Between the stunning, descriptive writing and the multi-cast duet narration, The Keepers by Alys Mackay truly came to life in my mind’s eye! The rich world building and unique magic system creates an atmospheric experience. The pacing and plot twists were absolutely masterful! Tsunala Is a complex, yet lovable FMC. I truly enjoyed her character arc and the secret she reveals at the end. I fell hard for both men Tsunala crosses paths with and each story of their love. The multicast narration elevated an already engrossing story & transformed it into a masterpiece! Can’t wait for book 2!

Thank you to Alys Mackay & Victoria Editing for this ALC!

THE KEEPERS
By: Alys Mackay
The Abandoned Gods Series
Book 1

DUET-STYLE MULTI-CAST NARRATION AUDIOBOOK

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Star Rating
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 5/5 Audiobook Rating 
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 Spice Rating
(Spice Rating Guide Below)

MY THOUGHTS:
I am so thankful I decided to listen to this audiobook! I thoroughly enjoyed the experience! Not sure how in the world this book is the author’s debut novel, but here we are!

This is an epic dark fantasy romance at its finest! There are magical beings, there is magic, there is evil, there are sleeping gods, there is mystery & suspense, there is a quest or two, there is immense heartbreak, there is amazing world & character building, the characters are loveable & can be comical and intense, and then there is that cliffhanger!

This book checks all the boxes!! I will definitely read the rest of the series as it comes out!

FAVORITE QUOTE(S):
“Ugh, if there was one thing that could push the remaining ounce of arousal lingering from the dream away, it was going to be ogres.”

“Yes, I enjoy the sweetness and innocence of lovemaking, but I much prefer the delicious f***ing that this sort of energy we have between us called for. The hussy in me was demanding to come out.”

TROPES:
MF
Morally Grey Characters
Gods and Ancient Powers
Powerful heroine
Found family
Forbidden power
Betrayal and loyalty
Fate vs free will
Epic Quest
Open Door Explicit Spice

GENRE, POV, PAGE COUNT:
Dark Fantasy Romance
Single POV in 1st Person
478 Pages

AUDIOBOOK STYLE, NARRATORS, TIME LENGTH & REVIEW:

MULTI-CAST Narration

NARRATOR(S):
June deBorahae
Troy Duran
Keeley Darling
James Cassidy
Edward Black
Benjamin Sands

14 Hours & 31 Minutes Long

Audiobooks are magnificent. They have a way of immersing the reader further into the story and taking it to a whole new level. These narrators do an impeccable job of narrating their parts in this book. They do it flawlessly, with emotion, with passion, and they are just phenomenal!

SPICE LEVEL RATING GUIDE
🌶️ Glimpses and Kisses
🌶️🌶️Closed Door
🌶️🌶️🌶️Open Door
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️Open Door Explicit
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️Explicit and Plentiful
I have teenage daughters. I am more interested in these spice descriptions than rating the explicit content only.

NOTE:
Check those trigger warnings if needed.

THANK YOU’S:
Thank you to AUTHOR ALYS MACKAY Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Abandoned Gods Press, and NetGalley for this amazing audiobook! I loved listening to it, look forward to the next book in this series and look forward to reading future books by this author! Thank you!
 
Happy Reading! ♥☻

This was an interesting story with lots of world building and good character development. It pulled me in quickly and kept my attention with the monsters, the magic and the mystery of the fallen Gods. Tsunala was strong and resilient as she remembered and stepped into who she was, becoming quite powerful. And the form she could change into just made her even more badass. And Mr tall, dark and broody surrounded by shadows…. I need more! 🥵🫠
I cannot wait to see where this series goes from here. Loved this one!

The duet multicast narration was so good! June deBorahae, Keeley Darling, James Cassidy, Edward Black, Benjamin Sands and Troy Duran delivered with their skills as voice actors capturing the characters personalities and their emotions and bringing this story to life. Their voices all complemented each other and fit the characters perfectly. 👏

Story 4 ⭐️’s
Narration 5 ⭐️’s
Spice 2.5 🌶️’s

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC!

I really enjoyed The Keepers and found myself completely drawn into the story. From the very beginning, the world felt intriguing, and I loved slowly uncovering its secrets alongside the characters. The blend of mystery, adventure, and fantasy kept me engaged from start to finish, and I was always eager to see what would happen next.

The audiobook narration was fantastic and added so much depth to the experience. The narrator brought the characters to life, making it easy to connect with them and become fully immersed in the story. It truly felt like I was right there with them on their journey.

One of my favorite parts was watching the characters grow and seeing the world expand with each new revelation. By the time I reached the ending, I wasn't ready for it to be over.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and can't wait for the next book. I'll definitely be continuing the series to see where the story goes from here.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance listening copy

Thank you to NetGalley for the early audiobook!

This one completely snuck up on me in the best way. I hit play expecting a good dark romantasy, and before I knew it I was making excuses to keep listening "just one more chapter."

The worldbuilding is rich without feeling overwhelming, and I loved slowly uncovering the mysteries alongside the characters. The mix of abandoned gods, ancient magic, morally gray characters, found family, and slow-burn tension had me hooked from the start. There were so many moments where I thought I knew where the story was headed... and then it took a turn I didn't see coming.
Can we also talk about this audiobook?! The full cast absolutely understood the assignment. Every narrator brought so much personality and emotion to their characters that it felt more like listening to a fantasy TV show than an audiobook. The performances made the emotional moments hit even harder, and I was completely immersed the entire time.

Fair warning: this is Book 1, and by the time I reached the end I immediately wanted Book 2. I need answers, I need more of these characters, and I need them yesterday.

If you love character-driven dark fantasy with gods, magic, slow-burn romance, high stakes, and an audiobook cast that absolutely delivers, I definitely recommend giving The Keepers a listen.

I’m not a big Romantasy fan, but when I read the description for this one on NetGalley, I’ll admit I was intrigued. And it did not disappoint!

I really liked discovering this world alongside the FMC, especially since she wakes up with no memory of who she is or what’s happening. It makes the reveals feel much more engaging because we’re just as clueless as she is.

The author also does a great job laying the groundwork for who we should be interested in and, perhaps more importantly, who we should be wary of. 👀 I’m saying absolutely nothing more because spoilers, but I was definitely paying attention.

One thing I really appreciated about this Romantasy is that the narration isn’t flowery or overly poetic. The language feels natural and modern, even though we’re dealing with ogres, faeries, and an entirely different world. It’s fantasy without feeling pretentious, and I really enjoyed that.

I’m SO curious about where this series is going. Some pretty major things happen in this book that I honestly expected to be saved for the very end of the series, or at least the next book. But if the author is willing to go there this early, I can only imagine what she has planned for the rest of the story. Needless to say, I’ll be finding out.

Thank you, NetGalley and Victory Editing, for the ALC!

OMG!! I am so invested in this new series. Tsunala wakes captured and is soon sold into slavery. Once free life isn't a piece of cake either. She is caught up in slave rebellions, and schemes to bring back false gods. The worst part, through it all Tsunala doesn't have any memories of before she awoke on the back of a horse.
This book was beautifully written! The world building was excellent, the magical system complex but easy to understand at the same time. Tsunala was a lovable character, who loves to give love to others lol. This book is packed with action, love, and adventure. The male characters are complex and all so very different from each other in personality which I love. I don't want a carbon copy. You have your goofball, your shadow daddy, and your sunshine. Each plays an important role. If you love books like Fourth Wing or Throne of Glass I think you will really enjoy this book.