Dragon's Reach

The Keeper Origins, Book 1

By: JA Andrews

Narrated by: Kate Reading

The tale of how an orphaned thief escaped the slums, united a nation, and brought a mighty empire to its knees.

The truth is neither plain nor simple. Sable, a reluctant thief from the slums, can feel truth when people speak. For years she’s been using that skill to try to break free from the vicious gang boss to whom she's indebted.

Escape comes in the form of an odd set of companions: a dwarf running from the past, an actor with a magical, glowing tree, a too-helpful kobold, a playwright with a knack for getting stories out of people, and a man and woman with suspicious, magical powers.

But Sable’s freedom is short lived. On the edges of civilization, they discover hidden, terrifying lies in the offers of peace from the brutal Kalesh Empire. Now, she must return to the city she fled, and along with her companions, attempt an impossible task: convince everyone, including the powerful Dragon Prioress, of the truth.

Except the Kalesh web of lies has ensnared everyone.

With her land, her people, and everything she loves hanging in the balance, Sable is the only one standing between freedom and certain death.

The Keeper Origins trilogy and the Keeper Chronicles trilogy can be listened to in any order. They take place in the same world but are stand-alone books.

©2020 JA Andrews (P)2021 Podium Audio

More Keepers please!

Before I get to the rest of the review I want to strongly suggest that you read the previous trilogy (The Keeper Chronicles) as well as the side stories first. The best part? You get all 3 books narrated by one of my all time favorites Tim Gerard Reynolds in a publishers pack so is there really any reason not to?

As a fan of the previous series I was super excited to get to see the events first hand that helped shaped the world I just enjoyed living in so much. It took me a little while to settle into the story, this is my first time listening to Kate Reading and I listen at high speed, but once things began to click I buzzed right along. Part 1 is really all about building up the relationship between Sable and Talia and their complicated relationship with Kiva.

Part 2 was where I really got into the meat & potatoes of the story, once the acting troop was introduced I really began to get drawn in by the characters, This is about where I got swept up in the first books and one by one I began to identify with each of them, getting drawn in by their stories just like I did in the first series with Ayda and Duglon. It almost makes me want to run off and join the circus...

As the book drew to a close I could feel JA drawing the lines of the story together, Through the subtle callbacks and little tidbits I could see the parallels between the characters in the story and the ones in their plays and even their antagonists. You begin to see magic being wielded more and more and are introduced to all kinds of new critters including an amazing little kobold. I have a feeling we will get some bloody vengeance in the next book or so and I can't wait to see the fireworks.

WOW

I've listened to literal months worth of audio books and this has been my favorite. A truly incredible story that ticks every box.

Karen Reese

Such an entertaining and engrossing story. So well done. Highly recommend this book and author.

I Can't Wait for the Next Book!!

I loved the Keeper Chronicles and am excited to listening to more from JA Andrews.

Good pacing, loved the characters, Kate Reading's performance was a 10/10 as usual.

it looks like the rest of the Keeper Origins are published, hopefully they will be on Audible soon!

Love this series.

This series is very well written. It is very enjoyable to listen to. The narrator is very good.