The Ancestors' Key

Book 1 in The Evers Series

By: Marie-Helene Lebeault

Narrated by: Valerie Rose Lohman

Fifteen-year-old Lola just said goodbye to life as a loner. One minute she’s living with her mom in Baltimore and hanging out with her best friend Jane and the next she’s receiving the keys to a southern mansion, boatloads of money, and an ancient family secret.

She has no idea how she’s going to cope with a long-lost dad, an eccentric aunt, and a drop-dead gorgeous boy that keeps popping up everywhere she turns. Not to mention the magical book and the skeleton key that just appeared out of nowhere....

The perfect gift for fans of Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey Series or Lauren Kate’s Fallen Series.

©2020 Marie-Helene Lebeault (P)2025 Marie-Helene Lebeault

Fun New Fantasy

Parents: PG-PG13 this is acceptable for middle school and up
Language: PG
Violence: PG - normal to genre, nothing overly graphic
Sexual content: PG13 - kissing, some raging hormones, pool related imagery and longing for more physical intimacy but it stays clean

This book starts a bit slow and has an interesting twist of Southern charm and old fashioned traditions mixed in current time. It starts with Lola (15yr) finding herself orphaned when her mother dies. Lola has one year of high school left and is sent to live with her aunt in a giant Victorian mansion. As she get's settled into her new home that she will one day inherit she learns of her newly found wealth and some strange family secrets surrounding a key.

So while I did enjoy this book and I am really looking forward to seeing where the story goes, there's just a lot of stage setting in this book. The first half is a bit slow as you learn the scenes and characters. I did find some of it a bit too much of a lucky girl who won the lottery in her new life, outside of losing her parents it just felt too easy- there wasn't really a conflict until toward the end of this book. The last quarter of the book did get really interesting which is a definite pull to read the next one.

The narrator fit the main character well and did a good job with the differentiations.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Great Story as Long as Parents Are Aware

The primary indicator I use to judge a book series is if I want to read the next book. In this case, the answer is yes, but... Let me explain. The author has created a great story with wonderful characters. She did an excellent job bringing the 15 yo female main character (MC) to life. She also did a great job setting the scene—an historic home and historic family. I wish that she would have gotten to the meat of the story a little earlier. The "ancestors' key," as referenced in the title, was not introduced until chapter 20 something. By that time, I was starting to wonder what the point of the book was. And then, after the introduction, none of the action happened until we were into the thirties. At that point, the book really took off. I am not a YA, but I can definitely see this book appealing to YA readers. There were some questions I hope are explained in future books. For example: (SPOILERS) One of the major plot points is that the family was unaware that there are other families out there who also have ancestor keys. Yet at the end of the book, the MC is invited to a private school a la "Hogwarts" for others with the same magic. How could there be a school if no one knew the others of their kind existed? Maybe Book 2 will explain it. I personally found it to be more of a plot hole and less of a cliffhanger, but we shall see. Perhaps Book 2 explains all.

FOR PARENTS: The love story in this book is between a 15-year-old girl and a 19-year-old man. There are scenes of kissing, rubbing lotion on her inner thighs almost to her swimsuit (that's how the book describes it), and mild descriptions of arousal. The author included one paragraph about how the man knew he couldn't go too far or else he would be arrested. That is what we call a major red flag. As a father and former investigator specializing in child exploitation cases, I had a problem with this plot line. Although none of the behavior described is technically illegal in VA, it comes a little too close for my taste. The two are fated to be married, but that doesn't mean the romance needed to start with her so young. The author could have built their relationship much differently or adjusted their ages.

With that caveat, I found the story interesting and entertaining and am looking forward to Book 2 answering all of my questions.

An enjoyable, unique read, 5 stars

The Ancestors' Key (The Evers Series Book 1), is my first read from author Marie-Hélène Lebeault. I can't give any if you like this author you'll love this book comparisons but, you'll love this book and the only bad thing about it was that it ended, as all books do the good news is it's the first book of a series. I've read 218 books so far this year and this book is among the best of them. An entertaining, must-read! I look forward to reading more from this author, in fact The Academy: Book Two in the Evers Series is next on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

Amazing

Storyline. I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I’m happy I went ahead and listened to this book. Great performance by the narrator and I can’t wait to know what’s next.

FANTASTIC START TO A PROMISING SERIES

FANTASTIC START TO A PROMISING SERIES.
Well written, well narrated, with relatable characters and a beautiful adventurous storyline. There were even a few tears and emotions of wonder, joy, amazement and happiness. l am keen to continue the series and can recommend this wonderful clean story.