Donna Augustine – The Keepers

The first book in the Alchemy series, published April 13, 2013.
Genre: urban science-fiction
Cover: different



Two days ago, Jo Davids was a waitress by night and a college kid by day, with the unnerving problem of objects floating around her. One day ago, Jo's sexy boss, Cormac, noticed her for all the wrong reasons when she witnessed a man transform into a monster in the basement of his casino. Today, Cormac ordered her shot. If he's real lucky, she won't die. Because if she does, all hope is lost.



A few weeks ago, I read a review about this book on I Smell Sheep blog, and it sounded so good and original, I just had to have it. As it is not for sale at my bookshop, Bookdepository.com, the author was kind enough to send me an e-copy of the book. Of course, this does not influence my review or rating in any way.

I am really disappointed in this book. The premise is very original; I like the idea of ancient Alchemist making a deal with aliens they have met through a portal to other dimensions. The Alchemists got powers from the aliens, and control the portals between their worlds, not allowing the aliens to take over earth from the humans.
But the execution leaves a lot to be desired by me. I would have liked some more data on the past, how it all came about, and what all the Alchemists can do. Then there are Fae, but those are really aliens as well, and our heroine is half Alchemist and half Fae, and incredibly powerful.
Cormac is a rich jerk, who doesn’t tell her much, and keeps trying to teach her one trick that just doesn’t work for her. He is jealous and keeps her sort of locked up in his penthouse suite in his casino in Las Vegas. He is very much alpha, and keeps her too much in the dark. Jo is the heroine, and kind of whiny. She is unable to deal with being abandoned in a church as a baby, and going from foster home to foster home all her life. When she was 18, she bought a new identity for herself, going to med school to be able to find out what is wrong, different, about her. Her magic gets away from her, especially when she is sleeping.
She is also trying to find the church and the priest where she was left as a baby, to try to find out more about her parents. Nobody at the orphanage knew anything, and all the data was burned in a big fire.

And now Jo has finally met other people like her, and she makes no effort at all to be nice and try talking to them. She cannot abide Cormac ordering her around and makes it a point to do the opposite if possible. Okay, I agree with her not wanting to be ordered around, but she could have found other ways. There is this big attraction between them, and one time they almost get into bed together, and the rest of the book is just sparks between them. I understand why she does not want to sleep with Cormac, after he coldly ordered her killed before he knew what she is.

Jo is also jealous of Cormac getting friendly with her one and only friend, but she makes no effort whatsoever to keep in contact with that friend, and to tell her what is happening. That does not make a good friend in my opinion.
Also, she defies Cormac when possible, but when something is changing, she flees for him for safety and signs contracts without having any idea of its meaning. I think she should have waited and heard what was going to happen first and then make a decision.

There is the intrigue of rogue Alchemists working with some aliens on another portal, undermining Cormac’s power and authority. He needs Jo to help him find the guilty ones, and close down their portal. Jo is very naïve in thinking she can track down a man called Tracker where all of Cormac’s lackeys failed.
I like my heroine to be stubborn, and self reliant, but not stupid and juvenile. And my heroes need to share more and come across less like a feudal baron expecting blind obeying. The only thing I could see that made Jo fall for him, was his good looks.


So, my verdict. The story was promising, but I dislike the main characters and would have liked some more background. I totally did not care how much or Cormac’s money Jo was spending on clothes in the casino’s shops and what she bought all the time just to irritate and tempt him. I will probably read the second book, in the hope it will improve.

6 stars.



Buy from Amazon: here

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian