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The Queen's Keeper #1
The Queen's Keeper
What if I told you that you were prey? What if I told you that everything you knew about your life was a lie and that you’re being hunted?
This is the reality for Luvenia Rousseau.
Amidst the struggle to survive in a famished, war-torn country and the fight against the phantoms of her past, her family is brutally ripped apart by a tyrant queen’s venomous army. Just when all hope seems lost, she stumbles upon an enchanted realm while the queen hunts for the one who got away.
This is the reality for Luvenia Rousseau.
Amidst the struggle to survive in a famished, war-torn country and the fight against the phantoms of her past, her family is brutally ripped apart by a tyrant queen’s venomous army. Just when all hope seems lost, she stumbles upon an enchanted realm while the queen hunts for the one who got away.
- GenresFantasy
484 pages, Paperback
Published October 12, 2021
26 people are currently reading
626 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Vampa
13 books792 followersJ.L. is a gothic fantasy author and boutique owner
You can follow JL on
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Boutique: wickedwhimsyboutique.com
And by signing up for JL’s newsletter on her website jlvampa.com
You can follow JL on
TikTok : jlvampa
Boutique: wickedwhimsyboutique.com
And by signing up for JL’s newsletter on her website jlvampa.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 8, 2019
3.5 stars
This fantasy checks most of the boxes for me in that it has a well-described unique setting, strong character development, and is well paced. The main character, Luvenia, is strong, smart, and likeable (yay - a good female role model). The supporting cast, for the most part, is well developed too with interesting personalities and histories. The story is entertaining as Luvenia moves from the world she's always known into various other lands with fantastical creatures, etc. Her quest to save her sister from the evil queen results in revelations about her past and she's forced to grow up quickly in order to thrive in the mysterious new reality.
However, there were a few problems with the story that took the smile off my face as I was reading. There are sudden changes in the POV - they came without warning and required some deduction on the reader's part as to who was narrating. More importantly, I found the plot to be confusing at times with the mention of lands and characters that are not explained or clearly introduced. Suddenly the characters have a conversation about people I hadn't even heard of (or perhaps didn't remember) who play major roles in the story. I got lost and confused. A map of the lands as well as a list of characters would've helped immensely. And finally, my writing is less than stellar, my grammar isn't always perfect but in the midst of the story I found my grammar pet peeve: something happened ON accident (instead of BY accident). I'm not sure why this was missed by the editor, but I'm hopeful it'll be corrected in future stories. Sadly, I think this is a new expression that's catching on because I hear it often from my kids and it drives. me. crazy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
This fantasy checks most of the boxes for me in that it has a well-described unique setting, strong character development, and is well paced. The main character, Luvenia, is strong, smart, and likeable (yay - a good female role model). The supporting cast, for the most part, is well developed too with interesting personalities and histories. The story is entertaining as Luvenia moves from the world she's always known into various other lands with fantastical creatures, etc. Her quest to save her sister from the evil queen results in revelations about her past and she's forced to grow up quickly in order to thrive in the mysterious new reality.
However, there were a few problems with the story that took the smile off my face as I was reading. There are sudden changes in the POV - they came without warning and required some deduction on the reader's part as to who was narrating. More importantly, I found the plot to be confusing at times with the mention of lands and characters that are not explained or clearly introduced. Suddenly the characters have a conversation about people I hadn't even heard of (or perhaps didn't remember) who play major roles in the story. I got lost and confused. A map of the lands as well as a list of characters would've helped immensely. And finally, my writing is less than stellar, my grammar isn't always perfect but in the midst of the story I found my grammar pet peeve: something happened ON accident (instead of BY accident). I'm not sure why this was missed by the editor, but I'm hopeful it'll be corrected in future stories. Sadly, I think this is a new expression that's catching on because I hear it often from my kids and it drives. me. crazy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
April 16, 2019
As a reader, I was fully immersed in this story from the start because of how interesting the characters were and how much I wanted to see what happened as they journeyed through their wildly wonderful world.
Throughout the novel, the primary character not only tells the story from her perspective, but the other characters also get a chance to speak from their viewpoint. This writing style, alongside the plot, is arguably my favourite part of the novel. It made me realise that people often see you far differently than how you see yourself. Such a good piece of advice to include within the story itself.
All of the characters were wonderfully written and they all have very individual/strong characteristics, which made them even more real as the story progressed. Be they good or evil, their depiction always feels spot on.
Throughout the novel, the primary character not only tells the story from her perspective, but the other characters also get a chance to speak from their viewpoint. This writing style, alongside the plot, is arguably my favourite part of the novel. It made me realise that people often see you far differently than how you see yourself. Such a good piece of advice to include within the story itself.
All of the characters were wonderfully written and they all have very individual/strong characteristics, which made them even more real as the story progressed. Be they good or evil, their depiction always feels spot on.
April 5, 2019
What a captivating story! I've read The Queen's Keeper twice in the last few months; it is a compelling dark fairytale, with an emphasis on forgiveness and redemption.
I didn't know what to expect when I first read this book - sometimes I struggle to enjoy to female-led fantasy books (or find the protagonist irritating) but that was not the case here. Right from the start Luvenia shows how sensible she can be, and though she makes mistakes and has a lot to learn, I was delighted to see her character grow as the story went on. The lessons she learns, especially concerning herself, are ones that we all would benefit from learning ourselves. When she did make mistakes, I felt my heart breaking for her, hoping for healing on her part.
I loved the other characters in the story, and Aureland itself; what a magical place! My favorite parts of the story were the descriptions of the land - everything was so vividly depicted! Every moment with Queen Nuria thrilled me (here is a character I would very much love to have tea with!) and I simply adore Thera! For the first half of the book I was worried that a love triangle was forming (one of my least favorite tropes) but I was pleased by the direction the love story took - I found it lovely and sweet.
The story wraps up with a terrific twist and cliffhanger ending, leaving you wanting more! I look forward to the second part, as well as the novella about Thera.
I didn't know what to expect when I first read this book - sometimes I struggle to enjoy to female-led fantasy books (or find the protagonist irritating) but that was not the case here. Right from the start Luvenia shows how sensible she can be, and though she makes mistakes and has a lot to learn, I was delighted to see her character grow as the story went on. The lessons she learns, especially concerning herself, are ones that we all would benefit from learning ourselves. When she did make mistakes, I felt my heart breaking for her, hoping for healing on her part.
I loved the other characters in the story, and Aureland itself; what a magical place! My favorite parts of the story were the descriptions of the land - everything was so vividly depicted! Every moment with Queen Nuria thrilled me (here is a character I would very much love to have tea with!) and I simply adore Thera! For the first half of the book I was worried that a love triangle was forming (one of my least favorite tropes) but I was pleased by the direction the love story took - I found it lovely and sweet.
The story wraps up with a terrific twist and cliffhanger ending, leaving you wanting more! I look forward to the second part, as well as the novella about Thera.
April 17, 2019
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book, it grabbed my attention on Netgalley a mere few days ago and I'm rating it as 5 stars because it definitely exceeded my expectations. I didn't want to put it down. I didn't guess ANY of the twists and I think I actually gasped out loud at one point! Its SO good.
When reading this book, you'll easily fall in love with the characters and you'll be transported to a magical realm that is described so perfectly that you'll feel like you're right there too but what I liked the most is the underlaying message of positivity, of being yourself, of accepting help when you need it and most importantly, of learning to see the good inside you. In my head, it's a sort of mash up of Alice's Wonderland, a hunger games arena, the woods where Maleficent lives, with maybe a sprinkle of the Maze Runner too; if any of those things sound like something you'd like then I'd urge you to give it a go!
I know that the author is currently writing the next book in the series and I CANNOT WAIT. Please don't make us wait too long! ❤❤
When reading this book, you'll easily fall in love with the characters and you'll be transported to a magical realm that is described so perfectly that you'll feel like you're right there too but what I liked the most is the underlaying message of positivity, of being yourself, of accepting help when you need it and most importantly, of learning to see the good inside you. In my head, it's a sort of mash up of Alice's Wonderland, a hunger games arena, the woods where Maleficent lives, with maybe a sprinkle of the Maze Runner too; if any of those things sound like something you'd like then I'd urge you to give it a go!
I know that the author is currently writing the next book in the series and I CANNOT WAIT. Please don't make us wait too long! ❤❤
May 28, 2019
Holy Cow!!! If any of you love great fantasy books, you have to check out 'The Queen's Keeper' by J.L. Vampa. This book is full of such interesting characters, creatures, and worlds. The plot is dynamic and pulls you along for the ride as the main character, Veni struggles in fighting her darkness and being the best version of herself that she can be...something we can all relate with no matter our background.
I have no problem with comparing this book to those written by J.R.R Tolkien, Terry Goodkind, or Cornelia Funke. If you are looking for a magical world to escape to with character's you'll fall in love with, you have to read 'The Queen's Keeper.'
I have no problem with comparing this book to those written by J.R.R Tolkien, Terry Goodkind, or Cornelia Funke. If you are looking for a magical world to escape to with character's you'll fall in love with, you have to read 'The Queen's Keeper.'
April 24, 2019
Holy cow I can’t believe not that many people have read this book. I highly recommend it to people who are fans of books like Red Rising and Hunger Games. This book will take you on an adventure of a life time.
My favorite part of the story is how all of the characters have their own backstories and none of them are annoying. All of them grow in their own way throughout the book and it is beautiful to watch it unfold. The book takes you through twists and unexpected turns that make you want to keep reading.
My favorite part of the story is how all of the characters have their own backstories and none of them are annoying. All of them grow in their own way throughout the book and it is beautiful to watch it unfold. The book takes you through twists and unexpected turns that make you want to keep reading.
August 4, 2019
ARC provided by author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the following opinions are my own.
Rating- somewhere in between a 2 and a 3
The Queen’s Keeper by J L Vampa is a high fantasy novel primarily featuring a cast of young adult/new adult protagonists. The story revolves around the main lead Luvenia, who is your average poor peasant girl living in a small village in a kingdom under a tyrannous rule. But, of course she’s not average because this is exactly the kind of situation that makes you a hero, almost exactly like when you’re japanese and you’re born with pink hair and are a cartoon, you just know you’re an anime hero/villain. Anyway, this girl is just living her life and trying to get by in a world wrought by famine and tyranny when her brother decides to go ahead and betray their family’s hatred of the queen and join the armed forces. He joins the special section of the army called the “Collectors” to be exact, and I honestly am not 100% sure what these special soldiers do yet but okay. The mom dies, the father’s been dead for a while, the sister gets taken away and Luvenia is rescued from her pursuers by magical beings who transport her to a magical land and begin to help her train herself and heal herself before she can go looking for her sister. She falls in love in middle, because of course she does. And there’s an attempt at a love triangle also, because of course there is. The book ends with a battle scene and an expository moment that reveals a secret that I predicted 50 pages into the book, and it’s like, some kind of big plot twist and stuff.
Oh, and there’s a bunch of politics stuff going on like forging alliances and internal revolution and all that jazz. And it’s definitely made out to be like it’s something important but it really doesn’t feel like it? I don’t want to go into explicit detail because I don’t want to spoil the book, but I’ll get into my entire problem with the politics and stuff in just a second.
The first issue I had with this book was that it felt very rough and unedited. It had these really, potentially likeable characters, but it didn’t do anything with them. The pacing was really off and not consistent at all, and there were these moments where you could totally get into the book but then it would be broken by one wrongly used word or sentence and it just threw me off as a reader. I almost DNF’d this book a bunch of times while reading it, but I just kept going because I still felt like it had a lot of potential and that it would get better. (spoiler alert: it didn’t. Not really). I just feel like this story had a lot of atmosphere and some really good plot points and characters to work with, and it could have been an amazing read if only it went through the editing process a couple of times.
Coming to the plot things I was talking about, it felt like the book tried to focus too much time on building the setting and the atmosphere - I still wouldn’t call it world building because there wasn’t that level of intricacy in there- rather than the action of the book. Now, I can see how this would be a good thing considering there are going to be more books coming out, but you kind of have to gauge what you’re giving up in exchange for atmosphere here. The most interesting part of this book was the politics, but because it was not given enough time on page, it seemed very rushed and became really confusing (or I’m just, like, really slow and stupid but either way xD). A lot of the time I had to understand who was who and what was what in these “action” scenes from context and my previous knowledge of the story. As I said earlier, even the military system in Orford is not clearly explained. I don’t know what makes “Collectors” so special. I don’t know why they’re not just called her army or her soldiers. I guess I do know that collectors take people from their homes but, like, armies do that, too! Especially in a world where kings are a thing, you know?
Coming to the characters, like I said before, I really felt like they had immense potential. I even came to like/be fond of a few but not in the I’ll-remember-you kind of way but in the you-don’t-suck kind of way. They were kind of well-developed, but they were not well-developed enough, and I felt like that totally affected their dynamics. The friendships and the romantic relationship in this book feel a little forced. There’s no actual chemistry between the characters and it definitely made it seem super awkward when the characters interacted with each other. I was particularly not fond of the romantic pairing in the novel. It made me cringe the two times they kissed because it felt so unnatural and abrupt. Ugh. And that forced love triangle that wasn’t quite a love triangle! WHOOP! TOO MUCH!
Now don’t get me wrong. It’s not that these dynamics were impossible between characters, it’s just that they were all lacking that chemistry that makes these dynamics work and that’s all I have to say about it.
Overall, I didn’t hate the book or anything. It was an okay-read and I can see why some people seem to really enjoy it, but it just didn’t cut it for me. There were a few elements in the story that I enjoyed when thought of disjointed bits of imagination floating about, but other than that this story was pretty unmemorable and unimpactful for me. I’m sure if this weren’t an ARC, I probably would not have read it completely and that makes me just a little disappointed.
Rating- somewhere in between a 2 and a 3
The Queen’s Keeper by J L Vampa is a high fantasy novel primarily featuring a cast of young adult/new adult protagonists. The story revolves around the main lead Luvenia, who is your average poor peasant girl living in a small village in a kingdom under a tyrannous rule. But, of course she’s not average because this is exactly the kind of situation that makes you a hero, almost exactly like when you’re japanese and you’re born with pink hair and are a cartoon, you just know you’re an anime hero/villain. Anyway, this girl is just living her life and trying to get by in a world wrought by famine and tyranny when her brother decides to go ahead and betray their family’s hatred of the queen and join the armed forces. He joins the special section of the army called the “Collectors” to be exact, and I honestly am not 100% sure what these special soldiers do yet but okay. The mom dies, the father’s been dead for a while, the sister gets taken away and Luvenia is rescued from her pursuers by magical beings who transport her to a magical land and begin to help her train herself and heal herself before she can go looking for her sister. She falls in love in middle, because of course she does. And there’s an attempt at a love triangle also, because of course there is. The book ends with a battle scene and an expository moment that reveals a secret that I predicted 50 pages into the book, and it’s like, some kind of big plot twist and stuff.
Oh, and there’s a bunch of politics stuff going on like forging alliances and internal revolution and all that jazz. And it’s definitely made out to be like it’s something important but it really doesn’t feel like it? I don’t want to go into explicit detail because I don’t want to spoil the book, but I’ll get into my entire problem with the politics and stuff in just a second.
The first issue I had with this book was that it felt very rough and unedited. It had these really, potentially likeable characters, but it didn’t do anything with them. The pacing was really off and not consistent at all, and there were these moments where you could totally get into the book but then it would be broken by one wrongly used word or sentence and it just threw me off as a reader. I almost DNF’d this book a bunch of times while reading it, but I just kept going because I still felt like it had a lot of potential and that it would get better. (spoiler alert: it didn’t. Not really). I just feel like this story had a lot of atmosphere and some really good plot points and characters to work with, and it could have been an amazing read if only it went through the editing process a couple of times.
Coming to the plot things I was talking about, it felt like the book tried to focus too much time on building the setting and the atmosphere - I still wouldn’t call it world building because there wasn’t that level of intricacy in there- rather than the action of the book. Now, I can see how this would be a good thing considering there are going to be more books coming out, but you kind of have to gauge what you’re giving up in exchange for atmosphere here. The most interesting part of this book was the politics, but because it was not given enough time on page, it seemed very rushed and became really confusing (or I’m just, like, really slow and stupid but either way xD). A lot of the time I had to understand who was who and what was what in these “action” scenes from context and my previous knowledge of the story. As I said earlier, even the military system in Orford is not clearly explained. I don’t know what makes “Collectors” so special. I don’t know why they’re not just called her army or her soldiers. I guess I do know that collectors take people from their homes but, like, armies do that, too! Especially in a world where kings are a thing, you know?
Coming to the characters, like I said before, I really felt like they had immense potential. I even came to like/be fond of a few but not in the I’ll-remember-you kind of way but in the you-don’t-suck kind of way. They were kind of well-developed, but they were not well-developed enough, and I felt like that totally affected their dynamics. The friendships and the romantic relationship in this book feel a little forced. There’s no actual chemistry between the characters and it definitely made it seem super awkward when the characters interacted with each other. I was particularly not fond of the romantic pairing in the novel. It made me cringe the two times they kissed because it felt so unnatural and abrupt. Ugh. And that forced love triangle that wasn’t quite a love triangle! WHOOP! TOO MUCH!
Now don’t get me wrong. It’s not that these dynamics were impossible between characters, it’s just that they were all lacking that chemistry that makes these dynamics work and that’s all I have to say about it.
Overall, I didn’t hate the book or anything. It was an okay-read and I can see why some people seem to really enjoy it, but it just didn’t cut it for me. There were a few elements in the story that I enjoyed when thought of disjointed bits of imagination floating about, but other than that this story was pretty unmemorable and unimpactful for me. I’m sure if this weren’t an ARC, I probably would not have read it completely and that makes me just a little disappointed.
November 12, 2018
If, like me, fantasy is one of your genres of choice, you'll be delighted by this novel. Highly magical, incredibly creative, and with a couple of deep messages that are particularly important in today's sometimes callous world: be kind to yourself--there is worth and purpose for every individual, and that we choose every day to either follow a path that is light, or to submit to the dark.
The best compliment I can give a book is that I didn't want to put it down--and that is definitely true of this one. I wanted to know what happened to its main character. I spent time in lines and driving in the car wondering who the mysterious Liberator might be. I occupied my moments not reading (or working, toddler wrangling, sleeping and other necessary endeavors) thinking about the plot and what might come next.
If I had a criticism it would be that the book moves fast (which is actually something I love) but to keep up the pace...or perhaps to connect preconceived plot points...the characters occasionally seemed to become hyper-intuitive--able to piece together seemingly disparate pieces of information into the exact conclusion necessary to move the narrative forward.
Would that ever keep me from reading or rereading this book? Absolutely not. Am I intensely looking forward to part 2? I totally can't wait. Highly recommend!
The best compliment I can give a book is that I didn't want to put it down--and that is definitely true of this one. I wanted to know what happened to its main character. I spent time in lines and driving in the car wondering who the mysterious Liberator might be. I occupied my moments not reading (or working, toddler wrangling, sleeping and other necessary endeavors) thinking about the plot and what might come next.
If I had a criticism it would be that the book moves fast (which is actually something I love) but to keep up the pace...or perhaps to connect preconceived plot points...the characters occasionally seemed to become hyper-intuitive--able to piece together seemingly disparate pieces of information into the exact conclusion necessary to move the narrative forward.
Would that ever keep me from reading or rereading this book? Absolutely not. Am I intensely looking forward to part 2? I totally can't wait. Highly recommend!
May 21, 2019
Went from horrific almost gothic like to Wonderland and pastels. Two queens. The fight of good and evil. Definitely magical. Luvi can't believe there's so much that she never knew, isn't that what most characters go through? There were parts that seemed a little, religious? Might just be me. The ending was not the end!
July 7, 2020
You can find this review and all of my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, V Productions, and the author via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating of 3.5
Luvenia Rousseau lives life terrified. She is terrified that any day now, the tyrant Queen that rules her war-torn land, will demand her collectors come, come for Luvenia, for her sister Ester, and her mother and brother. Every day she wakes up wondering, is today the day? She already lost her father, she can't afford to lose anyone else. So when her brother comes home after being away for months, they think that things will be okay for a little while, but it is not so. When Luvenia's family is torn apart, she thinks her life is over, close to death and ready to give up, she is given a second chance at life by a dear friend she didn't even realise existed. Luvenia finds herself spirited away to a magical place called Aureland. There she meets a powerful and kind Queen who is battling against the very enemy that threatens Luvenia's existence. Together they will train and work towards a brighter future. Together, they can conquer anything, can't they?
I was really interested to read this book as it's premise sounded incredibly interesting. And honestly it was. We meet Luvenia and her family as they struggle to get through life day by day, living on the most basic of foods, wearing clothing that at times can barely keep them warm, and smuggling strawberries for sale out of their prohibited strawberry patch. Life isn't great, but they're living, so that's the main thing for them. Until Luvenia is forced to face the truth about herself, and her family as the evil Queen Pietro tears her family apart.
Luvenia, in the beginning, was an incredibly strong character, she worked hard for her family and herself, and she made sure that she took care of them. After the attack from Pietro and her collectors, Luvenia is transported to a world that she didn't even know existed. This world is the polar opposite of her homeland, Orford. Aureland is magical in all sense of the word, so I was really interested in seeing how Vampa was going to meld the two together into a coherent story. And for the most part, I feel like it was done incredibly well. I still don't entirely understand the whole world set up, but I'm pretty sure I've got the gist of it. Aureland is only accessible through certain portals, so I see it as almost a parallel universe of sorts. I still don't understand how certain people knew of the world though I believe it has something to do with the whole Keeper thing. Keepers are people with magical abilities, and when parent's know that their child has these abilities, they can send them to Queen Nuria in Aureland in order to be trained in the way of the Keepers, at least, I think that's how it works...
So I guess you could say that at times it almost felt like there was a lot of info dumping because the world is incredibly complex, I just don't think enough time was given on the mechanics of the world for me to be able to truly gauge how it works. As said above, for the most part, I get the gist, but there's still a little more to explore here, and I'm kind of hoping that it is done so in future instalments.
Once Luvenia makes it Aureland, her character changes completely. Which, in a way, I can understand, she went through an incredibly traumatic event and had a lot of deep seating issues from before this to deal with as well. So, your girl isn't going to be totally well adjusted after just going through a tragedy. I enjoyed the way her character was so established in the beginning, broken down completely, then rebuilt into who I believe she was really meant to be. Her friends, Darius, Thera and Khyan are all interesting characters, though I feel like they weren't really given the time they deserved. I know about them, and I have an okay feel for who they were intended to be, they still felt a little flat and almost walled off for me. I just don't think I really got to experience them in their full intended light. Some emotional things happen, and while I was like "Aww, that's a bit sad" I wasn't really moved as emotionally as I feel I should have been. A little more time spent and depth given to the characters could really make this story shine how it deserves to.
The narration was okay, though I did notice at times there were single words that were written in the wrong tense. This story is written in third person past continuous (I think, I could be totally wrong here), though at times there would be one word thrown in a sentence in present tense. I also feel that third person may not have worked so great for this story as it felt like we were kept at arms length. I'm thinking first person really would have put us in the action and into Luvenia, allowing us to feel a full spectrum of emotion. I also found the narrative to be more telling than showing for the most part, which made me feel like I was simply reading a story, not experiencing it as I would have liked. There were a few lines used in the narrative that gave it a more flighty, cheesy kind of feel, but that could be the author's intention as well.
All in all, this was a fairly enjoyable read. It kept me coming back for more, and for the most part, I was invested in the story, it's characters and where the plot was heading. I'm looking forward to continuing the story as it ends on quite the cliff hanger, even though I had a feeling this would happen, I didn't see it being THIS way. And that is all I'm going to say on the matter. You'll have to read it to find out what I'm talking about :)
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, V Productions, and the author via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating of 3.5
Luvenia Rousseau lives life terrified. She is terrified that any day now, the tyrant Queen that rules her war-torn land, will demand her collectors come, come for Luvenia, for her sister Ester, and her mother and brother. Every day she wakes up wondering, is today the day? She already lost her father, she can't afford to lose anyone else. So when her brother comes home after being away for months, they think that things will be okay for a little while, but it is not so. When Luvenia's family is torn apart, she thinks her life is over, close to death and ready to give up, she is given a second chance at life by a dear friend she didn't even realise existed. Luvenia finds herself spirited away to a magical place called Aureland. There she meets a powerful and kind Queen who is battling against the very enemy that threatens Luvenia's existence. Together they will train and work towards a brighter future. Together, they can conquer anything, can't they?
I was really interested to read this book as it's premise sounded incredibly interesting. And honestly it was. We meet Luvenia and her family as they struggle to get through life day by day, living on the most basic of foods, wearing clothing that at times can barely keep them warm, and smuggling strawberries for sale out of their prohibited strawberry patch. Life isn't great, but they're living, so that's the main thing for them. Until Luvenia is forced to face the truth about herself, and her family as the evil Queen Pietro tears her family apart.
Luvenia, in the beginning, was an incredibly strong character, she worked hard for her family and herself, and she made sure that she took care of them. After the attack from Pietro and her collectors, Luvenia is transported to a world that she didn't even know existed. This world is the polar opposite of her homeland, Orford. Aureland is magical in all sense of the word, so I was really interested in seeing how Vampa was going to meld the two together into a coherent story. And for the most part, I feel like it was done incredibly well. I still don't entirely understand the whole world set up, but I'm pretty sure I've got the gist of it. Aureland is only accessible through certain portals, so I see it as almost a parallel universe of sorts. I still don't understand how certain people knew of the world though I believe it has something to do with the whole Keeper thing. Keepers are people with magical abilities, and when parent's know that their child has these abilities, they can send them to Queen Nuria in Aureland in order to be trained in the way of the Keepers, at least, I think that's how it works...
So I guess you could say that at times it almost felt like there was a lot of info dumping because the world is incredibly complex, I just don't think enough time was given on the mechanics of the world for me to be able to truly gauge how it works. As said above, for the most part, I get the gist, but there's still a little more to explore here, and I'm kind of hoping that it is done so in future instalments.
Once Luvenia makes it Aureland, her character changes completely. Which, in a way, I can understand, she went through an incredibly traumatic event and had a lot of deep seating issues from before this to deal with as well. So, your girl isn't going to be totally well adjusted after just going through a tragedy. I enjoyed the way her character was so established in the beginning, broken down completely, then rebuilt into who I believe she was really meant to be. Her friends, Darius, Thera and Khyan are all interesting characters, though I feel like they weren't really given the time they deserved. I know about them, and I have an okay feel for who they were intended to be, they still felt a little flat and almost walled off for me. I just don't think I really got to experience them in their full intended light. Some emotional things happen, and while I was like "Aww, that's a bit sad" I wasn't really moved as emotionally as I feel I should have been. A little more time spent and depth given to the characters could really make this story shine how it deserves to.
The narration was okay, though I did notice at times there were single words that were written in the wrong tense. This story is written in third person past continuous (I think, I could be totally wrong here), though at times there would be one word thrown in a sentence in present tense. I also feel that third person may not have worked so great for this story as it felt like we were kept at arms length. I'm thinking first person really would have put us in the action and into Luvenia, allowing us to feel a full spectrum of emotion. I also found the narrative to be more telling than showing for the most part, which made me feel like I was simply reading a story, not experiencing it as I would have liked. There were a few lines used in the narrative that gave it a more flighty, cheesy kind of feel, but that could be the author's intention as well.
All in all, this was a fairly enjoyable read. It kept me coming back for more, and for the most part, I was invested in the story, it's characters and where the plot was heading. I'm looking forward to continuing the story as it ends on quite the cliff hanger, even though I had a feeling this would happen, I didn't see it being THIS way. And that is all I'm going to say on the matter. You'll have to read it to find out what I'm talking about :)
October 2, 2022
This book was not at all what I expected. Amazon has it classified as YA and that is absolutely not my typical genre, but there was something about this one that made me take the risk. I'm glad I did. I loved the sort of Alice in Wonderland feel and Nuria is probably one of my favorite characters I've read lately. I didn't care for a few places that seemed far to drawn out while others I felt were more important were rushed. There were also characters that were added that made me feel cheated because I was given no chance to get to know them. The ending felt rushed also. I wish it had gone on for a little longer and added more tension, but I do feel it was wrapped up very well... Minus the making me cry part... The author knows what she did and who she did it to. But to avoid spoilers I won't say. I will admit though I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this one.
April 22, 2019
The beginning was a bit slow. And I still don’t know who Matthias is!!
The book did get better as the book went on but it did take some time to get there. The ending left me wanting to know more & even read the next book in this series.
I think students & adults will enjoy it if they can get past the “slow” parts.
The book did get better as the book went on but it did take some time to get there. The ending left me wanting to know more & even read the next book in this series.
I think students & adults will enjoy it if they can get past the “slow” parts.
October 30, 2021
I really enjoyed the world building and all the twists in this story.
April 20, 2019
A great story with wonderful relatable characters, I love it when you get to see different characters POVs and here it’s done so well. The book is fast paced, engrossing and addictive, so many twists and turns it’s a really entertaining and enjoyable read.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
July 21, 2019
Book received for free through NetGalley
I absolutely adored this book. It kept you guessing in parts and was so hard to out down as you absolutely needed to know what happens next. I can't wait for the next book in the series as I really want to follow the character's stories.
I absolutely adored this book. It kept you guessing in parts and was so hard to out down as you absolutely needed to know what happens next. I can't wait for the next book in the series as I really want to follow the character's stories.
April 17, 2019
The Queen"s Keeper has a unique perspective. The characters are distinct, and it's interesting how viewpoints vary from person to person based on the same situation or person. It's a good story, but it's in need of editing. Otherwise, it's an okay read. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2019
I loved this book. It is so well written with the POV's of different characters, which made it a nice read. Character building was good, the scenery and landscapes are interesting and imaginative,
I definitely recommend this book for Fantasy lovers.
I definitely recommend this book for Fantasy lovers.
July 5, 2019
This is the story of a girl who has faced evil, lost almost everything and struggles to keep going.
You can read my full review here!
The book was well planned, flowed well and has set up the series beautifully.
You can read my full review here!
The book was well planned, flowed well and has set up the series beautifully.
October 11, 2021
♡♥︎♡♥︎♡
From the desk of Gwendalyn Anderson
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
THE QUEEN’S KEEPER
The Queen’s Keeper by J.L. Vampa, is a captivating dark fairytale.
Luvenia Rousseau, and her family struggle to survive, in the land of Orford. Doing what they can they barely scrape out an existence . Luvenia world comes crashing down when a series of events happen. When an unimaginable betrayal happens followed by a deadly attack by tyrannous ruling Queen Pietro, and her collectors.
Luvenia world comes crashing down. She is left broken and full of despair, but nothing prepares her for what comes next. Finding herself in an lush and vivid world Aureland. A parallel world where everything she was taught to believe is not the completely true. In the magical world of Aureland, Luvenia will train to fight, and builds friendships with Khyan, Theralin, Nuria, and Darius, Which makes up her new found family.
Luvenia Rousseau trains hard to become a great fighter, along with her physical change she is able to slowly emotionally heal from past mistakes. She learns to love herself through forgiveness. Her character growth is phenomenal as she comes to realize that revenge is not the answer. An enlightening message about ones true inner strength and resilience. When you can finally let go with all the emotional baggage that has been holding you back from your true potential.
The author intricately plots a character driven fantasy with rich magical atmospheric world building. The light romance was well depicted, and it didn’t overshadow the storyline. I enjoyed reading it from start to finish all the way through until the unforeseen twists at the end.
I am looking forward to reading what this talented author writes next!
♡♥︎♡♥︎
From the desk of Gwendalyn Anderson
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
THE QUEEN’S KEEPER
The Queen’s Keeper by J.L. Vampa, is a captivating dark fairytale.
Luvenia Rousseau, and her family struggle to survive, in the land of Orford. Doing what they can they barely scrape out an existence . Luvenia world comes crashing down when a series of events happen. When an unimaginable betrayal happens followed by a deadly attack by tyrannous ruling Queen Pietro, and her collectors.
Luvenia world comes crashing down. She is left broken and full of despair, but nothing prepares her for what comes next. Finding herself in an lush and vivid world Aureland. A parallel world where everything she was taught to believe is not the completely true. In the magical world of Aureland, Luvenia will train to fight, and builds friendships with Khyan, Theralin, Nuria, and Darius, Which makes up her new found family.
Luvenia Rousseau trains hard to become a great fighter, along with her physical change she is able to slowly emotionally heal from past mistakes. She learns to love herself through forgiveness. Her character growth is phenomenal as she comes to realize that revenge is not the answer. An enlightening message about ones true inner strength and resilience. When you can finally let go with all the emotional baggage that has been holding you back from your true potential.
The author intricately plots a character driven fantasy with rich magical atmospheric world building. The light romance was well depicted, and it didn’t overshadow the storyline. I enjoyed reading it from start to finish all the way through until the unforeseen twists at the end.
I am looking forward to reading what this talented author writes next!
♡♥︎♡♥︎
July 25, 2019
Starting out, I had a hard time connecting with this book. I'm glad I stuck with it though. I didn't end up loving it, but there were parts of it I liked quite a bit.
I thought there was some decent world building, which is critical in a fantasy novel. While it takes awhile for Luvenia to get to Aureland, a magical realm that parallels the one she grew up in, once she does the author does a great job of exploring it and painting a rich portrait of all of the wonders it contains. Likewise, there is an equally vibrant cast of characters surrounding Luvenia that are easy to invest in.
I think ultimately more of my issues were with the writing. There seemed to be a number of gratuitous adverbs and phrases that struck me as a precious like, "the queen drummed her feminine nails on the arm of her throne." Conversations seemed a little emotionally stilted. Characters would be talking for a few lines and suddenly they explode or scream seemingly out of the blue (not just Luvenia, whom we could assume is maybe immature?) This lent an aura of melodrama to a lot of the interactions.
Interestingly though, this book takes pains to chart Luvenia's internal journey from a child who's bent on revenge to a woman who commits herself to a higher calling. While some people might find these passages trying because they're anxious for the book to get back to action and adventure, personally I found these passages rather beautiful and inspiring.
Luvenia's time in Aureland is transformational both physically, but also emotionally as she's basically engaged in therapy conversations with the queen. Some great nuggets of wisdom come out of these conversations like, "As you sit here abusing yourself over things you have done or not done--things now out of your control--and shoving who you are down into a deep, dark cave, you are halting the very process that shall liberate you." It's great advice for us all--on a quest in a mythical realm or not.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought there was some decent world building, which is critical in a fantasy novel. While it takes awhile for Luvenia to get to Aureland, a magical realm that parallels the one she grew up in, once she does the author does a great job of exploring it and painting a rich portrait of all of the wonders it contains. Likewise, there is an equally vibrant cast of characters surrounding Luvenia that are easy to invest in.
I think ultimately more of my issues were with the writing. There seemed to be a number of gratuitous adverbs and phrases that struck me as a precious like, "the queen drummed her feminine nails on the arm of her throne." Conversations seemed a little emotionally stilted. Characters would be talking for a few lines and suddenly they explode or scream seemingly out of the blue (not just Luvenia, whom we could assume is maybe immature?) This lent an aura of melodrama to a lot of the interactions.
Interestingly though, this book takes pains to chart Luvenia's internal journey from a child who's bent on revenge to a woman who commits herself to a higher calling. While some people might find these passages trying because they're anxious for the book to get back to action and adventure, personally I found these passages rather beautiful and inspiring.
Luvenia's time in Aureland is transformational both physically, but also emotionally as she's basically engaged in therapy conversations with the queen. Some great nuggets of wisdom come out of these conversations like, "As you sit here abusing yourself over things you have done or not done--things now out of your control--and shoving who you are down into a deep, dark cave, you are halting the very process that shall liberate you." It's great advice for us all--on a quest in a mythical realm or not.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2019
"Prey, you should’ve been ready."
I started this novel with high expectations and I didn't even realize it was pubbed in 2018. Like wow, it's still on Net Galley?! Oh well. The first little line from the blurb up top got my attention real quick. I dove in, ready for an all night ride, and ended up trudging through the swamps of slow pace, loss of direction, stale characterization the rest of the way.
J.L. Vampa can write.
The beginning of the story has great impact, pace, lots of dark evil things going down. Her brother betrays her family, death, her sister and her are arrested/capture. Then the main character tries to escape, save her sister but fails, and falls down some kind of portal into another land trying to escape again herself. This all sounds like a great fantasy read, then it all went down hill for me.
The whole rest of the story revolves around this other portal land, the character has lost the active role she played in the beginning, and becomes the result of everything happening around her. Proactive?! The character must be more proactive! The story line's pace slowed to accommodate the world building. This should never happen. When one focuses on pretty clothes, eating, and the world, it has lost focus.
Serious developmental edits were needed for the novel to help maintain the pace started in the beginning and keeping the character proactive rather than reactive.
I really had high hopes for this novel since it started out with a great story line, and all the high ratings. I question the other ratings due to these huge underlying issues. Due to this I rated THE QUEEN'S KEEPER a 2.5/5 stars.
I received an ARC of THE QUEEN'S KEEPER by J.L. Vampa in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of the review.
Let’s be honest here. If it was great or sucked I have no problem writing it out. And if you'd like to read the Cover Review for THE QUEEN'S KEEPER, please check out The Mother Cover Lover Blog www.jenarcollins.com
I started this novel with high expectations and I didn't even realize it was pubbed in 2018. Like wow, it's still on Net Galley?! Oh well. The first little line from the blurb up top got my attention real quick. I dove in, ready for an all night ride, and ended up trudging through the swamps of slow pace, loss of direction, stale characterization the rest of the way.
J.L. Vampa can write.
The beginning of the story has great impact, pace, lots of dark evil things going down. Her brother betrays her family, death, her sister and her are arrested/capture. Then the main character tries to escape, save her sister but fails, and falls down some kind of portal into another land trying to escape again herself. This all sounds like a great fantasy read, then it all went down hill for me.
The whole rest of the story revolves around this other portal land, the character has lost the active role she played in the beginning, and becomes the result of everything happening around her. Proactive?! The character must be more proactive! The story line's pace slowed to accommodate the world building. This should never happen. When one focuses on pretty clothes, eating, and the world, it has lost focus.
Serious developmental edits were needed for the novel to help maintain the pace started in the beginning and keeping the character proactive rather than reactive.
I really had high hopes for this novel since it started out with a great story line, and all the high ratings. I question the other ratings due to these huge underlying issues. Due to this I rated THE QUEEN'S KEEPER a 2.5/5 stars.
I received an ARC of THE QUEEN'S KEEPER by J.L. Vampa in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of the review.
Let’s be honest here. If it was great or sucked I have no problem writing it out. And if you'd like to read the Cover Review for THE QUEEN'S KEEPER, please check out The Mother Cover Lover Blog www.jenarcollins.com
June 3, 2019
Powerful messages are cloaked in the shadows of intrigue and tension of a interesting, fantasy world.
Luvenia lives in a world torn apart by war. When she discovers that everything she believed herself is only a lie, and that she has much to fear, her life becomes harder than before. She must fight not only for survival and to discover the truth, but also to overcome the darkness inside of her.
It took me a bit to get into this novel. There are intriguing characters which draw in and offer all sorts of secret twists and turns. The world is inviting and easy to fall into...so magical and exciting! Even Luvenia carries the perfect amount of common, while making mistakes and learning from them. She's up against quite a bit, and it's fun to cheer her on and get to know her. As for the evil queen—well, that side is dark and I loved every moment with her.
There are tons of important messages wrapped up in this rich fantasy, which will leave readers with food for thought about themselves and the world around them. Some even encourage and inspire, and offer hope as a good ending should.
While there is much to love in these pages (especially for fantasy friends and fans of heroines who struggle and grow stronger with every page), the editing and polishing was weak. While the POV changes allowed new angles and important insights, some happened without warning. And often I felt like I was being told things, when I would have loved to experience or see them. Still, it's a grabbing read with much to enjoy. As said, fantasy friends who love strong heroines who have much to learn are sure to enjoy this one.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and enjoyed reading it enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.
Luvenia lives in a world torn apart by war. When she discovers that everything she believed herself is only a lie, and that she has much to fear, her life becomes harder than before. She must fight not only for survival and to discover the truth, but also to overcome the darkness inside of her.
It took me a bit to get into this novel. There are intriguing characters which draw in and offer all sorts of secret twists and turns. The world is inviting and easy to fall into...so magical and exciting! Even Luvenia carries the perfect amount of common, while making mistakes and learning from them. She's up against quite a bit, and it's fun to cheer her on and get to know her. As for the evil queen—well, that side is dark and I loved every moment with her.
There are tons of important messages wrapped up in this rich fantasy, which will leave readers with food for thought about themselves and the world around them. Some even encourage and inspire, and offer hope as a good ending should.
While there is much to love in these pages (especially for fantasy friends and fans of heroines who struggle and grow stronger with every page), the editing and polishing was weak. While the POV changes allowed new angles and important insights, some happened without warning. And often I felt like I was being told things, when I would have loved to experience or see them. Still, it's a grabbing read with much to enjoy. As said, fantasy friends who love strong heroines who have much to learn are sure to enjoy this one.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and enjoyed reading it enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.
May 5, 2019
**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** *SPOILERS*
I bought this book having no idea what it was about, I did no research about it before i started reading it.
I can honestly say when i read the back of the book i didn't think I would like it. It's not a book I would normally read, but I'm glad I did. J.L. Vampa did an amazing job writing this book.
The main character Luvenia's character gave me whiplash, she was constantly back and forth between happy and sad. But with everything shes gone through in a 10 year span I can't really fault her. Between losing her father at the age of 8 (and believing it was her fault) and then losing her mother (I'm guessing at the age of 17 or 18) and having her sister taken by the evil queen I would suffer like her. Also her brother needs to be punched in the face!!!
After her sister and her are taken, by their brother and the collectors, Luvenia escapes and ends up falling into a new world only to discover another kingdom with a good queen. She makes friends with the keepers of this kingdom, and the mythical creatures that live in it.
Luvenia learns to trains to fight like a warrior in the Hope's to get her sister back from the evil queen. She also fights against her inner demons, and those around her who only want to help her and everyone against the evil queen.
This books has twists and turns, a flood of emotions and a blooming love story between Luvenia and a keeper. I can't wait for book number two!!
I bought this book having no idea what it was about, I did no research about it before i started reading it.
I can honestly say when i read the back of the book i didn't think I would like it. It's not a book I would normally read, but I'm glad I did. J.L. Vampa did an amazing job writing this book.
The main character Luvenia's character gave me whiplash, she was constantly back and forth between happy and sad. But with everything shes gone through in a 10 year span I can't really fault her. Between losing her father at the age of 8 (and believing it was her fault) and then losing her mother (I'm guessing at the age of 17 or 18) and having her sister taken by the evil queen I would suffer like her. Also her brother needs to be punched in the face!!!
After her sister and her are taken, by their brother and the collectors, Luvenia escapes and ends up falling into a new world only to discover another kingdom with a good queen. She makes friends with the keepers of this kingdom, and the mythical creatures that live in it.
Luvenia learns to trains to fight like a warrior in the Hope's to get her sister back from the evil queen. She also fights against her inner demons, and those around her who only want to help her and everyone against the evil queen.
This books has twists and turns, a flood of emotions and a blooming love story between Luvenia and a keeper. I can't wait for book number two!!
May 8, 2019
Vampa's world in The Queen's Keeper is a mix of Alice in Wonderland meets The Hunger Games.
For me, Fantasy is not my preferred genre, but I instantly became intrigued in the Queen's Keeper once the storyline progressed.
The lead protagonist, Luvi (as she was affectionately called) was a very conflicted and complicated character. She had a difficult time forming healthy relationships and spent most of the story battling her inner demons. As a reader, I initially thought she was much younger, but as the story progressed, I discovered my perception of her to be off.
As a character, Vampa protrayed a very Katniss-like quality within her that I liked: a fighter.
Where I think Vampa shines most is with her supporting characters. They were better drawn and held my interest throughout the story.
She created a world that functioned to fight for the greater good. Darkness vs. The light. Truth vs. The lies-- which is not only the premise for the war, but on a smaller scale, the same battles within each one of her characters.
I am anxiously awaiting the sequel and how she concludes this story. Although, (caution : spoiler alert!!) when we discover that Luvi's dad is still alive, I did shout out, "I knew it!"
Bravo, Vampa! As a debut, it definitely was captivating.
For me, Fantasy is not my preferred genre, but I instantly became intrigued in the Queen's Keeper once the storyline progressed.
The lead protagonist, Luvi (as she was affectionately called) was a very conflicted and complicated character. She had a difficult time forming healthy relationships and spent most of the story battling her inner demons. As a reader, I initially thought she was much younger, but as the story progressed, I discovered my perception of her to be off.
As a character, Vampa protrayed a very Katniss-like quality within her that I liked: a fighter.
Where I think Vampa shines most is with her supporting characters. They were better drawn and held my interest throughout the story.
She created a world that functioned to fight for the greater good. Darkness vs. The light. Truth vs. The lies-- which is not only the premise for the war, but on a smaller scale, the same battles within each one of her characters.
I am anxiously awaiting the sequel and how she concludes this story. Although, (caution : spoiler alert!!) when we discover that Luvi's dad is still alive, I did shout out, "I knew it!"
Bravo, Vampa! As a debut, it definitely was captivating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2019
I was provided a free e-copy of this book by NetGalley and all opinions are my own.
I wasn't sure about this book at first. It starts off in one land and seemingly with one story for the first couple of chapters and then abruptly changes into what, at first, seemed like a totally different story. And they didn't seem related. I kept reading, though, and I'm really glad I did.
Although at times I didn't love the main character and her childish and almost out of place angry responses, I grew to love all the characters in this book. The descriptions of the different lands and different types of life they encountered were fascinating. I wish I could see them in person! The colors, the sounds, the textures and tastes - all of it was new.
The story of a war torn land with a selfish, cruel leader and her corrupt magic was the perfect setting for this coming of age journey of self discovery. Luvenia has lost everything - or so she thinks. Then she is guided by new friends into an understanding of how much bigger the world is. It's not just about her and her small goals. This land is in trouble and it needs her. I can't wait to read the next book!
I wasn't sure about this book at first. It starts off in one land and seemingly with one story for the first couple of chapters and then abruptly changes into what, at first, seemed like a totally different story. And they didn't seem related. I kept reading, though, and I'm really glad I did.
Although at times I didn't love the main character and her childish and almost out of place angry responses, I grew to love all the characters in this book. The descriptions of the different lands and different types of life they encountered were fascinating. I wish I could see them in person! The colors, the sounds, the textures and tastes - all of it was new.
The story of a war torn land with a selfish, cruel leader and her corrupt magic was the perfect setting for this coming of age journey of self discovery. Luvenia has lost everything - or so she thinks. Then she is guided by new friends into an understanding of how much bigger the world is. It's not just about her and her small goals. This land is in trouble and it needs her. I can't wait to read the next book!
January 11, 2022
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘺? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥?
3.5/5
What a captivating premise! TQK has so many layers, all more alluring than the last. From unique villains and charismatic main characters to innovative world building, JL really killed it. She has such a talent for the written word and story telling. She did a wonderful job at making me fall madly in love with Luvenia and Aureland. I particularly enjoy the emphasis she put on the plot, before introducing the romantic aspect of the novel. To me, that is incredibly important in a fantasy novel. Although the plot slows down half way to focus on world-building, and the main character loses a bit of her pro-activeness, I still think the novel is excellent and well-worthy of the read. JL wraps up the story nicely, it comes full circle in the best way. Well done!
So let's get into the details.
JL is a talented wordsmith. I was blown away by the beautiful semantics, use of metaphors, and word choice. "𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦." Her words transported me through a journey I can only imagine was JL's own emotional journey whilst writing. I truly believe that she could make me read just about anything. I LOVE LUVENIA. I feel like a soul similar to hers resides in my very own body. I was invested in her journey from the second she was introduced. There was SUCH a strong start to the book with an incredible introduction to the main character and stellar foreshadowing to the darkness that would take over. The concept of Collectors is absolute genius. They were my favorite villains in the book. Every time a Collector was around, I would hold my breath and go wide eyed, just waiting for hell to take over. I was enraptured by Aureland with all of its intricate magical elements, and again, so beautifully described by JL. The friendships that blossomed throughout the book were fantastic. Each character was unique, with quirks that made them all very endearing (or detestable for the villains).
This debut novel is sublime, as I mentioned. But I would be remiss if I didn't offer constructive feedback. Overall, the concept, characters and setting were great! But, in my opinion, there are a few things in the execution of these that were lacking. (1) Small thing, I'm a very visual person, so I do wish there had been a map! (2) I have to admit I am disappointed in Darius' character... He is described as this strong, experienced leader, but instead, I found him rather weak. He lets the guilt of tough decisions get to him too fast, too easily. He is so wrapped up in the romance with Luvenia that he pawns off his responsibilities to others all the time. Even in the final battle, I got the impression that he was hiding - at least for some time - with Luvenia. As a General, that is a cowardly thing to do... I wanted to see him out in the action, bloodied and hurt, but alive and in high spirits! He had so much potential, I understand where JL wanted to go with him, but I just wish I had seen more of him in his element rather than wrapped up in romance. (3) The romanced seemed a little forced... I think that if there had been more time to develop it in details, while not compromising with other elements, it would have been great. The love triangle (?) was unnecessary. It was actually fairly unclear whether Khyan was ever a love-interest. Either way, he seemed more like an Uncle to Luvenia than anything. But within the romance established, of note, we rarely got to hear how Luvenia felt about Darius. It was almost always the other way around. I would have liked to see Luvenia as this strong woman with a clear, no-nonsense interest in Darius, and having no time for frivolous will-they, won't they because of her focus on training/the search of her sister. This attitude would have been more in line with Luvenia's personality established in the beginning. (4) I wish we had followed Thera's mission a bit more from her perspective. She is such a cool character, but after she left on her mission, I felt very disconnected from her. Actually, same goes for Ester! I would have loved a few more scenes from her perspective! (5) I enjoyed the use of French words to name places or things, all except for the White Market. It should be "Marché Blanc", not Marche de Blanc as that translates to "the walk of whites" which is a bit off to me. (6) I wish we had seen more of Queen Pietro in first person narrative. Being invested in the villain is just as important as being invested in the MC. I found myself more fearful of the Collectors than the Queen as I had only heard of the Queen from "hearsay". (7) As much as I loved Aureland, I find that the second Luvenia journeyed into this land, she lost complete control of the story. It became all about the secondary characters. She lost her active role. The story line slowed to accommodate for world building. I imagine that there might have been a way to introduce Aureland earlier, or perhaps in less details, so as to not slow the pace of the plot.
I hope this feedback can be helpful for future works!
All in all, I want more! I am over the moon that JL is coming out with a new series, I will certainly be purchasing it and all of her future work, as well as continue supporting her bookish shop @wickedwhimsyboutique. She is an inspiration to all book lovers, readers and writers. Thank you for being your kind, creative and skilled self @JLvampa.
3.5/5
What a captivating premise! TQK has so many layers, all more alluring than the last. From unique villains and charismatic main characters to innovative world building, JL really killed it. She has such a talent for the written word and story telling. She did a wonderful job at making me fall madly in love with Luvenia and Aureland. I particularly enjoy the emphasis she put on the plot, before introducing the romantic aspect of the novel. To me, that is incredibly important in a fantasy novel. Although the plot slows down half way to focus on world-building, and the main character loses a bit of her pro-activeness, I still think the novel is excellent and well-worthy of the read. JL wraps up the story nicely, it comes full circle in the best way. Well done!
So let's get into the details.
JL is a talented wordsmith. I was blown away by the beautiful semantics, use of metaphors, and word choice. "𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦." Her words transported me through a journey I can only imagine was JL's own emotional journey whilst writing. I truly believe that she could make me read just about anything. I LOVE LUVENIA. I feel like a soul similar to hers resides in my very own body. I was invested in her journey from the second she was introduced. There was SUCH a strong start to the book with an incredible introduction to the main character and stellar foreshadowing to the darkness that would take over. The concept of Collectors is absolute genius. They were my favorite villains in the book. Every time a Collector was around, I would hold my breath and go wide eyed, just waiting for hell to take over. I was enraptured by Aureland with all of its intricate magical elements, and again, so beautifully described by JL. The friendships that blossomed throughout the book were fantastic. Each character was unique, with quirks that made them all very endearing (or detestable for the villains).
This debut novel is sublime, as I mentioned. But I would be remiss if I didn't offer constructive feedback. Overall, the concept, characters and setting were great! But, in my opinion, there are a few things in the execution of these that were lacking. (1) Small thing, I'm a very visual person, so I do wish there had been a map! (2) I have to admit I am disappointed in Darius' character... He is described as this strong, experienced leader, but instead, I found him rather weak. He lets the guilt of tough decisions get to him too fast, too easily. He is so wrapped up in the romance with Luvenia that he pawns off his responsibilities to others all the time. Even in the final battle, I got the impression that he was hiding - at least for some time - with Luvenia. As a General, that is a cowardly thing to do... I wanted to see him out in the action, bloodied and hurt, but alive and in high spirits! He had so much potential, I understand where JL wanted to go with him, but I just wish I had seen more of him in his element rather than wrapped up in romance. (3) The romanced seemed a little forced... I think that if there had been more time to develop it in details, while not compromising with other elements, it would have been great. The love triangle (?) was unnecessary. It was actually fairly unclear whether Khyan was ever a love-interest. Either way, he seemed more like an Uncle to Luvenia than anything. But within the romance established, of note, we rarely got to hear how Luvenia felt about Darius. It was almost always the other way around. I would have liked to see Luvenia as this strong woman with a clear, no-nonsense interest in Darius, and having no time for frivolous will-they, won't they because of her focus on training/the search of her sister. This attitude would have been more in line with Luvenia's personality established in the beginning. (4) I wish we had followed Thera's mission a bit more from her perspective. She is such a cool character, but after she left on her mission, I felt very disconnected from her. Actually, same goes for Ester! I would have loved a few more scenes from her perspective! (5) I enjoyed the use of French words to name places or things, all except for the White Market. It should be "Marché Blanc", not Marche de Blanc as that translates to "the walk of whites" which is a bit off to me. (6) I wish we had seen more of Queen Pietro in first person narrative. Being invested in the villain is just as important as being invested in the MC. I found myself more fearful of the Collectors than the Queen as I had only heard of the Queen from "hearsay". (7) As much as I loved Aureland, I find that the second Luvenia journeyed into this land, she lost complete control of the story. It became all about the secondary characters. She lost her active role. The story line slowed to accommodate for world building. I imagine that there might have been a way to introduce Aureland earlier, or perhaps in less details, so as to not slow the pace of the plot.
I hope this feedback can be helpful for future works!
All in all, I want more! I am over the moon that JL is coming out with a new series, I will certainly be purchasing it and all of her future work, as well as continue supporting her bookish shop @wickedwhimsyboutique. She is an inspiration to all book lovers, readers and writers. Thank you for being your kind, creative and skilled self @JLvampa.
June 2, 2020
A great dark fairy tale of loss and hope. A wonderful world that J.L has imagined, with great characters.
October 15, 2021
"Not every thought originates from your heart. You mustn't believe everything you think. Such thoughts often need to be dismissed."
4/5 ⭐
Genre: Dark Fairy Tale/ Fantasy
cw // death of a parent, inferred sa
Luvenia Rousseau lives in a little cottage in a war-torn country that is suffering famine and the leadership of a tyrant queen. Whilst trying to survive this, her family is brutally ripped apart by the queen's army and although she survives, she is thoroughly hunted down. Just when all hope seems lost, she stumbles upon an enchanted realm...
This book had me hooked almost since the beginning, and whilst is true that about 50 pages in you start wondering what is going on, why is this so slow, it ends up quickening its pace (I'm not sure if you can say that about a book, but it gets the message through) and hooking you again until the very end. I really liked the story, it's original and interesting, although sometimes it felt like it needed a bit more polishing since it could get a bit confusing. But all in all, it was pretty good. And sure it can get some getting used to to the names and countries and stuff, but I mean, like in any other fantasy book, right? As soon as you get the hang of it you won't have any problems. Sure enough, you will be surprised with several plot twists hehe (although I was able to predict a few).
Yes, the story is good, but I have to add some notes: firstly, there are things (important things, like, really important) that I did not understand. Maybe I was reading too fast, maybe I was too tired to understand it and I missed it, or maybe it just wasn't properly explained, but it happened a few times to me that there were important events and information for the plot that I didn't understand or we were not given. That didn't let me properly submerge in the story because I wouldn't be able to understand it. And same thing with certain information that was not given like: what are the zealots? They are mentioned at the beginning of the story but they are not explained. Or certain events that are mentioned at the end but, again, not explained, or not very thoroughly.
And secondly, I still don't quite understand the magic system. Then again, maybe it's just me and I missed it, but there are things that seemed off or weird: why is it that there are people born as keepers? How many are there? (because I thought there were just a handful) How do certain events I can't elaborate on (because it would be a spoiler) happen? These and more are questions that were left unanswered. I hope in future books we get to learn more about this system.
Regarding the characters, we had very different characters with different backstories and they were all very interesting. I think they were well developed, although I would have liked to know more about them, but I guess that if the writer is going to write more books off of this one, then that can be explained. Still, I found them likable.
Something that I really enjoyed was how we have a character that is this very beautiful woman and very skilled fighter too but she and Luvi are not pinned one against the other (you know, because people usually like to make women's characters compete with each other because of their looks...), they do NOT compete and, most importantly, although Luvi might compere herself to her, she decides to stop that, to not compare herself with others and love herself. This, which seems very basic, is not so often seen. But what I liked most about this part is that it introduces the topic of women comparing themselves and looking down on themselves for not being the beauty standard, but instead of falling into that idea the character decides to stop the comparison and love herself. That was *chef kiss*.
I am not going to lie, some scenes and relationships seemed rushed, sometimes even awkward: at times the characters seemed to have a very deep relationship all of a sudden that I had not seen develop and that felt odd, like "wait, what did I miss?!". That was the case with the love interest at the beginning. But thankfully just at the beginning. Later on, I actually see them interact and I grow fond of them. The book features a love trope I am not used to and usually find a bit boring, but in this book I was able to enjoy and even root for them.
If I have to choose the thing I liked the most, that would be the writing style. I really enjoyed it: it used synonyms and determinatives (might sound obvious, but more often than not it isn't) so words were not repeated!, great descriptions, great division of paragraphs, nice dialogues... Yep, very good indeed.
Thank you Shannon from R&R Book Tours and J. L. Vampa for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review! All thoughts are my own.
4/5 ⭐
Genre: Dark Fairy Tale/ Fantasy
cw // death of a parent, inferred sa
Luvenia Rousseau lives in a little cottage in a war-torn country that is suffering famine and the leadership of a tyrant queen. Whilst trying to survive this, her family is brutally ripped apart by the queen's army and although she survives, she is thoroughly hunted down. Just when all hope seems lost, she stumbles upon an enchanted realm...
This book had me hooked almost since the beginning, and whilst is true that about 50 pages in you start wondering what is going on, why is this so slow, it ends up quickening its pace (I'm not sure if you can say that about a book, but it gets the message through) and hooking you again until the very end. I really liked the story, it's original and interesting, although sometimes it felt like it needed a bit more polishing since it could get a bit confusing. But all in all, it was pretty good. And sure it can get some getting used to to the names and countries and stuff, but I mean, like in any other fantasy book, right? As soon as you get the hang of it you won't have any problems. Sure enough, you will be surprised with several plot twists hehe (although I was able to predict a few).
Yes, the story is good, but I have to add some notes: firstly, there are things (important things, like, really important) that I did not understand. Maybe I was reading too fast, maybe I was too tired to understand it and I missed it, or maybe it just wasn't properly explained, but it happened a few times to me that there were important events and information for the plot that I didn't understand or we were not given. That didn't let me properly submerge in the story because I wouldn't be able to understand it. And same thing with certain information that was not given like: what are the zealots? They are mentioned at the beginning of the story but they are not explained. Or certain events that are mentioned at the end but, again, not explained, or not very thoroughly.
And secondly, I still don't quite understand the magic system. Then again, maybe it's just me and I missed it, but there are things that seemed off or weird: why is it that there are people born as keepers? How many are there? (because I thought there were just a handful) How do certain events I can't elaborate on (because it would be a spoiler) happen? These and more are questions that were left unanswered. I hope in future books we get to learn more about this system.
Regarding the characters, we had very different characters with different backstories and they were all very interesting. I think they were well developed, although I would have liked to know more about them, but I guess that if the writer is going to write more books off of this one, then that can be explained. Still, I found them likable.
Something that I really enjoyed was how we have a character that is this very beautiful woman and very skilled fighter too but she and Luvi are not pinned one against the other (you know, because people usually like to make women's characters compete with each other because of their looks...), they do NOT compete and, most importantly, although Luvi might compere herself to her, she decides to stop that, to not compare herself with others and love herself. This, which seems very basic, is not so often seen. But what I liked most about this part is that it introduces the topic of women comparing themselves and looking down on themselves for not being the beauty standard, but instead of falling into that idea the character decides to stop the comparison and love herself. That was *chef kiss*.
I am not going to lie, some scenes and relationships seemed rushed, sometimes even awkward: at times the characters seemed to have a very deep relationship all of a sudden that I had not seen develop and that felt odd, like "wait, what did I miss?!". That was the case with the love interest at the beginning. But thankfully just at the beginning. Later on, I actually see them interact and I grow fond of them. The book features a love trope I am not used to and usually find a bit boring, but in this book I was able to enjoy and even root for them.
If I have to choose the thing I liked the most, that would be the writing style. I really enjoyed it: it used synonyms and determinatives (might sound obvious, but more often than not it isn't) so words were not repeated!, great descriptions, great division of paragraphs, nice dialogues... Yep, very good indeed.
Thank you Shannon from R&R Book Tours and J. L. Vampa for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review! All thoughts are my own.
December 27, 2021
I went into this story expecting great things. The story is almost 500 pages long, I needed it to be amazing to live up to that page count! This story definitely lived up to my expectations.
Luvenia is used to trying to keep her family safe from the Collectors. They do rebel from the Queen’s demands but in small ways in order to not draw the Collectors’ attention. Then, her brother comes home and announces that he has become a Collector himself. He claims to have done it to protect their family, but Luvenia thinks that something is wrong. Her suspicions are confirmed when her family is torn apart. Luvenia must become stronger than she ever was before if she has any hopes of reuniting her family again.
The world in this book is simply massive. There are several sections of the world, and they are all connected by portals and gates. I liken it to an MMORPG world like World of Warcraft if you’ve ever played one. You can take a portal and travel from an ice realm to a desert realm. These characters travel all throughout this world in order to visit various important people and make plans. I’ve seen some people say that this was a bit confusing. As a person that doesn’t really care about seeing a linear path of the character’s through the book world, I didn’t find myself very confused. I just enjoyed my experience reading about where the different characters were without trying to figure out exactly what path they took to get there.
This book was multiple POV. If you know me, you know I struggle with these types of stories. The characters of this book were strong enough for me to not be confused by these multiple POVs. The multiple points of view don’t really kick in until later in the story and I could always tell who was “speaking” at the time.
The thing that really took this down from a 5 star read for me was Luvenia. I understood that she had been through a lot and was traumatized. Even so, I felt frustrated with her. She spends a good section of this book crying, feeling bad for herself, or hating herself. She is on a quest to save her family, but she spends a several chunks of book time trying to run away from the people who are only here to help her. She does grow as the book goes on, which was what saved her character for me. Her frustrating sections also didn’t ruin the book for me as the other characters were still able to carry the story past those parts.
Another thing I loved about this book was the sweet romance. I love romance in fantasy stories, and this book was full of it even though I wasn’t expecting it to be. Romance was included in a wide variety of forms throughout this book and I loved seeing the characters fall for one another.
Overall, this story was set in an absolutely gorgeous fantasy world and had a fast-paced story that showed me glimpses of everything the world had to offer. I can’t get too much into the story without revealing major spoilers, but I enjoyed it very much. It honestly reminded me a lot of reading Mistborn, a book that I am currently working my way through. The characters had so much personality, they each had their own fleshed-out backstories, and they all come together to fight against a greater evil. The theme of forgiveness really touched me at certain parts of the story. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a New Adult fantasy novel.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
Luvenia is used to trying to keep her family safe from the Collectors. They do rebel from the Queen’s demands but in small ways in order to not draw the Collectors’ attention. Then, her brother comes home and announces that he has become a Collector himself. He claims to have done it to protect their family, but Luvenia thinks that something is wrong. Her suspicions are confirmed when her family is torn apart. Luvenia must become stronger than she ever was before if she has any hopes of reuniting her family again.
The world in this book is simply massive. There are several sections of the world, and they are all connected by portals and gates. I liken it to an MMORPG world like World of Warcraft if you’ve ever played one. You can take a portal and travel from an ice realm to a desert realm. These characters travel all throughout this world in order to visit various important people and make plans. I’ve seen some people say that this was a bit confusing. As a person that doesn’t really care about seeing a linear path of the character’s through the book world, I didn’t find myself very confused. I just enjoyed my experience reading about where the different characters were without trying to figure out exactly what path they took to get there.
This book was multiple POV. If you know me, you know I struggle with these types of stories. The characters of this book were strong enough for me to not be confused by these multiple POVs. The multiple points of view don’t really kick in until later in the story and I could always tell who was “speaking” at the time.
The thing that really took this down from a 5 star read for me was Luvenia. I understood that she had been through a lot and was traumatized. Even so, I felt frustrated with her. She spends a good section of this book crying, feeling bad for herself, or hating herself. She is on a quest to save her family, but she spends a several chunks of book time trying to run away from the people who are only here to help her. She does grow as the book goes on, which was what saved her character for me. Her frustrating sections also didn’t ruin the book for me as the other characters were still able to carry the story past those parts.
Another thing I loved about this book was the sweet romance. I love romance in fantasy stories, and this book was full of it even though I wasn’t expecting it to be. Romance was included in a wide variety of forms throughout this book and I loved seeing the characters fall for one another.
Overall, this story was set in an absolutely gorgeous fantasy world and had a fast-paced story that showed me glimpses of everything the world had to offer. I can’t get too much into the story without revealing major spoilers, but I enjoyed it very much. It honestly reminded me a lot of reading Mistborn, a book that I am currently working my way through. The characters had so much personality, they each had their own fleshed-out backstories, and they all come together to fight against a greater evil. The theme of forgiveness really touched me at certain parts of the story. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a New Adult fantasy novel.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
October 13, 2021
The Queens Keeper took me straight back to my fantasy roots. A magical world with fantastical mythical creatures and beings. Reading this story was like meeting up with an old friend and reminiscing over fun times together. This was what I felt when I first fell in love with fantasy. It has the fairy tale feel with some dark twists thrown in for good measure. I was in awe over these fun new characters, wishing I could visit Aureland and take a tour with Smithwick… one of my most favorite magical creatures in this book. I loved this new world and really hope for more about the different species and beings.
I had some rough moments with our main female character, Luvenia, as I grew very frustrated with her seeming change of character once taken to Aureland. The constant beating herself up and lack of self-worth became almost non sensical … however don’t we all suffer from this in some form. I know I do. She does experience growth throughout a long and painful process of self-discovery and training, and it was nice to see her character develop out of that self-deprecating mode. Luvenia is definitely a relatable character whose soul focus is her family and loved ones.
I will be honest … Prince Khyan had my heart.. not that Darius was not just as swoon worthy .. but there was something about the Prince that made me favor him. It could be the way he would not put up with Luvenia feeling sorry for herself or talking about herself in a derogatory manner. I liked that he was no nonsense and Darius was a little more soft on her at times. It also took me a while to warm up to Queen Nuria.. I did not like her at all in the beginning. She seemed very “I am the Queen you do as I say” and I understand that yes she was the queen, but something about the way she was just made me go hmmmm…. I eventually did warm up to her, and I am glad I did. Thera, I loved everything. Confidence, strength, and intelligence oozed from her, and I love that in a female character.
These characters will crawl into your heart and make a home there. Even though the ending made it so it could be a stand alone, I do hope that there will be more in this world… especially if it involves my favorite Prince.
I had some rough moments with our main female character, Luvenia, as I grew very frustrated with her seeming change of character once taken to Aureland. The constant beating herself up and lack of self-worth became almost non sensical … however don’t we all suffer from this in some form. I know I do. She does experience growth throughout a long and painful process of self-discovery and training, and it was nice to see her character develop out of that self-deprecating mode. Luvenia is definitely a relatable character whose soul focus is her family and loved ones.
I will be honest … Prince Khyan had my heart.. not that Darius was not just as swoon worthy .. but there was something about the Prince that made me favor him. It could be the way he would not put up with Luvenia feeling sorry for herself or talking about herself in a derogatory manner. I liked that he was no nonsense and Darius was a little more soft on her at times. It also took me a while to warm up to Queen Nuria.. I did not like her at all in the beginning. She seemed very “I am the Queen you do as I say” and I understand that yes she was the queen, but something about the way she was just made me go hmmmm…. I eventually did warm up to her, and I am glad I did. Thera, I loved everything. Confidence, strength, and intelligence oozed from her, and I love that in a female character.
These characters will crawl into your heart and make a home there. Even though the ending made it so it could be a stand alone, I do hope that there will be more in this world… especially if it involves my favorite Prince.
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