The Key Thief

by Christina Van Starkenburg

Ethelwynne stuffed the braid into her bag, put the scissors away and slipped out of the store. She caught a glimpse of herself in the window’s dark glass. She supposed she looked boy-like—at least, in the moonlight. Hopefully, the perception would last long enough for her to get safely out of the city.

But where could she go?

She couldn’t lead the elves to her home, and going home wouldn’t get her parents back anyway. The king. If she wanted to live and see her parents again, she needed to tell the elven king his brother had stolen the key to the realms.

She just had to make it over the mountains. Ethelwynne glanced up at the towers looming above her. With a bit of luck, she could sneak onto a skyship. As she walked down the alley towards the ships, Ethelwynne pulled the braid out of her bag and undid it. Tearfully, she scattered stray strands on the ground for the rats to use in their nests.

328 pages, Hardcover

Published October 25, 2021

About the author

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

Reviews

[Charlotte Wieghmink]

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

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

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

August TBR ~~

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

[Raeleane · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Laurica Stepan · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating story

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

[Sophia Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

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