- Lizzie Smith receives an old book in the mail from an unknown sender. She can see words within the book but they move around and she cannot quite read them. A strange white wolf and a man name John Braxton, soon turn Lizzie’s world upside down as he unlocks an entire world she never knew existed and discovers she too is playing a role in it.
- Lizzie is a record keeper, only her abilities appear broken. Despite that, as an unclaimed keeper her life is soon in danger as others seek to use or claim her.
- The story that unfolds is filled with magic, supernatural creatures, a lost library and a secret organization. Before this first in series novel ends, Lizzie will be kidnapped, save her friend and unleash her magic. Good stuff.
- We get a romance that had a nice slow-build, well maybe not for the wolf, but for John and Lizzie. I loved the awkwardness and commentary in Lizzie’s head.
- Secondary characters added interest and perhaps the possibility of a second romance.
- The story wrapped up the suspenseful aspect but left the door open for further development as Lizzie finds her place and harnesses her skills. I am eager to discover why her magic wasn’t working and who played a role in its concealment.
Decaffeinated Aspects
- The writing style was a little heavy-handed with tell not show. Often conversations took place off-page and recapped by the protagonist. While this allowed the story to flow quickly, I prefer experiencing them firsthand.
- While we learned about the world, I am hoping Baray expands on some threads and things that intrigued me in the next novel.