A review by lumos_libros
The Keepers' Tattoo by Gill Arbuthnott
4.0
I'm kind of surprised this book is not more popular, but I guess it's competing against a lot of new awesome books coming out this summer. I want to point out that I actually had no idea this book was published earlier as [b:The Keepers' Daughter|6555281|The Keeper's Daughter|Gill Arbuthnott|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327475375s/6555281.jpg|7788877], same story just different cover and title.
Nyssa has not known too much about her life before coming to the Drowned Boy . It has always bothered her a bit not knowing where she came from and who her family was. All she has to show for her past is a broken bamboo flute and a tattoo. Of course one day that just changes when the shadowmen come to town. She finds out the truth piece by piece rather quickly. Before she really can gather her thoughts she must get out of town because she's in danger. But why her? What's so special about her? Why all the mystery behind her tattoo? The questions do get answers but not before some heartache.
This book had the potential to be an epic fantasy. It has an interesting premise, characters that won't give up, neat other world setup, and ties up modern ideas in a believable way. Perfect formula, but we just needed the author to dig a little deeper into the characters to give more umph to their experience.
What got me hooked was the characters because the plotline has been used before, but I actually loved how the book ended. Gives a good sense of how important family is and how deep that bond goes. I'm glad it showed the power of the printed word and that's all I'm going to say about that.
Nyssa has not known too much about her life before coming to the Drowned Boy . It has always bothered her a bit not knowing where she came from and who her family was. All she has to show for her past is a broken bamboo flute and a tattoo. Of course one day that just changes when the shadowmen come to town. She finds out the truth piece by piece rather quickly. Before she really can gather her thoughts she must get out of town because she's in danger. But why her? What's so special about her? Why all the mystery behind her tattoo? The questions do get answers but not before some heartache.
This book had the potential to be an epic fantasy. It has an interesting premise, characters that won't give up, neat other world setup, and ties up modern ideas in a believable way. Perfect formula, but we just needed the author to dig a little deeper into the characters to give more umph to their experience.
What got me hooked was the characters because the plotline has been used before, but I actually loved how the book ended. Gives a good sense of how important family is and how deep that bond goes. I'm glad it showed the power of the printed word and that's all I'm going to say about that.