I unfortunately was not able to finish this book. I did not like it.

The characters were the strong point for me. I liked the way Luvenia and her family interacted with each other. They clearly loved each other.

I would have pegged this as a first draft. I actually thought this was an arc on netgalley. Instead, I think it’s been published in this version, with the pub date set in 2018. I think what I read needed much more polish before publishing.

The writing was clunky a lot of the time, and I think certain parts were telling instead of showing, as well as going far over the top to try to prove a point. A character would do something, or have a physical reaction that was sufficient enough to explain an emotion, and then we would get an explanation for why they felt that emotion. All the extra explanations were not needed.

There were a lot of attempts to add tension that I feel were overdone, and really took me out of the story. We know something bad is going to happen for so long, and what the bad thing is. When the bad thing really does happen, it won’t be a surprise. I feel like I could tell exactly what was going to happen later. The foreshadowing was far too heavy handed.

All in all, not my favorite. I didn't hate it, though I did find it full of common scenes/tropes.

I loved it! It went from scary gothic evil like, to almost Alice in Wonderland. Two queens? Yup. A lot of magic and some magical creatures? Totally. The cover threw me off, I was expecting something else..and I'm still trying to figure out the title.. I could totally feel the main characters pain, and love.

Evil Queen, heroine that needs revenge, familial betrayal. QK was a fast paced if not convoluted and a bit boring several times. Nothing was ever explained who was the strange messenger at the beginning of the book. It was so heavy and depressing with absolutely no comic relief to ease the heaviness of the tome. A bit of editing would have helped as I skimmed excessive descriptions. I was engaged with the storyline, but probably not enough to read the follow up. I voluntarily reviewed a copy from Netgalley.

Powerful messages are cloaked in the shadows of intrigue and tension of a interesting, fantasy world.

Luvenia lives in a world torn apart by war. When she discovers that everything she believed herself is only a lie, and that she has much to fear, her life becomes harder than before. She must fight not only for survival and to discover the truth, but also to overcome the darkness inside of her.

It took me a bit to get into this novel. There are intriguing characters which draw in and offer all sorts of secret twists and turns. The world is inviting and easy to fall into...so magical and exciting! Even Luvenia carries the perfect amount of common, while making mistakes and learning from them. She's up against quite a bit, and it's fun to cheer her on and get to know her. As for the evil queen—well, that side is dark and I loved every moment with her.

There are tons of important messages wrapped up in this rich fantasy, which will leave readers with food for thought about themselves and the world around them. Some even encourage and inspire, and offer hope as a good ending should.

While there is much to love in these pages (especially for fantasy friends and fans of heroines who struggle and grow stronger with every page), the editing and polishing was weak. While the POV changes allowed new angles and important insights, some happened without warning. And often I felt like I was being told things, when I would have loved to experience or see them. Still, it's a grabbing read with much to enjoy. As said, fantasy friends who love strong heroines who have much to learn are sure to enjoy this one.

I wasn't sure about this book at first. It starts off in one land and seemingly with one story for the first couple of chapters and then abruptly changes into what, at first, seemed like a totally different story. And they didn't seem related. I kept reading, though, and I'm really glad I did.

Although at times I didn't love the main character and her childish and almost out of place angry responses, I grew to love all the characters in this book. The descriptions of the different lands and different types of life they encountered were fascinating. I wish I could see them in person! The colors, the sounds, the textures and tastes - all of it was new.

The story of a war torn land with a selfish, cruel leader and her corrupt magic was the perfect setting for this coming of age journey of self discovery. Luvenia has lost everything - or so she thinks. Then she is guided by new friends into an understanding of how much bigger the world is. It's not just about her and her small goals. This land is in trouble and it needs her. I can't wait to read the next book!

I absolutely adored this book. It’s a dark and compelling fairytale with captivating characters.

I absolutely adored how we not only got to see things from the primary characters pov, but also the people around them. It made it very clear that things aren’t always as they seem on the outside.

What An Adventure! If you haven't read this book you are a fool! Get On It NOW! This is a thrilling ride where you will be taken to a new world that is written about in such detail you will believe you really have been there! You will make new book friends because these characters are so so loveable. The character building is on point, you will learn about all the characters and their stories and you will love them even more for it. Luvenia a strong well depicted character that you are invested in and this book just couldn't be put down. It is not often i give a 5 star review but J.L Vampa you have done it. 5 Stars. Captivating, intriguing, beautiful, and well written. I could not even recommend more highly!

This was a very solid, well written book. I had no difficulty settling into the story and it flowed very well. There were a few places where I lost track of where the story was going, but overall it was very nicely done. Anxiously waiting for the sequel!

*SPOILERS*

I bought this book having no idea what it was about, I did no research about it before i started reading it.

I can honestly say when i read the back of the book i didn't think I would like it. It's not a book I would normally read, but I'm glad I did. @jlvampa did an amazing job writing this book.
The main character Luvenia's character gave me whiplash, she was constantly back and forth between happy and sad. But with everything shes gone through in a 10 year span I can't really fault her. Between losing her father at the age of 8 (and believing it was her fault) and then losing her mother (I'm guessing at the age of 17 or 18) and having her sister taken by the evil queen I would suffer like her. Also her brother needs to be punched in the face!!! After her sister and her are taken by their brother and the collectors Luvenia escapes and ends up falling into a new world only to discover another kingdom, with a good queen. She makes friends with the keepers of this kingdom, and the mythical creatures that live in it.
Luvenia learns to trains to fight like a warrior in the Hope's to get her sister back from the evil queen. She also fights against her inner demons, and those around her who only want to help her and everyone against the evil queen.
This books has twists and turns, a flood of emotions and a blooming love story between Luvenia and a keeper. I can't wait for book number two!!

The Queen’s Keeper was such a wild ride. Many multi layered characters that you quickly connect with and care for. Beautifully described scenery and a multitude of interesting landscapes. A plot that continually unfolds in twists you do not expect and keeps you turning the pages. I’m quite excited to see the continuation of this story.

This book snatched Holly Black's wig and called her writing dull. The atmosphere in this reminded me of ye-olde Vampire Diaries early days. This story has stayed amd grown in my mind, I'm incredibly impressed.

5/5 stars

Holy cow I can’t believe not that many people have read this book. I highly recommend it to people who are fans of books like Red Rising and Hunger Games. This book will take you on an adventure of a life time.

My favorite part of the story is how all of the characters have their own backstories and none of them are annoying. All of them grow in their own way throughout the book and it is beautiful to watch it unfold. The book takes you through twists and unexpected turns that make you want to keep reading.

The beginning was a bit slow. And I still don’t know who Matthias is!!
The book did get better as the book went on but it did take some time to get there. The ending left me wanting to know more & even read the next book in this series.
I think students & adults will enjoy it if they can get past the “slow” parts.

A great story with wonderful relatable characters, I love it when you get to see different characters POVs and here it’s done so well. The book is fast paced, engrossing and addictive, so many twists and turns it’s a really entertaining and enjoyable read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book but I'm rating it as 5 stars because it definitely exceeded my expectations. I didn't want to put it down. I didn't guess ANY of the twists and I think I actually gasped out loud at one point! Its SO good.

When reading this book, you'll easily fall in love with the characters and you'll be transported to a magical realm that is described so perfectly that you'll feel like you're right there too but what I liked the most is the underlaying message of positivity, of being yourself, of accepting help when you need it and most importantly, of learning to see the good inside you. In my head, it's a sort of mash up of Alice's Wonderland, a hunger games arena, the woods where Maleficent lives, with maybe a sprinkle of the Maze Runner too; if any of those things sound like something you'd like then I'd urge you to give it a go!

Please don't make us wait too long for the next segment! ❤❤

The Queen"s Keeper has a unique perspective. The characters are distinct, and it's interesting how viewpoints vary from person to person based on the same situation or person. It's a good story, but it's in need of editing. Otherwise, it's an okay read. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Queen’s Keeper
by J.L. Vampa

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This book was received as an ARC from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own

What if I told you that everything you knew about your life was a lie and that you’re being hunted? What if I told you that you were prey?
This is the reality for Luvenia Rousseau.

In J.L. Vampa ,vivid , intricate fantasy world Aureland survival is everything.
What you think you know about your life might not be factual.
What if it was all a lie?
Luvenia a strong Protagonist female character along with other sub characters make this adventurous read. Multi layered storyline with great character progression along with creative writing style will keep you captivated all the way through to the cliffhanger ending .
Wonderfully magical world building makes for an epic fantasy.
I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

My Review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2788680658?book_show_action=false

I enjoy the premise of this novel. The characters are interesting and I want to see what happens. However, as it stands right now, the book feels like a first or maybe second draft, not quite the final copy.

There are some perspective changes that were missed in editing, and there is quite a bit of telling and not showing from the author. I am curious about Levenia and the queen, but I was unable to finish the book.

I would love to read a revised and finished version of this book, however if it is to be published as is, it falls very short of expectations, especially for fantasy lovers.

As a reader, I was fully immersed in this story from the start because of how interesting the characters were and how much I wanted to see what happened as they journeyed through their wildly wonderful world.

Throughout the novel, the primary character not only tells the story from her perspective, but the other characters also get a chance to speak from their viewpoint. This writing style, alongside the plot, is arguably my favourite part of the novel. It made me realise that people often see you far differently than how you see yourself. Such a good piece of advice to include within the story itself.

All of the characters were wonderfully written and they all have very individual/strong characteristics, which made them even more real as the story progressed. Be they good or evil, their depiction always feels spot on.