#Monday Review - The Skylighter by Becky Wallace (Young Adult, Fantasy)

Series: The Keepers' Chronicles # 2
Format: Hardcover, 422 pages
Release Date: March 22, 2016
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy


Johanna and Rafi are in a race against time to save their country before a power-mad Keeper destroys everything they hold dear in the “enthralling magical world” (Cinda Williams Chima, author of The Heir Chronicles) introduced in The Storyspinner.

As the last of the royal line, Johanna is the only person who can heal a magical breach in the wall that separates her kingdom of Santarem from the land of the Keepers, legendary men and women who wield elemental magic. The barrier protects Santarem from those Keepers who might try to take power over mere humans…Keepers who are determined to stop Johanna and seize the wall’s power for themselves.

And they’re not the only ones. As the duchys of Santarem descend into war over the throne, Johanna relies more than ever on the advice of her handsome companion, Lord Rafael DeSilva. But Rafi is a duke too, and his people come first. As their friendship progresses into the beginnings of a tender relationship, Johanna must wonder: is Rafi looking out for her happiness, or does he want the throne for himself?

With war on the horizon, Johanna and Rafi dodge treacherous dukes and Keeper assassins as they race to through the countryside, determined to strengthen the wall before it’s too late…even if it means sacrificing their happiness for the sake of their world.

The Skylighter is the second and final installment in author Becky Wallace's The Keepers' Chronicles. Not unlike The Storyspinner, Wallace intermingles a group of Seven characters to tell her story. From Johanna (Princess Adriana) Von Arlo, Lord Rafael DeSilva, Lord Dom DeSilva, to Keepers  Jacaré, Pira, and Leão. Jacaré's Keepers are magically inclined and have access to the five elements. As the leader of the group and Captain of the Elite Guards, Jacaré has seen a whole lot over the past 300 years. But, he hasn't seen what's coming next. 

With his fellow Keepers in deep trouble and separated after the events of the previous novel, and the missing Princess's life in jeopardy from power hungry Dukes and an evil more powerful than perhaps himself, Jacaré must find Princess Adriana and bring her to Donovan's Wall before their enemies can get to her first. Even if that means never returning home again. I have a short apology to make. I was a bit harsh on the Keepers in The Storyspinner and I was wrong. Each of them goes through literal hell and back in this story and would give up their lives if it meant that the Princess lives long enough to save Santarem. With Pira facing her own mortality and being used as a slave, and Leão trying to find her before its too late, these Keepers more than make their presences felt. 

Even though The Skylighter has a whole lot happening, and character's narratives flip at each chapter, the most interesting is those from Dom DeSliva, who is forced to stand in for Rafi and protect Santiago from being destroyed. Dom stands out because he puts away his partying ways and became the man of the house who everyone could count on. I love that he is very protective of Michael. I even liked the unusual relationship with Lord Inimijo's daughter Mirabelle, but was shocked to the core over the betrayal that I never saw coming.

With Duke's Belem and Inimijo each having plans for the long lost daughter of the slain King Wilhelm, things become dire for Johanna. While the first book focused on the search and reveal of who the Princess actually is, this book is perhaps better. Everyone character faces their own challenges and life altering situations that you don't know if they will live or not. Rafi and Johanna find that their road isn't easy at all. They find allies are hard to come by, and relying on Jacaré may be their only hope. 

I am happy that this series was only TWO books long. I was also happy that my library had both books and that I was able to borrow them back to back so that I could remember what happened in the previous novels. The Skylighter is a satisfying ending to the series, and it does have a whole lot of action especially in the second half. There is even an Easter egg, as it were, in this book that you might pay attention to. 

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#Review - The Storyspinner by Becky Wallace (Young Adult, Fantasy)

Series: The Keeper's Chronicles, # 1
Format: Hardcover, 417 pages
Release Date: March 3, 2015
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Drama and danger abound in this fantasy realm where dukes play a game for the throne, magical warriors race to find the missing heir, and romance blossoms where it is least expected.

In a world where dukes plot their way to the throne, a Performer’s life can get tricky. And in Johanna Von Arlo’s case, it can be fatal. Expelled from her troupe after her father’s death, Johanna is forced to work for the handsome Lord Rafael DeSilva. Too bad they don’t get along. But while Johanna’s father’s death was deemed an accident, the Keepers aren’t so sure.

The Keepers, a race of people with magical abilities, are on a quest to find the princess—the same princess who is supposed to be dead and whose throne the dukes are fighting over. But they aren’t the only ones looking for her. And in the wake of their search, murdered girls keep turning up—girls who look exactly like the princess, and exactly like Johanna.

With dukes, Keepers, and a killer all after the princess, Johanna finds herself caught up in political machinations for the throne, threats on her life, and an unexpected romance that could change everything.

Author Becky Wallace's The Storyspinner is the first installment in a two-part duology called called The Keeper's Chronicles. The story actually features numerous narratives that flips through characters like Johanna Von Arlo, Prince Rafael Santiago Desilva, Keepers Jacare, Pira, and Leao. So, through the eyes of different characters, we see a a storyline developing that comes together in a battle for the survival of the last hope to keep the magical barriers separating the kingdoms from falling.

On one side, the Keepers are magically inclined humans who have access to the Five elements. As the leader of the group and High Captain of the Elite Guard, Jacare has been around for several hundred years and has seen almost everything. He gathers a group of like minded people together, including Pira, Leao, and Texugo to cross over the border and find the King's missing daughter who may be the key to saving the magical barrier.

On the other side is Johanna and her family who has lost everything after her father fell to his death performing. Their place within the Performer's guild is taken away. Johanna struggles to help feed her three brothers, and alcoholic mother. After an incidental meeting with Prince Rafael and his brother Dom, Jo finds herself working in his castle doing what she does best, performing and telling stories. But, nothing comes easy. There are hints that another war is just around the corner, and someone is killing girls who resemble Johanna.

I liked Johanna for the most part. There were things that I wished I could change about her, including her failure to allow anyone to help them without believing there would be sexual favors involved. I loved her devotion to her brothers Michael and Joshua, but really wanted to slug her mother for pretty much abandoning the family to their own vices. Johanna has more story to tell in the sequel called The Skylighter. Hopefully, she'll get over her lack of trust issues before the duology ends and leaves nobody standing.

The second character who gains the most attention from me is Rafael. Rafael has had to pick up a whole lot of slack since his own father suddenly died. Not unlike Johanna, he's had a whole lot of responsibilities laid on his soldiers as the apparent heir. Meeting Johanna throws everything out the window. Who is this girl who hunts on her own without fear? Who is this girl who tugs at emotions that nobody else has? 

One could say that the narratives from the Keepers was unnecessary to the story, or should have been cut down to one or two in particular. I will have to agree with that assessment. Jacare's barely scratches the surface, while Pira and Leao have their own stories to tell. Each has taken it upon themselves to find the missing princess before the enemies get to her first. Each makes unselfish sacrifices in hopes of saving the princess life from the maddening villains who are just drooling with anticipation on getting their hands on her.

After a rough start to the story, The Storyspinner ends on a cliffhanger ending. That is to be expected when there is a duology involved. You can't really expect all the answers to be handed to you on a silver platter, can you? There is a bit of romance thrown in for good measure, and I don't think I need to say who it's between. Alas, dear readers, the narrative switch actually works. Don't shy away from this book because of the number of narratives. It all makes sense in the end. 

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