Book: The Key to the Realm
Author: Roberta Trahan
Rating: ★★★★

I was glad to see the bedroom scenes omitted. It really would have had no place in this book anyways. The book adds even more characters and new story-lines. This only worked because most of the other non-essential characters were not present. It still felt like A LOT of characters. I think that kind of watered down the story she was trying to tell. You just didn't have much of a connection to them. Somebody dies, somebody betrays-- oh well. I thought this was a missed opportunity. Especially when Glain learns who betrayed her.
I enjoyed the story being told through Glain's eyes. It was a smart choice to let Alwen's perspective go.
I did feel like the villain got neutered at the end. The main thing I dislike about the books is still the same, it just lacks creativity in the magic department. I get that it is suppose to be a historical setting, but the magic she added could have been a little more original. What is it with fantasy writers and enchanted forests??? Instead of creating an interesting magic system it was just a jumbled mix of every magic form. We have shape-shifters, mythical dog-beasts, evil-spirit things the list goes on and on.. I'm guessing she pulled a few of these from myths, since the book has the historical side? When a book contains every magic imaginable, it just loses its potency. What is going to show up next?? Vampires, zombies? I guess at least she hasn't stooped so low :) Maybe I'm just getting too picky.
I don't regret reading either book. They were entertaining enough. Will I buy them so I can reread them? probably not.
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