Sunday 15 March 2015

The Storyspinner

The Storyspinner (The Keepers' Chronicles, #1)

Debut author Becky Wallace's The Storyspinner  is the first book of her Keeper Chronicles.

Drama and danger abound in this fantasy realm where dukes play a game for the throne, magical warriors race to find the missing heir, and romance blossoms where it is least expected.

In a world where dukes plot their way to the throne, a Performer's life can get tricky.  And in Johanna Von Arlo's case, it can be fatal.  Expelled from her troupe after her father's death, Johanna is forced to work for the handsome Lord Rafael DeSilva.  Too bad they don't get along.  But while Johanna's father death was deemed an accident, the Keepers aren't so sure.

The Keepers, a race of people with magical abilities, are on a quest to find the princess- the same princess who is supposed to be dead and whose throne the dukes are fighting over.  But they aren't the only ones looking for her.  And in the wake of their search, murdered girls keep turning up- girls who look exactly like the princess, and exactly like Johanna.

With dukes, Keepers, and killer all after the princess, Johanna finds herself caught up in political machinations for the throne, threats on her life, and an unexpected romance that could change everything.

The Breakdown:
1. I really enjoyed this book.  Wallace's style reminds me a lot of George R.R. Martin with the changes in perspective and the intrigue about the throne, magic, and missing princesses. Most of the book is split been the Keepers and their search for the princess, and Johanna and her life outside the troupe.  Wallace does a great job of pulling these two stories together in the end.

2. I liked the budding romances in the book.  Not only between Johanna and Rafael, who admittedly could not stand each other at first.  I loved how they slowly developed respect for each other that ends up going deeper.  There is also the attraction between the Keepers, Pira and Leao.  Theirs is an awkward attraction with each not really sure how to deal with their feelings.  I am excited to see where these relationships go in the series.

3.  I love that Wallace does such a fantastic job really developing multiple characters.  None of her main characters felt  one dimensional, which is an amazing feat considering there were five characters that had chapters from their perspective.  Plus her supporting characters were also phenomenal.  I especially loved Dom, Rafael's younger brother.  He is funny and charming, but he also steps up and is protective when he needs to be.

4. Oh, and Wallace does write some villains that I know I am going to love to hate in Duke Inimigo and Vibora. They are definitely plotting something terrible and I can't wait to see how everything plays out in the series.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read  

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