Rating: 4.5/5
I received eARC for my honest opinion.

In this book you have the Keepers and the Starveins, the keepers are the protectors of the Starveins. However, they’re not just protectors, they're also there to give advice & cook, basically to take care of them because Starveins are the magic welders of their society, but their magic has a small downside. It’s slow to cast, so they need the help of Keepers to make sure that they will not be harmed during a battle. In this book you will meet Jasmin who is in the middle of her first year of training to become a Keeper at Sanctuary, she wakes up to find out that she is getting pulled out of her training to become a Keeper to a Starvein whose family was assassinated. It turns out that Starvien is her number one rival, Asher. He was a keeper until that horrible day with his family. With the assassins still out there, they now have to make them stay alive to figure out who and why they want Asher dead.

I really loved this book right away. The world building in this book was done well, the pace of the book was perfect for fantasy lovers and the characters were easy to connect with. I thought the plot was well done, with the right amount of chemistry, to the action in the book, the drama, and the mystery of trying to figure out what is going on. I loved the little twists and turns that the author put in the plot, I am happy that I was right on who the traitor in the group was though, but I didn’t guess the spy.

I liked Jasmine right away in this book, she is funny, smart, strong, and determined not to become a street rat ever again in her life. I liked that you gotta see her character developed throughout the book but at the same time she still is true to the person that she is. I found her to be easy to connect with and I would love to have a friend like her or to have her as my Keeper if I was a Starvien. I loved getting to see the relationship change and develop between Asher and Jasmine. Asher is quiet and a good fighter, that is why he joined to become a Keeper instead of a Starvine, but with the events of his family he must jump into Starvine training now. I liked that he is a thinker and likes to have a plan for situations that might come up. I really loved the protective side of Asher when it came to Jasmine, a few times I was like Aw! They really do make a cute couple and I am one that loves forced proximity in books so when that scene came up, I had a huge smile on my face.

I hate cliffhangers in books but honestly, I cannot wait until the next one comes out and we get to see more of those two. I recommend this book to anyone who likes romantasy, forced proximity, books with action, plot twists, and great characters.

I want to thank NetGalley and Aethon Books for the opportunity to review this book.

This book had so much twists and turns. I believe it was an enjoyable read. The main character was not that interesting at the very beginning, after the first couple of chapters she becomes a fun person to follow along to. There were some typos throughout the book that put me off a little bit and that is why it is 4 stars but besides that, I loved it and I am hoping they come out with a 2nd book.

i tried to add on Amazon and GoodReads but either was unable to review (Amazon) or couldnt find your book (GoodReads)

Okay, I loved this book, I loved the storyline, and I loved how easy it was to read.

Jasmine came from nothing and was given a chance at being a Keeper. To me, they are the caregivers and protectors of the Starvein, a noble, a magic welder. They do everything from cook to protecting them in battle.

But times are tough for Keepers, and they’re stretched thin. When a Starvein’s whole family is murdered, he needs a Keeper. Their only real option is Jasmine, a first-year. Now, this is where things get interesting. The one she is to protect wasn’t always a Starvein; he was a keeper and Jasmine's favourite sparing partner. Now they’ve got to live together, batle with assisins, and try not to be killed while everything slowly unravels.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aethon for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This was such a cool fantasy book! I really liked the school setting and the dynamic between the main characters. Who doesn't love an enemies-to-lovers relationship? I also found it refreshing with a strong fmc who is in charge to protect the mmc. A cool twist on the regular damsel in distress trope. And the ending! Definitely need to pick up the next book in the series.

I enjoyed this book. It's an easy read that gives off Divergent vibes - but make it fantasy! It has minimal spice and ends in a soft cliffhanger. This is definitely something I'd pick up when I wanted an easy Fantasy read.. I enjoyed all the character relationships and see so much potential for growth in them!

I loved this book, literally could not put it down.

The plot, the pacing, the characters, everything fits together nicely and leaves you wanting more.

I can't wait for the rest of the series.

That ending! Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced, and the premise was easy to follow. I liked the dynamic between the main characters; the side characters were a nice touch. I wish there were more world-building, but I am excited to see what's to come in the rest of the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I’m giving this book 4 stars. Overall, I really enjoyed the story. I thought the plot line was interesting, and I liked the characters and how they weren’t completely helpless. The banter made me chuckle, and the side characters were intriguing. I was never bored reading this book and would be interested in continuing on with the next, especially since I didn’t see the end coming.
I will say it’s very story/plot focused. It doesn’t have a ton of world building and the spice is very minimal - I could see that bothering some people but I still found it to be a great, easy read.

There was sooo much to love about this book, the frenemies to lovers, the idea of shared magic, the school setting, I was well and truly gripped and devoured the whole thing. I could definitely see the rest of this series being incredible.
I found Jas so so relatable and loved that she was a badass from the start not having to grow into herself like a lot of female characters do. Asher is sweet and kind and so lovable and I really liked that we got some of his pov as well🥹 Lydia seriously deserves her own book because I need more of her sass in my life!!

The only negative of this book was some of the pacing felt a little off, I wish we had more time to learn about jas and Asher training to be keepers and what that involved. Also that their relationship had more time to build tension as it felt a little rushed that one minute they didn’t really like each other and the next page they couldn’t stop thinking about each other.

Over all though I loved it and will definitely be reading the rest of the series as I need to know what happens next😅😅

I really enjoyed this story and I devoured the book. I feel like booktok would love this book with a powerful FMC, a very handsome love interest, fighting/magic academies and assassins.

I like Jasmine, especially since she's really good in one area, but not good with everything else, and it just makes sense for her character to be so.I think most characters in this book are well written but I would love to see more about their personalities.

I feel like the peace of the book was a bit too slow at times, but there are quite a few plot twists that kept the book interesting. Especially the ending! What a cliffhanger!

All in all, it's a pleasant book and it could help with a book hangover

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion

Im giving this book 4 ⭐ i overall really enjoyed this book and the story it hold and the quest to uncove and the touch of magic it have as well and the journey the character go as well to understand her power in the quest overall im recommend this book 😊

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read because I couldn't put it down. The plot was written well, and felt like reading adult versions of Vampire Academy/ The Winx Sage.

I loved the Dynamic between Asher and Jasmine as well as how their friendships with the other character progressed and changed throughout the story!

THAT CLIFF HANGER!! I will definitely be reading the rest of this series!

I really enjoyed the fact that the female lead in this novel, Jasmine, had to protect the male lead, Asher, from mysterious assassins. I also appreciated that while he was the next best fighter in the Keeper program he was part of with Jasmine before his entire family is killed, she was the more proficient fighter and even a better strategist. The fact that Asher sees her as more than an equal was also a good change from many previous traditional fantasy tropes. The magic system was interesting and unique as well.

In terms of worldbuilding, I felt like I was thrust into the middle of things without much backstory to help me or to help connect me to the main characters. Normally, if the bits of backstory are woven into the story as it unfolds a little later, I can go with it. But I didn't feel that this happened as much as it could have. We never fully understand the dynamics of this kingdom or why the king chose to promote Jasmine to Keeper training. All we hear about is that she drew his attention and how. But there is really no development about why or how she endeared herself to him enough in the moment to deserve saving from the gutters rather than being punished for what she did to draw his notice. A scene like this might have been a really good way to start the novel and then when we get to her training as a Keeper, we would be even more connected to her and what is happening. We could also get some similar backstory interwoven later in the book about Asher's feelings about his family and what happened to them. Instead, we only get his point of view about Jasmine and his feelings for her and while these are important, having your whole family annihilated unexpectedly like that would be just as emotionally wrought even if you didn't feel particularly close to them. We only get surface info about all of this and the school and the different divisions of people within it. the same is true about the mysterious organization we learn about who are after Asher. We learn they are bad and have toppled whole kingdoms, but not how or why they do this. More development for this world would have really taken this story up from 3 out of 5 stars for me to 5 out of 5.

That being said, the plot twists and the training sequences with Riker and Jasmine and Jasmine and Asher as they try to figure out what is happening with him and his magic were really fun and compelling. I also enjoyed the slow burn romance between Jasmine and Asher. I do agree with other reviewers in that this may be marketed as a New Adult book, but it reads very much as a Young Adult novel. Overall, this was an entertaining fantasy read. I hope any sequels to this book give us even richer worldbuilding and backstory as the plot continues to unfold. I was given a free ARC for this novel to read in exchange for this honest review by NetGalley and Aethon Books.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

Buckle up, buttercup, because "Keeper of Scarlet Petals" just might sweep you off your feet and into a whirlwind of blades, banter, and budding romance! Our protagonist, Jasmine, is a sword-swinging, sass-slinging former thief turned reluctant guardian, tasked with protecting the life of a nobly born pain in the butt.

From the get-go, this book tosses you into the deep end of enchantments and sharp-edged confrontations, like attending a ball where everyone's hiding a dagger and a secret or two.

Imagine being Jasmine: you're trying to keep your head down, master the deadly dance of blades, and not get bogged down by pesky things like feelings. But then, BAM! You're assigned to protect Asher, a young noble with a smirk you might just want to smack or kiss (depending on the day), thrusting you into a deliciously tormenting enemies-to-lovers tango.

The magic system? Intriguing! The plot twists? Chef's kiss! Each chapter peels back layers of intrigue that had me glued to the page, whispering, "Just one more chapter before bed," until the sun peeked through my curtains. The romantic scenes sizzle with a spice that’ll make you fan yourself with the nearest hardcover!

I laughed, I gasped, I might've teared up a smidge—only to be left dangling on a cliffhanger that had me shouting, "Where's the sequel, and why isn't it in my hands right this minute?"

While I adored our jaunt through magic and mischief, I found myself wishing for a tad more lore—some juicy details about the history of the Sanctuary and those mysterious Starveins. Yet, for a debut, this tale packs a punch strong enough to knock the staleness right out of the fantasy genre.

So, if you're itching for a story where the swords are sharp, the magic is wild, and the romance brews hotter than a witch's cauldron, then "Keeper of Scarlet Petals" should definitely be on your TBR list. Here’s to hoping the next book arrives faster than Jasmine can unsheathe her sword!

Keeper of secret petals by A.N. Skye
Published by Aethon Books
4/5 stars 🌟

This plot was the perfect with a mix of adventure, found friends and a brilliant slow burn romance!! I was completely hooked and finished it in one sitting, it was a very easy read with very loveable characters, I absolutely loved how strong Jasmine and Asher were and I completely fell in love with Lydia and how unfiltered she was! I cannot wait to read more by A.N. Skye!

I would recommend to anyone trying to get into romantasy!!

Thank you to A.N. Skye, the publisher and NetGalley for this arc!

Unfortunately this book fell flat for me. The world building was lacking and we didn't really get any background to Jasmine's history other than she came from the slums but not even how she got out. I definitely wanted to know more about the sanctuary and the starvein and the xolani as we didn't get much. The romance between Jasmine and Asher was also pretty flat for me, there wasn't enough tension to call it a slow burn. It also felt more like a YA novel with how the characters were acting but they tried to gave some mild spice in it, but even that was borderline fade to black. Overall I was kinda bored reading this, probably should have DNF'd and I will not be reading the next book in the series.

I have been provided with a review copy of Keeper of Scarlet Petals from NetGalley for an impartial review. Oh my gosh this story was just epic. I just couldn’t put this story down and I was just captivated by everything that was taking place. The author truly outdid themselves with this story. This story just had my emotions all over the place and I am so sad to see this book end. I just can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Keeper of Scarlet Petals was an AMAZING story! The magic system in this book was easily one of the most unique magic systems I have ever come across, and I am really interested to see more of Jasmine and Asher learning about how this magic works.

The concept of the Keepers, the Xolani, and the Starvein was very compelling, and frankly the explanation of Keepers in Chapter One or Two had me hooked from the start!

As for characters? I am absolutely obsessed with Jasmine and Asher's banter! I really like both Riker and Qien and have high hopes that they are big parts of the Keeper of Scarlet Petals series as a whole, as I love when stories have really compelling mentor figures! Pina and Lydia are extremely fun characters with such distinct personalities that it's hard not to love them.

I loved this book, and look forward to see what happens next in the series!

This Review is/will be posted to Goodreads and Instagram. @dellasbookshelf
This Review may eventually be posted to StoryGraph, X, and InstagramThreads @dellasbookshelf

I absolutely loved that the female main character was the protector of the male main character! The dynamic between Asher and Jasmine is fun and full of flirty banter which I also enjoyed.

I would love to see more of a world building at the beginning to give a better sense of location and vibe, but the unique magic system is something that I haven’t seen before and I was still left excited to see what will happen next!

Lastly, I’m hoping that with Keeper of Scarlet Petals being marketed as a New Adult book it transitions into truly becoming that-if not progressing into more. I felt that while I still enjoyed it, the feel of the story stayed mostly in Young Adult.

This was a very fast-paced, suspenseful, easy read. In this world, magic can be used only by nobles known as Starveins. However, magic can easily overwhelm an individual and cause them to go insane, so casting is very slow. In order to protect Starveins while they are casting, the kingdom pairs them with a "keeper" who, among other things, physically protects them in any ongoing fight. Jasmine and Asher are training in the academy of the Sanctuary as keepers and are rivals-to-lovers who get sucked into fighting against a treasonous group of mages after the group murders Asher's family and Asher is forced to leave keeper academy to learn magic as a Starvein. This book pulls you in from the very beginning.