The Keep Within

by J.L. Worrad

When Sir Harrance ‘Harry’ Larksdale, bastard brother of the king, falls for a mysterious lad from the mountains, he is unwillingly caught up in a chaotic world of court intrigue and murderous folk tales. Meanwhile Queen Carmotta Il’Lunadella, First-Queen of the Brintland, needs to save her life and her unborn child. With the Third-Queen plotting against her, and rumours of coups rocking the court, Carmotta can rely only on her devious mind and venomous wit.

But deep within the walls of Becken Keep squats the keep-within – patient, timeless, and evil. To speak of the keep-within outside the walls of Becken Keep guarantees your bizarre and agonising demise within nine days. All the while, people fearfully whisper the name Red Marie: a bloodied demon with rusted nails for teeth and swinging scythes who preys on the innocent.

Harry and Carmotta are clinging to their dreams, their lives, by threads. And, beneath all, the keep-within awaits.

Genres: Fantasy, LGBT, Queer

496 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 28, 2023

About the author

James Luke Worrad lives in Leicester, England, and has for almost all his life. He has a degree in classical studies from Lampeter University, Wales. He has found this invaluable to his growth as a science fiction and fantasy writer in that he soon discovered how varied and peculiar human cultures can be. In 2011 James attended Clarion, an SF workshop held at the University of California, San Diego. He's had short stories published by Daily Science Fiction, Flurb, Newcon Press and Obverse Books. He also writes screen plays for short films, one of which- Flawless- won the Seven/Five Film Festival Award and was selected for both the Cannes and NYC Independent film festivals. (It was also screened at CERN, home of the Large Hadron Collider). He runs the Fantasy & Science Fiction Salon group on Facebook. He also works a nightshift at a small hotel, an occupation that never leaves him short of material.

Reviews

[Rob Hayes]

Enthralling, twisty, and more than a little dangerous. The Keep Within is full of courtly intrigue, plots within schemes within plans, and a dripping bucket full of debauchery. And the cherry on top is JL Worrad's effortless way of making his world feel real and lived in. I highly recommend checking this one out.

[Jamedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review published on Jamreads
Interview available here

The Keep Within is an excellent and complex grimdark novel written by J.L. Worrad. A deliciously violent proposal and well-crafted prose are some of the characteristics that made this a really enjoyable experience, apart from a complex story using multiple POVs, following what could be called a chess match with several players moving the pieces.

Sir Harry Larksdale, bastard brother of the king, falls in love with a mysterious lad from the mountains, driving him into the world of intrigues that revolves around the Britland royal family. At the same time, Queen Carmotta is trying to secure her life and her unborn children, as a coup is being gestated among the courtesans, led by the Third Queen; without reliable allies, she will totally depend on her own ingenious and some forces she cannot trust.
But while the court is filled with intrigues, an evil is deep in the walls of Becken Keep. A demon whose name is Red Marie is starting to spread fear, with her rusted nails and her scythes, spreading blood and chaos.

With this premise, we get a story that is not afraid to show the goriest and most violent aspects of the fantasy, setting the tone from the very start; taking the grimdark premise of showing the full specter of morality to the extreme. From the start, we are the spectators of a really complex plot, with complicated characters, most of them being involved in more than what they can control.

Worrad gives us a set of interesting characters that make you feel involved, starting from the own Harry Larksdale, a snarky and quirky character, freedom as a person. Harry becomes a pawn in a chess game he's not aware of; and Carmotta, even if sometimes I didn't totally connect with her, is a smart character, trying to secure her unborn child, recurring to powers she cannot really comprehend.
Another arc I would like to focus on is Mother Fwych, hitting the bottom after confronting Red Marie. Fwych will be forced to slowly scale from the very ground, trying to overcome her new disability.

Worldbuilding is rich and compelling, full of small details that reference real historical facts (and examples appear really early). With some folk horror touches, it is really enjoyable to discover more of the world that also appeared in Pennyblade; each character has its own accent, even with different dialects.

The Keep Within is an excellent grimdark novel, complemented by gorgeous prose. If you enjoyed the books of Joe Abercrombie or Anna Smith Spark, I would certainly recommend TKW to you.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

Sharp, funny, twisted, The Keep Within is a story of haves vs. have-nots (and those that dally in-between) and how corruption trickles down from the ruling class all the way to the desolate and lost. Set in the same world as Pennyblade, this book takes aim at a wide scope of topics including royal politics, classism, sacrifice, fine arts, and folklore.

Although some of the material goes quite dark, Worrad once again injects humor into the dialogue, which serves as a welcome respite as well as strong character development. There are a few POVs and I felt like I knew them all quite well by the end of the story. Worrad even changes the style of his prose depending on which character’s chapter we’re following: Fwych uses “were” instead of “was” which lends credibility to her being a less-formally educated mystical woman of the mountains. While Larksdale, a smart and foppish head of a theater troupe uses phrases like “too-too utter” to describe something that’s over-the-top. These nuances helped me further connect with what goes on insides the POV’s heads.

The story felt a bit rushed toward the end, and although not every thread resolution landed, Worrad did an admirable job jumping between one head-shaking situation to the next while commenting on the absurdity of it all and never crossing into outright satire. It was a fine line to walk.

I look forward to reading whatever else Worrad publishes, as I think he’s an extremely underrated talent that deserves a much bigger audience.

[The Fantasy Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a review copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The Keep Within is a horrifically underrated grimdark fantasy novel that MUST be picked up by all fans of the genre. Do you want political intrigue and potting? Got it. A dark, awesome mystery? Got it. Characters you can absolutely adore and prose that is just a joy to consume? GOT IT!

The characters felt so real, vivid and unique, and the world is lived in rather than an empty shell of a background for our main characters to idly pass through. It’s like reading something by Robert Jordan, but Worrad can achieve that sense of place without using several pages to describe a pair of curtains (hyperbole - calm down).

This book is viciously violent, but juggles that well with Harry and Carmotta’s personalities. You don’t get too bogged down in misery, rather the darker elements create an atmospheric fog for the narrative to be told within.

Overall, I have no idea why this book hasn’t got more than 16 reviews on Goodreads (this is 17th, I suppose). Please go and pick this up!

[Runalong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hugely entertaining fantasy novel with a glorious style of storytelling which really makes this writer stand out. How intrigued tend to not notice they can go horribly wrong and overall just a great read

Full review / https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...

[Jaime · Rating 2 out of 5]

yea idk it had a really strong start and interesting premise but after page like 300 it just fell apart and lost all its promise. the plot became senseless and i realized long before the end how much i disliked the characters because of how little work is done to make them three dimensional. i did like carmotta and had high hopes for the queens plotting against each other line but all that came of it was over and done with within like one page. i do genuinely think if red marie were erased from the story there would have been so much more time to craft a meaningful court intrigue storyline that would have actually stood up to the length of this story. i honedtly forgot red marie was even a part of this book, same with gethwen and like, every character besides the main three. its like no one else even actually influenced any of their decisions. i guess overall this lacked urgency or depth. it seemed like a plot wanted to be written and that's really all that was done, no real work or heart put into the readers experience. i read this whole thing in 3/4 days and if you asked me "what is 'the keep within'?" i couldn't tell you. it just never really mattered to any part of the story... idk so disappointingly strange. could have used another few more passes by the author and maybe beta readers and sensitivity readers. just not a fluid or fluent plot

[Charlotte Pawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful gothic fantasy. Beneath the walls of Becken keep evil waits. Plenty of plotting by kings and queens leads to plenty of violence. Great characters with wonderful depth keep the story alive. When you pick up this book you will not want to put it down.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher, Titan Books) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Dean Asquith · Rating 4 out of 5]

J.L. Worrad is back with another fantasy epic. Fresh off the back of the exquisite Pennyblade, we are once again thrust into a fantasy realm of divine inspiration.

I have always been impressed by J.L. Worrad’s worldbuilding and his superb ability to draw a reader in and utterly immerse them into a world of his creation. The Keep Within is a novel in this vein and I couldn’t help but be captivated by the storytelling and the realms being described with masterful prowess.

I think I need to make a special mention for the cover of this novel and in fact Pennyblade too as they are similar in their aesthetic. The design is classic, a true fantasy cover depicting unique characters on dark backdrops, making them pop. I mean, come on, how crazy does this scythe-armed, nail toothed demon look! Straight out the nightmares.

A rich cast of characters and intense action marry together to create a high stakes fantasy that fans of the genre will adore. Thank you to Titan Books for the opportunity to read and review this book and for the invite to the tour! Go get The Keep Within now! And while you’re there…grab Pennyblade too!

[Lousbookstuff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this. The story has a lot of potential for me but the writing style for me was too confusing and a bit all over the place for me to really follow easily for the most part and I just didn't love the characters as much as I wanted to. Such a shame but it was a real struggle to slog my way through this.

[Simon Fung · Rating 4 out of 5]

A political intrigue meets folk horror fantasy. Excellent pacing and interesting characters.

If you've read Pennyblade, this book has a similar tone but seems a bit more tame in the debauchery department. It is quite violent and tends to favour asymetrical confrontations (less heroic fights and more about get away alive).

A good read (no pun intended) overall!

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked Pennyblade, loved this one and thoroughly enjoyed it as I had a lot of fun.
There's humour, action, a fast paced story and a lot to love. As soon as I started I couldn't put it down.
Excellent story: enjoyable and well plotted.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a weird book for me to review. For the most part, I really enjoyed it but there was just something that stopped me from loving it.

The Keep Within was mostly very good. I liked the plot and I liked the characters. There’s a lot of intrigue and plotting to murder people and I love a good bit of plotting. The story is well paced and I never felt bored at all while reading it.

I really found the characters to be excellent, particulary Harry and Carmotta. Their stories really drive the plot and they were both very enjoyable POV characters. Red Marie made for a threatening and rather creepy villain. She has some unique ways of getting what she wants. Tongue removal being one of them. All in all, the characters all manage to be simultaneously likeable and rather horrible, often at the same time.

The only thing that didn’t really gel for me was the tone of the book in some places. It’s a very darkly comic novel, which is fine, but when characters feel genuine emotion, it tends to veer a little too far into melodrama. Harry is the perfect example of this. He spends so much time being the butt of the joke, especially in the beginning, so that when he is genuinely feeling some emotion, it feels a little too comedic.

On the whole, I did enjoy The Keep Within. The story is tightly paced and it keeps you interested from beginning to end. It’s a standalone novel and I particularly liked the ending, especially for Harry. The novel made me laugh out loud in places and I thought the characters were really well written for the most part.

[Yoru · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf i could not get into this and none of the characters were likable to me except for one or two i hope they all explode

[Sammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Overall

When I first found out that J. L. Worrad was writing a book in the same world as Pennyblade, I was excited to give it a chance! I’m that weird sort of reader who absolutely loves dark worlds. The darker the better. Give me worlds that pull no punches, that offer no happily ever after, and where characters are just doing what they need to in order to survive its brutality. *chef’s kiss* I definitely went into this book expecting just that.

The Keep Within is a return to the dark, scheming world from Pennyblade, filled with danger, secrets, dark plots, and all the gray characters you could ever want.

As far as dark worlds go, The Keep Within doesn’t disappoint. It takes an already dark world and layers a bit more complexity on it. I loved the characters . . . as much as one can love a group of despicable gray characters that would rather stab someone than consider their own insecurities and shortcomings. Which, you know, is a lot of love, given the sort of characters I prefer. The only real downside I found in this book is that the big, overall plot ends on mostly a technicality (a brilliant one, but still) and a world where the magic is a little too soft, where I didn’t understand much of it.

My Thoughts

- The Keep Within features a dark world with gray characters where everyone has a secret, and they’ll do almost anything to save them from coming to light. You know, the deadly sort of secrets. Every character seems to be walking this thin line between life and death, and at any moment, with any little slip, they could be thrust on the wrong side of that line. Which, as one might imagine, makes the story rather thrilling to read, because gosh, what a precarious balance to try to maintain!

Let me say this right upfront: this world is not for the faint of heart. Obviously, this book won’t be for everyone. The world is dark and unforgiving, including mild gore and graphic sex, so be aware of that when you go into it. For those who, like me, enjoy dark fantasy, though, this book definitely delivers on that. Let us count the ways, shall we? There’s a king (because of course there is) but nearly everyone around him is scheming against him, including his wives (because, you know, one angry woman isn’t enough because men *sigh*). There’s a giant magical fortress that seems to be made of pure evil that kills anyone who talks about it (you know, like you do). Also, there’s a ban-hag, who has the power to compel people to obey just with her voice. Oh, and just when you think the world can’t get any darker, there’s a psychopathic serial killer wandering the keep having a little too much fun stabbing people. All of this culminates into an action-packed story told from multiple perspectives, each with their own goals and secrets, but all pulled (sometimes unwittingly) toward one common location: the keep within.

- Despite the world itself being rather dark, Worrad manages to infuse the story with a good bit of tongue-in-cheek sarcastic humor. Now, don’t get me wrong, this is not a humorous book, so don’t go in expecting that. However, the darkness of the world is certainly offset rather nicely by the dark humor exhibited by characters. It’s no secret by now just how much I absolutely adore sarcastic characters. It’s also probably no surprise that a sinister world like this lends itself to sarcasm. Perfect combination, really. This humor is really crucial in so many ways. It keeps the reader from getting bogged down in an incredibly dark, horrific plot by adding something lighter (and sometimes slightly absurd) that definitely made me snort out loud on occasion. Worrad sneaks these scenes in at opportune points where they sometimes catch a reader off guard and deliver the perfect impact, without destroying the building tension.

- The Keep Within is a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should you. (Which I don’t mean, at all, to be a bad thing.) First, Larksdale is a theater type, which I feel right there should lend itself to drama and . . . well, theatrics. Duh. In that regard, this book doesn’t disappoint. Larksdale and his troupe are every bit as dramatic as one would expect, and it’s hilarious. Even as far as the other characters are concerned, though, they tend not to take themselves too seriously (except, of course, for some of the royals, which is to be expected). Most characters understand their lot in life and the fact that their existence balances on the edge of a knife . . . sometimes literally. Which lends itself to some really interesting (and desperate) characters.

- The female side characters in The Keep Within really stole the show for me. They’re strong, resilient, and definitely characters, but it was hard not to be immediately endeared to them. Take Larksdale’s mother, for instance, who had the misfortune of falling pregnant with the previous king’s bastard son and now is confined to the castle. All she wants, though, is what is best for her son . . . which, she’s decided, is definitely the throne. Whether Larksdale wants this for himself or not. While her scheming and plotting could definitely use some work, she’s no intention of sitting idly by and manages to gather a small group of women to her cause. Honestly, I’m pretty sure she’s the real hero of this story. It isn’t just mothers, though. Another prominent character is the first queen Carmotta, who has received a crap deal from men all her life and is struggling to make her way in a world that has no real love for women. Plus, there’s Fwych herself, the ban-hag who loses her tongue (and thus her magic) but refuses to give up. While the main plot certainly revolves, in some ways, around the male characters, it’s really the female characters that are the most memorable!

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Due to my absolutely bonkers (and entirely self-inflicted) work schedule over at CriminalElement.com, I feel like I've had to dial back a lot on my professional obligations w/r/t books over here, but you'd best believe that when the chance to join the book tour for J. L. Worrad's latest book came up, I jumped on it! Pennyblade was one of my favorite books of last year (note to self: go nominate it for a Hugo once the Chengdu website starts working) and I was super ready to read more set in that universe.

So, the bad: Kyra isn't in this book. As far as I can tell, no one from Pennyblade appears in The Keep Within (except for maybe the gross country priest?) but I am also notoriously bad with names and details.

But the good? Oh, there is so much good!

The world depicted in TKW is the same as Pennyblade's, tho I couldn't tell you how far from that era it may or may not be. My grasp of real world history also tends to be shaky, but TKW feels very Tudor, if not outright Elizabethan. One of our four viewpoint characters is Sir Harrance "Harry" Larksdale, one of the reigning King Ean's many bastard siblings. Unlike his brothers, he's never taken to the study of the blade, preferring instead the stage. As the proprietor of The Wreath, the foremost theater in Becken, he's a known dandy who's given free access to the royal seat of Becken Keep, where the king and his court reside.

In the keep, the king's First-Queen, Carmotta Il'Lunadella, is scheming. She knows that the heavily pregnant Third-Queen Emmabelle is plotting against her, but isn't quite sure how. Chafing at the bonds that constrain her due to her sex, Carmotta plans out her intrigues even as rumors of coup swirl throughout the court.

Meanwhile, Mother Fwych is escorting precious cargo from the Spine Mountains when she's beset by a figure out of myth: the dreaded Red Marie. Robbed of her powers, Fwych must venture far from the safety of her homelands to ensure that the horrors beneath the keep are not unleashed upon an unsuspecting world. But how is she to do that when she is weakened, friendless and viewed with suspicion as a witch by the flatlanders of Becken?

Finally, Red Marie herself haunts the city in her own viewpoint chapters of blood and madness. Is she an unstoppable killing machine or is there more to this fabled monster who culls as she pleases? After all, she's only a mythical figure whose ritual slaughter of Dickie o' the Green is a metaphor for the year's renewal... isn't she?

Told over the course of nine days, TKW draws our main characters into each other's inescapable orbits as at least two of them fight to save the world. Often acting at cross-purposes, our four viewpoint characters engage in a deadly quadrille set to a tempo beaten out by the hidden, cursed keep lurking in the dark beneath the royal seat.

This book was so mesmerizing, I could barely stop reading it to go do real life things! Filled with magic, intrigue and brutality, this highly original successor to Pennyblade wasn't quite as moving -- it's less about the savagery of love, to begin with -- but it was wonderful in its insistence that everyone can try to do the right thing, no matter how powerless we feel. Good people can falter and squabble and agree to disagree, but kindness and patience and perhaps even forgiveness can go a long way towards making things right. Playing to our own strengths and refusing to give in to despair will win the day more assuredly than any blade or royal dictate.

And here's the thing: most of Mr Worrad's characters are exceptionally terrible people. Harry and Carmotta, in particular, do not get along, and for very good reason. They're both awful -- and it's of no comfort to Carmotta that she is usually right but is just as often thwarted -- but they're working towards being better. Even the main villains are shown to be people in so much pain that they feel they have no choice but to inflict that pain on others. I will say that the only person who I didn't think got what they deserved was The Explainer.

If you're looking for a fantasy novel that's heavy on Elizabethan intrigue -- not a subgenre that is at all easy to find -- or at the very least has a different perspective on the usual Renaissance European shibboleths, with a healthy dose of sex-positivity and representation, then this is the book for you. Heck, if you just want to read something entertaining and smart, full of heart and humor, then this is definitely the book for you. Tho it isn't quite as debauched as its predecessor, TKW is a really great follow-up to Pennyblade, and I'm so glad I was able to squish it into my schedule. Thought-provoking, profane and laugh out loud funny in turn, this is another triumph for Mr Worrad, who is fast becoming one of my favorite fantasy authors.

But don't just take my word for it! Titan Books is giving away copies, so you can find out how awesome this book and how talented Mr Worrad is for yourself. Fill out this form for a chance to win a copy of this excellent novel.

The Keep Within by J. L. Worrad was published March 28 2023 by Titan Books and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!

[Amy Walker - Trans-Scribe Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last year author J.L. Worrad released the fantasy novel Pennyblade, which married together a world that didn't feel hugely far removed from our own history, and a world of magic, and feline elves. Whilst the first book set within this world focused on these beings, the Commrach, this time round Worrad is taking a much more human approach as we focus on the realm of Brintland, diving deep into the political conflicts and double dealings within the aristocracy.

The Keep Within tells the story of the Brintland royal family, focusing on several key individuals. The story revolves around the current King, Ean, his wives Carmotta and Emmabelle, and a couple of the King's bastard brothers, Osrin, and Harry Larksdale. Larksdale is one of our main protagonists for the book, and we follow the story from his point of view for a good portion of it. Harry has grown up with a love of the arts and story telling, and runs a well respected theatre in the city. He has plans to be more than just a theatre manager, however, and is aiming to have himself named the next Master of Arts and Revels by the King. To this end, he does his best to keep the King happy, providing him with any women he wants, and various intoxicants for the high court parties.

Carmotta, the first wife of the King, has a personal vendetta against Larksdale, and she sees his trying to work the King for his own ends as a threat to her own schemes. Secretly sleeping with her cousin, who's pretending to the court that he's gay, she's become pregnant. Unfortunately, King Ean hasn't slept with her since they lost their first child, and is instead doting on his new, pregnant, wife Emmabelle. Now Carmotta has to figure out a plan to get the King to sleep with her, so that she can pass of her bastard baby as his, saving her life.

Whilst all of this is happening, there are members of the court who are carefully moving into position in order to stage a coup against the King in order to take the crown for their own. Not only this, but there's also a secret hidden deep inside Bechen Keep, the Keep Within. A dark, ancient, magical structure hidden beneath the castle, anyone who speaks of its existence outside the keep died ten days later under bizarre, often violent ends. Forces are preparing to use the power of the Keep within to their own ends, and as such several outside forces have been drawn to Bechen Keep. There's a young man with a dark crown, a mountain woman with a magical voice, and the figure of myth and horror, Red Marie. As all of these forces and secret plots converge on Bechen Keep at the same time they begin to intersect with each other, and the fate of perhaps the entire kingdom will rest on the outcome.

Pennyblade introduced readers to this world, and took us from location to location on a journey that would cover both the human world and that of the Commrach. It felt like a big book. The Keep Within feels a lot bigger. Part of this is down to the fact that the book is a little longer, clocking in with an extra hundred pages or so, but it's also down to the court politics, the scheming, and the tight focus on characters. The story is might more focused this time round, with the vast majority of it being set within Bechen Keep, or the surrounding city. It's dealing with personal dramas, and for the most part it's about the people that live there rather than some big, world ending thing. But despite that smaller scale focus the book feels like it's giving us a wider view of the world. Perhaps this is down to the fact that we're focusing on those who run the kingdom, of the people in charge, and it gives us an idea of how that world works. The book also shows us what those at the very bottom of society deal with too, and despite only taking place in one location, it gives a more expansive view of how this particular societal structure stacks up.

The Keep Within is a political thriller first and foremost, compared to the adventure story of the first book. This change in tone and style works to the benefit of the book, giving readers something hugely different to what came before. There's a different kind of tension this time round, and the threat isn't whether or not our heroes will be attacked on the road, or go down in a fight, but if they can out think and out manouver the other people vying to improve their positions in court. There's a lot of clever plot work going on here, and it's the kind of book where once everything is done you'll find yourself wanting to read through it again to see if you can see any hints that you missed the first time round; if any of the schemes revealed in the latter parts of the book were hinted at earlier on if you know what to look for.

There are some great characters in the book too, and each of the point of view characters brings something different into the mix. Larksdale is a bit of a fop, he's got schemes and plans, but they'e clearly just goals that he want to achieve in order to rise the ranks. At worst he's like an overly ambitious guy in the office. He's not out to kill anyone, he just wants a nice title and a raise.

Carmotta on the other hand has a bit of an edge to her. She knows that if her plans fail and she can't get the King to sleep with her than she's likely dead. With that kind of pressure and stakes she's willing to go further and do worse to survive; which makes her a bit of a wildcard. Fwych, the powerful mountain woman, is something of an enigma in the sense that for the longest time the book reveals very little about her. She's one of the first characters we meet, and she has an important mission, and is willing to kill, but we never quite know if we should be rooting for her or fearing her. And then there's Red Marie. She's absolutely evil. She does some sick, twisted things to her victims, and is painted as one of the biggest villains of the book. But, things are never quite as simple as that, and Worrad does some incredibly interesting things with her.

The Keep Within is a wonderful sequel, one that sets itself in the same universe, but does it's own thing in every way imaginable. It builds upon what came before and expands the world, introducing some fantastic new ideas, some interesting new characters, and some questions that I really, really hope we get answers to someday. If you enjoyed the first book you're going to love this one.

[M. K. French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir Harrance ‘Harry’ Larksdale is the bastard brother of the king. Falling a young man from the mountains sends him headfirst into court intrigue and murderous folk tales. Rumors of coups are spreading, and the Third-Queen is plotting against the First-Queen Carmotta Il’Lunadella and her unborn child. While this is going on, hidden within Becken Keep is the keep-within. Talking about that evil place guarantees a bizarre and agonizing demise within nine days, and the people whisper about Red Marie, a bloodied demon with rusted nails for teeth and swinging scythes who preys on the innocent.

The Keep Within is the same world as Pennyblade, but you don't have to have read that book for this to make sense. This takes place in the world of men, with the term pennyblade clearly meaning mercenary for hire, and commrach the term for elf. They're not respected, for all that they know more about secrets and healthcare than men do, with their own kingdoms and political aspirations that have nothing to do with this book. The focus here is on First-Queen Carmotta and the Third-Queen Emmabelle, both jockeying for power; the Second-Queen long since retired because she thinks she's a hedgehog. (You don't find that out for a while, but it doesn't spoil anything and if you're like me, you wonder what happened to her.) The keep within is hidden due to its awful nature, which the Explainer is trying to study. Larksdale only wants to be the Master of Plays, but he's easy to manipulate by others scheming to be king. This is all happening on top of the desire to get the crown, which must be taken far away from the inner keep, or else it will become a key to releasing its evils. The young man and the Mother from the mountains had been trying to take it away, but the folktale of Red Marie is being used by a creature raised to murder and raise havoc in the hopes of opening the keep as well.

At first, the different characters seem unlikely to meet, but Larksdale and Carmotta know each other through the royalty. Red Marie shows up early to make sure Mother Fwych can't use her powers of persuasion, and the boy runs into Larksdale and is roped into acting as a page. They're all in the keep soon enough, and the crown is too close to where it should never be. We the reader know that even as the characters don't, adding to the rising tension in the novel. The scheming of the nobles rises as the days pass, the body count rising as well. The commoners aren't always considered, especially by royalty, and they forget the poorest of the poor. This allows Fwych to go about unnoticed, and even Larksdale at one point. I wasn't sure how all of the characters would come together at the end of the book, or who would survive it. That concern only grew as even more characters died or were maimed, and it happened with increasing regularity right up to the very end. I laughed at the solution because it is fitting yet had never been considered before. It's a fascinating story, one that I really enjoyed reading.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and to Titan Books for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.
TW: death, gore, violence, incest, injury

"The Keep Within" is a dark and fast paced fantasy that follows Sir Harry Larksdale, an illegitimate son of the former King, who is trying to run his theatre and eventually gain a strong position in court at the hand of the new King, his brother Ean. After a chance meeting with a man named Gethwen, Harry falls swiftly in love and promises to aid Gethwen as he flees from enemies- including the apparent reincarnation of a spirit called Red Marie. Following behind Gethwen is a mountain mother, Fwych, who has sworn to protect what the man carries. However, the first wife of King Ean, Carmotta has plans of her own and the three characters end up on a collision course with tragic and wide reaching consequences. All the while, a curse from the world inside the keep waits to break free.

I really enjoyed this book, Harry Larksdale is a hugely entertaining main character who brings humour and levity to even the darkest of scenes. His relationships with the characters throughout were powerful, especially with his right hand Marla. This is definitely a book where people should read the trigger warnings and be prepared for the worst.

[Sen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Killing a king? That takes an artist. Or a damned maniac."

★★★

Not as compelling or subversive as Worrad's previous book, Pennyblade. I felt The Keep Within was a lot tamer in comparison and dialed back on the sheer insanity of its predecessor, which is a shame because that is what really made Pennyblade such a memorable grimdark fantasy to me. The characters weren't nearly as outrageous, the chemistry among them (save for maybe the one between Larksdale and Boathook Marla) not as entertaining to behold. One thing that I really enjoy about Worrad's writing is how he is able to effortlessly inject humor (albeit very dark humor) into his incredibly pitch-dark world. Although Worrad's trademark humor is very much apparent in this story, I found it to be more often melodramatic than entertaining.

Still, I really did enjoy The Keep Within. The pacing was very well done consisting of a series of chapters each counting down to a doomsday event, and the book's central mystery about a mysterious keep and its connection to a murderous spirit named Red Marie kept me turning the page.

— ♩♫♩ ~ An Offering to the Gods

[Donna Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Pennyblade, and was initially disappointed when I heard this book, though set in the same world, was not featuring the same characters.

Let's throw that disappointment out of the window!

This is a fabulous story. It's exciting, gripping, a little bit gory, and quite a bit potty-mouthed, but if you have a penchant for the court intrigues of Tudor and Elizabethan times this is like Faust meets Thomas Cromwell, meets... Red Marie.

I'm sorry, I can't think what demonic assassin Red Marie can possibly be compared to. But she is both scary, formidable, and funny.

Worrad's trademark humour is on show here as Harry Larksdale, bastard brother to the king, lover, and theatrical impresario, gets dragged into the machinations of a scheming queen, eager to rid herself of the sister wives whose existence threatens to dilute her power.

In the meantime, Red Marie is let loose on the land, part legend, part scary story, all assassin.

Great stuff, Jim, I enjoyed this one even more.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dazzling book within a tightly plotted, high stakes, fantasy world. The author's voice really shines through supporting the characters and narration in a way that makes them and the world feel so real. I fell in love with the main characters, Harry and Carmotta, for different reasons. Carmotta's strength and vicious tongue makes her a really interesting protagonist to follow. Kind of reminiscent of Cersei from GoT. Harry Larksdale is just an innocent man - he seems so unfit for the role of hero but plays it well.

The threat of Red Marie is really well done. Proper scary with a vicious twist.

There are no dud chapters and the plot rattles along despite the length of the book. I laughed out loud so many times while reading. The author managed to make me care for the characters and the world without being flippant though. Loved it.

[Darren McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

The keep within is basically a story of exceptional characters. Yes there's a plot in there, filled with twists and turns. Plenty of court intrigue, vile and despicable acts of humanity. A well thought out world of great geographical detail.then there's The secret within the keep,to speak of it means death! As good as all that sounds, the well developed and very relatable characters are the shining star of the story. I was left wanting more.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloody and gruesome with some great comedic relief among a wonderfully weird cast of characters.

The writing is definitely different depending on which character’s perspective you’re reading from, which changes chapter to chapter. The author did a fantastic job weaving a tale of political turmoil happening while an ancient evil brews, quite literally, below it all. I’d like to read other novels from this world the author has created!

[Brit (Circus_of_Damed) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Multi-perspective story set in same world as Pennyblade. Fallow three predominant characters, Larksdale a royal bastard and playhouse owner, Carmotta the first queen, and Fwych a mountain mother. All three characters collide around the keep within. There were moments of plot convenience that felt unrealistic in the story. However the horror and vibes were immaculate with complex characters was well done.

[John Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging horror/court conspiracy plot featuring dark humor, sex (often of a queer sort), plenty of bloody kills, more than a few surprising twists, a brilliant anti-monarchy/nobility streak, and an undercurrent of unexpected hope for human nature.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me.

[Isobel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but not my type of book

[Amanda Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 ⭐️

[Poppy Reffold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good sense of character voices, often very funny - I just had a great time

[Ayo Odun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to DNF once I got to the Cousin Fvcking bits ☠,when people said Carmotta was like Cersi from ASOIAF they mean really like Cersi lol
. A shame because the parts I got to read were so 🔥