The Skeleton Key

Keys and Guardians #2

by Justine Manzano

Sequel to the award-winning Order of the Key

Kyp Franklin can't move on. One year after his mother officially declared war against him, Kyp is still struggling to find his feet as the Order of the Key's new leader. He's far too concerned about tracking her down before she causes even more damage than she already has. In fact, that's all he's been doing. Until one day, after a particularly reckless mission, he returns to find a surprising visitor on his doorstep...

Jacklyn Madison can't move on. One year after she left the Order, she has a new team, and a new mission. She's determined to close all the interdimensional rifts between our world and the Dusk, before more people die trying to stop the creatures that pass through them. But a vision she had while on the edge of death leads her to the one place she never intended to return …

Forced to work together, Jacklyn, Kyp, and their respective teams uncover Lavinia's next plan: an alarming mix of magic and science the likes of which has never been seen before. Jacklyn and Kyp must learn to work together again and confront the demons of their past if they're going to stop Lavinia and those assisting her before their larger plan is put into action--a plan that could bring the monsters of the Dusk to our world...forever.

468 pages, Paperback

Published April 12, 2022

About the author

Justine Manzano is the geeky author of the geeky YA series Keys & Guardians, and geeky YA novel Never Say Never. Known as a Professional-Life-Ruiner-By-Antagonist, Justine’s fiction is tough on the outside and sweet on the inside, like an M&M or a hard candy with a gooey center, delivered with sass and snark. A freelance editor, she also serves as an Editor-in-Residence at WriteHive. She lives in Bronx, NY with her husband, teenage son, and a puppy! She can usually be found at her website, www.justinemanzano.com or all the usual social media haunts. If you’ve looked in all these places and can’t find her, she’s probably off reading fanfiction. She’ll be back soon.


Sign up for her newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/ebb8bfa2eae4/justi...

Reviews

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again we are thrown into a world of the separation of keys and guardians. Jacks is angry at the world for taking/killing her family except for her dad. Her dad has motivated her to keep going and training her for the future. Soon into the book Jacks has a dream that she needs to find her son Jordan in the lab/facility he was made at. Jacks and Kyp have two children Jainey and Jordan. The books follows them getting used to each other and finding out the powers they have and continuing the fight with Lavinia and interdementionals . Lots of twists and turns! High stakes and fast paced!

[S. Kaeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justine's left me with so many feelings--again! Coming off the back of The Order of the Key, though, it's really no surprise. This is the perfect pairing to the Order, like bread and butter, coffee and coffee cake, or chocolate and anything. We have more geeky comic book references filling the pages, which I adored to no end.

Jacklyn and Kyp are as amazing as ever, even though now we see them broken around the edges, trying to hold on by their fingernails. When they do finally truly come together, however, the way they hold each other up is simply gorgeous, and the strength they bring to their pages kept me hooked all the way through. Like the Order of the Key, I barely was able to set this book down at all. I love where the story went, and while it was a wild ride, I was all in, all the way. I especially loved the way Justine dealt with mental health and trauma with such a deft hand. And frankly, the way the word "adorable" is fit in 100% organically so many times in such a dark, grief-and-pain filled novel is downright inspirational. The ending made sense even though I'd have preferred (personally) a different one--but it fit perfectly, so I still left feeling fulfilled, especially after the Epilogue!

If your geeky heart needs a sassy heroine of its own, grab The Order of the Key and the Skeleton Key and read them back to back if you can!

[Energy Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

After buying this ebook, my paperwhite decided it didn’t want to open it. Thankfully, I realized the book would open in the Kindle app, and I got to reading. And wow...

Uhm, what am I supposed to do now? I don’t know how to review this without spoiling things, so I need to keep this review short and vague. The Skeleton Key is filled with non-stop action, secrets, and danger. The crew has gotten a bit larger, with more characters you get to know and love. As they quest to take down Lavinia, secrets and surprises spill forward.

I love the fantasy elements at play, and the edge-of-your-seat feeling you get as Manzano writes this into a thriller, with a touch of romance as well. Nearing bedtime, I was still furiously flipping pages, anxious for resolution, for things to go right for the crew. I highly recommend this twisty roller coaster of a ride.

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was not what I expected. First of all, there were some big changes that were a little too out there and fantastical and jolting. I… adapted though. However, there is also now a main characters LGBT relationship that is a detractor for me. There is plenty of suspense and danger and sacrifice and family. A twisty journey that leads us to the…end? I am… interested in what comes next. But a bit more subdued and wary and apprehensive than I was when I came into book two.

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Hannah Kates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justine Manzano has done it again. Trust me when I say it’s been a LONG time since I’ve read a book this quickly. I couldn’t put SKELETON KEY down. I loved book one, and I was NOT expecting the twist, turns, and surprise ending. The characters (as always) are engaging and dynamic, and the author manages to touch on an incredible range of emotional depth. Love, loss, triumph, non-conventional witches, unlikely superheroes… This book has it all.

I definitely lost sleep over this one.

[Jerusha René · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! It feeds my superhero-loving soul. The magic system within the world is unique, and I love how having power in this world is a double-edged sword. After the first book, I knew I was in for an exciting time, but I did NOT expect the twists in this book. There were moments that definitely pulled on my heartstrings. Tears were shed, sleep was lost. And the last line? Brilliant. I cannot wait for book 3.

[Verity Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saving the world and each other

Lots of battles, lots of sacrifice. Unlike many second books, this one really has a strong kick. The preternatually aged children is a little hand-wavy (hard to believe from a psychological perspective), but it's cool enough to just roll with.

Interestingly, this book acts like a series ending, even though it isn't. Wondering how it will go from here....

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great sequel. It's action-packed and full of emotion as Jack and Kyp deal with their trauma. It's good to get Kyp's point of view too.

There are lots of twists and turns and I can't wait to see what happens. Prepare for some gut punches if you read this!