The Key Thief

by Christina Van Starkenburg

Hunted by bandits, soldiers, and an elven assassin, Ethelwynne, must rely on her wits and her reluctant companion to find the gateway key and warn the king.Ethelwynne Tregown’s world is shattered when her parents don’t come back from the elven realm. But a ray of hope glimmers when she learns that the prince is nearby. However, he is not what she expected. And he will kill to keep his secret safe.The Key Thief is the first book in The Divided Realm Trilogy. If you like books with a reluctant hero, a powerful artifact, and a no spice slow burn romance, then you will love Christina Van Starkenburg’s award-winning YA Fantasy.Check out The Key Thief to start your journey today

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2021

About the author

Originally from the Ottawa Valley, Christina Van Starkenburg lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and three children.

Reviews

[Charlotte Wieghmink]

DNF’d at 18%. Couldn’t get into it, too slow for my personal preference.

Reading Log
•August 1 - 10:43 AM•
Fantasy is not my usual cup of tea…. Maybe that’s why I’m having a hard time wanting to read this.

Pre-Reading ~~
This will be my first fantasy read of the year. It's not often my cup of tea due to all the world building. However the author holds a special place in my heart.

August TBR ~~

The Key Thief - DNF
Icebreaker
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Verity
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Fantastic Beasts and Where the Find Them
Quidditch Through the Ages
Tales of Beedle the Bard
Southern Book Club Guide to Slaying Vampires

[Raeleane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic start to a new trilogy! It started out a little bit slow, but quickly picked up. Once the action started it didn't stop. Twists, turns, surprises with every page made the book hard to put down. The characters, especially Ethylwynn and Cephas were completely engaging and relatable. And the world building skills were phenomenal! I absolutely recommend reading this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book.

[Laurica Stepan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading The Key Thief and very much enjoyed it. I haven't read much in the way of fantasy, but very much enjoyed the trip there. The characters are wonderfully developed and the story is not overly complex. I look forward to reading more of her books. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series - Shadows of Memory and Stone.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating story

This was a story i had trouble putting down. Well written, fun to read and a great storyline. Highly recommended

[Sophia Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely engaging from the first page! This story is about heart, loyalty, mistakes and perseverance. I was impressed not only with the characters choices but their shortcomings. Every character has a depth that brings you right into their world. As someone who only reads occasionally I was unable to put this one down.

This adventure is full of heart, I have recommended it to all of my friends and family. I adore youth fantasy and the "non-spicy" genre feels so much more realistic to the world it's set in. You can share this book with everyone in your life!

When book two came out I immediately reread The Key Thief, and the second go was even better than the first. Dont skip, you'll love this book! And then read book two!!