The Key to the Realm

    Summer is in full swing in my part of Oregon. I can hear the tractor making hay outside, my grass has turned a hideous shade of brown and I think a trip to the river is in order. Nothing like reading in a nice shady spot at the river! I feel like I have read a few okay books lately. I'm really looking for a standout to fall in love with. I guess I better keep reading.

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

                                                            
This is the sequel to The Well of Tears-- which I reviewed a bit ago. I thought this sequel improved upon some of the pitfalls from the first book. I thought both stories were fun, engaging reads. The author switched a few things up with this book a bit. Some of the story-lines that were moving in an obvious direction in the last book changed. Not so much that it was disorienting though. I think Trahan really listened to some of the critiques of her previous book and improved this one.

   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.