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Gatekeeper
Duiem, the Land of Earth and Fire, is doomed to destruction unless a prophecy requiring Kaji, the king of Duiem, to bond to one of royal blood is fulfilled. But fate sends an escaping slave stumbling into the ceremony, and Kaji ends up bonded to a total stranger. Shy and withdrawn Aniol is an exotic enigma, a puzzle for the impatient and headstrong Kaji to solve amidst growing chaos: His world is a shambles. His people are at war. The prophecy is lost. And he is inexplicably and passionately drawn to his new bondmate. A painful betrayal forces Kaji and Aniol on an impossible quest, guided only by a myth that tells of a gate leading to the Land of Air and Water. Though facing incredible danger, they must find that mystical gate, for its keeper holds the key to both Duiem's salvation and the secret behind Kaji and Aniol's growing love.
350 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2010
11 people are currently reading
708 people want to read
About the author
Rayne Auster
6 books54 followersRayne Auster always had a passion for writing. However, growing up, she didn’t have the patience to finish what she started. Most of her projects died before even seeing the light of day. While studying for a master's degree in computer science, she decided to post what she wrote online. That is when she discovered the joy of sharing the stories in her head. Unable to bear the thought of leaving her readers hanging, she finished her first piece of fiction. The satisfaction of actually completing a story quickly led to further inspiration, and she hasn't looked back since.
You can contact Rayne at rayne.auster@gmail.com.
You can contact Rayne at rayne.auster@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
November 24, 2010
I think I need to call this one quits, as I've put it down several times and haven't come back to it for weeks now despite my repeated intentions to finish it.
I will say this: the world the author crafted was quite compelling. I wanted to know more. The characters are on the interesting side as well, though I think there were some serious issues with how the development of their relationship was handled (as in, not at all: one second they were strangers, the next second the big strong royal automatically and for no apparent reason cared fiercely for the poor little slave who needed protecting). Still, I really would like to know how the book ends.
Unfortunately, the writing is just painful. As other reviewers have mentioned, huge blocks of background text before each (too-short) chapter really break up the flow and pace of the book. I'm assuming they're excerpts from a history book or sacred text within the world, but really they're just info dumps that could have been hugely interesting if the writer had worked them organically into the story and instead just ended up boring (and sometimes confusing) enough to skim past. Descriptions--of the setting, and more egregiously of the characters--were long, overused, and unendingly repetitive. Conversely, in scenes with many people in a room, pronouns and details were flubbed such that it became quite difficult to figure out who was where and who was speaking. It was work to make my way through all the pages and pages of things I didn't need to know about to get to what I really wanted to see, which was how the story--a potentially quite excellent story, by the way--was progressing.
I want to stress how much I really wanted to love this book. The world was fantastically imaginative. The characters were interesting. The mythology the author created was clever and sucked me right in. But the technical aspects of the writing craft--how to construct a sentence, construct a scene, avoid info dumps, mete out description--were just too lacking for this editor's eye. If that sort of thing doesn't bother you much, then I would actually recommend this book for its sheer ingenuity. If reading the phrase "silver-blue strands" (of hair) fifty times in a hundred pages will make you want to hurl your Kindle against the wall, then it's probably best to avoid this one :)
I will say this: the world the author crafted was quite compelling. I wanted to know more. The characters are on the interesting side as well, though I think there were some serious issues with how the development of their relationship was handled (as in, not at all: one second they were strangers, the next second the big strong royal automatically and for no apparent reason cared fiercely for the poor little slave who needed protecting). Still, I really would like to know how the book ends.
Unfortunately, the writing is just painful. As other reviewers have mentioned, huge blocks of background text before each (too-short) chapter really break up the flow and pace of the book. I'm assuming they're excerpts from a history book or sacred text within the world, but really they're just info dumps that could have been hugely interesting if the writer had worked them organically into the story and instead just ended up boring (and sometimes confusing) enough to skim past. Descriptions--of the setting, and more egregiously of the characters--were long, overused, and unendingly repetitive. Conversely, in scenes with many people in a room, pronouns and details were flubbed such that it became quite difficult to figure out who was where and who was speaking. It was work to make my way through all the pages and pages of things I didn't need to know about to get to what I really wanted to see, which was how the story--a potentially quite excellent story, by the way--was progressing.
I want to stress how much I really wanted to love this book. The world was fantastically imaginative. The characters were interesting. The mythology the author created was clever and sucked me right in. But the technical aspects of the writing craft--how to construct a sentence, construct a scene, avoid info dumps, mete out description--were just too lacking for this editor's eye. If that sort of thing doesn't bother you much, then I would actually recommend this book for its sheer ingenuity. If reading the phrase "silver-blue strands" (of hair) fifty times in a hundred pages will make you want to hurl your Kindle against the wall, then it's probably best to avoid this one :)
March 30, 2010
I have to give this one a solid "3" star because, although the storyline was fantastic and imaginative, the writing style took most of the glamour away. I wanted to read it and love it so badly, that I didn't even contemplate putting it down [which is saying alot:], no matter how almost-painful it was to hold on to.
Rayne Auster has fantastic potential ... but a bit of a way to go before reaching her peak. Her imagination is beautiful, but her writing and style need to mature a great deal.
Her characters are all lively, if a bit 2-dimensional ... although they bleed together because apparently all of them, no matter how stoic or strong they are stated as being, run the gamut of emotions from sadness to fear to uncertainty to rage - all in the same paragraph. For every character. Comparisons were made that did not make much sense or did not pan out well, and potentially great scenes were skipped entirely, filled by a chapter break and picking up days later without explanation. The beginning of each chapter held what would have been interesting had the chapters been a little longer, but only seemed like blither that, after the fifth chapter, I skipped entirely. By the tenth chapter I was skimming the whole novel, eager to find out what happened next, but without reading every single word [as many were repetitious and again, all of the emotions for each and every single character:].
I admire Rayne and her creativity; I'd love to have had her in my writing group, in order to trade things for constructive editing. In the right environment, she could one day be a fantastic author.
Rayne Auster has fantastic potential ... but a bit of a way to go before reaching her peak. Her imagination is beautiful, but her writing and style need to mature a great deal.
Her characters are all lively, if a bit 2-dimensional ... although they bleed together because apparently all of them, no matter how stoic or strong they are stated as being, run the gamut of emotions from sadness to fear to uncertainty to rage - all in the same paragraph. For every character. Comparisons were made that did not make much sense or did not pan out well, and potentially great scenes were skipped entirely, filled by a chapter break and picking up days later without explanation. The beginning of each chapter held what would have been interesting had the chapters been a little longer, but only seemed like blither that, after the fifth chapter, I skipped entirely. By the tenth chapter I was skimming the whole novel, eager to find out what happened next, but without reading every single word [as many were repetitious and again, all of the emotions for each and every single character:].
I admire Rayne and her creativity; I'd love to have had her in my writing group, in order to trade things for constructive editing. In the right environment, she could one day be a fantastic author.
January 11, 2016
I am going to rate the story only, I do not dare to touch editing without stars crumbling down.
As it is, moody characters, WTH moments, and all, - 3.5 stars.
As it is, moody characters, WTH moments, and all, - 3.5 stars.
June 11, 2019
I can't say enough good things about Gatekeeper. Strangely enough, I kept putting off reading this story for some reason. I love the cover art, the blurb intrigued and interested me, and yet it kept getting pushed down the list.
Aniol is a strange young man accidentally bonded to Kaji, King of Duiem. We learn he is a Gatekeeper, even though nobody really knows what that is anymore. Duiem, Land of Gold, only knows Gatekeepers as legend. Careil, the opposite of Duiem, known as the Land of Silver, has completely forgotten Gatekeepers. This story takes us on an incredible journey of discovery across two worlds, setting things right as Aniol learns what it means to be a Gatekeeper.
I was kept intrigued (actually let the housework slide 8-o) throughout, trying to figure out what would happen next, what the meaning of this and that was, rooting for Aniol and Kaji. My only disappointment was that the wrap up with the antagonist on Duiem (no I won't say more) seems rushed and quick...still, it kind of works. Then ending is not what you expect after such a long journey, making your heart pound as you realize...no, I won't say that either. Yeah, I'm mean.
***As you'll have noticed, I don't really write "reviews", just my own rambling thoughts and impressions. (I've decided to include this on all "reviews" just so people know. Maybe I should put it at the top?)***
Aniol is a strange young man accidentally bonded to Kaji, King of Duiem. We learn he is a Gatekeeper, even though nobody really knows what that is anymore. Duiem, Land of Gold, only knows Gatekeepers as legend. Careil, the opposite of Duiem, known as the Land of Silver, has completely forgotten Gatekeepers. This story takes us on an incredible journey of discovery across two worlds, setting things right as Aniol learns what it means to be a Gatekeeper.
I was kept intrigued (actually let the housework slide 8-o) throughout, trying to figure out what would happen next, what the meaning of this and that was, rooting for Aniol and Kaji. My only disappointment was that the wrap up with the antagonist on Duiem (no I won't say more) seems rushed and quick...still, it kind of works. Then ending is not what you expect after such a long journey, making your heart pound as you realize...no, I won't say that either. Yeah, I'm mean.
***As you'll have noticed, I don't really write "reviews", just my own rambling thoughts and impressions. (I've decided to include this on all "reviews" just so people know. Maybe I should put it at the top?)***
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2012
I gave this book a four because although I really did only like the book the world and ideas that Rayne Auster presented were so fabulously unique! The reason this book isn't a five star book IMO is because I got bored. Bored of the characters. Bored and tired of reading the little excerpts that were included before each chapter... even though they pertained to the story lol Okay it should in all honesty have been a five star book. It just didn't make me want to fangirl squeal and also the main relationship of the book felt a little rushed and they didn't interact with dialogue as much as I like. There were a couple of very cute moments but that's just it only a couple and a couple can't make up for a book seemingly devoid of proper chemistry that could be stimulated by enough witty dialogue. Again like I said this is all in my opinion. I feel like Auster did a great job making the plot though. It was nicely set up and although it came about rather like a car crash it was so engrossing that you just couldn't look away. HA. this book was gapers delay. haha. Nah but seriously this book was unique and interesting enough for me to finish but it wasn't anything too special when it comes to characters. It was able to elicit a couple of strong feelings from me and for that alone this book is worthy of a recommendation. Try it out and see what you think.
April 10, 2013
Okay, I actually made it to 50% this time. I might actually be able to finish this on attempt #3.
Some points:
- It has got an extremely awkward narrative going. Long paragraphs, the kind you might find in Bloodraven with half the straightforwardness.
- For a fantasy world, there's barely any detail to it. I have no idea what the architecture or social hierarchy looks like because from start to end it's all about their sexual frustrations. Kaji is some kind of king, and he signs a lot of papers, and they have a dungeon. That's about it for world-building.
- Except in the case of these encyclopedic entries that precede each chapters. That might have been helpful. Sadly it's not, because it's written in language like this:
And then it continues in a similar vein for two more paragraphs. Thanks for explaining to me what a prophecy is. If you ever need to shorten it you can try, 'Prophecies are cool but nobody wants to obey that shit. Source: Harry Potter.'
- This reads like a J-RPG game. I'm not kidding. We have multiple repetitive flashes of mysterious, prophetic dreams featuring rooms in white and unknown people. Any self-respecting gamer will have seen all these at one point or another, and it does NOT work in a book.
- For such a long book, things progress remarkably quickly. Weeks pass between chapters where nothing happen. A character is kidnapped and saved within 3k words with minimal effort. Misunderstandings begin and end on the same page.
- And don't forget the cheesy 'He stayed awake all night to organize your mess of a library for you so now you have to appreciate him scene', complete with 'So tired he fell asleep'.
If you really need some fantasy MM, go read Bloodraven. If it's too gross for you, read it anyway, and if you have read it before, read it again.
Beats this, with a stick.
Some points:
- It has got an extremely awkward narrative going. Long paragraphs, the kind you might find in Bloodraven with half the straightforwardness.
- For a fantasy world, there's barely any detail to it. I have no idea what the architecture or social hierarchy looks like because from start to end it's all about their sexual frustrations. Kaji is some kind of king, and he signs a lot of papers, and they have a dungeon. That's about it for world-building.
- Except in the case of these encyclopedic entries that precede each chapters. That might have been helpful. Sadly it's not, because it's written in language like this:
Prophecy: that which is meant to guide us through the course
of our lives, defining the path we are meant to travel in order to
bring about some great change.
Yet one thing always seems to get in the way: free will. Nothing can take away the free will granted to all man, the will to choose which path one will travel. The free will that seeks to interfere with prophecy is not only that of the one the prophecy seeks to guide but also that of those who surround the one.
And then it continues in a similar vein for two more paragraphs. Thanks for explaining to me what a prophecy is. If you ever need to shorten it you can try, 'Prophecies are cool but nobody wants to obey that shit. Source: Harry Potter.'
- This reads like a J-RPG game. I'm not kidding. We have multiple repetitive flashes of mysterious, prophetic dreams featuring rooms in white and unknown people. Any self-respecting gamer will have seen all these at one point or another, and it does NOT work in a book.
- For such a long book, things progress remarkably quickly. Weeks pass between chapters where nothing happen. A character is kidnapped and saved within 3k words with minimal effort. Misunderstandings begin and end on the same page.
- And don't forget the cheesy 'He stayed awake all night to organize your mess of a library for you so now you have to appreciate him scene', complete with 'So tired he fell asleep'.
If you really need some fantasy MM, go read Bloodraven. If it's too gross for you, read it anyway, and if you have read it before, read it again.
Beats this, with a stick.
May 6, 2012
It's been a while since I read this book and on a whim I picked it up today to do a skim-reread (I'm sure this is a word somewhere). Again I was like WOW on the intriguing fantasy world that took shape combined with interesting characters and so much potential overall!
This will not be a book for everyone. The main pairing is rather stereotypical in regards to their roles and behaviour and could have been explored even further. The reading might be slow at times and the way the author used big chunks of text about a legend told among the people of Duiem at the beginning of every chapter will not be to everyone's liking.
Still, it worked for me and I could read on and on about this 'verse. Although this already is a long book I thought it could have been twice the actual length at least to do the characters and the story justice. I'm especially thinking about the promising tension between Rogue and the little brat.
May 30, 2014
High Fantasy Romance pretty much says it all.
I am a bit disappointed that gender roles still played such a large part. There was the lead male character who was pretty manly, but his primary love interest behaved in such a traditionally female way that it was hard to believe he was actually a boy.
It's a problem recurrent throughout Shonen-Ai/Yaoi Manga as well. Which if you like, you'll love this book, it would easily fit into that genera, assuming, of course, that it had fewer words and more pictures.
I am a bit disappointed that gender roles still played such a large part. There was the lead male character who was pretty manly, but his primary love interest behaved in such a traditionally female way that it was hard to believe he was actually a boy.
It's a problem recurrent throughout Shonen-Ai/Yaoi Manga as well. Which if you like, you'll love this book, it would easily fit into that genera, assuming, of course, that it had fewer words and more pictures.
January 20, 2011
I had a big debate with myself on the rating for this one, because on one hand, I really loved the story and the world building, but on the other there were a couple elements that kept throwing me out of the story as I was reading. In the end, the elements that bothered me won out in how I rated.
First of all, Aniol is a big ole cry baby. No really, he "sobs hysterically" about 137 times. Okay, maybe that's a *slight* exageration, but I can only have sympathy for a character who cries a couple times before I just roll my eyes and get tired of it.
The other thing that bothered me was the blurbs at the beginning of each chapter. While informative, they consistently threw me out of the story and the chapters themselves were so short that it felt like I was constantly having to reboot and get back into the flow.
The pluses were definitely the world building and I really loved Kaji and the side character Rogue.
First of all, Aniol is a big ole cry baby. No really, he "sobs hysterically" about 137 times. Okay, maybe that's a *slight* exageration, but I can only have sympathy for a character who cries a couple times before I just roll my eyes and get tired of it.
The other thing that bothered me was the blurbs at the beginning of each chapter. While informative, they consistently threw me out of the story and the chapters themselves were so short that it felt like I was constantly having to reboot and get back into the flow.
The pluses were definitely the world building and I really loved Kaji and the side character Rogue.
November 16, 2010
3.5 Stars rounded up to 4
I bought this because I loved the cover art... yeah, I'm shallow like that sometimes ;)... but then put off reading it for a really, really long time because I'm not a huge fan of fantasy fiction. Now, having read it, I found it to be surprisingly good. Not that the book doesn't have some problems, which are well documented in other's reviews. Still, the world-building was fascinating and the characters interesting.
I bought this because I loved the cover art... yeah, I'm shallow like that sometimes ;)... but then put off reading it for a really, really long time because I'm not a huge fan of fantasy fiction. Now, having read it, I found it to be surprisingly good. Not that the book doesn't have some problems, which are well documented in other's reviews. Still, the world-building was fascinating and the characters interesting.
June 23, 2012
This is painfully bad. There is just no world building at all. The plot is so predictable as to be cartoonish. And the sex is just boring. I love m/m fantasy romance, but this just doesn't measure up.
October 30, 2012
Good story, but the writing is so uneven that I had a hard time enjoying it
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 5/10
PROS:
- The story is interesting and unusual. It took me a while to get into it, but once I did, I was anxious to see the way the plot would work out.
- I liked both of the main characters. Kaji is strong and protective while Aniol is small and often plays the role of dude-in-distress. Still, Kaji possesses some vulnerability and Aniol possesses some quiet strength of his own, so I didn’t find their differences so extreme as to be annoying.
- Some of the confusion that results from Kaji and Aniol’s different backgrounds is cute and very endearing.
- The romance is well-paced. Aniol is entirely innocent, whereas Kaji has some experience (none with other men, though, I don’t think). So I was pleased when they didn’t jump right into bed together--or rather, that Kaji took the time to get to know Aniol a bit before seducing him.
CONS:
- The short paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter are annoying and could have been worked into the exposition--these points have been mentioned in other reviews. I’d like to add more, though: not only are they jarring when compared to the rest of the chapter, but many of them contain information that’s already been imparted earlier in the book. The intro on page 299 starts with a general statement about what a “gate” is, and we’ve already discovered--in detail--what gates are by that time. I’ll put it this way: by the fifth chapter, I had developed such a strong dislike for those introductory paragraphs that I decided to skip them entirely. Which I did, and I’m convinced that I didn’t miss much.
- I found the writing difficult to get into; it didn't flow in such a way that I was able to read it quickly and effortlessly. There's one dream/flashback that's inexplicably related in present tense while the rest of the book is in past; the amount of detail is painstaking and a little boring/overwhelming at times; there's some needless repetition of plot points; and there are many scenes in which the POV jumps from one character to another.
- The book could have used a much heavier hand in the area of editing. Some words that are emphasized use quote marks rather than italics (“He did not know why Kaji would ‘want’ to touch him”); many of the sentences sound rather wooden and are needlessly repetitive (“He couldn’t believe Yuan was speaking [to] him in that manner. ‘You shall not speak to me in that manner’”); etc.
Overall comments: This book has a very promising plot and likeable characters. But I had a hard time finishing it because the writing is so uneven. The chapter intros are the worst in this regard: the tone of them is mystical and pseudo-philosophical (example: “Often what appears to be is not what is at all. Often what we think we know is but an illusion, hiding all that we do not”), and more often than not, I found myself rolling my eyes at them if I happened to skim over one.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 5/10
PROS:
- The story is interesting and unusual. It took me a while to get into it, but once I did, I was anxious to see the way the plot would work out.
- I liked both of the main characters. Kaji is strong and protective while Aniol is small and often plays the role of dude-in-distress. Still, Kaji possesses some vulnerability and Aniol possesses some quiet strength of his own, so I didn’t find their differences so extreme as to be annoying.
- Some of the confusion that results from Kaji and Aniol’s different backgrounds is cute and very endearing.
- The romance is well-paced. Aniol is entirely innocent, whereas Kaji has some experience (none with other men, though, I don’t think). So I was pleased when they didn’t jump right into bed together--or rather, that Kaji took the time to get to know Aniol a bit before seducing him.
CONS:
- The short paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter are annoying and could have been worked into the exposition--these points have been mentioned in other reviews. I’d like to add more, though: not only are they jarring when compared to the rest of the chapter, but many of them contain information that’s already been imparted earlier in the book. The intro on page 299 starts with a general statement about what a “gate” is, and we’ve already discovered--in detail--what gates are by that time. I’ll put it this way: by the fifth chapter, I had developed such a strong dislike for those introductory paragraphs that I decided to skip them entirely. Which I did, and I’m convinced that I didn’t miss much.
- I found the writing difficult to get into; it didn't flow in such a way that I was able to read it quickly and effortlessly. There's one dream/flashback that's inexplicably related in present tense while the rest of the book is in past; the amount of detail is painstaking and a little boring/overwhelming at times; there's some needless repetition of plot points; and there are many scenes in which the POV jumps from one character to another.
- The book could have used a much heavier hand in the area of editing. Some words that are emphasized use quote marks rather than italics (“He did not know why Kaji would ‘want’ to touch him”); many of the sentences sound rather wooden and are needlessly repetitive (“He couldn’t believe Yuan was speaking [to] him in that manner. ‘You shall not speak to me in that manner’”); etc.
Overall comments: This book has a very promising plot and likeable characters. But I had a hard time finishing it because the writing is so uneven. The chapter intros are the worst in this regard: the tone of them is mystical and pseudo-philosophical (example: “Often what appears to be is not what is at all. Often what we think we know is but an illusion, hiding all that we do not”), and more often than not, I found myself rolling my eyes at them if I happened to skim over one.
February 24, 2012
Gatekeeper is the first Rayne Auster book I've read and I can't say I'm disappointed. The whole experience was positively enthralling! I love the plot, the world, and especially the characters. I am an avid fan of romance with much drama involve and this book just overflows with emotions that you can't help but sympathize with the characters.
I love the whole fate-brought-us-together thing going on in the plot. There's just something about finding that one person you were meant to be with and coaxing the spark of your first meeting to an eternal flame that hooks me up for good. Plus the slow unveiling of the mystery about what brought the two characters together was just a delicious feeling for me. It's true that the answers on the mysteries is pretty obvious but that moment of confirmation and explanation of how things came to be is just momentous for me. The background story about the whole restoring balance and Duiem politics didn't really get me hooked up as much as the romance. I feel like the author should have explored that more.
I love the contrast that Auster made of the two worlds. The description was not elaborate but plain and simple. From opposite features of the people living in their respective worlds to the difference of their temperament, all emphasized the contrast. Yet what's fascinating is how these elements were meant to blend together to achieve balance. Sun and Moon joining in an eclipse.
I've been reading yaoi and BL for a long time and I can say that Kaji and Aniol is one of my favorite pairings. Kaji with his dominating yet protective love of Aniol and Aniol with his demure yet steadfast love of Kaji. I like how Aniol finds his peace whenever he is in Kaji's arms. It's awesome how Aniol seems pliant almost all the time but the control he has over Kaji is actually absolute and his occasional boldness just drives Kaji out of his mind. Kaji's obsession and possessiveness of Aniol is just so sweet.
The few negatives of this book is the repetitive introductions to every chapter and some deviation to the whole flow of the plot that causes some confusion. I don't entirely hate the introductions given in every chapter. I love quotable quotes but it got boring reading them because the author basically rephrases what he wrote before on some of the chapters. There was also some underlying story that was ended abruptly and left hanging without further explanation that I wondered why the hell is was included in the story. It was like the idea just popped up and the author added it to the story but didn't elaborate it much.
All in all, I still very much liked it. The romance just really did it for me.
I love the whole fate-brought-us-together thing going on in the plot. There's just something about finding that one person you were meant to be with and coaxing the spark of your first meeting to an eternal flame that hooks me up for good. Plus the slow unveiling of the mystery about what brought the two characters together was just a delicious feeling for me. It's true that the answers on the mysteries is pretty obvious but that moment of confirmation and explanation of how things came to be is just momentous for me. The background story about the whole restoring balance and Duiem politics didn't really get me hooked up as much as the romance. I feel like the author should have explored that more.
I love the contrast that Auster made of the two worlds. The description was not elaborate but plain and simple. From opposite features of the people living in their respective worlds to the difference of their temperament, all emphasized the contrast. Yet what's fascinating is how these elements were meant to blend together to achieve balance. Sun and Moon joining in an eclipse.
I've been reading yaoi and BL for a long time and I can say that Kaji and Aniol is one of my favorite pairings. Kaji with his dominating yet protective love of Aniol and Aniol with his demure yet steadfast love of Kaji. I like how Aniol finds his peace whenever he is in Kaji's arms. It's awesome how Aniol seems pliant almost all the time but the control he has over Kaji is actually absolute and his occasional boldness just drives Kaji out of his mind. Kaji's obsession and possessiveness of Aniol is just so sweet.
The few negatives of this book is the repetitive introductions to every chapter and some deviation to the whole flow of the plot that causes some confusion. I don't entirely hate the introductions given in every chapter. I love quotable quotes but it got boring reading them because the author basically rephrases what he wrote before on some of the chapters. There was also some underlying story that was ended abruptly and left hanging without further explanation that I wondered why the hell is was included in the story. It was like the idea just popped up and the author added it to the story but didn't elaborate it much.
All in all, I still very much liked it. The romance just really did it for me.
June 24, 2020
June 24; 2020
So, I randomly decided to re-read this book. I have read this book once but I remembered nothing about it when I started reading it again. The only thing I did remember and the reason I re-read this book is because I remember loving it and wanting to read more by this author.
It has been six years since I read the Gatekeeper for the first time and yeah, it was as good as reading it the first time because I remembered nothing. I didn't even remember the premise of the book, so I was actually a little shocked to discover how political this book is in some ways. Despite that initial shock, I found myself quickly invested in Kaji and Aniol's story.
The author weaves a fascinating world and I liked how the first chapter feels like a collision of worlds. That first chapter is so atmospheric there are things happening and you can't tell how events will unfold till everything changes as Aniol crashes into Kaji and changes both their lives forever.
This is a fantasy featuring two worlds out of balance and their only hope for survival is a gatekeeper. I loved how the author set up the foundation for this world. The extensive history she creates for what threw these two worlds into chaos gives this story a lot of depth as does the fact that the events that were set into motion when Aniol crashed into Kaji are the first steps towards these two worlds achieving balance again. The plot was this continuous flowing thread which was seamless in its past and present. From the very beginning, the plot is working towards achieving this balance even when you don't know it yet.
Aniol is a character who has suffered a lot and continues to suffer a lot throughout this book and it was hard to fathom just how deep his suffering is. Everything seems to work against him and that is a little depressing but I also appreciate his quiet strength. He is someone with a huge burden but it was fun to see him deal with the follies of love even though it was only for some time.
The author does a really good job with her cast of side characters who are all so fascinating. Rogue, Yuan, Anei and especially Kiev steal the show many times.
Kaji, however, is a little harder to get a grasp on. He feels forgettable and he doesn't seem to really endure much of anything compared to the other characters so he definitely doesn't get to shine. The only context I liked Kaji in is in the context of his relationship with Aniol and how their love made both of them happier and stronger.
This book as a whole package features an engrossing fantasy world and an amazing cast of characters with a fascinating plot.
So, I randomly decided to re-read this book. I have read this book once but I remembered nothing about it when I started reading it again. The only thing I did remember and the reason I re-read this book is because I remember loving it and wanting to read more by this author.
It has been six years since I read the Gatekeeper for the first time and yeah, it was as good as reading it the first time because I remembered nothing. I didn't even remember the premise of the book, so I was actually a little shocked to discover how political this book is in some ways. Despite that initial shock, I found myself quickly invested in Kaji and Aniol's story.
The author weaves a fascinating world and I liked how the first chapter feels like a collision of worlds. That first chapter is so atmospheric there are things happening and you can't tell how events will unfold till everything changes as Aniol crashes into Kaji and changes both their lives forever.
This is a fantasy featuring two worlds out of balance and their only hope for survival is a gatekeeper. I loved how the author set up the foundation for this world. The extensive history she creates for what threw these two worlds into chaos gives this story a lot of depth as does the fact that the events that were set into motion when Aniol crashed into Kaji are the first steps towards these two worlds achieving balance again. The plot was this continuous flowing thread which was seamless in its past and present. From the very beginning, the plot is working towards achieving this balance even when you don't know it yet.
Aniol is a character who has suffered a lot and continues to suffer a lot throughout this book and it was hard to fathom just how deep his suffering is. Everything seems to work against him and that is a little depressing but I also appreciate his quiet strength. He is someone with a huge burden but it was fun to see him deal with the follies of love even though it was only for some time.
The author does a really good job with her cast of side characters who are all so fascinating. Rogue, Yuan, Anei and especially Kiev steal the show many times.
Kaji, however, is a little harder to get a grasp on. He feels forgettable and he doesn't seem to really endure much of anything compared to the other characters so he definitely doesn't get to shine. The only context I liked Kaji in is in the context of his relationship with Aniol and how their love made both of them happier and stronger.
This book as a whole package features an engrossing fantasy world and an amazing cast of characters with a fascinating plot.
July 21, 2015
The author here has combined yaoi/Manga themes and political fantasy. Unfortunately, she hasn't developed a political system. There is a historical background and some cultural and spiritual world building but the political is neglected.
As a result, the only way to forward her plot was to make the MC, Kaji, incredibly weak and ineffective. During the build up to the main crisis, his reactions remind me of a teen rebelling against parents. He is supposed to be king and at the age of majority, but doesn't seem able to plan or consider cause/effect relationships at all. He has no interaction in government other than bickering with the bad guy. Of course the bad guy has to win them all or there's no plot, and then instead of considered reflection Kaji wallows in self recrimination. Then does exactly the same thing all over again.
Anyway, I think in a fantasy authors have options that include the hero type and the flawed antihero. The thing is, either way the reader has to see some spark of something worthwhile in the MC to make the book worth reading. When you forward an overly simplistic plot at the expense of the protagonist, you always risk alienating the reader, because if the protagonist is unable to see things coming that the reader finds obvious, it will alter the reader's perception of his capability and worthiness. The moral of the story: don't write political plots if you don't really understand politics, because your readers will think your characters are clueless even if you didn't mean them to be (purposefully making your characters ignorant is an entirely different game. In that case, the author is aware all along that the reader is noting the character's poor choices and is pushing the reader toward some understanding of the character's weakness and the effect of that weakness on the plot, and things behind the scenes make sense to the reader even if they do not make sense to the protagonist).
I finally gave up on the book. Trying to read about governments designed by people who don't understand politics is painful. If power actually consisted of a signature on a piece of paper, the history of the world would look a lot different!
As a result, the only way to forward her plot was to make the MC, Kaji, incredibly weak and ineffective. During the build up to the main crisis, his reactions remind me of a teen rebelling against parents. He is supposed to be king and at the age of majority, but doesn't seem able to plan or consider cause/effect relationships at all. He has no interaction in government other than bickering with the bad guy. Of course the bad guy has to win them all or there's no plot, and then instead of considered reflection Kaji wallows in self recrimination. Then does exactly the same thing all over again.
Anyway, I think in a fantasy authors have options that include the hero type and the flawed antihero. The thing is, either way the reader has to see some spark of something worthwhile in the MC to make the book worth reading. When you forward an overly simplistic plot at the expense of the protagonist, you always risk alienating the reader, because if the protagonist is unable to see things coming that the reader finds obvious, it will alter the reader's perception of his capability and worthiness. The moral of the story: don't write political plots if you don't really understand politics, because your readers will think your characters are clueless even if you didn't mean them to be (purposefully making your characters ignorant is an entirely different game. In that case, the author is aware all along that the reader is noting the character's poor choices and is pushing the reader toward some understanding of the character's weakness and the effect of that weakness on the plot, and things behind the scenes make sense to the reader even if they do not make sense to the protagonist).
I finally gave up on the book. Trying to read about governments designed by people who don't understand politics is painful. If power actually consisted of a signature on a piece of paper, the history of the world would look a lot different!
February 24, 2012
This book was hard to rate. I could not in good conscience rate it over a 3 (for reasons that I’ll expand on). But I enjoyed it a lot, when all said and done. So much that I’m glad I pushed through to the finish.
The problems with this book are numerous.
First of all, there is so much telling and passive language in this book, it drove me up a wall. That did nothing to help the pace of the novel (which was slow as molasses).
Then there was the issue of head hopping (my biggest pet peeve). Not everyone is going to know what’s going on in every person’s head. I can’t read minds, your characters can’t either.
And there was absolutely zero relationship building. NONE. The main characters didn’t even talk to each other! It was the oddest thing. When they say they love each other at about 60% my eyebrow raised so far up my head, I nearly lost it. Because while they were on every single page together, they’d had… maybe one conversation that lasted half a page? CRAZY STRANGE.
I almost gave up on this book at 16%. Since I paid $6 for it and it had such positive reviews, I decided to give it to at least 30%. The pacing was better by then (thank god!) and I’d become desensitized to the passive telling.
All that said, in the end, it was a really interesting book! While it wasn’t one of those “can’t put it down” books (actually I forced myself to finish it), it was a book that made me think after. And also will stick with me for a while. That is all attributed to the world-building, which I thought was very well done.
Would I recommend this book? Perhaps not. However, if you find yourself without anything to read on a Saturday night, it’s worth a few hours of your time.
The problems with this book are numerous.
First of all, there is so much telling and passive language in this book, it drove me up a wall. That did nothing to help the pace of the novel (which was slow as molasses).
Then there was the issue of head hopping (my biggest pet peeve). Not everyone is going to know what’s going on in every person’s head. I can’t read minds, your characters can’t either.
And there was absolutely zero relationship building. NONE. The main characters didn’t even talk to each other! It was the oddest thing. When they say they love each other at about 60% my eyebrow raised so far up my head, I nearly lost it. Because while they were on every single page together, they’d had… maybe one conversation that lasted half a page? CRAZY STRANGE.
I almost gave up on this book at 16%. Since I paid $6 for it and it had such positive reviews, I decided to give it to at least 30%. The pacing was better by then (thank god!) and I’d become desensitized to the passive telling.
All that said, in the end, it was a really interesting book! While it wasn’t one of those “can’t put it down” books (actually I forced myself to finish it), it was a book that made me think after. And also will stick with me for a while. That is all attributed to the world-building, which I thought was very well done.
Would I recommend this book? Perhaps not. However, if you find yourself without anything to read on a Saturday night, it’s worth a few hours of your time.
February 20, 2011
The people of Duiem live shrouded by prophecy and are obligated to fulfil them in order to put right the wrong that was created when the Wardens murdered their Gatekeepers. As a result, Dueim has become a hot land with much sought after water. The story begins on the day of Kaji, King of Duiem's bonding ceremony which is interrupted by Aniol. He is a mysterious, quiet young man and from that moment on Kaji and Aniol embark on an adventure to discover Aniol's past, the meaning of who they really are, and what the future holds for them.
This was a great read. The world the characters live in was original and imaginative, it was also quite well paced, as the book went on we discovered new facts on both Dueim and Careil, what Gatekeepers mean to both worlds, what it means to be a Gatekeeper, etc.
As far as the characters themselves, I did enjoy most of them (though Lira was just annoying). I do wish we could have had more insight on Rogue. Maybe in a future book? Maybe his HEA will involve Aniol's younger brother Arian? One can hope.
The love story was sweet and left me quite satisfied, I loved how protective Kaji was of Aniol and though obstacles did come up, Kaji and Aniol always found a way to get past them.
I do have to say, that the language was too flowery and it would have benefited the story if it had been simpler. It also took me a while to get into the introductions to each chapter but after a few of them I actually began to enjoy them, once you get past the flowery writing you realise how talented Rayne Auster is.
This was a great read. The world the characters live in was original and imaginative, it was also quite well paced, as the book went on we discovered new facts on both Dueim and Careil, what Gatekeepers mean to both worlds, what it means to be a Gatekeeper, etc.
As far as the characters themselves, I did enjoy most of them (though Lira was just annoying). I do wish we could have had more insight on Rogue. Maybe in a future book? Maybe his HEA will involve Aniol's younger brother Arian? One can hope.
The love story was sweet and left me quite satisfied, I loved how protective Kaji was of Aniol and though obstacles did come up, Kaji and Aniol always found a way to get past them.
I do have to say, that the language was too flowery and it would have benefited the story if it had been simpler. It also took me a while to get into the introductions to each chapter but after a few of them I actually began to enjoy them, once you get past the flowery writing you realise how talented Rayne Auster is.
May 20, 2018
I loved this book! Rayne Auster's writing is just so rhythmic and flowing. It's just about the complete opposite of the other book I've read by her, Secrets Hidden in Silence (also amazing, btw), but still so good.
In fact, the whole story is about opposites, and the balance between them. Duiem and Careil are two worlds, one of fire and earth, one of air and water, that balance each other. Only they've been separated, and apart, they're dying. They've been so long apart, that all that remains are legends... and maybe hope, and Auster draws that hope so well. Even the main characters of Kaji and Aniol are severe opposites, sun and moon, and yet they fit together so beautifully. In fact, they hardly coped before they met each other, and watching as they slowly learned to balance each other out was just fascinating.
I also loved how Auster starts off each chapter with a short piece from an unknown narrator. This narration in particular is very lyrical and lends to the story a mythic feel, as if the whole thing is a legend we're hearing from the far future, even though the rest of the story is very present and personal.
I think this book would be an awesome audiobook, simply because I found myself wanting to read enormous sections of it outloud to myself!
In fact, the whole story is about opposites, and the balance between them. Duiem and Careil are two worlds, one of fire and earth, one of air and water, that balance each other. Only they've been separated, and apart, they're dying. They've been so long apart, that all that remains are legends... and maybe hope, and Auster draws that hope so well. Even the main characters of Kaji and Aniol are severe opposites, sun and moon, and yet they fit together so beautifully. In fact, they hardly coped before they met each other, and watching as they slowly learned to balance each other out was just fascinating.
I also loved how Auster starts off each chapter with a short piece from an unknown narrator. This narration in particular is very lyrical and lends to the story a mythic feel, as if the whole thing is a legend we're hearing from the far future, even though the rest of the story is very present and personal.
I think this book would be an awesome audiobook, simply because I found myself wanting to read enormous sections of it outloud to myself!
August 28, 2015
Based on the summary and generally positive reviews, I was super psyched about reading this. The premise hit all the check marks for me. Then I started reading and things went quickly down hill. I made it through a couple chapters before abandoning ship. The writing is seriously awful. It reads like an early rough draft and I don't know how any editor in good conscience decided this was polished enough to publish. Constant use of epithets, all telling and no showing, jarring leaps in time that made me wonder if I'd skipped ahead a few pages and missed a scene (only to discover the important scene was left out all together, leaving me to play catch up by being TOLD and not shown what happened). Basically, just think of every Creative Writing 101 faux pas and cram it into one writing style and you've got a sense of how this story reads.
What really got me was how each character's emotions ran extremely hot and cold without any gravity behind it. Someone suddenly cries or starts yelling in anger, but there's no build up or groundwork for these responses, so it reads like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum and has zero emotional impact. This makes it impossible to relate to the characters.
There's definite potential for the author and the premise is aces. But the writing itself is miles away from decent and lightyears from good. I hope after 10 years of learning from her mistakes, the author does some major overhauls and publishes another edition of this, because I would definitely read it then.
What really got me was how each character's emotions ran extremely hot and cold without any gravity behind it. Someone suddenly cries or starts yelling in anger, but there's no build up or groundwork for these responses, so it reads like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum and has zero emotional impact. This makes it impossible to relate to the characters.
There's definite potential for the author and the premise is aces. But the writing itself is miles away from decent and lightyears from good. I hope after 10 years of learning from her mistakes, the author does some major overhauls and publishes another edition of this, because I would definitely read it then.
January 29, 2016
Well... *sigh*, I finished the entire book in one whole go.. damn 6 hours I mean...
I'm giving this 3 stars because.. only because of the world the author has created.. it had so much promise.. but all of it was pushed to the side.. the author missed out in giving details to this exemplary world. The story is definitely on the upside being plot driven, but the characters too like the world are left underdeveloped. The growth in Kaji and Aniol seem as if it grew in leaps and bounds at certain parts of their characters through the story, but left out the other parts, making them slightly odd at times. The setting for romance is like a typical Yaoi manga, or so to be exact like the erotic harlequin stories involving werewolves and metaphysical bonding..it is nice to see this kind of romance but it feels so unnatural.
The entire story would have been so much better with more coherency and flow in the words and more detailed explanation, making it into two or three books rather than one.
Everyone seems to dislike the initial paragraphs in the chapters giving background info.. but for me it seems interesting though the way it was written would have looked smooth with better editing and more poetry included.
The book is certainly good for a shallow read on any old rainy day I guess...
I'm giving this 3 stars because.. only because of the world the author has created.. it had so much promise.. but all of it was pushed to the side.. the author missed out in giving details to this exemplary world. The story is definitely on the upside being plot driven, but the characters too like the world are left underdeveloped. The growth in Kaji and Aniol seem as if it grew in leaps and bounds at certain parts of their characters through the story, but left out the other parts, making them slightly odd at times. The setting for romance is like a typical Yaoi manga, or so to be exact like the erotic harlequin stories involving werewolves and metaphysical bonding..it is nice to see this kind of romance but it feels so unnatural.
The entire story would have been so much better with more coherency and flow in the words and more detailed explanation, making it into two or three books rather than one.
Everyone seems to dislike the initial paragraphs in the chapters giving background info.. but for me it seems interesting though the way it was written would have looked smooth with better editing and more poetry included.
The book is certainly good for a shallow read on any old rainy day I guess...
August 7, 2013
12 straight hours with no sleep and I manage to finish this one. I actually thought this was a short read - guess again. I found the book quite riveting the plot kept me from sleeping because I was actually curious how the story would end. Most of the books I read are somewhat predictable; don't get me wrong I'm a huge fan of HEAs. Also Kiev's role was like a sore prick I couldn't figure out until the final chapter.The characters where believable to some degree (though I was quite disappointed how easily Kaji accepted Aniol as a mate and vice versa - personally i would have loved it if they struggled a bit; well maybe it was because of the bond. what the heck. I liked the supporting characters especially Rogue though disappointed too that he didn't end up with Yuan (ooops! spoiler). Overall Rayne Auster made me believe in this world he created and that's all I wanted (atm).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2014
3.5 stars
The first time I read it I absolutely loved it, though now (at a second reading) I found it a bit too yaoi for my tastes (weak girly bottom and big manly top and some pretty cheesy situations and dialogue). I suppose I'm a bit picky lately :D Or as I like to say it, I have matured XD
I liked the second half of the book more, because the action seemed more intense and things were finally revealed enough for the actions of the secondary characters to make more sense.
Also I kind of disliked how some characters were introduced in the beginning (like that guy Yuan who just seemed to puff into existence in the middle of a scene).
It's one of those stories with complex plot, but also a few steamy sex scenes. It's a fun cast of very diverse characters getting in all sort of trouble while trying to fulfill a prophecy and fix their world.
The first time I read it I absolutely loved it, though now (at a second reading) I found it a bit too yaoi for my tastes (weak girly bottom and big manly top and some pretty cheesy situations and dialogue). I suppose I'm a bit picky lately :D Or as I like to say it, I have matured XD
I liked the second half of the book more, because the action seemed more intense and things were finally revealed enough for the actions of the secondary characters to make more sense.
Also I kind of disliked how some characters were introduced in the beginning (like that guy Yuan who just seemed to puff into existence in the middle of a scene).
It's one of those stories with complex plot, but also a few steamy sex scenes. It's a fun cast of very diverse characters getting in all sort of trouble while trying to fulfill a prophecy and fix their world.
September 24, 2014
This book should have been right up my alley. Forced bonding, little bit of magic, world building, and a powerful MC. Yet, this very nearly ended up in my DNF shelf on more then one occasion. Way to short chapters, combined with big blocks of unless text at the beginning of each, again, way to short chapter didn't allow you to get any sort of reading rhythm. The book had absolutely no flow. So to say the writing was a little painful at times is an understatement.
To be fair the author did create a completely unique world and had it been delivered differently I'm pretty positive I would have loved it. Unfortunately, I just didn't.
Sadly, I wouldn't recommend this book. If you're looking for a forced bonding, world building fantasy like other reviewers I'd have to say read Bloodraven.
To be fair the author did create a completely unique world and had it been delivered differently I'm pretty positive I would have loved it. Unfortunately, I just didn't.
Sadly, I wouldn't recommend this book. If you're looking for a forced bonding, world building fantasy like other reviewers I'd have to say read Bloodraven.
January 18, 2015
Pretty great story.
This storyline would have made a better series, spread out over many books, however being condensed into one novel didn't cheapen the story.
The only negative I found, was the addition of the sex scenes. This storyline was very strong and well thought out, however the sex scenes just seemed thrown in and unnecessary. Without the sex, this novel could have stood firm outside of the "erotica" genre; And honestly, they were a bit much. The writing being so strong as a fantasy novel, the erotica aspect cheapens it unnecessarily. I found myself skipping 5-6 pages at a time once the sex started.
Also, there were quite a bit of spelling/grammar issues, and typos missed in editing.
Without the sex,I would have rated this book 4 stars, but because I had to skip about 30 pages total I'm rating it 3 stars....
This storyline would have made a better series, spread out over many books, however being condensed into one novel didn't cheapen the story.
The only negative I found, was the addition of the sex scenes. This storyline was very strong and well thought out, however the sex scenes just seemed thrown in and unnecessary. Without the sex, this novel could have stood firm outside of the "erotica" genre; And honestly, they were a bit much. The writing being so strong as a fantasy novel, the erotica aspect cheapens it unnecessarily. I found myself skipping 5-6 pages at a time once the sex started.
Also, there were quite a bit of spelling/grammar issues, and typos missed in editing.
Without the sex,I would have rated this book 4 stars, but because I had to skip about 30 pages total I'm rating it 3 stars....
February 6, 2013
If I could only rate this book based upon the characters and the story idea I would give it a 4 or 5 - but I really had a hard time understanding stuff the way the it was designed and organized - I don't know the technical terms - it was very complicated and confusing at times. My small brain had a hard time connecting the dots until way far into the story. I think the lead in paragraphs in each chapter were the most confusing part of it all.
If I hadn't liked Kaji & Aniol so much I am not sure if I could have stuck with it. I had to put it down a few times and digest and start again. But all that being said - I did very much enjoy some aspects of this book and I will probably re-read it with a less confused mind soon.
If I hadn't liked Kaji & Aniol so much I am not sure if I could have stuck with it. I had to put it down a few times and digest and start again. But all that being said - I did very much enjoy some aspects of this book and I will probably re-read it with a less confused mind soon.
April 19, 2010
Gatekeeper by Rayne Auster was an interesting read. The descriptions of Duiem, the Land of Earth and Fire, were reasonably well developed and provided enough detail to give you a good picture of the characters and their lives. Mystery over where Aniol comes from and how he and Kaji are going to save their respective lands provided pretty standard fantasy fare. The authors characterization and slow building of tension between the leads was nicely done and the book proved to be rather entertaining. Loads of wonderful secondary characters and adventure, definitely a pretty cool read.
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February 14, 2016
Story was good, but the writing style...it felt like the author was trying too hard. All the emotions the characters felt were very extreme. He didn't just get frustrated; he got enraged. Also, the history lessons/narrations/vocabulary at the beginning of every chapter were a little much. Many of them weren't need or were repeats; and most of the information in them about the world the author built should have been in the story itself. In fact, most of what was in those narrations should have been incorporated into the story. The chapters were too short, so it felt like half the book was something other than the main story.
July 30, 2012
I tried, I really did.... so many time, but every time I pick up this novel I find myself hating the writing style. The story line and characters are interesting, they draw you and make you want to know more... But I just can't get over the constant and mind numbing breaks in action -or even just basic story line- to be inundated with a complex history that brings nothing to the novel. I get it, the world the author is creating is well thought out, but please let it come across through the novel itself, I do not require or desire a bland and repetitive history lesson at the beginning of each chapter. My two cents, feel free to disagree.
April 15, 2014
I cant give more then 3 stars,but is relly near 3.5,because in the story there're some digressions that bored me some times.The book ends well,and i would say finally a book with a good end and where the chars dont get raped and where the main chars fall in love at first sight and dont cheat.This is a good read for all the romantics.Aniol and Kaji are beautiful together and all of us would like to have one love like theirs.The story of Kiev and Kaji'father made me sad,but in the end u understand that,at last,in the death they found eachother and they can be with their destined mate.I'd like to read other books from this author,who doesnt like the romance? ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2016
Entertaining and fun, eventhough the story depends too heavily on coincidences and Solutions to problems are so simplistic as if the story had been written for four year olds and even worst these weak solutions follow the problem immediately not allowing any suspense to take form. There are occasions when the character's behavior and dialogues don't match their social statues or the supposed social difference between them. But despite this and numerous editorial problems, the story is still interesting and fun.
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