The Keys to the Realms

The Dream Stewards #2

by Roberta Trahan

In this sequel to The Well of Tears, a young acolyte struggles to save her order from ruin in a war-torn kingdom. Glain, Proctor of the Stewards and second to Alwen, Guardian of the Key to the Spiritual Realm and pro tempore Sovereign, must discover who threatens the safety of Fane Gramarye, the last bastion of magic standing against the forces of an evil mage, Machreth, who is bent on thwarting the prophecy of the Ancients and usurping the throne from its rightful king. Conspiracies, intrigues, and treachery present significant obstacles to finding and bringing together the four Guardians of the Keys to the Realms, a daunting but necessary task to ensure the safety of the kingdom. Glain's visionary powers are formidable; but can she trust those she calls her friends? Or her own heart, so set on sharing a life with Alwen's son, Rhys, who must fulfill his own destiny? Moreover, Glain guards a secret of her own that she must come to terms with before the prophecy of peace can be fulfilled.

Genres: Fantasy, Magic

349 pages, Paperback

First published April 22, 2014

About the author

Best-selling author of "The Dream Stewards" quasi-historical epic fantasy series and other speculative fiction - including the post-apocalyptic sci-fi novella "Aftershock". Myth maker, dragon seeker, coffeechocoholic and antique jewelry hoarder.

Reviews

[John Gilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first, which is unfortunately often the case.

[Debby P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am fortunate enough to have gotten a complimentary copy of The Keys to the Realms and I loved it. The characters are very well written and easy to love or hate, whichever the case may be, so well written, in fact, I saw the story, in my head, as I was reading.
Reading a novel with a strong, take charge,heroine is always something I enjoy and Roberta Trahan has achieved just that in her sequel to The Well of Tears.
If you love losing yourself in a world where magic can exist, then you'll love The Keys to the Realms.
Highly recommended reading to one and all.

[Althea Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a light fantasy - and found myself wondering 'what happened next?' after reading the previous book by Trahan, 'Well of Tears.'

Here, the perspective shifts from the sorceress Alwen's point of view to that of her second-in-command, Glain. The Stewardry continue to pursue their backing of Hywel, whom they believe to be the prophecied ruler who will unite their land. At the same time, they continue to deal with dissension and treachery within their ranks.

The writing is a bit smoother than in 'Well of Tears.' I'd recommend this for fans of David Eddings.

[Debbiebooknerdyoung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I love trying to figure out who the bad guy is in a book, and my favourite books keep me guessing till the end.
This book did not disappoint. I was so far off the mark it was funny lol.

Great lead character.. loved her :)
The characters in the book were easy to like, and get caught up in.

Look forward to reading more of Roberta Trahan's books.
Recommend reading this book to everyone

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exquisitely crafted fantasy full of sweeping vision and delicious detail that’s expertly realised

The spectacular sequel to ’The Well of Tears’ transports you to the heart of a magical world full of wonder and that’s seeped in archaic history. High/ epic fantasy deftly interweaves mythology, magic and sword & sorcery amid an acutely atmospheric backdrop of magnificence and splendour. The Keys to the Realms is a world in which I can lose myself within completely, with the colourful characters whisking me away on an unforgettable journey. With characters as distinctive as those found in Robin Hobb’s novels and warmongering as intensely fearsome as that in Game of Thrones {George RR Martin} the combination of powerful domineering leaders, heroes and magic is perfectly blended together. I love destiny’s and ancient prophecies within fantasy fiction, as they carry such substantial weight to a tale. The prophecies to be fulfilled, quests of a lifetime and hidden secrets that hold so much sway within this story are brilliantly executed and conceived! This imaginative masterpiece of remarkable premise, scope and depth is a noteworthy novel.

In book 2 of the Dream Stewards series a young acolyte struggles to save her order from ruin in a war-torn kingdom.
Glain, Proctor of the Stewards and second to Alwen, Guardian of the Key to the Spiritual Realm and pro tempore Sovereign, must discover who threatens the safety of Fane Gramarye; the last bastion of magic standing against the forces of an evil mage -
Machreth, who is bent on thwarting the prophecy of the Ancients and usurping the throne from its rightful king.
Conspiracies, intrigues, and treachery present significant obstacles to finding and bringing together the four Guardians of the Keys to the Realms, which is a daunting but necessary task to ensure the safety of the kingdom. Moreover, Glain guards a secret of her own that she must come to terms with before the prophecy of peace can be fulfilled…

Roberta Trahan’s fantasy novel is a work of sheer exceptional originality, like nothing you will have encountered before and complete with a cast of brilliant characters. The momentous power plays, cunning plots and sinister schemes all come together in an uncertain era wherein lies the KEY to the fate of the kingdom. Before a great prophecy comes into fruition, secrets that have been buried must be uncovered and a powerful magical force of evil has to be overthrown. Dynamic and undeniably ambitious this splendid tale is an impressive feat of breathtaking conception, which had me glued to the pages throughout. Anyone seeking a phenomenal novel of profundity, complexity and lavish detail will be dazzled by this addictive read!

*I would like to thank the author for providing me with an e-copy of her novel to read and write an honest, non-biased review on *

[Ravencrantz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

I was hesitant to read this because I really disliked the first book, but I was pre-approved on NetGalley and I happened to win a copy from Goodreads first reads giveaway, so I gave it a shot. And honestly? I can't say I'm disappointed. This was definitely better than the first one, but I was still finding excuses not to read. It didn't help that I forgot who the characters were and what, exactly, happened in the first book. After about a third of the way through, I figured things out and everything got going.

I still love the fact that our main heroes are all adult women who know their stuff, and not teenagers being thrown into the Chosen One trope. Don't get me wrong, I love that trope, but this was just a nice change.

My main problem with this book was it felt that there were a bunch of side plots going on, but no real main plot. I think the main plot was finding and defeating Machreth, but only because he was the antagonist in the first book. But even that was treated as a subplot and the ending to that was so anticlimactic. The subplots were intertwined, but they never really came together. I could have very happily read each one separately and lost nothing.

One thing I did enjoy was the lack of romance. There were sparks here and there, and we did start with the new king entertaining a young woman, but that's really it. No love at first sight, no unnecessary romantic subplots, it was a relief and a great change of pace to what I'm used to.

I also really love Thorne, a new character hired to hunt down Machreth. He's that mysterious, brooding, bad-ass type I always seem to migrate towards. He knows his strengths and his weaknesses, he's sharp, and has a quick wit. And he has an adorable dog that sounds very much like a hellhound. He's perfect.

Honestly, I'm kind of curious now where the story goes. If after I finished >The Well of Tears you asked me to read the third book, I would have laughed and said no. Now, I'm seriously considering it. I may not go out right away and buy it, but if I happen across it in a giveaway, or at the library, I think I'll give it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised by this book, and while it still had problems, it was enjoyable.

[Les Chroniques Aléatoires · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whereas the previous volume finished on a true carnage, treasons with abundance and members of the Stewards completely lost, without a head, we takes back the story where it had stopped and from a new point of view. It is with pleasure that we discover the continuation of the adventures of all this small world with a new glance. From Glain, Hywel, Rhys or even new characters, the auteure focussed on the new generation, those which make History.

All the characters whom I did not find exploited enough before, are this time in the protagonists. Glain is ae character more scour, she seems to be more petty, being plugged by her knowledge and her feelings. Hywel is a wolf which entered the sheep-fold which is Fane Gramarye. His choices and his behavior will leave victims behind him, but he is much more complex than we could believe. Rhys finally found his way and thanks to him we discover some new interesting characters. It is the case of Thorne whom I appreciated. Cerrigwen, Finn and Macreth are back, each one taking up a final position in the chess-board of the war in progress. Some of them astonished me.

All the magic part is still well developed, we continue to learn some important things about this universe and the creatures which populates it. The things occur rather quickly, juggling between various protagonists. Prophecy gets under way finally, there are completely unexpected revelations and obviously things will not be done without suffering. The family and loyalty are the main themes of this opus, even more than for the first one. Certain characters will have to make sacrifices and not always in an obvious way. Each one have at its own priorities, its owns dreams, its own beliefs and they cannot unfortunately always cohabit.

In spite of everything being foreseeable in his globality, we remain with some questions without answer, which pushes us to hope with a spin-off or a sequel. The world describes by Roberta Trahan is without a doubt complex and attractive, just like the beings populating it. The writing is obviously always also pleasant to read, always also typical of the kind, which returns the reading easy in spite of the complicated names. A beautiful discovery for my part, which made me travel.

[Leila Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second installment of the Dream Stewards series, the Stewardry has survived an attack by the bad guy and his minions, only to be threatened again from within. Lots of sordid doings and dark magic.

In my review of the first book in this series, The Well of Tears, I said that the story was galloping along and that I imagined it was racing forward in the second book. That was not the case with The Keys to the Realms, but the slower pace of this installment was necessary to move the story forward and further develop the key characters, so I forgive you, Roberta. I enjoyed watching everyone evolve and move toward their true potential (or doom in some cases).

The theme of The Keys to the Realms seemed to be "terrible things happen to awesome people." I mean, all of the great and likeable (some lovable) characters had some nasty things to deal with, the worst of which was the two-facedness (I made up that word. Cool, huh?) of their supposed friends and allies. The fabulous Alwen was possessed by a bitch spell which made her act uncharacteristically, well, bitchy. And poor Glain had her innocence and trust in the goodness of people thrown back in her face. It sucked big time for both of them. And their were some surprising deaths (I'm not giving names, so I'm not spoiling), which reminded me of Bruce Willis dying at the end of the movie Armageddon (which I'm watching for the bazillionth time).
Fortunately, near the end of the book, the good guys caught a break, and the way to the fulfillment of the prophesy seemed within reach once again. Of course, in this kind of story, it won't stay that way for long.

Now, Roberta, when's the next one coming out? I'm on tenterhooks!

Take It

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this, the second book in The Dream Stewards series, Glain and the other stewards at Fane Gramarye must hold strong against dark forces. The evil traitor Machreth betrayed the stewards, and he and his minions use their dark magic in an attempt to thwart an ancient prophecy that will ensure peace in the land. Hywel, heir to the throne, must take control of his kingdom to fulfill that prophecy.

Glain is a complex young woman who is struggling to grieve for her teacher, Madoc, who was trapped in the Well of Tears in the first novel of the series. Meanwhile, she yearns for affection from Rhys, the Sovereign Alwen's son, yet both of them know that their vows to protect the prophecy prevent them from a deep relationship. Glain must look beyond her own emotions. There are still traitors within the stewardry, and it is up to her to find them as her mistress Alwen faces failing health. Her heart is broken as she tries to determine which of the folk she counted as friends have been undermining her all along.

This novel is an exciting story of ancient times, set in what eventually became Wales and Scotland. Based on the author's research, she has taken what sparse history there is available from centuries ago, and skillfully patched those bits together with a compelling fantasy story and interesting characters that will capture the imagination. The pace of the story moved along briskly; I didn't want to put this one down. New plot developments kept me riveted!

The book was released in April, 2014 through 47 North. ISBN 978-1-4778-4995-8.

[Artemiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roberta Trahan's new book in Dream Stewards series, The Keys to the Realms, was even more interesting and more fascinating than the first book was.

I do have to admit, that I did miss Alwen side of the story, but Glain side was also good. From time to time she did act like usual teenager (I want to help, but I don't want to help, I'll chose my friends and I'll be blind to their flaws even if it might cost me my life) but in the end she will wise up.

But Glain was not the only one who we got to follow in this book. Some new characters are introduced and some old ones get more page time.

It was a really good book.

[Michaela Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy through Good Reads Giveaways.

Having not read the first in the series, I found it very easy to fall into place.
I have to say the writing is fantastic! Everything is described in detail, concisely thought out, there's no confusion about what's happening anywhere, which I have to say is a really good sign when your being dropped straight into a story line you know nothing about.

There were some really great characters, and a number of strong female leads, who although had men in their lives didn't let romance overshadow what they needed to do, which for once, was really cool.

This was really a joy to read! I highly recommend it to everyone.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free as a FirstReads giveaway.

I am very impressed by this author. The character and story development was extremely good! I finished this book quickly because it was difficult to put down. The story line is captivating. The only drawback I have with rating this book any higher is the quick resolution to confrontations when they finally occur. Once the author adds this last piece to her repertoire we may see an epic fantasy series from her.

[Kushnuma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Keys to the Realm is book 2 in the Dream Stewards series.

I still wasn't able to get into this book and I got very frustrated with most of the characters. I almost didn't finish the book, but I hate stopping half way so continued. The ending wasn't too bad; there were a few little surprises.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second in the series, I found that it flowed better than the first and the plot definitely got more interesting. I guess the writer found her groove.

[Sheryl A Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking

This read encouraged my mind to walk in its world to wondering. I found it thought provoking...a place of wonder as in a child's heart.

[Katie Caparco · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sequel was unfortunately much harder for me to enjoy. It seemed the characters were inconsistent with those I grew to love in the first book, and made it hard for me to get invested. The ending felt unfinished; perhaps leaving the door open for a third book? But the final chapter saying “so-and-so woke up in her bed to an empty temple, with the 30 other characters all having gone off on their own journey” just does notttt sit right with me. I appreciate the research that went into this series, and love that it was a fantasy based on a little-discussed time period and place!

I do have one main burning question, and that is: why was the alchemist the guardian of the portal to the fifth realm, and not the oracle?!! It would have made soooo much more sense if the sorceress with the key to the celestial realm was the one guarding the Elder Keep. That seriously bugged me. Both the alchemist and the oracle were missing for the entire first book and 80% of the second, so if we just switched them around it would have no impact on the story, other than making it more consistent. Oh well.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy second installment

Although slower paced than "The Well of Tears", stick with this worthy installment in the Dream Stewards series. I look forward to another installment for I am completely absorbed in this fantasy world.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and interesting story

Great and interesting women combined with sorcery and glowing stones. The combination is hard to beat. The romance minimal yet recognized as a part of growing up

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been holding off on reading it until I was able to get my hands on The Well of Tears, but when I needed a book to read on the plane I decided to give it a go anyway. And I must say that I really enjoyed reading this book. Even without reading the first book, I was able to dive right in and get sucked into the story.

I loved getting to know the characters, albeit it was a bit difficult to keep some of the lesser characters straight after a while. I think that some of the names may have been the reason I was having trouble keeping them straight. Many of the names are very unique and I don't seem to be able to pronounce them well. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the thrill and suspense surrounding the betrayals in the storyline. I was very pleased with how everything unfolded in the end.

Overall, the book was the right amount of fantasy and history all bundled up in one place. I'd urge everyone who finds the description interesting to read it with or without reading the first book! I imagine that anyone who does read this book first will make plans to read the first book as well, despite knowing the conclusion of the first book. I know that I certainly found myself wondering how everything came to pass.


(I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads!)

[Gina Shoen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will say I found it marginally easier to get through this sequel to Well of Tears, than I did to get through the first in the series. I really was looking forward to a historical fantasy novel and was left wanting for the history.

I think the story line was a bit more developed in this offering, but I still think the series as a whole falls a bit flat for me. I just don't get enough meat to sink my teeth into.

I do however think that fans new to the genre, or younger readers may love this set. I will be recommending it to my older nephew, I think he'll enjoy it immensely. I think sometimes what you expect and what you get determine how you feel about a book. I really was more disappointed with the lack of history and historical background. It's set in such a rich era, that I would have hoped that the author would have taken advantage of that and incorporated it into the story.

[Michele Eccleston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed the "Dream Stewards Series". I was originally annoyed when I began reading this book, only because they had switched out the main character. While Alwen is still a character in the book, she is no longer the main character with the story being told from her prospective. However as time goes on it becomes obvious why the author wrote it this way and was a unique twist to the storytelling.

By the end of the book my only disappointment was the fact that there were only two books in the series. Roberta Trahan created such in depth, 3-D characters that they almost seemed real, especially because some of the characters were loosely based on real historical people. I was left with unanswered questions and felt that there could have been far more sub-stories that could have been written.

If you enjoy books about fantastic worlds, magic, and or early Welsh mythology you should give this book a try.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the first book...

Let me first give the author a well deserved "Thank you" for keeping the "pillow talk" to just the right level. The first book in this series had included more of it and took the reader out of the historical fantasy mindset quickly.
The Keys to the Realms does start somewhat slowly. it's as if you watching a movie completely filled with just prose. But, the novel does pick up in the second half and finishes quite strong.
I found it quite interesting that in a personal note at the back of the book the author is semi-apologetic/defensive about the book not containing more action. Personally, I wish it would contain a few more "action scenes".
I am very interested in seeing the series continue and expand with some definite magical expansion from the Stewards.

[Elaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a nice story line. Characters were good. I had a hard time staying in this book. Yes I read the whole thing but it took me a long time to get through it. Usually if a book hooks me in I read it fast but this one I struggled to stay hooked it. The writing was good but it didn't put a picture in my mind so I can see what's going on. Some parts were a big confusing with the writing. These kinds of books help me to actually keep up with house work instead of neglect my chores too much. All in all it was an ok book.

[Nute]

I am so excited to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Goodreads. What a wonderful surprise. I can't wait to read it. However, it is a sequel so I need to make a special trip to the bookstore to purchase the first book. Imagine that...another unexpected joy. Thanks, Goodreads!

[adrian j mcclure · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read one more time!

In this book I got lost time from time for got what type of story I was reading but it got back to the story, it could have been me losing focuses. I'm going to read it one more time to catch the parts I missed

[Morgayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful tale.....

Great story! Captivating, imaginative and magical. Author knows her history and blends it into her tale like fine silk with bits of silver and gold. Very clean writing.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting... But not a favorite of mine.

[YYY]

Thank you First Reads for winning this free book. I will read and review soon.

[Vilde]

Read through netgalley.com