Review of Dragon’s Reach by J.A. Andrews (The Keeper Origins 1)
BlurbThe 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.
Pick up the first book of the Keeper Origins Trilogy today, and begin the tale of how an orphaned thief escaped the slums, united a nation, and brought a mighty Empire to its knees.
The Keeper Origins Trilogy, and the Keeper Chronicles Trilogy can be read in any order. They take place in the same world, but are standalone series.
At the outset, let me say that this is the third time I’m starting this book, but the first time finishing it. I started it as ebook once and audio once, but both times, I couldn’t get into it and stopped soon. Now I realise that it was probably me and whatever I was dealing with at those times, because once I started this time, I couldn’t stop and I finished it at 4 am. (heap big sigh because I’m 50 and I shouldn’t be pulling all nighters)
The story revolves around Issable or Sable as she is called. When she was a child, some raiders in black killed her parents in front of her and her sisters, and ever since, they’ve been on their own. When the story opens, Sable is an adult, who is thieving for a gang boss called Kiva to pay off her debt to him and to keep her sister, Talia, safe from him. The youngest sister Ryah is dead and despite Sable’s best attempts, she’s no closer to paying off her debt than before. Worse, Talia is beginning to chafe at their frugal life and her hard job at a bakery.
When Sable finds a chance to win her freedom from Kiva, she takes it, risking all, but though Kiva agrees to free her, he tells her that as on today, Talia is one of his Jays: people who spy for him. Sable is given a last impossible task in order to win Talia’s freedom, but if she fails, she’ll lose her life. To escape, Sable joins a theatrical troupe, little realising how that action was to have lasting repercussions on her life and the lives of everyone around her.
From the beginning, I was engrossed in Sable’s life and struggles. I felt for her, but such is the power of the author’s words that I found myself sympathising with Talia as well, and understanding her, something that Sable struggled to do. The characters are all well rounded, human, and flawed. I loved the vibes of the troupe, with Atticus, their charismatic and enigmatic owner, Thulan, the grumpy dwarf, Leonis, the charming scapegrace whose main purpose in life seems to be to stay drunk and to annoy Thulan. Even Lady Merilee, the noblewoman who sucks at acting and who is the First Lady was well fleshed out character.
I’ve always found world building to be a strength of this author’s books, and this one was no different. The world is richly detailed and evocatively described with no unnecessary exposition. Everything is just the right amount. This is by no means a small book, but every word belongs, everything fits together. This is a world before then Keepers existed, but some version of them are found in Jay, Serene, Merrick and Diann, their library, and their refuge of Stonehaven. This is a world ruled by the Priories and Prioresses of the old gods, where the Kalesh empire is expanding their influence and the rich and poor have a clear divide. The land isn’t Queensland, not yet, but with threats both external and internal and a people divided, it is difficult to envisage this as the precursor to that.
The writing, as always, is compelling, making the reader glued to the pages. Well, this reader anyway. This is one of the best epic fantasy books I’ve read in a while, and believe me, there is stiff competition. I adored everything about this one. I am so anxious to finish my tasks for today, so I can get to the next one.
Sleep is overrated anyway.
If you live epic fantasy, compelling characters, rich world building, and an intricate plot, you will love this book. Just go read it! I guarantee you’ll love it!
