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Keepers of the Zodiac
Within the white marbled halls of the Zodiac Palace, the Great Dragon waits.
At the dark chaotic maw of the abyss, the Divine Augury watches.
And on the top of the cascade in nowhere Nevada, the next Keeper of the Zodiac wishes.
Serena Morelli had plans. Good ones. Finish the semester, become an astronaut, and watch another meteor shower.
In no particular order.
Now she has a fallen star in her pocket, lightning at her fingertips, and a man named Pharos Everleigh on her doorstep.
Thrown headlong into an interstellar realm of mystery, magic, and tyranny, can Serena find her place in the Universe before she needs to save it?
At the dark chaotic maw of the abyss, the Divine Augury watches.
And on the top of the cascade in nowhere Nevada, the next Keeper of the Zodiac wishes.
Serena Morelli had plans. Good ones. Finish the semester, become an astronaut, and watch another meteor shower.
In no particular order.
Now she has a fallen star in her pocket, lightning at her fingertips, and a man named Pharos Everleigh on her doorstep.
Thrown headlong into an interstellar realm of mystery, magic, and tyranny, can Serena find her place in the Universe before she needs to save it?
351 pages, Paperback
Published December 13, 2022
19 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Brianne
11 books49 followersNatalie Brianne's love of writing might be traced back to an old Rainbow Macintosh Laptop she received for her 8th birthday. Perhaps it came from years of storytelling and the discipline of wonder. Or maybe, she was born to write and didn’t realize it until a book sprung out of her fingertips somewhere between a house in Pleasant Grove, Utah and a bus on its way to Edinburgh, Scotland.
She received her degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities from BYU. While she could have studied English or Creative Writing, she opted to learn more about culture, distant lands, and people in hopes of writing better stories. Much of her first book, Constantine Capers: The Pennington Perplexity was written when she lived at 27 Palace Court, London, walking the streets as if she were her characters.
While her interests in writing spread across genres, you can always expect her work to be imaginative, clean, and clever.
She received her degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities from BYU. While she could have studied English or Creative Writing, she opted to learn more about culture, distant lands, and people in hopes of writing better stories. Much of her first book, Constantine Capers: The Pennington Perplexity was written when she lived at 27 Palace Court, London, walking the streets as if she were her characters.
While her interests in writing spread across genres, you can always expect her work to be imaginative, clean, and clever.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 7, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The book is one of the best that I have read. The characters were well developed and I loved the personification given to some characters. Since it ended on a cliffhanger, I’ll have to read the upcoming adventures. I love YA and sci-fi books and this was a great mix of both. The author’s writing was very well written and engaging.
November 17, 2022
For a person not typically enthralled by sci-fi, I'd have to say this book surpassed expectations. I was interested in the story from the get-go and enjoyed every minute of it. Serena has a complex past, and when she is chosen as the next Keeper of Pieces, she has to learn not only about her new powers and the evil forces chasing her, but she also learns more about herself as well, which makes the story feel genuine.
The characters in this story all have their own unique and playful personality, and I loved that you could feel the motivation driving the story. The world-building (or should I say universe-building) is well done; you can truly picture yourself in each scenario! If you're looking for the next best sci-fi fantasy series that is action-packed and full of high-stakes situations that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this one's for you!
My only complaint is that the second one isn't out yet!
*I received a free advanced reader copy, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters in this story all have their own unique and playful personality, and I loved that you could feel the motivation driving the story. The world-building (or should I say universe-building) is well done; you can truly picture yourself in each scenario! If you're looking for the next best sci-fi fantasy series that is action-packed and full of high-stakes situations that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this one's for you!
My only complaint is that the second one isn't out yet!
*I received a free advanced reader copy, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
March 25, 2024
I really enjoyed this entertaining fantasy world, with a spin on astrology. As the book unfolds, and the mystery unravels, I found myself rooting for the likable characters, as one adventure led to another.
I would describe this book as the base story, with plenty to build up on for future books - which I hope the author completes!
I really enjoy Natalie Brianne's writing!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I would describe this book as the base story, with plenty to build up on for future books - which I hope the author completes!
I really enjoy Natalie Brianne's writing!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 31, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book has to be the best book I’ve read in a long time! The story flowed well and the characters were very well formed and absolutely loveable! Of course it had to end on a cliffhanger and so now I have to continue the further adventures of Serena, Via, and the crew of the Pegasus. As a huge fan of YA fantasy and sci fi, this book had everything I love and more. I will definitely like to read more from this author as she can truly write a wonderful story. Looking forward to the next book in this series to see what happens next.
This book has to be the best book I’ve read in a long time! The story flowed well and the characters were very well formed and absolutely loveable! Of course it had to end on a cliffhanger and so now I have to continue the further adventures of Serena, Via, and the crew of the Pegasus. As a huge fan of YA fantasy and sci fi, this book had everything I love and more. I will definitely like to read more from this author as she can truly write a wonderful story. Looking forward to the next book in this series to see what happens next.
December 31, 2022
This book is awesome! The characters are believable and well fleshed out and the world building is phenomenal. It's definitely soft sci-fi, with plenty of action and intrigue.
I can't wait to read the next one!
I can't wait to read the next one!
December 6, 2022
In Natalie Brianne's Keepers of the Zodiac, we follow protagonist Serena on her quest as she seeks to understand her role as a new Keeper of the Zodiac, making new friends, and discovering new enemies. Trust in question, she seeks answers that may only be found in the most dangerous of places.
What we have here, is a new mainstay in the genre. Natalie Brianne masterfully mixes intelligent science fiction with the beauty and wonder of fantasy in the very specific way that glues me to her book. The highest point to me comes from her characters. Very quickly you're brought in, and very quickly you grow attached to them. Ironically, one of my favorite characters was the book's main villain, who feels real bad, but in a real good way.
I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys either genre, or for someone who just enjoys reading something new and fresh. The novel is family friendly, and as such can be read by all age groups. I cannot wait for the next part is the series to release. So if you're looking to snuggle up and dive into a brave new world, you've reached your destination.
What we have here, is a new mainstay in the genre. Natalie Brianne masterfully mixes intelligent science fiction with the beauty and wonder of fantasy in the very specific way that glues me to her book. The highest point to me comes from her characters. Very quickly you're brought in, and very quickly you grow attached to them. Ironically, one of my favorite characters was the book's main villain, who feels real bad, but in a real good way.
I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys either genre, or for someone who just enjoys reading something new and fresh. The novel is family friendly, and as such can be read by all age groups. I cannot wait for the next part is the series to release. So if you're looking to snuggle up and dive into a brave new world, you've reached your destination.
December 26, 2022
Overall I found Keepers of the Zodiac to be a fairly uninteresting read. While the plot idea is solid and there are a variety of characters, the main character Serena is extremely bland and closed off. There are reasons for Serena to be this way, but they are largely hinted at before being revealed in the last twenty percent of the book. Having these character traits without explaining the reasoning behind them makes it hard to like or empathize with her, which makes it difficult to care about what happens to her. It often seems like she lies for the sake of lying or just to be mysterious, rather than truly illustrating that she has trust issues. If she divulged more with Via earlier on in the book it would both humanize Serena as well as show the depth of relationship between the two characters rather than just telling us that they care for each other.
Overall, despite solid writing, good descriptions, and interesting actions, this book falls flat due to the author largely telling us things rather than truly showing us. For example, Serena randomly changes her mind about trusting certain individuals, without those characters showing that they are trustworthy or Serena realizing that she needs to branch out and trust someone. She just goes from one chapter not trusting the characters, to the next trusting those characters with her life. It just isn't believable and makes the characterization more superficial.
There is also an extremely large editing error in the epub version at location 1048 where eleven pages are accidentally repeated. A smaller editing error is an accidental enter at the beginning of the chapter at location 3657 (Chapter 29).
Overall, the story idea behind the book is solid, just some more showing of characterization and reasoning behind major behavioral changes would have made it an excellent book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Overall, despite solid writing, good descriptions, and interesting actions, this book falls flat due to the author largely telling us things rather than truly showing us. For example, Serena randomly changes her mind about trusting certain individuals, without those characters showing that they are trustworthy or Serena realizing that she needs to branch out and trust someone. She just goes from one chapter not trusting the characters, to the next trusting those characters with her life. It just isn't believable and makes the characterization more superficial.
There is also an extremely large editing error in the epub version at location 1048 where eleven pages are accidentally repeated. A smaller editing error is an accidental enter at the beginning of the chapter at location 3657 (Chapter 29).
Overall, the story idea behind the book is solid, just some more showing of characterization and reasoning behind major behavioral changes would have made it an excellent book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 19, 2023
Save the Universe—or No?
I chose this book out of the lineup because I liked the cover and was intrigued by the blurb, though when I started reading the first few chapters, I wasn’t sure about it. I don’t normally read epic science fiction (ex. Star Wars/Star Trek), and I’m not the best in advanced science, so most of the tech talk flew right over my head. I can’t say whether the information throughout the book is accurate, but it definitely seems like the author did her research. Nonetheless, I pushed forward, and I’m glad I did.
It started to get more interesting as Ross—an important side character—shows himself to Serena and reveals the bigger picture. The pacing really sped up and while I was still confused at times, everything made decent sense to me.
The book is written in third person, though we get to look inside Serena’s head quite a bit throughout, and most of the time we only know what she knows, which adds to the mystery of it all. While the story mainly follows Serena, a few chapters bounce to other characters, such as Draconius (the antagonist) and Serena’s friend (after they separate).
I thought that the magic system was quite creative, stemming from the twelve zodiacs from astrology. Instead of horoscopes, though, the zodiacs are real people, godlike figures who’ve existed since the beginning of time, whose mission is to keep the universe safe from Entropy, a destructive force which desires only one thing: to end all life. The Keepers, as designed by the Zodiac, are each gifted with powers based on their specific patron: fire for Aries, shadows for Scorpio, water for Pisces, etc. Though there are similarities to other magic systems I’ve read, this is a unique concept that I enjoyed.
I recommend this book to science fiction lovers with an appreciation of epic, high-stakes stories and space travel. People interested in astrology and the movement of stars and planets may also really enjoy this book.
I chose this book out of the lineup because I liked the cover and was intrigued by the blurb, though when I started reading the first few chapters, I wasn’t sure about it. I don’t normally read epic science fiction (ex. Star Wars/Star Trek), and I’m not the best in advanced science, so most of the tech talk flew right over my head. I can’t say whether the information throughout the book is accurate, but it definitely seems like the author did her research. Nonetheless, I pushed forward, and I’m glad I did.
It started to get more interesting as Ross—an important side character—shows himself to Serena and reveals the bigger picture. The pacing really sped up and while I was still confused at times, everything made decent sense to me.
The book is written in third person, though we get to look inside Serena’s head quite a bit throughout, and most of the time we only know what she knows, which adds to the mystery of it all. While the story mainly follows Serena, a few chapters bounce to other characters, such as Draconius (the antagonist) and Serena’s friend (after they separate).
I thought that the magic system was quite creative, stemming from the twelve zodiacs from astrology. Instead of horoscopes, though, the zodiacs are real people, godlike figures who’ve existed since the beginning of time, whose mission is to keep the universe safe from Entropy, a destructive force which desires only one thing: to end all life. The Keepers, as designed by the Zodiac, are each gifted with powers based on their specific patron: fire for Aries, shadows for Scorpio, water for Pisces, etc. Though there are similarities to other magic systems I’ve read, this is a unique concept that I enjoyed.
I recommend this book to science fiction lovers with an appreciation of epic, high-stakes stories and space travel. People interested in astrology and the movement of stars and planets may also really enjoy this book.
January 16, 2023
I like to think that my taste is quite broad, but I'm afraid that people won't agree with me when they scroll through my list with read books. However, once a while I do like to read a sci-fi novel. Mostly because I love the science part in sci-fi. I can really enjoy looking into a future that makes so much sense looking at the world nowadays. I was not entirely sure if this book was gonna be that, but the blurb made me curious so I had to request a review copy from BookSirens.
This book combines science-fiction and magic and I have to admit that it's always a very tricky line to walk. A good sci-fi needs to make sense, needs to be rooted in science, needs to work. The moment you throw magic into the mix you create something that automatically becomes wobbly. Luckily the heroine in this story has the same issue with all that and is not really satisfied whenever someone answers with "magic" to explain something.
However, that also makes this book a great read for fantasy readers who are not big fans of science-fiction. With thin lines between myths and reality. With prophecies. With powers and kingdoms and rulers and politics. There are different races, all coming from different planets of course, and there are all knowing beings that can answer one important question. This is basically an epic fantasy novel set in space.
And although I absolutely enjoyed the ride and the amount of thought the author put into this I never really got addicted to the story. It's hard to pinpoint why. I think it's partly because the heroine has quite clearly put a damper on her emotions. I understand why she did it, but it also makes her hard to connect with. Not only for the people around her, but also for us, the readers. I know that this is the case in a lot of epic fantasy novels, so if you're into those give this book a shot!
This book combines science-fiction and magic and I have to admit that it's always a very tricky line to walk. A good sci-fi needs to make sense, needs to be rooted in science, needs to work. The moment you throw magic into the mix you create something that automatically becomes wobbly. Luckily the heroine in this story has the same issue with all that and is not really satisfied whenever someone answers with "magic" to explain something.
However, that also makes this book a great read for fantasy readers who are not big fans of science-fiction. With thin lines between myths and reality. With prophecies. With powers and kingdoms and rulers and politics. There are different races, all coming from different planets of course, and there are all knowing beings that can answer one important question. This is basically an epic fantasy novel set in space.
And although I absolutely enjoyed the ride and the amount of thought the author put into this I never really got addicted to the story. It's hard to pinpoint why. I think it's partly because the heroine has quite clearly put a damper on her emotions. I understand why she did it, but it also makes her hard to connect with. Not only for the people around her, but also for us, the readers. I know that this is the case in a lot of epic fantasy novels, so if you're into those give this book a shot!
January 9, 2023
I received this as an ARC through booksirens for an honest review
I admit to being confused when I started this book it seemed like I was in the middle of a series instead of this being book one. It got a lot better when the story started being seen from the P.O.V of Serena and we started to follow her through her daily life as a student who was excited about the next journey she was about to start thanks to a NASA acceptance.
What happens to her plans though when she sneaks out to watch a meteor shower one night well……
The character development was great. You learn a lot about the MCs and the side characters through the twists and turns of events.
I will say that the MFC confused me with her secrets, she seemed to wallow in them for reasons only known to her, and when you find out what her secrets are you have to wonder why?
I admit to being confused when I started this book it seemed like I was in the middle of a series instead of this being book one. It got a lot better when the story started being seen from the P.O.V of Serena and we started to follow her through her daily life as a student who was excited about the next journey she was about to start thanks to a NASA acceptance.
What happens to her plans though when she sneaks out to watch a meteor shower one night well……
The character development was great. You learn a lot about the MCs and the side characters through the twists and turns of events.
I will say that the MFC confused me with her secrets, she seemed to wallow in them for reasons only known to her, and when you find out what her secrets are you have to wonder why?
January 18, 2023
This book combines science fiction and a fantasy world with many heroes and villains among the myriad space characters. There are some intense battle scenes, and I found I needed to really pay attention because I sometimes wondered if I was looking at "past and present" or "present and future or "past and future." The main character, Serena, must travel to unknown worlds found throughout time and space (literally)! I enjoyed the book as it often compelled me to look up into space and think about the magnitude of what I was seeing. I loved the cover art. I also liked that the end connected with the beginning so the reader needs to pay attention. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 6, 2023
This was one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a while. Serena, the female protagonist, is a character with dreams of exploring the stars. Her studies and best friend Via keep her grounded. Her memories of her grandmother create a warm feeling of connection, while there is an echo of loneliness as well. Everything changes the night of the meteor shower and then the story really gets going. The author gives us a world Keepers and the Zodiac characters, spaceship crew and adventure. This book is wonderfully written with great characters. It leaves a lot of room to grow in future volumes while being a complete story. I was really grateful for the richness of story telling. Well Done!
April 4, 2023
The cover art is beautiful, the writing is intense, the story is interesting. The author married space sci-fi, and mythology/ fantasy so well! The characters are interesting, (FMC has a very interesting life goal), and the story is action packed. It takes a good author to make you connect to multiple characters, and its pulled off so well, each character has an personality, none are really left lacking dimension. There is ALOT that happens, and it does require you to think, like really think, otherwise you miss important connections. I cannot wait to see what comes next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 16, 2023
Sci-fi like books are usually not the genre I choose to read, I usually go for regency or romantic comedies. But Keepers of the Zodiac was fabulous! Natalie Brianne did a great job describing the galaxy in a way I could visualize without diminishing its beauty. And the Zodiac flashbacks that keep you guessing what really hairbrush all those years ago? Kept me on edge in the best way. Still hoping a certain character comes back 🤞🤞It's worth a read if you're on the fence. Can't wait for the second one!
September 27, 2023
Wow. What a book.
The characters and universe are so freaking compelling here. The pace that this novel moves at is exhilarating. I felt that I couldn't take a breath.
I thought maybe Serena would've been revealed as The 13th Zodiac, given her vast powers. But I think there are more connections to Serena's past in future novels.
There is chemistry between Ross and Serena and I applaud the author for not diving into it too fast. It'll be interesting where all the relationships end up going in the future.
Overall solid book and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!
The characters and universe are so freaking compelling here. The pace that this novel moves at is exhilarating. I felt that I couldn't take a breath.
I thought maybe Serena would've been revealed as The 13th Zodiac, given her vast powers. But I think there are more connections to Serena's past in future novels.
There is chemistry between Ross and Serena and I applaud the author for not diving into it too fast. It'll be interesting where all the relationships end up going in the future.
Overall solid book and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 19, 2024I really enjoyed this story where introduced to Serena, a typical collage student with plans. But one night while watching the stars, her plans change and off she goes on a wild adventure. Loved the idea and world building that begins here. Love the quest, adventure, end of the world is coming feel to the story. Good characters, a bad guy, and plucky underdogs trying to stay alive. A bit of mystery, suspense, lots of drama, intrigue and good characters that kept me reading. Cannot wait to see what happens next.
January 27, 2023
Fantastic writing style and thrilling adventure! I never thought I would enjoy a science-fiction style, but this proved me very wrong. I swept through the book, eager to see what unexpected twist would happen next. The science and wit that are woven into the story are compelling, and I can hardly wait for Serena's next challenge!
October 12, 2024
I really loved this book. I can't wait for the next one. The story was paced well and flowed easily. It kept my attention very well. I had a kindle version and there was an occasional spacing issue with the words, but the story was excellent
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 10, 2025
Great series starter.
The only reason I didn't 5-star this is that it took me a quick moment to get into the backstory. I couldn't put it down once I figured out what was going on. I love Serena, Via, Ross, Lenna, Hector, and Loxley. I remain suspicious of Sancia.
The only reason I didn't 5-star this is that it took me a quick moment to get into the backstory. I couldn't put it down once I figured out what was going on. I love Serena, Via, Ross, Lenna, Hector, and Loxley. I remain suspicious of Sancia.
February 26, 2023
This was a fun take on the Zodiac, and I really enjoyed the creativity in some of the powers. It’ll cool to see where the next book takes the story!
March 30, 2026
Interesting Sci-fi
Mythology brought into a futuristic setting. Interesting characters kept me reading, but the timeline seemed off kilter. Grammar was odd in several spots.
Mythology brought into a futuristic setting. Interesting characters kept me reading, but the timeline seemed off kilter. Grammar was odd in several spots.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews