The Fae Keeper (Witch King Duology, #2)

by H.E. Edgmon

[Quirky Cat]

I'm giving The Fae Keeper the key to my heart. It's already stolen anyway, so why not make things official? But seriously, I adored The Fae Keeper, written by H.E. Edgmon. It's the second novel in The Witch King series, wrapping up the story to a perfect conclusion.

Asalin is falling apart, and it seems like nothing Wyatt and Emyr try can change that. The people are too fractured, too willing to abuse those below their station to ensure a better life. This is how most other kingdoms act, but Wyatt and Emyr were hoping to fix things.

Perhaps once Derek and Clarke, the instigators of the latest rebellions (and other war crimes), are in hand, things will finally calm down. Or perhaps not. Wyatt will first have to uncover where witches belong in the fae hierarchy before peace can truly be achieved.

“Hate can build an empire, but all empires fall.”

Wow. Wow! Words cannot describe how much I loved The Fae Keeper. It hits every high (and low) note that I could have hoped for, providing readers with a conclusion we deserved. It's also the ending the characters deserved if we're being honest here.

On a different note: Before The Fae Keeper, I had never read a character journey that resonated with my personal experience. Not the magical tale or most of the other significant points portrayed in The Fae Keeper. I'm talking about a personal journey – finding a label that fits me. I've literally never seen a character go through this (to the conclusion of realizing they're demi, to be clear). Actually, I'm not sure how many other demi characters I've ever read about (if you know other books with demi characters, please tell me!). I'm not ashamed to admit that the whole thing made me tear up. Representation matters, guys; it doesn't matter how old or young you are; it still hits hard.

Admittedly this highlight is a huge reason why I will forever adore The Fae Keeper, so perhaps all of my review is going to be a little bit biased. But really, is that a bad thing? The Fae Keeper forged a personal connection between its words and the reader. Isn't that the goal?

Even beyond this moment, The Fae Keeper is an incredibly emotional book. Wyatt goes through so much while trying to make the kingdom (and world) a better place. Obvious allegories are being drawn here. But just because they're obvious doesn't mean they're unimportant. They are SO important, and seeing them come up again and again in stories will hopefully make it more approachable for others.

I'm trying to say that The Fae Keeper was a beautifully written book. It's magical, but more importantly, it's emotional. It captures such human moments, making the otherworldly feel relatable. I loved every minute of it.

Thanks to Inkyard Press and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks