made me want to stop reading. I simply felt there was a lot of information that didn't need to be there, and other details that I wanted to learn. There are amazing characters I felt were left out, and their paths deserved to be followed.
I loved the way the story ended! At some point, I feard everything was lost, but the twist at the end made all the suffering worth it. And from now on, I'll treat my furniture with more kindness.
May 13, 2021
The Keep has a refreshing untraditional approach to storytelling. Don't go into this story expecting a standard YA tale. This book is more clever than that. The focal character of The Keep is Grange The Younger but it is not his story alone. The entirety of The Town is there to share the point of view. This creates a rich collection of characters, together struggling with the effects of mysterious Objects of Power that plague their home.
If you love the art of storytelling, you'll love the inventive ways this book unfolds. It weaves a narrative of love, loss, and redemption in a very human fashion. My only issue is that the pacing but, if you can hold on, you'll be well rewarded.
If you love the art of storytelling, you'll love the inventive ways this book unfolds. It weaves a narrative of love, loss, and redemption in a very human fashion. My only issue is that the pacing but, if you can hold on, you'll be well rewarded.
December 21, 2020
The book hooked me early. I was going to read a chapter and do something else, and multiple chapters went by before I stopped. It’s told slightly differently than a single cohesive narrative, but I think that added to its charm. The second quarter was less compelling, but by the midway point it picked up again. I ended up staying awake late to finish it.
It brings up the question of “what is a character?” and “who’s story is it?” In a unique and fun way. I did enjoy the book a lot and would recommend it to people who love fantasy and adventure.
It brings up the question of “what is a character?” and “who’s story is it?” In a unique and fun way. I did enjoy the book a lot and would recommend it to people who love fantasy and adventure.
December 20, 2020
A complicated, yet engaging story of a young boy’s search for the truth about his family and his town. Each chapter begins with a philosophical reflection followed by a glimpse of several different people in the village before focusing on the main character’s ultimate quest. During his big adventure, Grange discovers the most about himself, and strives for redemption for everyone. This is a more profound tale than the usual fantasy fare and well worth the investment. Nicely done.
December 20, 2020
An excellent read! I really enjoyed this story and I don't normally like fantasy short stories. In 300 pages the author masterfully take the reader on an immersive journey into a world full of color and depth. The characters are unique and individual yet relatable. The MC has wonderful growth throughout the story and the moral at the end is well presented. It was hard for me to put this story down! I would definitely recommend!
July 29, 2021
I enjoyed the world the author created and found the beginning of the book engaging and interesting. Somewhere in the middle I started skimming and skipped close to 70 pages. In doing so I found I didn’t miss anything. The ending was ok. Their was no explanation of what was happening or why. Needed more info on the power and less day to day doings in the manor. I loved the narrator stories at the beginning of each chapter.
December 15, 2020
I found this to be a good yarn. Some interesting ideas and characters, character growth, and an enjoyable reveal at the end. I'd return to this universe for more stories of Power. Thanks Bill Olson, good effort!!
January 6, 2021
Unexpected and insightful
This is like no other book I’ve read. It is thought provoking and invites me to look longer and deeper at the circumstances and people. Context and perspective.
This is like no other book I’ve read. It is thought provoking and invites me to look longer and deeper at the circumstances and people. Context and perspective.
January 24, 2021
Mr. Olson has brought an interesting concept into this, his first novel. He has given us a small library of relatable characters and a mystery that by the end I was cheering at the resolution. I've spent a lot more on books that were a lot less enjoyable and I wholeheartedly recommend this.
December 6, 2020
Tolkien trembles before
Th white wishes he were
Cs WHO-is???
Th white wishes he were
Cs WHO-is???
May 3, 2021
Keep
Though The Keep left me with more questions than answers, it kept me turning pages guess that’s why it was First Book
Though The Keep left me with more questions than answers, it kept me turning pages guess that’s why it was First Book
Read
November 22, 2021Review to come :)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews