The Keeper's Vow

The Chosen, Book 7

De: Meg Anne

Narrado por: Stella Hunter, Shane East, James Joseph

A vow so sacred it’s only made once in a thousand lifetimes.

They told him there's no stopping what's coming.

They told him there's no cure for the madness.

But Lucian isn't about to be told what he can't have.

Not when it comes to saving her.

The Keeper's Vow is book eight in the Chosen series and should be listened to after The Keeper's Retribution.

Recommended for ages 18+ due to adult language, content, and scenes with graphic violence.

©2019 Words That Sparkle (P)2022 Words That Sparkle

Beautiful conclusion to Effie’s Story..That ENDING

ALC REVIEW

Keeper’s Vow was a beautiful ending to a Effie’s journey. After the massive cliffhanger and the end of Keeper’ Retribution, I was wondering how in the world Meg Anne would close out the story and I have to say she did not disappoint. In this book we get to spend a little more time with Lucian and see him fight to get Effie back. Although I missed Effie, I loved seeing his perspective and his character growth. It also made me as a reader fall just a little harder for the guardian who keeps a lot of secrets. In terms of story, all the breadcrumbs leading up to the big reveals in the book are paid off. I also particularly loved the cameos and the connections in this book. I started jumping up and down when I realized a character was connected to another character in Megs world (if you know you know).

Lucian’s character growth wasn’t the only one I loved in book. Effie’s came a long way. She was much more confident in herself, and it was almost as if she needed to shed the skin of her old life to begin anew. It was quite touching. I also really loved seeing a lighter Effie, one that had embraced feeling happiness and knowing she deserved it.

As for Kieran, here is the thing, Meg Anne did such a wonderful job pulling us through a journey with this character. At the start of the series, particularly in his prequel, it seemed like he was the one to root for, but as the series continued, so did he. It wasn’t a drastic 180 that gives whiplash but one that you see build, and given the ending of this book EVERYTHING with him clicks into place. Was I surprised, yes l, but at the same time I picked up on Meg’s hints along the way.

Stand outs
- The cameos, and the characters interaction with Effie
- THAT ENDING… wow way to wrap up a story but also lead into a new one. It should be criminal to write villains that good, we are NOT supposed to like them Meg Anne and yet somehow I do
- The speech that Lucian gives Effie when she becomes part of a certain thing that I don’t want to spoil. It definitely got me in my feels
- The major reveals, they were done so well!
- The spice. I know I didn’t talk about it above but damn that was NOICE


NARRATION

I could not imagine anyone playing Effie, Lucian and Kieran other than Stella Hunter, Shane East and James Joseph. This trio is amazing. They brought such depth to each of the main characters they portrayed that you really couldn’t help but feel sucked in. What I also loved about their narration was how they were able to bring the nuances in Meg’s writing with finesse and care. It made it feel like they took immense care in understanding the writing and the character development and arc. Also their chemistry, all three of them, was off the charts. It definitely felt like they played off of each other’s performances.

Some individual narration standouts:

Stella Hunter as usual brought Effie to life, and I am not just talking about the Effie we know. That other one gave me GOOSEBUMPS! Like if you are listening to this in the dark when Stella is the other Effie good luck trying to sleep without thinking someone will pop out of the darkness. Also flirty Effie….. I will say no more.

Shane East is one of those narrators, that you will need to be sure that your heart is healthy. The emotion he puts behind his performances, particularly those that involve heightened scenes (fighting, loosing someone etc) will make your heart beat a little faster. Lucian had a couple of those this time around and lets say my iwatch clocked the increase of heart rate. Not to mention when he lowers his voice.

Whose ever idea it was to put James Joseph as a villain, can I please have your P.O. Box? I would like to send you a box of a damn chocolates. Like I know there is something sinister about a character, but the way he delivers lines… I just forget it that this guy is a VILLAIN! Also those switches is accent cause whiplash, in a good way.

Not ready to say goodbye to this epic Romantasy

The Keeper’s Vow picks up where Retribution left off – such an agonising cliff-hanger, that you never saw coming and while this is the 3rd and final book in the keeper’s trilogy, it by no means is the end and sets the scene for something more and why I fell in love with Meg’s writing style in Undercover Magic series.

I love the way Meg has interconnected these series so that even though one series ends, she sets us up for the next series to begin so you get to meet best friends old and new.
We also get to finally meet Nord in this one and I love it.
I cannot fault anything in this book let alone the series. Meg definitely stepped it up a notch with each book and The Keeper’s Vow is no exception – the twist and turns in this book alone – especially in the first part which is Lucian’s journey to cure his beloved Fledgling, had me on edge, set my heart racing and brought me to tears.

Effie, Lucian and Kieran's slow-burn angsty mystical adventure includes:
* British Heroes & Heroine
* Dark Romance
* Romantasy
* Fated Mates
* Violence
* Hate to Love Fireworks

Effie is shadow touched and homicidal, barely resembling the Effie Lucian fell in love with, and your heart really goes out to Lucian at this point, imagine the love of your immortal life, the one you’ve been waiting for, in over a thousand lifetimes, is hell-bent on trying to kill you?

Lucian’s steely resolve and unwavering determination to never give up on his love is gloriously excruciating to behold with case in point being the following scene:

Chapter 1 Lucian:

“There was nothing in any world with more allure than a Guardian’s true purpose. Once found, it superseded any prior vows or commitments.
While it was not always a person, nor a relationship with romantic ties, a Guardian spent their immortal life searching to find and fulfil that. While Lucian had spent most of his life waiting for her—had even known to some degree that he would succeed in finding her—Effie had crashed into him like a wild storm.
He knew now that no amount of warning would have ever prepared him for her. “M’vitra pour vestry. Non refert l’coût.”
The words of his native tongue came unbidden, pouring out in a guttural rush. My life for yours. No matter the cost.
It was a Guardian’s most sacred vow. There were no words, in any language, that held more meaning for him, and right now it was the only thing he had to give. Brushing his knuckles across her cheek, Lucian leaned down to press his lips to Effie’s forehead. “I’ll find a way to bring you back, fledgling. Or I’ll die trying.”

It was at this point, Shane had me in tears and honestly, the outlook was looking bleak for our hero and his beloved fledgling: Effie.

The tragic circumstances at the end of Retribution, would have had others questioning how in the Mother’s Elysia would we see Lucian and Effie over-come the dire circumstances fate had imposed on them, but not me.
I knew Meg would not disappoint and like Lucian, I had to keep the faith that Meg would get us there.
What I was not prepared for was the performances of these wonderful voice actors.
You are listening to an audio play at this point: it’s a multi-cast, but it feels like it’s way bigger than it actually is. James Joseph is the perfect villain and perfect Kieran and I continue to be impressed by his depth of talent in his accent work, he’s fast become a real favourite of mine and many others to be sure.
Shane and Stella continue to get better and better with each performance.
We get to see more of a dark and creepy Stella here as Effie is shadow touched and possessed by an evil that is destroying her from the inside out.

Likewise, I continue to be impressed and besotted by Shane’s performance as he brings so much emotion. The way he portrayed Lucian’s unwavering faith within himself to never give up on Effie, was nothing short of heart wrenching and you can’t help but cheer him on, anything less I would seriously question whether you were missing a beating heart – Shane had me cheering Lucian the whole time and he’d already stolen my heart – and likewise Stella with her portrayal of Effie.

Shane really did much of the heavy lifting in this book, and it demonstrates once again why he is a superstar and most sought after voice in audio –it truly is a masterclass in voice acting: not only does he portray the perfect Lucian, but his range is so impressive that he goes from portraying the brave, swoon-worthy, protector in Lucian, to the voice of the other 2 Guardians: Scottish Kael and Nord, as well as the haunting voices of the Triumvirate. His depth of talent is phenomenal, and this performance is exceptional.

Meg really did save all the best moments for last - I literally had to pause mid-way through because I was devouring this audiobook like a woman starved and ravenous and I wasn’t ready to leave this beautiful heart-piercing romantasy.

This happens every time I get to the end of a series by Meg Anne, she leaves me wanting more and that’s why I adore her and she continues to be my go-to for Fantasy-Romance – always excruciatingly beautiful: so beautiful it hurts, in the best way. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Whoa!!

The Keeper’s Vow was such an addicting listen!! Wow!! While being all happy with my emotions the author decides to give me the ultimate gut punch! A very addicting listen and i have thoroughly enjoyed this ride with Kieran, Lucian, and Effie. The series is wrapped up but it leaves an opening for possibly more. I absolutely enjoyed this one!! The narrators, Stella Hunter, Shane East, and James Joseph are amazing story tellers! They truly bring the characters to life with their talented voices. I highly recommend this series!!

All the stars!

The mystery and magic of this series will take you on a slow-burn rollercoaster, so strap in and don’t say you weren’t warned and encouraged to proceed immediately. Meg Anne pulls you along on a journey, and just when you think you know where you are going she flips you upside down with all of the thrilling twists and turns masterfully delivered by an author who loves to evoke strong emotions in readers! The series pulled me in deeper with every book, and Keeper’s Vow is everything I needed it to be. It gets all the stars for all the reasons in all the ways! My mind is blown by the revelations in this book! I can’t say why or how without spoiling it, but my head just exploded! All of the exciting action-packed scenes kept the pace of the story up. Just wow! I finished and then listened to the entire series to put all of the pieces together. This is already on my repeat listen list, and I’m sure I will listen again. Very exciting with a thrilling story that kept me engaged and surprised and frustrated and slow-burned to death with delicious precision.

Stunning performances in duet brought everything to life with vivid IN-YOUR-FACE awesomeness. Excellent casting, performances, editing of this duet masterpiece! Shane switches between multiple characters, and it flows like water - even with the same scene. James Joseph exploded on the scene recently and really brings depth to Kieran. He’s a definite favorite. I can’t possibly even count all of the reasons why Stella is at the top of my lists. Every book seems to get better. She does things with her voice in this series that seriously blew my mind. ALL THE STARS!!

Beautiful Conclusion

A beautiful conclusion to a beautiful series. The performances were brilliant and while I'm sure the books are fantastic, the audio on this series shouldn't be missed. The twist had me picking my jaw off the floor and Meg's writing pulls you in from the beginning and never let's you go.

I did not want this to end!

What a whirlwind of an adventure! The culmination of the entire series is here and I  loved every moment of it! From the storytelling to the narration, I was wowed every step of the way.
The acting from Stella Hunter, Shane East and James Joseph completely blew me away.
Some favorite lines from this book are from Effie and Lucien. "I think I should like to remember you." & "Your runes. Just your runes.." One of my very favorite scenes was in Chapter 14. Just perfection. Luc refuses to give up. That was such a beautiful performance by Shane & Stella as well.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING

Holy Crap!! Of all that I expected what I just listen too was never it. Multiple POVs, action, romance, heart ache, and so much more. I was totally and udderly blow away. Shame, Stellar, and James again brothe characters to life, and this one will like the others you will feel it all. I pulled right in and left wanting more.
Lucian trying to save Effie takes her with their people to the Veil to try and save her, but while their they learn so much more, with the arrival of Helena and the choosen things start to quickly become more dire. While trying to save the realms they start to figure out the truth, but it will be the truth they all thought it was and the ending will totally blow you away and will keep you coming back for more. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Dynamic storytelling

I am continually amazed at Meg Anne’s ability to weave a tale. I want to live in the world she has created surrounded by the people she has filled it with.

Listening to The Keepers Vow with Stella Hunter/Effie, Shane East/Lucian, and James Joseph/Kieran narrating, a new layer of richness and life has been added to this story. Each one has a scary voice that will cause you to jump out of your seat and breakout in goosebumps. Lucian’s unfailing love for and belief in Effie is the stuff of legends and shines so brightly in this narration.

Suspenseful, magical and oh so thrilling!

The Keepers Series has been an incredible ride and the conclusion in The Keeper’s Vow is no different! In fact, I think it’s even more suspenseful and magical. My jaw literally dropped a few times with revelations that I didn’t see coming and the twistiest turns that I could never have guessed. I loved Effie and Lucian and all of their comrades, even the Triumvirate dudes! I’m sad to see their journey come to an end but am also very glad that I’ve gotten to come along for their thrilling ride. I couldn’t be happier with the way that Effie’s life story and love story ended!

This was a fantastic listen with performances that were so perfect and engaging. Stella Hunter, Shane East and James Joseph are supremely talented and they bring each character to life with voices that are unique in both tone and accent. I often replayed scenes so that I could appreciate their talent once again before moving on to the next scene. I love the wonderful world that Meg Anne has created, the unique characters we find there and the incredible narrators that she has chosen to tell their stories.

Wow! Just…. wow! What an amazing ride!

Meg Anne is the queen of plot twists and cliffies. But I mean, c’mon. You have to know by now that a series is going to leave you wanting after every book and Meg Anne leaves you begging for more! This installment left me with some grand wtf moments and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

The narrators did a phenomenal job on the dual POV! Shane East and Stella Hunter are a dynamic duo. James Joseph is stellar as Kieran. They bring this series to life!