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Gatekeeper's Deception I - Deceiver
"Why don't you trust me?" he asked.
She replied, "Because you don't trust me."
The Lady Alon Maer, wife of duke Kien Bartheylen, is pregnant and seriously ill. Swordfighter Kyer Halidan, along with her company of friends, takes on the mission to find a cure. If they fail, Alon and her baby will die.
An alluring stranger who calls himself The Guardian appears along the way and gives Kyer timely warnings, earning her trust, and hinting at her true identity. But is he helping her, or serving his own ends?
An uncanny escape, a gift from a dead warrior, a shocking message for Kyer's ears only, all sow suspicions among her friends that she is not who she claims to be. Even as their faith in her is tainted, her nemesis plots his vengeance: exposing unassailable evidence that it is Kyer who is attempting to murder Alon Maer.
She replied, "Because you don't trust me."
The Lady Alon Maer, wife of duke Kien Bartheylen, is pregnant and seriously ill. Swordfighter Kyer Halidan, along with her company of friends, takes on the mission to find a cure. If they fail, Alon and her baby will die.
An alluring stranger who calls himself The Guardian appears along the way and gives Kyer timely warnings, earning her trust, and hinting at her true identity. But is he helping her, or serving his own ends?
An uncanny escape, a gift from a dead warrior, a shocking message for Kyer's ears only, all sow suspicions among her friends that she is not who she claims to be. Even as their faith in her is tainted, her nemesis plots his vengeance: exposing unassailable evidence that it is Kyer who is attempting to murder Alon Maer.
- GenresFantasy
424 pages, Paperback
Published May 7, 2022
3 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Krista Wallace
12 books11 followersI am a writer, actor and musician. I have a Theatre degree from UVic, and sing jazz in two bands (FAT Jazz and the Itty Bitty Big Band). I have sung in rock bands for years, too, and also spent many years as Musical Director for the local middle and high schools. (Seussical, Les Mis, Urinetown, Rent, Anything Goes, Rock of Ages, etc.)
I write mostly fantasy, in novel length and short fiction. I dabble in other genres... My short fiction becomes whatever it needs to be.
My work can be found in Pulp Literature, Heart's Kiss, 49th Parallels--an anthology of alternate Canadian histories and futures (from Bundoran Press), and electricspec.
I produce a podcast called [Totally Fantastic Title], and do audiobook narration.
I write mostly fantasy, in novel length and short fiction. I dabble in other genres... My short fiction becomes whatever it needs to be.
My work can be found in Pulp Literature, Heart's Kiss, 49th Parallels--an anthology of alternate Canadian histories and futures (from Bundoran Press), and electricspec.
I produce a podcast called [Totally Fantastic Title], and do audiobook narration.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 1, 2022
Having listened to the audiobook for Wallace's first book, Gatekeepers Key I was looking forward to reading the next in the series. When I saw a call go up offering a few advanced reader copies for an honest review it was a no-brainer. The second book did not disappoint and yes I would have paid for the pleasure of reading it and have already preordered the paperback. She ratchets up the character conflict nicely and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep things moving. Now I am left with the ache of having to wait for the third installment. She better be writing fast.
August 29, 2022
WARNING: Clear your schedule for TWO books in a row because the end of this book leaves you with a cliffhanger only satiated by Gatekeeper's Deception II - Deceived!
Continuing with Kyer's adventures from Gatekeeper's Key, this book takes us on another quest that digs deeper into all characters and the question of her origin. Wallace masterfully adds depth to each character in this book, revealing their various values that also motivate human choices. Kyer meets new allies and comes across hints about her heritage that begin to explain the title of the books. This book created a lot of tension and frustration for me as friendships are strained due to miscommunication and mistrust, ending with a jarring cliffhanger.
Continuing with Kyer's adventures from Gatekeeper's Key, this book takes us on another quest that digs deeper into all characters and the question of her origin. Wallace masterfully adds depth to each character in this book, revealing their various values that also motivate human choices. Kyer meets new allies and comes across hints about her heritage that begin to explain the title of the books. This book created a lot of tension and frustration for me as friendships are strained due to miscommunication and mistrust, ending with a jarring cliffhanger.
August 7, 2024
It’s been a year since I read the first book in this series, so it was fun to see what swordfighter Kyer Halidan and her five cohorts were up to. In this installment, the group embarks on an urgent quest to find rare ingredients needed to cure the deathly ill Lady Alon Maer. Their adventure is gruelling, dangerous, and filled with treachery.
One reason for their obstacles is the characters’ gullibility, insecurity, and misreading of situations. Kyer and Captain Derry are particularly immature. They’re unable to communicate effectively and be honest about their feelings, which creates a great deal of tension.
Action and suspense are woven throughout the story. Lovely descriptions of the landscape and the hardships the group endures are a nice reprieve from the relentless tension. We don’t learn much about how the Lady Alon came to be so ill or how much time she has left, but we do gain more insight into the truth of Kyer’s past, a past she desperately wants to learn. It makes for a compelling, entertaining read.
One reason for their obstacles is the characters’ gullibility, insecurity, and misreading of situations. Kyer and Captain Derry are particularly immature. They’re unable to communicate effectively and be honest about their feelings, which creates a great deal of tension.
Action and suspense are woven throughout the story. Lovely descriptions of the landscape and the hardships the group endures are a nice reprieve from the relentless tension. We don’t learn much about how the Lady Alon came to be so ill or how much time she has left, but we do gain more insight into the truth of Kyer’s past, a past she desperately wants to learn. It makes for a compelling, entertaining read.
September 11, 2021
Kyer is a kickass protagonist. She doesn't suffer fools. Kyer is headstrong and impetuous which results in her getting into and out of a bind or three. Wallace's dialogue leads the way, it is easy flowing and believable without the traditional thee's and thou's of epic fantasy. bloody refreshing! Rumour has it the e-book and print versions are coming soon.
May 4, 2022
What started in Book One (Gatekeeper’s Key) galloped ahead here in Book Two. Kyer is such a relatable heroine; she’s tough, intelligent, stubborn, loyal, uncertain, sarcastic, fun and resilient. All of Wallace’s characters are so full of life and the flow of the story makes this a quick, smooth read. I cannot wait until the next volume to see where this goes!
May 1, 2022
A fantastic second book in the Gatekeeper’s Key Series. The adventures of such interesting and different characters working together to complete their mission, paints such a detailed and amazing world, and is one I find myself lost in. And while we learn more about each of the characters, I was especially excited to learn more about Kyer’s origin and I am very much looking forward to learning even more once the 3rd book of the series is released.
May 1, 2022
Kyer IS a kickass protagonist. In this book Kyer is pivotal in getting everyone in to trouble and out of it. I listened to the audiobook first and am so glad I was able to get my hands on this and read it on my own. When I read Golgathar's words I hear Krista's voice and it is delightful! When is book three coming out!??
January 18, 2025
Gripping story. Now I'm on to the third, and presumably final, book.
March 17, 2024
These Characters Desperately Need Group Therapy
It’s been so long since I read the first book, but I found that a lot of it came back to me as I read. Though I wish I remembered more details from the very end when she kills Ronav. Otherwise, I thought the introduction to the new quest and the new antagonists was well done.
Though written in third person, this book switches its limited perspectives to many different characters, either in the main party, the opposing party, or alternative characters that have much smaller roles. There are a few parts of the design that I don’t like, specifically how small the text is and that it’s printed on white paper (straining on the eyes), but I was more used to it after the first book, and since I know what to expect, I don’t think it’ll be as bad for the third.
The characters are all unique and fun to explore, but all of them share the same problem: they’re constantly getting in their own way—Kyer, Derry, and Jesqellen most of all. Most of them see the flaws in the others of their party, but don’t see any flaws in themselves, and only grow defensive when it’s pointed out to them. That’s what makes them so realistic. In their own minds, their actions are logical and the only course of action, and they don’t do everything right. I just hope in the next book they finally learn from their mistakes and grow (not much character growth in this one).
A big disconnect between the characters right away is that they go into the quest with lingering problems with one another, and they’re horrible at communicating these problems outright. Each of them have secrets, Kyer especially, and since she doesn’t think she can trust the others after their reactions to her escape from Ronav in the last book, she’s constantly lying to try and downplay what happens. This is a problem because now they know she’s lying, and it only escalates because Derry only ever seems to see the worst in Kyer’s actions, which is shown quite hilariously in some scenes that we get from Kyer’s point of view, and then later the same scene from Derry’s. The tension between them grows and grows, with the other characters caught in the crossfire.
I really loved this book. Despite not wanting to read it again due to its length, I gave it four stars. I enjoy Wallace’s style, which I’d expect to be closer to J.R.R. Tolkien in that she gives more description than faster-paced writers. Some of the scenes had me laughing out loud as she showed the same scene in different perspectives in a way that made sense from both ends, despite the massive gap of understanding between the characters.
Because of how intricate the descriptions are, this story drags on a little beyond the action of the quest and the strife between the characters. It’s written for readers who like a slow and steady story interspersed with mystery, misdirect, and manipulation.
Highly recommend this series to adult readers of fantasy and lovers of D&D! We’re always in need of a good quest story.
It’s been so long since I read the first book, but I found that a lot of it came back to me as I read. Though I wish I remembered more details from the very end when she kills Ronav. Otherwise, I thought the introduction to the new quest and the new antagonists was well done.
Though written in third person, this book switches its limited perspectives to many different characters, either in the main party, the opposing party, or alternative characters that have much smaller roles. There are a few parts of the design that I don’t like, specifically how small the text is and that it’s printed on white paper (straining on the eyes), but I was more used to it after the first book, and since I know what to expect, I don’t think it’ll be as bad for the third.
The characters are all unique and fun to explore, but all of them share the same problem: they’re constantly getting in their own way—Kyer, Derry, and Jesqellen most of all. Most of them see the flaws in the others of their party, but don’t see any flaws in themselves, and only grow defensive when it’s pointed out to them. That’s what makes them so realistic. In their own minds, their actions are logical and the only course of action, and they don’t do everything right. I just hope in the next book they finally learn from their mistakes and grow (not much character growth in this one).
A big disconnect between the characters right away is that they go into the quest with lingering problems with one another, and they’re horrible at communicating these problems outright. Each of them have secrets, Kyer especially, and since she doesn’t think she can trust the others after their reactions to her escape from Ronav in the last book, she’s constantly lying to try and downplay what happens. This is a problem because now they know she’s lying, and it only escalates because Derry only ever seems to see the worst in Kyer’s actions, which is shown quite hilariously in some scenes that we get from Kyer’s point of view, and then later the same scene from Derry’s. The tension between them grows and grows, with the other characters caught in the crossfire.
I really loved this book. Despite not wanting to read it again due to its length, I gave it four stars. I enjoy Wallace’s style, which I’d expect to be closer to J.R.R. Tolkien in that she gives more description than faster-paced writers. Some of the scenes had me laughing out loud as she showed the same scene in different perspectives in a way that made sense from both ends, despite the massive gap of understanding between the characters.
Because of how intricate the descriptions are, this story drags on a little beyond the action of the quest and the strife between the characters. It’s written for readers who like a slow and steady story interspersed with mystery, misdirect, and manipulation.
Highly recommend this series to adult readers of fantasy and lovers of D&D! We’re always in need of a good quest story.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews