A review by rafrickauthor
Keeper by Ingrid Seymour

4.0

4 stars for the Omnibus edition of Keeper by Ingrid Seymour combining all four Keeper novellas into one full length novel. I was sent this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review, but had previously read the first two novellas for myself. Nothing in this review was influenced by the author, and I will attempt to keep it spoiler free.

The mythology of this book was very unique and intriguing, and kept me guessing on how it would turn out for the characters. I loved the voices of Samantha "Sam" and Greg from each characters' first chapter. The point of view switches between these two American characters, as well as Ashby, an irreverent but charming British son of the Morphid ruler. I had no trouble telling the characters' POV apart, but did sometimes get whiplash between three different locations. There was also a chapter from the Sorcerer Veridan, and I wish I could have had more of the Merlin-like Sorcerer-in-training, Perry. The British characters had much more humor than the Americans, but that reflected their more relaxed life in high castes of Morphid society.

Greg goes from gangly teen to hunk with a purpose through a full body transformation of his kind, the Morphid. His parents are of a caste that finds their true love through fate, and they want the same for him. Sam doesn't know anything about the Morphid world. She just wants to graduate High School and attend Culinary school, despite her indifferent and at times cruel parents. I found her self-deprication sad, but her kind heart won me over. Ashby, while entitled, had me wishing for my own "Integral" to seek me out from around the world.

There were many twists I didn't see coming. Sam started off unsure of herself and rather weak, but grew into her own by the climax. The character I most liked the most turned rude and obnoxious half-way through, which made me care less about the ending. A character I found mean, but not evil, became the bad guy, and the character you assumed would be the worst, turned out not to be the impetus for wickedness in the end.

I was left wanting more, despite my sadness at the loss of one character, and hope there is a sequel. If you enjoy unique Urban Fantasy and multiple POV stories, I highly suggest Keeper by Ingrid Seymour. I give it 4 out of five stars because I disliked some of the ending, but would definitely read it again!