The first book in the Chronicles trilogy I found a little lacklustre insofar as the character development is not particularly well done, except for Alaric, and the plot is not that engaging, but that’s not to say it’s not an enjoyable read; it is, but not as good as it could have been.
However, the second and third books totally make up for the first book's shortcomings.
All the new characters are well-developed, and even the old ones from book one are more real when they make an appearance. The plot moves along at a nice pace with an engaging plot line, and unlike the one in book one, you can not guess what’s coming next, which made the last two books very enjoyable to read.
When I became aware there was a prequel series to the Chronicles, I looked forward to reading it, and I am glad to say book one was an excellent start to the series and a step up from the last book of the Chronicles. I was immediately engaged in the tale as it introduced Sable and her two younger sisters, just as their lives take a dramatic turn.
The Origins trilogy is a vast improvement over the Chronicles trilogy, and turned out to be one of the most engaging and entertaining trilogies I have read. It is filled with a fantastic array of characters, has a wonderful plot, and is immensely entertaining from start to finish.
A Threat of Shadows
Pursuit of Shadows
Siege of Shadows
When Mallon the Undying threatened the land years ago, the elves stopped him—and then disappeared.
Now Mallon's followers seek to bring him back to finish what he started.
Only the Keepers—storytellers, historians, and magic-wielders—are left to stand against them.
Alaric, who betrayed everything he believed to save his wife — and still failed.
Will, a storyteller who’s convinced his weak magic makes him useless.
And Sini, a former slave girl with unimaginable power but no way to wield it.
Can they survive being hunted by dragons, attacked by frost goblins, and betrayed by traitors in their midst?
Or will Mallon's minions overwhelm them and plunge the land into darkness?
Format
Kindle EditionDate Acquired
9th September 2019Retail Cost
£0.99Number of Pages
826Year Read
2019The truth is neither plain nor simple.
Sable, a reluctant thief from the slums, can feel truth when people speak. For years she’s been using that skill to try to break free from the vicious gang boss she's indebted to.
Escape comes in the form of an odd set of companions:
a dwarf running from the past,
an actor with a magical, glowing tree
a too-helpful kobold,
a playwright with a knack for getting stories out of people, and
a man and woman with suspicious, magical powers.
But Sable’s freedom is short-lived.
On the edges of civilization, they discover hidden, terrifying lies in the offers of peace from the brutal Kalesh Empire.
Now, she must return to the city she fled, and along with her companions, attempt an impossible task—convince everyone, including the powerful Dragon Prioress, of the truth.
Except the Kalesh web of lies has ensnared everyone.
With her land, her people, and everything she loves hanging in the balance, Sable is the only one standing between freedom and certain death.
Format
Kindle EditionDate Acquired
13th May 2022Retail Cost
£3.81Number of Pages
614Year Read
2023Sable just wants an escape from the corner of the world she's trapped in, but what lies outside is far more dangerous…
Sable would do anything to break free from the ruthless gang boss she's indebted to before he corrupts her younger sister or discovers Sable's magical ability to sense the truth in people's words.
In a last desperate attempt at freedom, Sable stumbles into unexpected help—Atticus, the famous playwright, and his traveling theater troupe.
Far more than a means of escape, the mismatched band of actors is destined to become the family Sable never knew she wanted. They help awaken her magic until she becomes the burning symbol of truth that the entire land needs.
As war looms and corruption eats away at the halls of power, Sable's ability to sense—and share—the truth may be the only thing that can save them all.
The Keeper Origins is a complete epic fantasy trilogy with rich characters and a delightfully optimistic flavor that stays just on the right side of epic with all the cozy feels.
Sable's rise from a trapped, indebted thief to an actress with words strong enough to change a city.
Embroiled in the politics and scheming of the priories, Sable finds herself drawn to the rebels who fight against them.
With war on the doorstep, Sable and the troupe struggle to keep the foreign Empire from conquering and the corruption in the priories from destroying them from within.
Format
Kindle EditionDate Acquired
16th August 2023Retail Price
£7.84Number of Pages
2342Year Read
2026