Genres: Young Adult, Epic Fantasy, YA Fantasy | Release Date: 17 May 2022 | Series: The Trianid | Series Book: #1 | Pages: 410 | Indie Author | Review
“Death changes all. Those were the final words of the prophecy.”
Anne Mollova
Overview:
When I clicked on Keeper of Scales by Anne Mollova, I had no idea I was going to fall head over heels in love with this epic YA Fantasy. But this first book in The Trianid series (which was an e-ARC via Book Sirens), has me so excited to see what comes next! Before I fangirl too much, let me tell you what this brilliant fantasy is all about…
In Dúramair, life has remained peaceful under the watchful eye of the Trianid, a trio of powerful people. Operating outside of the kingdom’s jurisdiction, they include a warrior, a seer, and a healer. The healer is the Keeper of the Scales, and the crown princess (Alyen) has just had to make the difficult choice of becoming the next Keeper. Dark magic is stirring, and soon it is only Alyen and the others of the newly formed Trianid who have a hope of stopping this great evil. There is a prophecy that the Second Slayer will be found, who can battle those responsible for this encroaching darkness, but first they must retrieve the famous sword Scala for the upcoming war…
This is a tale of an epic fight, the perils of faerie, and how much courage is needed when everything goes dark.
Happiness Boost:
Where do I even begin… Anne has truly written an epic YA Fantasy for the ages. I was so enchanted with the world-building within Keeper of Scales, as well as the history behind the Trianid and what it means to be a Keeper in a world of light and dark. The faerie aspect was more than just an added layer of fantasy to this story; the ecosystem fully relies upon faerie, even though the Keeper is the only one who has the sight to see them and truly recognise this. This is a carefully crafted world, and I loved the detail within it.
I don’t want to give anything away, but there’s a companion on this journey with Alyen who honestly kept me in stitches of laughter. I laughed so much, my phone was jumping in my hand. It was a breath of fresh air to get a character like this one, and I actually think that the story (which was already great) got even better as soon as this person arrived! For those who’ve read books like R. A. Salvatore’s The Cleric Quintet and the original Dragonlance trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, this type of funny and sweet companion will be no stranger to you. Trust me on this one. I promise you, you’re in good hands.
My final happiness boost (although I could go on and on) was the self-awareness of the characters. They may lie to others, but they can’t lie to themselves. I am quietly applauding this, because it’s actually very easy to lie to yourself. But Anne has shown us what happens when we do; the toll it takes on someone’s wellbeing is quite significant. Anything that broaches these kinds of moral dilemmas makes for a *very* good story.
Downside:
I have a tiny downside: Keeper of Scales is currently up for preorder. Now this actually isn’t a bad thing in itself… *But* what it does mean is that I have to practice patience, because obviously book 2 is nowhere in sight just yet! And it’s so hard to wait when you’re excited for what comes next!
Final Thoughts:
Anne Mollova has created an epic YA Fantasy that has heartbreak, love, joy and danger weaved through every page. I honestly cannot get enough of this world, and am so happy Keeper of Scales is only the first book in a series. This book, like Felgrim, is one that I will need to have a physical copy of for my bookshelves. It’s too good to solely have on my Kindle app. I need both. And if that isn’t a sign of my love for a book, I don’t know what is!
You can preorder via my Amazon link: Keeper of Scales
