Beatrice's Reviews > Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key

Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key follows a thirteen year old boy named Kyle who is at an orphanage. He's different from the other kids around, and this goes beyond the mysterious key he keeps around his neck, and the other kids know it. It isn't until a strange man shows up at the orphanage that Kyle really starts to know it for himself.

This first installment introduced a world of various dimensions and new possibilities that took some time to understand. The world building in this book is rich and elaborate, and is to be approached with patience and imagination. I really enjoyed the thorough descriptions with which the story was written.

The dining halls and foreign classes the school comprised of reminded me vaguely of Harry Potter, as did the group of five friends that faced adventures together. The introduction of an important quest and the role of an oracle reminded me of Percy Jackson. And yet, despite these similarities, Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key was undeniably original in its own way.

A few things I found to be quite strange included the names of some of the characters (Kyle, Kevin, Kane, Kross) which were difficult to keep up with and separated at times, as well as a habit of Kyle's of constantly "fluffing up" his hair. At times I felt there were unnecessary elements in the plot and found myself wanting to read ahead; other times I struggled with understanding a new concept that was being introduced, due to its imaginative complexity.

One of my favorite elements of this novel was the ongoing pursuit of acquiring new names at the Academy, with the final goal of earning an eternal title, that is. Students would be able to challenge professors to a duel in order to prove themselves worthy of an eternal title. I saw it as a mark of one's coming of age in this particular world, as well as the acquisition of an identity. The concept was very interesting and I really enjoyed learning about it in the context of this fantastical reality.

The idea of the controlling of the elements, furthermore, was very intriguing to me, especially Kyle's gift for lightning, which was an interesting, new element to consider. The strength and courage he must employ in order to master this gift is tremendous, and really proved his character to be one that quickly adapted and of abundant talent.

Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key is a fast paced book with a wide cast of characters. Action, fantasy, and even a budding romance are all present, as is a story for those who seek a new world to immerse themselves in.