A review by bookclaire4eva
The Keys to the Realms by Roberta Trahan
4.0
In the second installment of the Dream Stewards series, the Stewardry has survived an attack by the bad guy and his minions, only to be threatened again from within. Lots of sordid doings and dark magic.
In my review of the first book in this series, The Well of Tears, I said that the story was galloping along and that I imagined it was racing forward in the second book. That was not the case with The Keys to the Realms, but the slower pace of this installment was necessary to move the story forward and further develop the key characters, so I forgive you, Roberta. I enjoyed watching everyone evolve and move toward their true potential (or doom in some cases).
The theme of The Keys to the Realms seemed to be "terrible things happen to awesome people." I mean, all of the great and likeable (some lovable) characters had some nasty things to deal with, the worst of which was the two-facedness (I made up that word. Cool, huh?) of their supposed friends and allies. The fabulous Alwen was possessed by a bitch spell which made her act uncharacteristically, well, bitchy. And poor Glain had her innocence and trust in the goodness of people thrown back in her face. It sucked big time for both of them. And their were some surprising deaths (I'm not giving names, so I'm not spoiling), which reminded me of Bruce Willis dying at the end of the movie Armageddon (which I'm watching for the bazillionth time).
Fortunately, near the end of the book, the good guys caught a break, and the way to the fulfillment of the prophesy seemed within reach once again. Of course, in this kind of story, it won't stay that way for long.
Now, Roberta, when's the next one coming out? I'm on tenterhooks!
Take It
In my review of the first book in this series, The Well of Tears, I said that the story was galloping along and that I imagined it was racing forward in the second book. That was not the case with The Keys to the Realms, but the slower pace of this installment was necessary to move the story forward and further develop the key characters, so I forgive you, Roberta. I enjoyed watching everyone evolve and move toward their true potential (or doom in some cases).
The theme of The Keys to the Realms seemed to be "terrible things happen to awesome people." I mean, all of the great and likeable (some lovable) characters had some nasty things to deal with, the worst of which was the two-facedness (I made up that word. Cool, huh?) of their supposed friends and allies. The fabulous Alwen was possessed by a bitch spell which made her act uncharacteristically, well, bitchy. And poor Glain had her innocence and trust in the goodness of people thrown back in her face. It sucked big time for both of them. And their were some surprising deaths (I'm not giving names, so I'm not spoiling), which reminded me of Bruce Willis dying at the end of the movie Armageddon (which I'm watching for the bazillionth time).
Fortunately, near the end of the book, the good guys caught a break, and the way to the fulfillment of the prophesy seemed within reach once again. Of course, in this kind of story, it won't stay that way for long.
Now, Roberta, when's the next one coming out? I'm on tenterhooks!
Take It