(Spoiler-free)
Having devoured E.L. Williams' first two books, "The First Ethereal" and "The Blessing of Crows," I was excited for this one. And wow, did it deliver!
Lydia, the keeper of the Pont Nefoedd Library of Magical Texts, finds a book that could change everything. Just as she's celebrating this find, she's thrust into a wild chase for her life. Talk about a rollercoaster.
Then there's an ancient spell book that sends Lydia and her apprentice, Rose, back to 1841. They land smack in the middle of a Victorian witch community, which sounds like it could be fun until you learn that witch finders like Silas Thorne are out to get them. The stakes are high as Lydia tries to find a way back to 1960 and keep the Book of Prophecy safe, while Rose discovers that love can be timeless.
What I love about E.L. Williams’ writing is how she makes her worlds feel so real and alive. Her descriptions are vivid, and every scene is beautifully detailed without being overwhelming. I could almost smell the old books in Lydia's library and feel the tension in the air as they ran from danger.
The characters are where this book truly shines. Lydia and Rose felt like people I could know in real life. Their struggles, fears, and hopes were so relatable. Lydia’s determination and Rose’s journey kept me turning pages late into the night. I laughed, I cried, I gasped – it was all in there.
One of the themes that hit home for me was hope. Despite all the danger and uncertainty, there’s this underlying current of hope and resilience. Given my health issues, finding a book that leaves me feeling uplifted and hopeful is like finding hidden treasure.
If you haven’t read E.L. Williams’ other books, don’t worry. "The Magic Keepers" works perfectly as a standalone. But if you have read "The First Ethereal" and "The Blessing of Crows," you’ll appreciate the deeper understanding of the world.
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! It’s a fantastic read for anyone who loves fantasy, time-travel, or just a well-told story with rich characters and emotional depth. E.L. Williams has outdone herself with this one, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
A wonderful standalone tale that brings to life the magical books and the struggle of the keepers to protect the ancient spells at all costs. Plenty of twists and turns and heart stopping moments makes this a thrilling read.
What a treat Magic Keepers is. This stand alone book in the Ethereal world delivers another twist in the story. Set in the 60s, it brings part of the history of the Libraries of Magical Books to life that feature in the duology - The First Ethereal and Blessing of Crows. The threat of the magic hunters involves this new cast of characters in a quest to safeguard the magic book that tells of the coming prophecy of the Ethereal being. This causes two of the protagonists to be propelled through time to the 1840s. Is the book safe? Can the two women find their way home before the magic hunters of that time find them? And how might their actions alter history and the future they hope to get back to? The tension grows and the culminating events keep the reader guessing right to the end. Can't wait for another in this brilliant series.
As I've come to expect from the Ethereal series, this is a wonderfully fantastical story with impossible-to-predict twists and turns. I loved the way the characters experienced the different time periods, and of course the danger they face in each time. Such a fun book to read, I just wish it didn't have to end!
Magical books, witch hunters and time travel are just three of this book's page turning themes. Having read The First Ethereal and The Blessing of Crows, I couldn't wait for the Magic Keepers and it didn't disappoint. E L Williams brings all the characters (human and animal) to life, manages to create a fantasy world where all seems believable while at the same time, beyond belief, and and, yet again, leaves us wanting more! Great read, highly recommended.