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The Last Keeper
A young boy’s prophetic visions.
Blind at birth, Daemus Alaric is blessed with the gift of prophetic Sight. Now, as a Keeper of the Forbidden, he must use his powers of the Sight to foil the plans of a fallen Keeper, Graytorris the Mad.
An elven Princess with a horrifying secret.
Princess Addilyn Elspeth travels from Eldwal, the magically hidden home of the Vermilion elves, to begin her life as a diplomat to the human capital of Castleshire. During her journey, she stumbles upon a mystical creature foretelling ill tidings.
A terrifying force of evil.
Daemus’ recurring nightmare vision threatens to catapult him into a terrifying struggle that will leave the fate of the Keepers—and the realm—hanging in the balance. Daemus and Princess Addilyn must set out to face the menace that threatens their very existence.
Will the entire realm fall to its knees?
The Last Keeper is the first book in The Warminster Series. With gripping, epic action and heart-pounding adventure, you’ll love this new adventure series.
Blind at birth, Daemus Alaric is blessed with the gift of prophetic Sight. Now, as a Keeper of the Forbidden, he must use his powers of the Sight to foil the plans of a fallen Keeper, Graytorris the Mad.
An elven Princess with a horrifying secret.
Princess Addilyn Elspeth travels from Eldwal, the magically hidden home of the Vermilion elves, to begin her life as a diplomat to the human capital of Castleshire. During her journey, she stumbles upon a mystical creature foretelling ill tidings.
A terrifying force of evil.
Daemus’ recurring nightmare vision threatens to catapult him into a terrifying struggle that will leave the fate of the Keepers—and the realm—hanging in the balance. Daemus and Princess Addilyn must set out to face the menace that threatens their very existence.
Will the entire realm fall to its knees?
The Last Keeper is the first book in The Warminster Series. With gripping, epic action and heart-pounding adventure, you’ll love this new adventure series.
419 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2021
24 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
J.V. Hilliard
5 books142 followersBorn of steel, fire and black wind, J.V. Hilliard was raised as a highlander in the foothills of a once-great mountain chain on the confluence of the three mighty rivers that forged his realm’s wealth and power for generations.
His father, a peasant twerg, toiled away in industries of honest labor and instilled in him a work ethic that would shape his destiny. His mother, a local healer, cared for his elders and his warrior uncle, who helped to raise him during his formative years. His genius brother, whose wizardly prowess allowed him to master the art of the abacus and his own quill, trained with him for battles on fields of green and sheets of ice.
Hilliard’s earliest education took place in his warrior uncle’s tower, where he learned his first words. HIs uncle helped him to learn the basics of life—and, most importantly, creative writing.
Hilliard’s training and education readied him to lift a quill that would scribe the tale of the realm of Warminster, filled with brave knights, harrowing adventure and legendary struggles. He lives in the city of silver cups, hypocycloids and golden triangles with his wife, a ranger of the diamond. They built their castle not far into the countryside, guarded by his own two horsehounds, Thor and MacLeod, and resides there to this day.
His father, a peasant twerg, toiled away in industries of honest labor and instilled in him a work ethic that would shape his destiny. His mother, a local healer, cared for his elders and his warrior uncle, who helped to raise him during his formative years. His genius brother, whose wizardly prowess allowed him to master the art of the abacus and his own quill, trained with him for battles on fields of green and sheets of ice.
Hilliard’s earliest education took place in his warrior uncle’s tower, where he learned his first words. HIs uncle helped him to learn the basics of life—and, most importantly, creative writing.
Hilliard’s training and education readied him to lift a quill that would scribe the tale of the realm of Warminster, filled with brave knights, harrowing adventure and legendary struggles. He lives in the city of silver cups, hypocycloids and golden triangles with his wife, a ranger of the diamond. They built their castle not far into the countryside, guarded by his own two horsehounds, Thor and MacLeod, and resides there to this day.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
November 23, 2025
The Last Keeper is the first part of "The Warminster" series. This fantasy book is full of unexpected twists and turns. The interesting characters and storyline kept me hooked throughout.
The Last Keeper, Daemus, Sir Ritter Valkeneer, and Princess Addilyn Elspeth fight Graytorris the Mad, the fallen Keeper. Will they be able to preserve the realm from disaster when the fallen Keeper, Graytorris the Mad, rises to power? The Warministers' and others' fates will be decided in a fight unlike any other.
The author has used a proper quotient of mystery that will keep the readers intrigued throughout. The best thing about good fantasy books is they take you along with the characters on their adventurous journey and never fail to thrill you, this is one such book. I liked the flow of the story very much. Character development was perfect.
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
The Last Keeper, Daemus, Sir Ritter Valkeneer, and Princess Addilyn Elspeth fight Graytorris the Mad, the fallen Keeper. Will they be able to preserve the realm from disaster when the fallen Keeper, Graytorris the Mad, rises to power? The Warministers' and others' fates will be decided in a fight unlike any other.
The author has used a proper quotient of mystery that will keep the readers intrigued throughout. The best thing about good fantasy books is they take you along with the characters on their adventurous journey and never fail to thrill you, this is one such book. I liked the flow of the story very much. Character development was perfect.
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
May 23, 2022
J.V. Hilliard's latest fantasy book, The Last Keeper, is a riveting page-turner with an impressive plot. This is Hilliard's first book in the Warminster Series and is uniquely detailed with sharp writing. The characters are vivid; even the smallest character feels fully human. The plot is clever, and Hilliard's sense of timing is flawless.
Synopsis:
Despite being born blind, young Daemus Alaric has the gift of sight. He is named the Keeper of the Forbidden and leaves his home when his reoccurring nightmares become more intense. Daemus must use his power of sight to conquer Graytorrid the Mad, a vile fallen keeper who is seeking revenge against the Cathedral of the Watchful Eye.
Beautiful Princess Addilyn Elspeth, a strong-willed, vivacious Vermillion Elve from Eldwal, leaves her home and journeys to Castleshire. In her travels, she encounters a transcendent creature that predicts symbolic news.
Together Daemus and Addilyn must confront the horrifying forces of evil that threaten to destroy the very core of the Keepers. Will the entirety of the realm crumble under their existence?
The Last Keeper by J.V. Hilliard is a must-read for fantasy lovers! I followed along in the book as I listened to the audio narrated by Victor Bevine. The Last Keeper is a heart-stopping action-adventure. (5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Synopsis:
Despite being born blind, young Daemus Alaric has the gift of sight. He is named the Keeper of the Forbidden and leaves his home when his reoccurring nightmares become more intense. Daemus must use his power of sight to conquer Graytorrid the Mad, a vile fallen keeper who is seeking revenge against the Cathedral of the Watchful Eye.
Beautiful Princess Addilyn Elspeth, a strong-willed, vivacious Vermillion Elve from Eldwal, leaves her home and journeys to Castleshire. In her travels, she encounters a transcendent creature that predicts symbolic news.
Together Daemus and Addilyn must confront the horrifying forces of evil that threaten to destroy the very core of the Keepers. Will the entirety of the realm crumble under their existence?
The Last Keeper by J.V. Hilliard is a must-read for fantasy lovers! I followed along in the book as I listened to the audio narrated by Victor Bevine. The Last Keeper is a heart-stopping action-adventure. (5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
November 18, 2022
This fantasy story revolves around a boy with the knack to see the future and an Elven princess who also sees someone, which is considered a bad omen. The author builds a whole new world from scratch, and I appreciate his efforts.
But the narration could be better, there are many characters and unique things, and without a glossary, it was tough to keep track of them.
However, the author's writing is pleasant, and I enjoyed the vivid descriptions, and I look forward to reading the next book, as my interest is piqued, and the ending shows signs of a fantastic sequel.
So, if you're looking to read about a new fantasy world with a primary focus on character building, then this book is for you.
Read the detailed review here - Books Charming
But the narration could be better, there are many characters and unique things, and without a glossary, it was tough to keep track of them.
However, the author's writing is pleasant, and I enjoyed the vivid descriptions, and I look forward to reading the next book, as my interest is piqued, and the ending shows signs of a fantastic sequel.
So, if you're looking to read about a new fantasy world with a primary focus on character building, then this book is for you.
Read the detailed review here - Books Charming
March 28, 2022
There are many great fantasy books out there; some have a compelling story to tell supplemented with great characters; some have awesome magic and epic battle scenes, and some come with an interesting world that was richly imagined and detailed. J V Hilliard's The Last Keeper is a huge opening act to The Warminster Series which took every single one of these elements of a good fantasy story and elevated the art of storytelling to a different league. It is an empathetic tale of courage, compassion, loyalty and honour, and one which thoroughly epitomises the fantasy world building.
The Last Keeper by J V Hilliard brings together Daemus, Sir Ritter Valkeneer and Princess Addilyn Elspeth, who have never met before, to fight against the fallen Keeper, Graytorris the mad. Daemus Alaric was born blind and receives the gift of Sight from an unknown visitor. Nevertheless, when these prophetic visions manifest into real events, he leaves his home to become a Keeper of the Forbidden, a fabled order of powerful arcanists who serve the leaders of Warminster. A recurring nightmare interrupts Daemus' ideal life. His Sight reveals a fallen Keeper known as Graytorris the Mad and his past discretion. In his visions, Daemus sees Graytorris plotting vengeance against the Cathedral of the Watchful Eye. With the return of the fallen Keeper, the realm is on the brink of chaos which will determine the fate of the Keepers and the future of Warminster.
From Eldwal, the magically hidden home of her Vermilion elves, Princess Addilyn Elspeth travels to Castleshire to begin a new life as a diplomat. During her travels, she comes across a herd of tetrine, a dark unicorn-like creature who foretells ill tidings, forcing her to abandon her plans and listen to the Tetrine. Anselm Helenius, a great cryptid hunter, guides Addilyn in the right direction with his knowledge of the Tetrine. Now her mission is to convince King Godwin and Queen Amice of Thronehelm that they must assist them when disaster strikes and a coup against the rightful rulers leads to war.
Sir Ritter of Valkeneer is a trollborn knight, who has ability to interact with his falcon, Storm. It is one of the powers he inherited from his elven side. Using Storm's eyes and ears, he can see, hear, and command the bird to watch, fly, and attack. He aids Addilyn on the way to Castleshire, after which the two begin to share growing feelings for each other. However, people in her community are against the upper echelon of society interacting with trollborn. Addilyn discovers that in order to maintain a friendship that has already begun to grow between herself and Ritter, she must look past the traditions and prejudices of her people. It is not by coincidence that both Addilyn’s and Ritter’s trials and tribulations, as seemingly different as it were, shared a common themes of honour, love and hope.
The Last Keeper is a strong tale with a well fleshed out world and multidimensional characters that are easy to care about. The hallmark of J V Hilliard’s brilliance truly lies in his ability to craft great stories that are invariably and thematically appropriate to the world in which it takes place. Seen mostly from the perspectives of Daemus, Sir Ritter and Princess Addilyn, all in different positions in life and different realms of the world most of the time, it was hard to initially see how they are all connected. But with each twists and turns more of the pieces line up and the intricacies of the plot, the characters, the magic system and the world come into focus.
For a book this size, The Last Keeper was quite a breeze to read and finish. The narrative flowed well with beautiful prose that does not distract the reader from being fully immersed into the story and worldbuilding. While the pacing was a little slow with such substantive character development, the narration was so deftly handled that the pages just kept turning - right until you reach the end wishing desperately for the sequel. Speaking of the ending, finale of this book will leave you breathless; from the sheer heroism and valour on display, the cinematic visuals painted in your mind's eye of the battle sequence, and the emotional impact and revelations that you just did not see coming. Highly recommended.
The Last Keeper by J V Hilliard brings together Daemus, Sir Ritter Valkeneer and Princess Addilyn Elspeth, who have never met before, to fight against the fallen Keeper, Graytorris the mad. Daemus Alaric was born blind and receives the gift of Sight from an unknown visitor. Nevertheless, when these prophetic visions manifest into real events, he leaves his home to become a Keeper of the Forbidden, a fabled order of powerful arcanists who serve the leaders of Warminster. A recurring nightmare interrupts Daemus' ideal life. His Sight reveals a fallen Keeper known as Graytorris the Mad and his past discretion. In his visions, Daemus sees Graytorris plotting vengeance against the Cathedral of the Watchful Eye. With the return of the fallen Keeper, the realm is on the brink of chaos which will determine the fate of the Keepers and the future of Warminster.
From Eldwal, the magically hidden home of her Vermilion elves, Princess Addilyn Elspeth travels to Castleshire to begin a new life as a diplomat. During her travels, she comes across a herd of tetrine, a dark unicorn-like creature who foretells ill tidings, forcing her to abandon her plans and listen to the Tetrine. Anselm Helenius, a great cryptid hunter, guides Addilyn in the right direction with his knowledge of the Tetrine. Now her mission is to convince King Godwin and Queen Amice of Thronehelm that they must assist them when disaster strikes and a coup against the rightful rulers leads to war.
Sir Ritter of Valkeneer is a trollborn knight, who has ability to interact with his falcon, Storm. It is one of the powers he inherited from his elven side. Using Storm's eyes and ears, he can see, hear, and command the bird to watch, fly, and attack. He aids Addilyn on the way to Castleshire, after which the two begin to share growing feelings for each other. However, people in her community are against the upper echelon of society interacting with trollborn. Addilyn discovers that in order to maintain a friendship that has already begun to grow between herself and Ritter, she must look past the traditions and prejudices of her people. It is not by coincidence that both Addilyn’s and Ritter’s trials and tribulations, as seemingly different as it were, shared a common themes of honour, love and hope.
The Last Keeper is a strong tale with a well fleshed out world and multidimensional characters that are easy to care about. The hallmark of J V Hilliard’s brilliance truly lies in his ability to craft great stories that are invariably and thematically appropriate to the world in which it takes place. Seen mostly from the perspectives of Daemus, Sir Ritter and Princess Addilyn, all in different positions in life and different realms of the world most of the time, it was hard to initially see how they are all connected. But with each twists and turns more of the pieces line up and the intricacies of the plot, the characters, the magic system and the world come into focus.
For a book this size, The Last Keeper was quite a breeze to read and finish. The narrative flowed well with beautiful prose that does not distract the reader from being fully immersed into the story and worldbuilding. While the pacing was a little slow with such substantive character development, the narration was so deftly handled that the pages just kept turning - right until you reach the end wishing desperately for the sequel. Speaking of the ending, finale of this book will leave you breathless; from the sheer heroism and valour on display, the cinematic visuals painted in your mind's eye of the battle sequence, and the emotional impact and revelations that you just did not see coming. Highly recommended.
August 18, 2022
The Last Keeper " by J.V. Hilliard is a page-turning book, the first part of " The Warminster Series ". The book follows the main characters - Daemus Alaric, Princess Addilyn Elspeth, and Ritter. They all have their own story, a different journey, and challenges. The best thing about the book is that it gives you a glimpse of a complex fantasy world and does not let you wander and keeps you connected to the story at all times.
The journey of the protagonist against Graytorris may be different for these characters, but the journey of all is special and adventurous in itself, while you get to see the story from many different perspectives in the book. The way these characters used their power is truly appreciable.
It's a beautiful book. The plot is engaging, and enjoyable which gives you a nice escape from life. The Last Keeper is a very well-read, thoughtful writer, and there's a depth to writing that leaves you with something to chew on. All the Characters are remarkable. This is a very good start to the series, by the way. This book has so much going on it's packed with a fantastic story and plot. I love Fantasy books and this was everything - gripping, epic action, and heart-pounding adventure. Very readable, attractive cover, and a good feel in your hands when reading.
I'd recommend the book itself and this particular series to anyone.
The journey of the protagonist against Graytorris may be different for these characters, but the journey of all is special and adventurous in itself, while you get to see the story from many different perspectives in the book. The way these characters used their power is truly appreciable.
It's a beautiful book. The plot is engaging, and enjoyable which gives you a nice escape from life. The Last Keeper is a very well-read, thoughtful writer, and there's a depth to writing that leaves you with something to chew on. All the Characters are remarkable. This is a very good start to the series, by the way. This book has so much going on it's packed with a fantastic story and plot. I love Fantasy books and this was everything - gripping, epic action, and heart-pounding adventure. Very readable, attractive cover, and a good feel in your hands when reading.
I'd recommend the book itself and this particular series to anyone.
April 1, 2022
The Last Keeper is an epic fantasy novel written by J V Hilliard, and the first book in The Warminster Series. I didn't know what to expect from The Last Keeper as I didn't know anything about the author or his work, but I was not ready for its blinding grandeur. J V Hilliard did not simply craft a fictional setting; but he dived into the culture, philosophy and ethics, cultivating physical descriptions, government and justice systems, and traditions. And in doing so, he managed to establish a detailed, thorough and complete world-building.
The characters are a work of art. Daemus, Sir Ritter Valkeneer and Princess Addilyn are the main protagonists but other characters are not less important and they are all connected toward the end of the book. There was nobility, honor, and courage mixed with gut-wrenching fear, indignation and an overwhelming need for justice.
Overall, I am thrilled The Warminster Series is going to be a multiple book saga and an eagerly counting down the days until the next book comes out. I will be recommending this novel to anyone who loves fantasy books – it has everything you desire in that genre of novel.
The characters are a work of art. Daemus, Sir Ritter Valkeneer and Princess Addilyn are the main protagonists but other characters are not less important and they are all connected toward the end of the book. There was nobility, honor, and courage mixed with gut-wrenching fear, indignation and an overwhelming need for justice.
Overall, I am thrilled The Warminster Series is going to be a multiple book saga and an eagerly counting down the days until the next book comes out. I will be recommending this novel to anyone who loves fantasy books – it has everything you desire in that genre of novel.
April 6, 2022
The Last Keeper by J V Hilliard is about Honour, love, and survival. The story is mind-blowing, the ideas and thoughts create a world that is believable and intriguing. It's a strong tale with a well fleshed out world and multidimensional characters that are easy to care about.
The story is a bit dark and thought provoking but wholesome epic fantasy that centers around themes of power, ruling, and leadership. It's filled to the brim with characters that hook you from the beginning and you constantly want to cheer for. One of my favorite elements of this book was the world building and overall atmosphere.
What helped make the story feel grand was the people of this world. There were multiple cultures throughout the novel, each with thorough, interesting histories that added a sort of flair to each of the characters. Speaking of characters, every perspective was compelling, and I thoroughly enjoyed following each of their stories. All of the perspectives were interesting, and they all added something special to the overall arc of the story. Highly recommended.
The story is a bit dark and thought provoking but wholesome epic fantasy that centers around themes of power, ruling, and leadership. It's filled to the brim with characters that hook you from the beginning and you constantly want to cheer for. One of my favorite elements of this book was the world building and overall atmosphere.
What helped make the story feel grand was the people of this world. There were multiple cultures throughout the novel, each with thorough, interesting histories that added a sort of flair to each of the characters. Speaking of characters, every perspective was compelling, and I thoroughly enjoyed following each of their stories. All of the perspectives were interesting, and they all added something special to the overall arc of the story. Highly recommended.
April 12, 2022
Title: "A Definite Keeper for a Debut!"
Hello there, me again, I just wanted to do a quick preamble to this review and let you know that I consider myself a J.V friends. He's been on my Podcast. He's very supportive of me and my own writing. And on top of all this, J.V also sent me a free copy of his novel to read. Again, I believe it is my duty to be transparent in this manner but I also want people to know the following: I'd be a pretty shitty friend if I didn't give my honest opinion of J.V's book. I want him to succeed, so lying to him is a silly thing to do to secure that success. Luckily, I quite liked this book so... There's no need for hard truths or conflicts in this review.
But just to be clear: I will always give my honest opinion. So, with that established, let's get onto the review.
The Last Keeper is J.V's debut published novel and, much like with sports, a debut can make or break a career; which is good because as a debut The Last Keeper is a strong start. It does everything that a first novel should do both for an author and for a series; it sets the foundations for the world we are going to be spending our time in throughout the series (and Warminster seems to be hella interesting) as well as introducing us to the writer's style and flair (and I like J.V's writing style and narrative choices). And in thinking about this, I think this novel is a great showing for Hilliard to move forward from.
As a Fantasy Novel and Fantasy Story, The Last Keeper is again your standard set up and introduction to Warminster and its characters. Much like in my Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith and Kin Review, it is a comfortable and safe piece of genre fiction that knows very much what it is and there is nothing wrong with that. I love comfort. We are given multiple narrators and three stories that come together and intertwine in order to decide the fate of not only the narrators' own homes but the world in general. I think one of the things that really impresses me about J.V's narrative and characters is that even though you could be quite sceptical and say that he has created quite troupey and archetypal characters, these story arcs resolve themselves in ways that seems to fill the issues or deficits within the characters and, once you get to know the characters well enough, these characters have always had traits that separate them from the stereotypical representation of their archetype.
So let's dissect that a bit with our three leads and our big bad, as that is where I think J.V's quality really shines and why the Last Keeper is so successful.
Our narrative leads are: Daemus Alaric, Addilyn Elspth and Sir Ritter Valkeneer - all of which are standard Fantasy Age of late teens to early to mid 20s. Again, when we look at them we may think that all three are quite bland and normal for a Fantasy protagonist but, hopefully, once I have analysed them you will be able to see that there is way more to it than that.
First off, we have Daemus Alaric. He is what is known as a "Keeper of the Forbidden", prophetic monks and followers of the Knowledge Ancient Erud who grants them visions of the future to interpret. This is a fantastic bit of world building done by Hilliard that is further compounded when you realise that all the other Keeprs are losing their "Eruidan Sight" to see the future whilst Daemus is till having visions in a big way about big things (namely our big bad who we will come to later). Because of this world building and character introduction it would be easy to cast Daemus as another "Reluctant Chosen One Nobody" and expect him to jump into the fray after a bit of coaching and some trials. However, this is not the case. Daemus is a noble from a wealthy family for a starter and the more important thing is that he is deathly afraid. Not just of what might happen to him but of his powers and the apparent destiny they are leading him towards. This fear seems to form the crux of his character arc before he crashes into the other two narrators and we see him go from being this protected and coddled child to someone who makes the key decision to go against his fear and the nature that we have been exposed to as readers this entire time and watch him fill that void of fear with something else: purpose and agency. He not only decides his own fate and destiny by the end of this novel but also has some form of control over his prophetic powers that had once terrified him to the point of shitting his pants (literally).
Our second narrative lead is the "Vermillion Elf", Addilyn Elspeth - a princess no less- who encounters an unfortunate phenomena which forebodes ill tidings on her way to meet her father, the Vermillion Elves Ambassador to the Kingdom of Men. I mean - Warminster! You get the jist! She's our young naïve ingénue, the young damsel in distress, fish out of water who is supposed to be the love interest to one of our characters. And, yeah, for every Arwen there is an Aragorn even in The Last Keeper but... We'll get to that. Addilyn's journey sees her not only navigate the political sphere and the new culture but she too gains agency within the story after facing some adversity the likes of which she has never seen before. She becomes competent and able despite it rather than the typical needing someone to save her. Yes, she has a guardian but she also becomes stronger as a spell caster. It's a nice refreshing way to see a character deal with things rather than the usual be sad and stay sad damsel in distress she could have been. Much like Daemus, her character arc sees her grow and lose that naivety but gives her what she is lacking.
And, finally, we have my personal favourite of the trio: Sir Ritter Valkeneer (or of Valkeneer, both are used and where he's from is also his surname but you get it). As previously mentioned, he's our Ranger character. He's the outsider nobleman and the battle-wizened member of the trio. Unlike most other characters of this archetype though, he is not older than the other protagonists, oir at least he isn't by much. Ritter has the most cynical and experienced voice of the group, knowing both the court and battle and even though he prefers battle to the political, he's fun to be around in both. Unlike most young characters, he is not only capable but also a leader helping give credence to the Aragorn analogy. However, I quite like the mixture of Han Solo that seems to be mixed in with Ritter in the more comedic moments when he is not fighting and he notices (sometimes alone) how ridiculous things are. It is also cool that him being "Trollborn", Warminster's term for Half-Bred between Human and most other races - Ritter isn't really inhibited. Ritter's character arc isn't about overcoming racism or learning to be a leader. He is already a leader and a good one when compared to those around him of a similar age. He gets boons from being Trollborn and, yeah, whilst he is a Half-Elf which is probably more accepted many people don't even notice. Ritter is just allowed to be. His character arc is instead very personal about him dealing with his own thoughts and feelings and learning to trust others which is refreshing considering what it could have been. Maybe I'm biased because Ritter gets some cool scenes and most the action seems to happen around him with him getting the "hero" moments but... Yeah, Ritter is so cool and I can't wait to see him only grow in both experience and skill as the series develops.
But none of these narrative threads would be so cool an exciting without the foreboding threat of Graytorris the Mad in the background. I think Graytorris is actually J.V's crowning writing achievement here. The three narrators or leads or whatever you want to call them are great - don't get me wrong - but Graytorris as a villain just seems... Delicious. We start the story with him, seeing him be attacked and eventually his push towards the dark side as he defeats his pursuers and does what he does in the beginning. However, even though he is not present in the bookn that often: His presence and push is. It's a genuinely terrifying villain which could have fallen into the "Mad Dark Lord" type of paradigm but it doesn't. He is a threat like no other but we never really learn a lot about him; people do his bidding for him and we have no real reason to know as to why until the third act of the story. It is a great way to introduce a villain in my eyes and what's more is that when we do get to see Graytorris and what not, even though it is only a small amount, you can't help but.. like and pity him at the same time?
I know that sounds strange but even though Graytorris is this terrible person whom we are meant to fear when we meet him and spend time with him... He doesn't really seem like the Bad Guy he is being made out to be. They call him "Mad" yet he is calm and composed. He did something terrible but we are made to question whether or not he was pushed to do so. He was a former Keeper of the Forbidden - he could once see the future and we are constantly asking ourselves: What did he see? Why does it feel like he was betrayed by the Order he once served? Why do I sympathize with the withering Graytorris at times and feel like he may be the victim? I'm not sure what it is but again, a troupe seems to have been taken and used but twisted in a small way to almost change it in its entirety. You can't help but admire that in J.V's work.
So, all in all, yeah you could say that The Last Keeper is a strong debut from a first time author. You can say that the world of Warminster seems similar to the Fantasy Worlds of old. You could even say that the book itself has the standard plot and does the standard job of a first book of a series. However, it's not in these pieces that the book succeeds. The book succeeds in the fact it plays within that comfort zone and sweet spot masterfully but it's when you go deeper and see the small tweaks and twists to those comforts and stereotypes that you realize how good the book is.
And how great a craftsman that J.V seems to be too.
Thanks for reading and I hope that: whoever you are; wherever you are; and whenever you are - that you are safe, you are well and I wish you all the love and happiness possible.
Hello there, me again, I just wanted to do a quick preamble to this review and let you know that I consider myself a J.V friends. He's been on my Podcast. He's very supportive of me and my own writing. And on top of all this, J.V also sent me a free copy of his novel to read. Again, I believe it is my duty to be transparent in this manner but I also want people to know the following: I'd be a pretty shitty friend if I didn't give my honest opinion of J.V's book. I want him to succeed, so lying to him is a silly thing to do to secure that success. Luckily, I quite liked this book so... There's no need for hard truths or conflicts in this review.
But just to be clear: I will always give my honest opinion. So, with that established, let's get onto the review.
The Last Keeper is J.V's debut published novel and, much like with sports, a debut can make or break a career; which is good because as a debut The Last Keeper is a strong start. It does everything that a first novel should do both for an author and for a series; it sets the foundations for the world we are going to be spending our time in throughout the series (and Warminster seems to be hella interesting) as well as introducing us to the writer's style and flair (and I like J.V's writing style and narrative choices). And in thinking about this, I think this novel is a great showing for Hilliard to move forward from.
As a Fantasy Novel and Fantasy Story, The Last Keeper is again your standard set up and introduction to Warminster and its characters. Much like in my Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith and Kin Review, it is a comfortable and safe piece of genre fiction that knows very much what it is and there is nothing wrong with that. I love comfort. We are given multiple narrators and three stories that come together and intertwine in order to decide the fate of not only the narrators' own homes but the world in general. I think one of the things that really impresses me about J.V's narrative and characters is that even though you could be quite sceptical and say that he has created quite troupey and archetypal characters, these story arcs resolve themselves in ways that seems to fill the issues or deficits within the characters and, once you get to know the characters well enough, these characters have always had traits that separate them from the stereotypical representation of their archetype.
So let's dissect that a bit with our three leads and our big bad, as that is where I think J.V's quality really shines and why the Last Keeper is so successful.
Our narrative leads are: Daemus Alaric, Addilyn Elspth and Sir Ritter Valkeneer - all of which are standard Fantasy Age of late teens to early to mid 20s. Again, when we look at them we may think that all three are quite bland and normal for a Fantasy protagonist but, hopefully, once I have analysed them you will be able to see that there is way more to it than that.
First off, we have Daemus Alaric. He is what is known as a "Keeper of the Forbidden", prophetic monks and followers of the Knowledge Ancient Erud who grants them visions of the future to interpret. This is a fantastic bit of world building done by Hilliard that is further compounded when you realise that all the other Keeprs are losing their "Eruidan Sight" to see the future whilst Daemus is till having visions in a big way about big things (namely our big bad who we will come to later). Because of this world building and character introduction it would be easy to cast Daemus as another "Reluctant Chosen One Nobody" and expect him to jump into the fray after a bit of coaching and some trials. However, this is not the case. Daemus is a noble from a wealthy family for a starter and the more important thing is that he is deathly afraid. Not just of what might happen to him but of his powers and the apparent destiny they are leading him towards. This fear seems to form the crux of his character arc before he crashes into the other two narrators and we see him go from being this protected and coddled child to someone who makes the key decision to go against his fear and the nature that we have been exposed to as readers this entire time and watch him fill that void of fear with something else: purpose and agency. He not only decides his own fate and destiny by the end of this novel but also has some form of control over his prophetic powers that had once terrified him to the point of shitting his pants (literally).
Our second narrative lead is the "Vermillion Elf", Addilyn Elspeth - a princess no less- who encounters an unfortunate phenomena which forebodes ill tidings on her way to meet her father, the Vermillion Elves Ambassador to the Kingdom of Men. I mean - Warminster! You get the jist! She's our young naïve ingénue, the young damsel in distress, fish out of water who is supposed to be the love interest to one of our characters. And, yeah, for every Arwen there is an Aragorn even in The Last Keeper but... We'll get to that. Addilyn's journey sees her not only navigate the political sphere and the new culture but she too gains agency within the story after facing some adversity the likes of which she has never seen before. She becomes competent and able despite it rather than the typical needing someone to save her. Yes, she has a guardian but she also becomes stronger as a spell caster. It's a nice refreshing way to see a character deal with things rather than the usual be sad and stay sad damsel in distress she could have been. Much like Daemus, her character arc sees her grow and lose that naivety but gives her what she is lacking.
And, finally, we have my personal favourite of the trio: Sir Ritter Valkeneer (or of Valkeneer, both are used and where he's from is also his surname but you get it). As previously mentioned, he's our Ranger character. He's the outsider nobleman and the battle-wizened member of the trio. Unlike most other characters of this archetype though, he is not older than the other protagonists, oir at least he isn't by much. Ritter has the most cynical and experienced voice of the group, knowing both the court and battle and even though he prefers battle to the political, he's fun to be around in both. Unlike most young characters, he is not only capable but also a leader helping give credence to the Aragorn analogy. However, I quite like the mixture of Han Solo that seems to be mixed in with Ritter in the more comedic moments when he is not fighting and he notices (sometimes alone) how ridiculous things are. It is also cool that him being "Trollborn", Warminster's term for Half-Bred between Human and most other races - Ritter isn't really inhibited. Ritter's character arc isn't about overcoming racism or learning to be a leader. He is already a leader and a good one when compared to those around him of a similar age. He gets boons from being Trollborn and, yeah, whilst he is a Half-Elf which is probably more accepted many people don't even notice. Ritter is just allowed to be. His character arc is instead very personal about him dealing with his own thoughts and feelings and learning to trust others which is refreshing considering what it could have been. Maybe I'm biased because Ritter gets some cool scenes and most the action seems to happen around him with him getting the "hero" moments but... Yeah, Ritter is so cool and I can't wait to see him only grow in both experience and skill as the series develops.
But none of these narrative threads would be so cool an exciting without the foreboding threat of Graytorris the Mad in the background. I think Graytorris is actually J.V's crowning writing achievement here. The three narrators or leads or whatever you want to call them are great - don't get me wrong - but Graytorris as a villain just seems... Delicious. We start the story with him, seeing him be attacked and eventually his push towards the dark side as he defeats his pursuers and does what he does in the beginning. However, even though he is not present in the bookn that often: His presence and push is. It's a genuinely terrifying villain which could have fallen into the "Mad Dark Lord" type of paradigm but it doesn't. He is a threat like no other but we never really learn a lot about him; people do his bidding for him and we have no real reason to know as to why until the third act of the story. It is a great way to introduce a villain in my eyes and what's more is that when we do get to see Graytorris and what not, even though it is only a small amount, you can't help but.. like and pity him at the same time?
I know that sounds strange but even though Graytorris is this terrible person whom we are meant to fear when we meet him and spend time with him... He doesn't really seem like the Bad Guy he is being made out to be. They call him "Mad" yet he is calm and composed. He did something terrible but we are made to question whether or not he was pushed to do so. He was a former Keeper of the Forbidden - he could once see the future and we are constantly asking ourselves: What did he see? Why does it feel like he was betrayed by the Order he once served? Why do I sympathize with the withering Graytorris at times and feel like he may be the victim? I'm not sure what it is but again, a troupe seems to have been taken and used but twisted in a small way to almost change it in its entirety. You can't help but admire that in J.V's work.
So, all in all, yeah you could say that The Last Keeper is a strong debut from a first time author. You can say that the world of Warminster seems similar to the Fantasy Worlds of old. You could even say that the book itself has the standard plot and does the standard job of a first book of a series. However, it's not in these pieces that the book succeeds. The book succeeds in the fact it plays within that comfort zone and sweet spot masterfully but it's when you go deeper and see the small tweaks and twists to those comforts and stereotypes that you realize how good the book is.
And how great a craftsman that J.V seems to be too.
Thanks for reading and I hope that: whoever you are; wherever you are; and whenever you are - that you are safe, you are well and I wish you all the love and happiness possible.
April 15, 2022
Fantasy can be easy to parody, because its tropes are so firmly established. Mr. Hilliard does not shy away from these familiar trappings, but he utilizes them with great literary skill. He not only has excellent concepts, but he is able to translate those concepts to the page in a highly readable manner. His characters have psychological depth, and they hold your attention and your rooting interest.
The world-building in The Last Keeper is fantastic. The whole world, so many peoples and creatures and beliefs and societies, the landscapes and the history. I can see it all so clearly in my head, it's almost as if I were there.
In addition to having a great and fresh setting that you have not seen before, The Last Keeper does an excellent job in studying the character and growth of the main characters it presents. It touches on subjects which are not usually examined in much depth in fantasy literature. The novel is long and its pace is often slow, but that volume and time allow you, the reader, to get familiar with each of the main characters and it allows the author to let them grow organically, over long stretches, making them feel flawed, human, and very much alive. I would recommend this to any and all fantasy readers out there.
The world-building in The Last Keeper is fantastic. The whole world, so many peoples and creatures and beliefs and societies, the landscapes and the history. I can see it all so clearly in my head, it's almost as if I were there.
In addition to having a great and fresh setting that you have not seen before, The Last Keeper does an excellent job in studying the character and growth of the main characters it presents. It touches on subjects which are not usually examined in much depth in fantasy literature. The novel is long and its pace is often slow, but that volume and time allow you, the reader, to get familiar with each of the main characters and it allows the author to let them grow organically, over long stretches, making them feel flawed, human, and very much alive. I would recommend this to any and all fantasy readers out there.
May 15, 2022
Fantasy is a genre that has been prevalent since a long time, so much so that it can be considered one of the oldest pieces of literature, pre dating the invention of bound books by hundreds and thousands of years, thanks to mythology and folklore.
The book, ‘The Last Keeper’ by author JV Hilliard is an attempt by the author to incorporate this age old fantasy, which not gives the readers an escape from reality, but rather has the ability of making them understand it.
Being born blind at birth, our main character, Daemus, would have never even thought in his wildest dreams that he would be seeing again, hence when he is given this Sight as a blessing by mysterious visitor, he must stay true to his calling and fulfill the purpose for which he was given this chance.
In this attempt, Daemus becomes the Keeper of a society which deals with the protection and scribing of historical archives, however when there is a threat from a powerful enemy, he must join forces with others to truly safeguard what is important.
The author has created a wonderfully, extensive world and has focused a lot on the characterization of the protagonists, and there are many layers to everything, so much so that we see how it was not just so simple black and white and even villains had their own shades.
Admittedly, there is an array of characters that have been introduced in this book and a lot of things were simultaneously taking place, yet it was an enriching experience to keep tabs on everything and stay connected. Hence I am going to give this book FIVE STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The book, ‘The Last Keeper’ by author JV Hilliard is an attempt by the author to incorporate this age old fantasy, which not gives the readers an escape from reality, but rather has the ability of making them understand it.
Being born blind at birth, our main character, Daemus, would have never even thought in his wildest dreams that he would be seeing again, hence when he is given this Sight as a blessing by mysterious visitor, he must stay true to his calling and fulfill the purpose for which he was given this chance.
In this attempt, Daemus becomes the Keeper of a society which deals with the protection and scribing of historical archives, however when there is a threat from a powerful enemy, he must join forces with others to truly safeguard what is important.
The author has created a wonderfully, extensive world and has focused a lot on the characterization of the protagonists, and there are many layers to everything, so much so that we see how it was not just so simple black and white and even villains had their own shades.
Admittedly, there is an array of characters that have been introduced in this book and a lot of things were simultaneously taking place, yet it was an enriching experience to keep tabs on everything and stay connected. Hence I am going to give this book FIVE STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 3, 2022
When a blind prophetic, Daemus, is faced with defeating Graytorris the Mad, he’ll have to come together with others who he’s never met to succeed. As he continues to suffer from nightmares, he’ll need to leave his home to battle against the fallen Keeper.
Princess Addilyn Elspeth is on her way to her new life as a diplomat. During her journey, she learns of the coming trouble and abandons her plan in order to help prevent a coup. Sir Ritter Valkeneer comes to the princesses aid as she helps fight against Graytorris.
The Last Keeper is a multi-character perspective book, with the tale taking place as seen through several of the characters’ eyes. There are a number of characters beyond the main three. Hilliard does a great job in building an entire cast that is likeable and easier to care about.
There is a good deal of world-building achieved through fantastic descriptions. Despite the lengthier descriptions, the prose is easy to read and immersive.
The Last Keeper is an excellent series starter to what promises to be an action-packed epic fantasy adventure. If you love high stakes and pulse-pounding action wrapped up in a new realm, I’d highly recommend The Last Keeper.
Princess Addilyn Elspeth is on her way to her new life as a diplomat. During her journey, she learns of the coming trouble and abandons her plan in order to help prevent a coup. Sir Ritter Valkeneer comes to the princesses aid as she helps fight against Graytorris.
The Last Keeper is a multi-character perspective book, with the tale taking place as seen through several of the characters’ eyes. There are a number of characters beyond the main three. Hilliard does a great job in building an entire cast that is likeable and easier to care about.
There is a good deal of world-building achieved through fantastic descriptions. Despite the lengthier descriptions, the prose is easy to read and immersive.
The Last Keeper is an excellent series starter to what promises to be an action-packed epic fantasy adventure. If you love high stakes and pulse-pounding action wrapped up in a new realm, I’d highly recommend The Last Keeper.
May 16, 2022
This is a fictional plot with an interesting blend of different genres in it. The book focuses on few characters, one young lad, Daemus, who bears a special thing which is the prophetic sight. He is being charged with the responsibility of a Keeper of the Forbidden, where he has to use his powers to keep everything in order. Another is Princess Addilyn with her own dark secret.
The book takes the reader on an interesting ride as there are these two get along to set out one single mission. The author has written down the tale of these two personalities in an interesting manner with the amazing set of characters and scenarios involved in it. The narration of the book is smooth and easygoing. The characters involved in the book bloomed well throughout the plotline as the author has potraited each and every character in a beautiful manner. The book is being layered nicely with the series of situations and incidents that were quite interesting to read. This is the first book in the series thus the world built is rich in this one. The characters in the plot kept me hooked till the end. Each has been given sufficient scope to contribute to the plot. The language used is lucid. It is definitely a good read for all the readers.
The book takes the reader on an interesting ride as there are these two get along to set out one single mission. The author has written down the tale of these two personalities in an interesting manner with the amazing set of characters and scenarios involved in it. The narration of the book is smooth and easygoing. The characters involved in the book bloomed well throughout the plotline as the author has potraited each and every character in a beautiful manner. The book is being layered nicely with the series of situations and incidents that were quite interesting to read. This is the first book in the series thus the world built is rich in this one. The characters in the plot kept me hooked till the end. Each has been given sufficient scope to contribute to the plot. The language used is lucid. It is definitely a good read for all the readers.
July 16, 2023
This one exceeded my expectations. When I first read the reviews comparing Hilliard's style to Tolkien's and GRR Martin's I was curious and doubtful. However, it was a pleasant surprise to find out that the comparisons were true.
🕯The writing style was absolutely magnificent (descriptive and poetic).
🕯The characters were all likable and well developed. I liked how their paths crossed and their stories intertwined
🕯Though the plot was intriguing it was a bit of a mess in the beginning (considering all high fantasy books need to dump us with info at some point I thought this was normal) I will not go into detail about the plot, I fear I might spoil something.
Would I be reading the 2nd book? Absolutely! I've always been a fan of quests, unlikely alliances and descriptive writing style so... yeah I'm sold.
This book is worth your time if you like Tolkien's work, GRR Martin's work, and high fantasy in general😌👌🏼
🕯The writing style was absolutely magnificent (descriptive and poetic).
🕯The characters were all likable and well developed. I liked how their paths crossed and their stories intertwined
🕯Though the plot was intriguing it was a bit of a mess in the beginning (considering all high fantasy books need to dump us with info at some point I thought this was normal) I will not go into detail about the plot, I fear I might spoil something.
Would I be reading the 2nd book? Absolutely! I've always been a fan of quests, unlikely alliances and descriptive writing style so... yeah I'm sold.
This book is worth your time if you like Tolkien's work, GRR Martin's work, and high fantasy in general😌👌🏼
April 11, 2022
The Last Keeper was a great start to an amazing fantasy series filled with humor, adventure, action and treachery! The characters have depth and are easy to like. They are characters you want to know, you want to see what happens and what they will do! And it's told from multiple points of views so you get a great chance to get to know them! The world building is unique and the writing is wonderful! J.V. Hilliard is a great story teller! Overall an addictive and entertaining read! And with the cliffhanger I definitely want to get a hold of the next book!
Thank you Blackthorn Book Tours and J.V. Hilliard for sharing this great adventure with me!
Thank you Blackthorn Book Tours and J.V. Hilliard for sharing this great adventure with me!
March 10, 2022
DNF - I wanted to love this based on the cover. 50 pages in and I can’t keep any of the characters straight and there’s so much world building happening that my head is spinning. Apparently this one is just not for me 🤷♀️
August 6, 2022
A fun epic fantasy novel, with great characterization and atmosphere. I’m interested to see where it goes next.
April 2, 2022
Spoilers: When an Epic Fantasy begins, usually it shows a slightly lighter world. It introduced us to the plucky characters at the start of their adventure. They are going through their daily lives ignorant of what monumental changes are going to affect their world.
Rare is the epic fantasy that starts out dark and just stays that way throughout the entire series.
J.V. Hilliard's The Last Keeper, book one of The Warminster Series is that book. When the first chapter begins with a character painfully transforming into a demonic creature then you know we are in for quite a somber ride and all of the elven creatures, magic spells, and sword fights aren't going to change that.
This is the typical Epic Fantasy in which there are several characters involved in this disturbing quest. However, there are three main protagonists.
There is Daemus Alaric, a member of the Keepers of the Forbidden, scribes who write and protect arcane historical archives. Besides having a tremendously important profession, Daemus also has a gift of prophetic dreams. Lately, he has been dreaming of a demonic figure in the mist who calls him by name and taunts him.
Another important protagonist is Sir Ritter Valkeneer, a warrior. Half-elven and half-human, Ritter and other human/fantasy creature hybrids are called by the derogatory term, Trollborn. Despite the slurs, Ritter is a greatly respected knight and warrior. Normally, they battle cryptid creatures. However, now he and his fellow knights have to take on a more otherworldly magical foe.
The third protagonist is Addilyn Elspeth, a noblewoman and daughter of an ambassador. She also has dreams but her dreams are more symbolic than those of Daemus. She dreams of a herd of tetrine, ten foot tall black unicorns. To dream of a tetrine signifies death and destruction and judging by what's been happening to the rest of the world, that dream is spot on. Daemus, Ritter, and Addilyn's stories eventually converge when they realize the depths of their antagonist's dealings in murderous dark magic and how many will suffer.
There are many moments that bring fear forward that transform an Epic Fantasy into a Supernatural Horror in a Fantasy world. The dreams of tetrines are not of a herd of majestic pure unicorns. Instead, they are more like the steeds of the Hundred Riders of the Apocalypse. It's easy to see why Addilyn and others are fearful of this nightmare and what it represents. In a world which takes dreams and omens seriously, this is a disturbing one.
It doesn't get any better after that. The Reader and characters are subjected to various violent scenes. In one harrowing encounter, a shape shifting assassin kills the relative of one of the main characters. The grief is insurmountable and puts the character into a severe depression that motivates their actions through the rest of the book transforming their personality immensely. While many are determined to catch this murderer, there is a realization that this is a hard task because the assassin is a shape shifter. By definition, they could hide anywhere and become anyone. Justice may take awhile to be met, if indeed it can ever be.
There is also a visible darkness within characters as well. We learn the backstory of the main antagonist. They are not some god or demon. Instead this person is all too human. Just someone whose ambition and passion got in the way of common sense and reason. It's frightening because this character is so relatable. In a fantasy world, their villain could be any one of us.
We also see a more troubling nature in characters who believe that they are on the side of good. At one point, Daemus goes on the run and encounters a group of friendly and helpful outlaws. Unfortunately, when they return to Daemus' home and his wealthy noble family, his family doesn't want to have anything to do with the people who saved their son's life. They cite rivalries and family grudges, but the truth is they are prejudiced against these people and want them arrested.
Not to mention the term Trollborn is meant to convey many of the slurs that are heard in modern day. Those like Ritter can be as heroic as anyone, even be held up as Legends but to some that won't matter. They only see their appearance or family lineage.
The Last Keeper is one of those fantasies that makes real world commentary in a fantasy setting and does it well.
Sometimes with Epic Fantasy, darkness spills into a formerly light world making the characters wait for the light to return. However with The Last Keeper, the demons both outside and within the characters, the light may never appear. The darkness may remain for a long time, even forever.
Rare is the epic fantasy that starts out dark and just stays that way throughout the entire series.
J.V. Hilliard's The Last Keeper, book one of The Warminster Series is that book. When the first chapter begins with a character painfully transforming into a demonic creature then you know we are in for quite a somber ride and all of the elven creatures, magic spells, and sword fights aren't going to change that.
This is the typical Epic Fantasy in which there are several characters involved in this disturbing quest. However, there are three main protagonists.
There is Daemus Alaric, a member of the Keepers of the Forbidden, scribes who write and protect arcane historical archives. Besides having a tremendously important profession, Daemus also has a gift of prophetic dreams. Lately, he has been dreaming of a demonic figure in the mist who calls him by name and taunts him.
Another important protagonist is Sir Ritter Valkeneer, a warrior. Half-elven and half-human, Ritter and other human/fantasy creature hybrids are called by the derogatory term, Trollborn. Despite the slurs, Ritter is a greatly respected knight and warrior. Normally, they battle cryptid creatures. However, now he and his fellow knights have to take on a more otherworldly magical foe.
The third protagonist is Addilyn Elspeth, a noblewoman and daughter of an ambassador. She also has dreams but her dreams are more symbolic than those of Daemus. She dreams of a herd of tetrine, ten foot tall black unicorns. To dream of a tetrine signifies death and destruction and judging by what's been happening to the rest of the world, that dream is spot on. Daemus, Ritter, and Addilyn's stories eventually converge when they realize the depths of their antagonist's dealings in murderous dark magic and how many will suffer.
There are many moments that bring fear forward that transform an Epic Fantasy into a Supernatural Horror in a Fantasy world. The dreams of tetrines are not of a herd of majestic pure unicorns. Instead, they are more like the steeds of the Hundred Riders of the Apocalypse. It's easy to see why Addilyn and others are fearful of this nightmare and what it represents. In a world which takes dreams and omens seriously, this is a disturbing one.
It doesn't get any better after that. The Reader and characters are subjected to various violent scenes. In one harrowing encounter, a shape shifting assassin kills the relative of one of the main characters. The grief is insurmountable and puts the character into a severe depression that motivates their actions through the rest of the book transforming their personality immensely. While many are determined to catch this murderer, there is a realization that this is a hard task because the assassin is a shape shifter. By definition, they could hide anywhere and become anyone. Justice may take awhile to be met, if indeed it can ever be.
There is also a visible darkness within characters as well. We learn the backstory of the main antagonist. They are not some god or demon. Instead this person is all too human. Just someone whose ambition and passion got in the way of common sense and reason. It's frightening because this character is so relatable. In a fantasy world, their villain could be any one of us.
We also see a more troubling nature in characters who believe that they are on the side of good. At one point, Daemus goes on the run and encounters a group of friendly and helpful outlaws. Unfortunately, when they return to Daemus' home and his wealthy noble family, his family doesn't want to have anything to do with the people who saved their son's life. They cite rivalries and family grudges, but the truth is they are prejudiced against these people and want them arrested.
Not to mention the term Trollborn is meant to convey many of the slurs that are heard in modern day. Those like Ritter can be as heroic as anyone, even be held up as Legends but to some that won't matter. They only see their appearance or family lineage.
The Last Keeper is one of those fantasies that makes real world commentary in a fantasy setting and does it well.
Sometimes with Epic Fantasy, darkness spills into a formerly light world making the characters wait for the light to return. However with The Last Keeper, the demons both outside and within the characters, the light may never appear. The darkness may remain for a long time, even forever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2022
A beautifully crafted though massively complicated debut to what looks like a rolling series. I worry when I write something like this, because if the author has thrown so much complication at the first book in a series, one wonders A) Is there anything left for the next one? B) to top the first one, is the next one simply going to get labyrinthine to the point of lax and undisciplined (like the later Harry Potter volumes did, I would suggest …)
But that’s just speculation nagging me. And even if the jury is out for me about the rest of the series, there is a huge amount to praise in this first volume. It is certainly well done – well written, well plotted, a world well-fleshed out. It’s a genre novel in pure culture – all the familiar components, shaken up and reassembled – but genre novels have huge appeal, and there was enough that was original in this one that I wasn't left feeling I had read the book before.
I quickly believed in the world that Hilliard has created. It felt solid, as if I could look round a corner and there would be more of it, not just the cardboard back of a stage set. That’s a huge achievement for a genre fantasy book.
The cast of characters was compelling. Four of them were really structural for this book and there were several more whom I cared about and would be happy to meet again, perhaps in a more major role in a future volume.
I liked the shades of grey – I have always been interested in the liminal space between good and evil, and this was well charted in some of the characters.
I liked the variant take on various old tropes (oh how I loved those interesting black unicorns – anyone who has been anywhere near a western girl-child in the last few years will have been fed to gagging with fluffy saccharin pastel-coloured ones, so this was a bold innovation, but well achieved.)
I liked the exploration of class and status and race and discrimination – modern issues I haven’t seen explored in this way through this genre before. Done with a lightness of touch that I admired, but still there for the taking.
All in all, a fine debut. Well done Mr Hilliard. I’ll risk the next one and eat humble pie if my opening misgivings are proven wrong.
But that’s just speculation nagging me. And even if the jury is out for me about the rest of the series, there is a huge amount to praise in this first volume. It is certainly well done – well written, well plotted, a world well-fleshed out. It’s a genre novel in pure culture – all the familiar components, shaken up and reassembled – but genre novels have huge appeal, and there was enough that was original in this one that I wasn't left feeling I had read the book before.
I quickly believed in the world that Hilliard has created. It felt solid, as if I could look round a corner and there would be more of it, not just the cardboard back of a stage set. That’s a huge achievement for a genre fantasy book.
The cast of characters was compelling. Four of them were really structural for this book and there were several more whom I cared about and would be happy to meet again, perhaps in a more major role in a future volume.
I liked the shades of grey – I have always been interested in the liminal space between good and evil, and this was well charted in some of the characters.
I liked the variant take on various old tropes (oh how I loved those interesting black unicorns – anyone who has been anywhere near a western girl-child in the last few years will have been fed to gagging with fluffy saccharin pastel-coloured ones, so this was a bold innovation, but well achieved.)
I liked the exploration of class and status and race and discrimination – modern issues I haven’t seen explored in this way through this genre before. Done with a lightness of touch that I admired, but still there for the taking.
All in all, a fine debut. Well done Mr Hilliard. I’ll risk the next one and eat humble pie if my opening misgivings are proven wrong.
May 6, 2023
I rated this page turner four stars because it was amazing!
This book is a part of ''the Warminster series''. Its the first book.
J.V Hilliard did not disappoint with this book. The writing was just *chefs kiss*. The flow was so incredible, it took you along on the characters journey which was full of twists and exciting parts. I couldn't put it down once I picked it up. It is THAT good.
The writing isn't very hard to follow along, everything is described well and I really felt like I was there with the characters. It was extremely detailed but not in a boring or dreaded way.
The only thing I disliked was that I had a hard time keeping up with the characters. There were so many and after I felt like I knew them a bit more characters were introduced. Many of the characters didn't interact with each other so they all had different POV's. This made it feel like I didn't have enough time to really get to know them and sometimes I forgot what was happening to them. I feel like some kind of glossary at the beginning of the book would help so I could refer back to it and read which character was who again.
But even with this small point of feedback I still massively enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more of this author (and series) J.V Hilliard truly has talent I want to explore more!
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to the author for this opportunity!
This book is a part of ''the Warminster series''. Its the first book.
J.V Hilliard did not disappoint with this book. The writing was just *chefs kiss*. The flow was so incredible, it took you along on the characters journey which was full of twists and exciting parts. I couldn't put it down once I picked it up. It is THAT good.
The writing isn't very hard to follow along, everything is described well and I really felt like I was there with the characters. It was extremely detailed but not in a boring or dreaded way.
The only thing I disliked was that I had a hard time keeping up with the characters. There were so many and after I felt like I knew them a bit more characters were introduced. Many of the characters didn't interact with each other so they all had different POV's. This made it feel like I didn't have enough time to really get to know them and sometimes I forgot what was happening to them. I feel like some kind of glossary at the beginning of the book would help so I could refer back to it and read which character was who again.
But even with this small point of feedback I still massively enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more of this author (and series) J.V Hilliard truly has talent I want to explore more!
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to the author for this opportunity!
April 8, 2022
*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*
"The blade of betrayal, the sharpest of weapons, is wielded not by your enemies, but by your friends."
Now this quote is how you begin an epic dark fantasy series to rival Game of Thrones and The Wheel of Time. The Last Keeper: Book One of The Warminster Series by cinematic descriptive author J.V. Hilliard is a clutch your heart, hold your breath, saga that is filled with honorable heroes, despicable villains and every imaginable creature in between.
There are three main characters, vastly different from each other but ultimately in need of one another to defeat the fourth and most consequential protagonist, Graytorris The Mad, a fallen keeper. His name says it all about his villainous behavior.
Daemus, born blind, is given Sight by a mysterious visitor and begins having visions that come true. He becomes the Keeper of the Forbidden, a society of scribes who write and protect historical archives. Think Sam of Game of Thrones. His visions of Graytorris The Mad's treachery lead him on a war path.
Princess Addilyn comes across a herd of Tetrine, dark unicorn like creatures, an omen of evil times.
My favorite, Sir Ritter of Valkeneer, is a trollborn Knight, half elvin, half human. His loyal falcon, Storm, who he communicates and strategizes with, is an extension of himself. He has his own means of justice for evil.
Beware that there is much violence and death but not for gratuitous reasons. In fact, one killing greatly propels the story forward.
With extensive intricate world building, that had me taking notes and a very vivid imagination this writer created an immersive world that left me breathless, stunned and greedy for more. Bring on Book 2 and HBOMAX you have your GOT replacement.
I received a free copy of this book from Blackthorn Book Tours for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
"The blade of betrayal, the sharpest of weapons, is wielded not by your enemies, but by your friends."
Now this quote is how you begin an epic dark fantasy series to rival Game of Thrones and The Wheel of Time. The Last Keeper: Book One of The Warminster Series by cinematic descriptive author J.V. Hilliard is a clutch your heart, hold your breath, saga that is filled with honorable heroes, despicable villains and every imaginable creature in between.
There are three main characters, vastly different from each other but ultimately in need of one another to defeat the fourth and most consequential protagonist, Graytorris The Mad, a fallen keeper. His name says it all about his villainous behavior.
Daemus, born blind, is given Sight by a mysterious visitor and begins having visions that come true. He becomes the Keeper of the Forbidden, a society of scribes who write and protect historical archives. Think Sam of Game of Thrones. His visions of Graytorris The Mad's treachery lead him on a war path.
Princess Addilyn comes across a herd of Tetrine, dark unicorn like creatures, an omen of evil times.
My favorite, Sir Ritter of Valkeneer, is a trollborn Knight, half elvin, half human. His loyal falcon, Storm, who he communicates and strategizes with, is an extension of himself. He has his own means of justice for evil.
Beware that there is much violence and death but not for gratuitous reasons. In fact, one killing greatly propels the story forward.
With extensive intricate world building, that had me taking notes and a very vivid imagination this writer created an immersive world that left me breathless, stunned and greedy for more. Bring on Book 2 and HBOMAX you have your GOT replacement.
I received a free copy of this book from Blackthorn Book Tours for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 20, 2022
And We have The first 5 star of The Year.
I'm so happy that I was asked To review this book, because I would have missed out on a hell of a story otherwise.
This Is a world you want To experience, even If It Is filled with treachery and peril But that just makes the adventure even better. It's surprising that this Is a début novel and the first book in a series (so expect a cliffy at the end). It certainly feels like The work of an experienced Fantasy writer.. That Is True talent. The well though out plot, The detailed world Building, The right amount of humour, adventure, epicness...It's just addicting. It will grab your attention and won't let go.
The characters, they are so realistic on their quests, reactions, relationships... They Feel real To The reader and you just want To Tag along with them and see How you fare in this world... It was so well handled that I didn't mind the we need to protect our hero trope, which I usually find annoying but in this case it works smoothly.
The only complain I have Is that cliffhanger... God, I understand why it Is there But I hate that I have To wait For The next book... Which I will be getting as soon as It comes out.
If you Love epic Fantasy Or even If you just want To read a fast paced adventure Check this book out...
I'm so happy that I was asked To review this book, because I would have missed out on a hell of a story otherwise.
This Is a world you want To experience, even If It Is filled with treachery and peril But that just makes the adventure even better. It's surprising that this Is a début novel and the first book in a series (so expect a cliffy at the end). It certainly feels like The work of an experienced Fantasy writer.. That Is True talent. The well though out plot, The detailed world Building, The right amount of humour, adventure, epicness...It's just addicting. It will grab your attention and won't let go.
The characters, they are so realistic on their quests, reactions, relationships... They Feel real To The reader and you just want To Tag along with them and see How you fare in this world... It was so well handled that I didn't mind the we need to protect our hero trope, which I usually find annoying but in this case it works smoothly.
The only complain I have Is that cliffhanger... God, I understand why it Is there But I hate that I have To wait For The next book... Which I will be getting as soon as It comes out.
If you Love epic Fantasy Or even If you just want To read a fast paced adventure Check this book out...
April 11, 2022
As a fan of Lord of the Rings since I was in middle school, I was eager to get my hands on a copy of The Last Keeper, a book by J.V. Hilliard. After reading it, I can honestly say that I cannot wait for book two! Hilliard creates his own realm of Warminster while paying homage to some of the typical characters we may see in such stories (elves and such) but really makes them his own. Each race is unique, each monster is unique and it’s easy to root for the protagonists as they story moves forward.
Hilliard is masterful in describing his battle scenes and even creates his own system of magic—some like Gandalf, learned or read… others derived from divine intervention or powers from the “Ancients,” his term for the gods.
The first half of the book introduces you to the main characters, both good and bad, and gives the reader a glimpse behind the curtain to their origin stories. But then the second half of the book takes off like a rocket and races the reader through epic battles and magical engagements that I, as a fantasy reader, love.
Couldn’t put it down and you wont either. Highly recommend.
Hilliard is masterful in describing his battle scenes and even creates his own system of magic—some like Gandalf, learned or read… others derived from divine intervention or powers from the “Ancients,” his term for the gods.
The first half of the book introduces you to the main characters, both good and bad, and gives the reader a glimpse behind the curtain to their origin stories. But then the second half of the book takes off like a rocket and races the reader through epic battles and magical engagements that I, as a fantasy reader, love.
Couldn’t put it down and you wont either. Highly recommend.
February 6, 2022
The Last Keeper (The Warminster Series Book 1)
Is worth mentioning that this is not normally my go to genre in books but I was pleasantly surprise with this debut novel that presents great quality and detail from beginning to end.
In this book the reader is introduced to three different individuals: the low keeper Daemus, the troll born Sir Ritter and the elven princess Addilyn. They will all fight their battles against Graytorris the mad , a fallen keeper.
The reader is given lots of detailed descriptions what is great, it is a very compelling story with lots of adventure and imagination!!!
I enjoyed reading this book and am now looking forward to see what the next book will bring!
Thank you to Henry Roi and J.V. Hilliard for this #gifted review copy.
Is worth mentioning that this is not normally my go to genre in books but I was pleasantly surprise with this debut novel that presents great quality and detail from beginning to end.
In this book the reader is introduced to three different individuals: the low keeper Daemus, the troll born Sir Ritter and the elven princess Addilyn. They will all fight their battles against Graytorris the mad , a fallen keeper.
The reader is given lots of detailed descriptions what is great, it is a very compelling story with lots of adventure and imagination!!!
I enjoyed reading this book and am now looking forward to see what the next book will bring!
Thank you to Henry Roi and J.V. Hilliard for this #gifted review copy.
October 7, 2022
You really get to be dropped in the middle of this world. With so many different characters’ perspectives at the forefront, it’s intriguing to see how everything moves as one. They say there are more than two sides to every story, and this book reflects that in a very important way—a way that pulls you deeper. If you looked at this story through a telescope, you would see all the relatable pieces that make each protagonist fit together. Their imperfections make them thrive. We have a good combination of sympathy, heroism, and otherworldliness as we go each step further into this novel. Highly recommend the read if you want to lose yourself in a fantasy world for a while.
January 10, 2022
This book isn’t my usual genre , although saying that I love Game Of Thrones and Lord Of The Rings to watch on tv so I’m what you’d call a fantasy viewer not reader.
I enjoyed this book it was a little complex but I managed to get through and I was willing the characters on in the end.
If you love fantasy tv or books you should give this a go.
I’m sure the next instalments will be just as good.
I enjoyed this book it was a little complex but I managed to get through and I was willing the characters on in the end.
If you love fantasy tv or books you should give this a go.
I’m sure the next instalments will be just as good.
April 9, 2022
Lord of the Rings meets Game of Thrones, written by a master of dark psychology.
This complex fantasy, introducing a world which deserves the ongoing series of books that is planned for it, is a fascinating, unexpected read. It has all the features of a much lighter fantasy – elves, quasi unicorns etc – but on a pitch dark background where nothing is as it seems. The world building is comprehensive and the world will stay with you, even if the next book is a long time coming. Characters are perfectly delineated, all of them integral and their stories eventually coming together in an immensely satisfying way. Heroes and villains are all complex, relatable and engaging – shades of gray in all of them. No cute hobbits. This is fantasy for grownups.
April 15, 2022
The Last Keeper is the first book in the Warminster series, with many rich and colourful characters along with their unique stories to tell. J.V. Hilliard has created an epic account of the lives of these people and their struggles to survive and persevere, with multiple sacrifices made.
In J.V. Hilliard's The Last Keeper, Daemus, Sir Ritter Valkeneer, and Princess Addilyn Elspeth struggle against the fallen Keeper, Graytorris the mad. Daemus Alaric was born blind, but an unseen visitor bestows him the gift of sight. He joins a renowned group of great arcanists known as the Keepers of the Forbidden, which serves the leaders of Warminster. A fallen Keeper known as Graytorris the Mad and his prior secrecy are revealed via his Sight. It's now or never for the Keepers as the reappearance of the fallen Keeper has thrown everything into disarray.
Princess Addilyn Elspeth is on her way to Castleshire to pursue a new career as a diplomat after leaving Eldwal, the enchanted hideaway of her Vermilion elf family. While traveling, she stumbles upon a herd of black unicorn-like creatures known as Tetrine. The Tetrine predicts bad news, prompting her to abandon plans and listen to the Tetrine. With his expertise of the Tetrine, Anselm Helenius, a brilliant cryptid hunter, points Addilyn in the right path. Now she must persuade King Godwin and Queen Amice of Thronehelm that they must support them in the event of calamity and a coup against the legitimate rulers.
Trollborn Knight, Sir Ritter of Valkeneer, can communicate with his falcon, Storm, the power given by his elven heritage. Addilyn enlists his help in getting to Castleshire, where they become more and more infatuated with one another. People in her community, on the other hand, are apprehensive about the higher echelons of society associating with trollborns. Addilyn learns that in order to continue a relationship with Ritter, she must rise above her people's cultural norms and prejudices.
When I pick up a fantasy book to read, I always look out for four things: world building, writing, character development, and plot. If any of these is not well portrayed, I usually end up not enjoying the book. This book is absolute perfection. J.V. Hilliard delivers exceptionally on every aspect of the story. The political intrigue, the economic structure, the magic system, the character development, and the romance are all remarkably intertwined with each other. Right from the beginning, we are immediately thrust into a world where all at once we know that this is a story of ancient and epic quality. Prepare to be held spellbound and thoroughly entertained by this fascinating book.
In J.V. Hilliard's The Last Keeper, Daemus, Sir Ritter Valkeneer, and Princess Addilyn Elspeth struggle against the fallen Keeper, Graytorris the mad. Daemus Alaric was born blind, but an unseen visitor bestows him the gift of sight. He joins a renowned group of great arcanists known as the Keepers of the Forbidden, which serves the leaders of Warminster. A fallen Keeper known as Graytorris the Mad and his prior secrecy are revealed via his Sight. It's now or never for the Keepers as the reappearance of the fallen Keeper has thrown everything into disarray.
Princess Addilyn Elspeth is on her way to Castleshire to pursue a new career as a diplomat after leaving Eldwal, the enchanted hideaway of her Vermilion elf family. While traveling, she stumbles upon a herd of black unicorn-like creatures known as Tetrine. The Tetrine predicts bad news, prompting her to abandon plans and listen to the Tetrine. With his expertise of the Tetrine, Anselm Helenius, a brilliant cryptid hunter, points Addilyn in the right path. Now she must persuade King Godwin and Queen Amice of Thronehelm that they must support them in the event of calamity and a coup against the legitimate rulers.
Trollborn Knight, Sir Ritter of Valkeneer, can communicate with his falcon, Storm, the power given by his elven heritage. Addilyn enlists his help in getting to Castleshire, where they become more and more infatuated with one another. People in her community, on the other hand, are apprehensive about the higher echelons of society associating with trollborns. Addilyn learns that in order to continue a relationship with Ritter, she must rise above her people's cultural norms and prejudices.
When I pick up a fantasy book to read, I always look out for four things: world building, writing, character development, and plot. If any of these is not well portrayed, I usually end up not enjoying the book. This book is absolute perfection. J.V. Hilliard delivers exceptionally on every aspect of the story. The political intrigue, the economic structure, the magic system, the character development, and the romance are all remarkably intertwined with each other. Right from the beginning, we are immediately thrust into a world where all at once we know that this is a story of ancient and epic quality. Prepare to be held spellbound and thoroughly entertained by this fascinating book.
April 29, 2022
I enjoyed The Last Keeper in the first half, but didn't exactly enjoy it as much in the second half.
I have received this book in exchange of an honest review, thank you to the author for the opportunity.
I have my own blog now, so please do give it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)
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The Last Keeper managed to hit a lot of things I enjoy in any book I read. which in turn, makes it are very interesting just how different both of its halves ended up being, enjoyment wise.
The main thing that gripped me in the book, was the world building. Elves are the main race being handled in the series, and given my love for them made me incredibly giddy as I read on. I really enjoyed the different types of elves around, the stigma surrounding some births and the different shown hierarchies. I also really enjoyed seeing the different groups in the world, magic types and getting a look at the academy.
There is so many to unpack in the intricacy of the world, that I found it hard to stop reading. J. V. Hilliard would sometimes, go into an info-dump section so to speak as I read along. To me personally, that was greatly appreciated and I enjoyed every single letter of it. It's combined with the story's events as well, and the information was revealed whenever a new thing came to be. Which is again, very appreciated.
It's annoying when things appear and don't get explained, so this to me, was a massive win.
When it comes to the plot of the book however, it's when things start to become not as good. I'll be the first to tell you that a frequently seen story is never a bad idea, since the execution of that idea can still make it interesting to read. Or fun to read, which is the most important part of this medium to me. And I'm saddened to see that it doesn't technically happen here.
It's not that it was written horribly, because that's simply not true. But rather, there was nothing that sets it apart from the other "group of different people join up to defeat an enemy with losses along the way." I've previously read. Specifically in the plot itself, because as explained before, the world building is still really brilliant.
Usually, when things like this happen, I tend to focus more on the surrounding elements of the book rather than its plot. Mainly the characters, thing is, the more involved I got with the characters, and see their roles to play into this book, the less attached I got. So it didn't work out for me as well as I had hoped.
I was more interested in hearing the information they provided, rather than seeing what they'll be doing. Thankfully, the author gave them interesting different magic system for me to enjoy, so I was able to regain that interest in them in small spurts at times. So it wasn't all bad for me when it came to them. Can't forget the battles here either, many instances and they were really cool to read about.
If I'm being totally honest here and not wanting to go into spoiler territory, then to me, there were only two instances here where I really disliked two characters. One for each so to speak, one for making the single most stupidest decision in the entire book. Which is made worse given their position in it. And the second for making said character appear way too comical for their role.
Neither sat well with me, but that's all I'm saying about it.
I do also believe that one other aspect that stopped me from enjoying the book's second half came from the romance in the series. I really dislike it in any of my reads to begin with, but making all of the affections in the book be the result of insta-love was even more difficult to read for me. But that's just me, so as always, take this with a grain of salt.
In the end, the book had some wins and some not-so-wins. But overall, I enjoyed it and hopefully I'll be coming back some day to finish the series.
I have received this book in exchange of an honest review, thank you to the author for the opportunity.
I have my own blog now, so please do give it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)
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The Last Keeper managed to hit a lot of things I enjoy in any book I read. which in turn, makes it are very interesting just how different both of its halves ended up being, enjoyment wise.
The main thing that gripped me in the book, was the world building. Elves are the main race being handled in the series, and given my love for them made me incredibly giddy as I read on. I really enjoyed the different types of elves around, the stigma surrounding some births and the different shown hierarchies. I also really enjoyed seeing the different groups in the world, magic types and getting a look at the academy.
There is so many to unpack in the intricacy of the world, that I found it hard to stop reading. J. V. Hilliard would sometimes, go into an info-dump section so to speak as I read along. To me personally, that was greatly appreciated and I enjoyed every single letter of it. It's combined with the story's events as well, and the information was revealed whenever a new thing came to be. Which is again, very appreciated.
It's annoying when things appear and don't get explained, so this to me, was a massive win.
When it comes to the plot of the book however, it's when things start to become not as good. I'll be the first to tell you that a frequently seen story is never a bad idea, since the execution of that idea can still make it interesting to read. Or fun to read, which is the most important part of this medium to me. And I'm saddened to see that it doesn't technically happen here.
It's not that it was written horribly, because that's simply not true. But rather, there was nothing that sets it apart from the other "group of different people join up to defeat an enemy with losses along the way." I've previously read. Specifically in the plot itself, because as explained before, the world building is still really brilliant.
Usually, when things like this happen, I tend to focus more on the surrounding elements of the book rather than its plot. Mainly the characters, thing is, the more involved I got with the characters, and see their roles to play into this book, the less attached I got. So it didn't work out for me as well as I had hoped.
I was more interested in hearing the information they provided, rather than seeing what they'll be doing. Thankfully, the author gave them interesting different magic system for me to enjoy, so I was able to regain that interest in them in small spurts at times. So it wasn't all bad for me when it came to them. Can't forget the battles here either, many instances and they were really cool to read about.
If I'm being totally honest here and not wanting to go into spoiler territory, then to me, there were only two instances here where I really disliked two characters. One for each so to speak, one for making the single most stupidest decision in the entire book. Which is made worse given their position in it. And the second for making said character appear way too comical for their role.
Neither sat well with me, but that's all I'm saying about it.
I do also believe that one other aspect that stopped me from enjoying the book's second half came from the romance in the series. I really dislike it in any of my reads to begin with, but making all of the affections in the book be the result of insta-love was even more difficult to read for me. But that's just me, so as always, take this with a grain of salt.
In the end, the book had some wins and some not-so-wins. But overall, I enjoyed it and hopefully I'll be coming back some day to finish the series.
May 19, 2022
It's been a while since I have read a fantabulous fantasy story. This book, The Last Keeper by J.V. Hilliard satisfied my long term wish ! The whole story revolves around 3 characters namely Daemus, Ritter and Addilyn. Daemus was blind right from birth. He often receives warnings about the rise of evil ! Ritter is a knight. He uncovers all the mysteries. Addilyn Elspeth is a princess. On her way to Sastleshire she gets to experience some Mystic creatures. All the characters in the story have their own stories. They all fight against a villain named Greytoris. The story is all about whether they win their battle against this powerful villain ! There are many aspects and emotions filled in the book ! Magical sequences, fight scenes which eventually end up in violence, being loyal and getting betrayed are all a part of this story ! A great mixture of all these things spice up the read. The book is fast paced and the narration style is perfect. The characters are also well developed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to all the fantasy lovers out there !
March 29, 2022
I couldn’t put it down!
Exquisite detail and story telling. If you like fiction similar to Game of Thrones and JRR Tolkien books, you will love this story.
Great job!
Exquisite detail and story telling. If you like fiction similar to Game of Thrones and JRR Tolkien books, you will love this story.
Great job!
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