Review of Runelight (Aenigma Lights 1) by J.A. Andrews
BlurbKate thought finding the puzzle box would give her all the answers.
But it only holds far more desperate questions.
Kate is a Keeper—a storyteller, magic-wielder, and researcher—but a single mystery has evaded her all her What happened on the tragic day when two strangers stole not only the puzzle box that hummed with magic, but so much more?
She and her brother Bo have searched for twenty years with no luck. Until Venn, a surly elf, shows up on the hidden doorstep of the Keepers’ Stronghold, with that same aenigma box—and a message that Bo has disappeared.
Kate needs a guide back to Venn’s homeland to search for him, and Venn needs to find him for reasons of her own. Reasons she refuses to explain.
Despite their mutual distrust, Kate and Venn form a grudging alliance.
Somewhere in the midst of infiltrating dwarven tunnels, discovering the secrets of the aenigma box, and stumbling onto shocking ancient relics, the alliance shifts to friendship.
But as the search for Bo grows increasingly dangerous, they uncover a complex plot woven through centuries, devastating not just individuals, but entire empires.
And even working together, the inexplicable forces standing against them may be too much.
Half treasure hunt and half rescue mission, this epic fantasy adventure is a tale of puzzles, mysteries, and the kinds of friendships—both old and new—that shape the soul.
This is a book that has been on my TBR for a while, and I had not planned on reading this now, but it was picked for a book club read on a SPFBO server so I knew I would read it this month. But I didn’t expect I would just sit and read and finish it in one sitting.
This is set in the Keeper Universe, but you don’t need to read any of the other books to understand this one. I had read the Keeper Chronicles and got really excited whenever a familiar character made their appearance, but it’s not needed to enjoy this book.
It revolves around Kate, who is a Keeper. But twenty years ago, Kate was a little girl who was just awakening her magic. She and her two brothers, Bo and Evan, find a box in an abandoned mine. They call it the Aenigma box, but soon after, they’re attacked by two strangers who use magic to sap their will. Though Kate and Bo escape, Evan and the box are taken away by the strangers.
Twenty years on, Kate is a Keeper and Bo is searching for any clue to Evan. The box was stamped with the seal of the Kalesh empire which perished centuries ago, but the strangers who took Evan had the same emblem on their clothes. Hence their enquiries are centred around the Kalesh empire and the last emperor Stronn who vanished without a trace which led to the empire’s disintegration soon after.
When an elf named Venn turns up at the Keeper’s stronghold with the box which Bo had entrusted to her to take to Kate, and Kate learns that Bo is missing, she leaves with Venn to search for her brother. Venn is surly, secretive and hostile, and Kate doesn’t trust her, but the two form an uneasy truce which deepens to friendship as the journey goes on. They also make friends with two dwarves named Silas and Tribal who help them get to their destination faster. But the secrets they uncover there are far more than they expected, and they can’t even be certain they would survive their quest.
Like I said, I’ve read this author’s books before and loved them. Though the premise is similar to the story of Will searching for his sister, this is also vastly different. I especially loved the two dwarves and Yellow, the tavern keeper who has a heart of gold. The twists and turns were unexpected and never once did the story lose my interest.
I’m eager to read the next book and see where Kate and Venn goes next. I loved their friendship and their characters. Kate is an especially relatable character and apart from Sini, might be my most favourite character yet.
If you love epic/ high fantasy, quests, adventures and lots of magic and mysteries, you will love this book.
