The Books of the Keepers

Spellkey #3

by Ann Downer-Hazell

In the conclusion to the trilogy that began with Spellkey and The Glass Salamander, Caitlin the Seer, Badger, and their children live peacefully in their world after rescuing son Bram from the elvish underworld.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

245 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 1993

Reviews

[Claire Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books from my childhood! I got it for 25¢ when my library was getting rid of it when I was around 9 or 10 and it’s one of my most read books since! Over a decade of loving this book and I hope to someday find and read the rest of the series!

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much bucking the trend of the contemporary fantasy trilogy, this book returns to our protagonists from The Spellkey and The Glass Salamander some seven years later, many of them greatly changed over the interval. Caitlin and Badger have settled into domesticity (more strained than blissful) with their changeling child in the Weirdwood, while Ulfra the wolf-girl has become a stylish tailor and Nix has grown up and learned to speak like a human after being adopted by a farmer's family. Meanwhile, Caitlin's stolen son Bram is reaching the end of his indenture in the land of the elves, although he has no idea either that he might return to the human world or that he is being used as a pawn in the civil war between the elves and their goblin offspring. All their stories weave in and out of each other in fascinating ways, and although the quest (to find the lost Books of the Keepers, which contain the magic of Chameol prior to the fall of Iule) doesn't feel as urgent as the struggle with Myrrhlock from earlier books, the style of the writing suits a more leisurely visit with characters old and new. All in all, a lovely and mature close to the series.

[hh · Rating 5 out of 5]

great wrap up to the trilogy. the end comes a bit fast and furious, but it's also nice that this didn't stretch out to be a 400 page book. love the characters, the story, the everything.