Keepers of Talaneamh by Krista Ino

A young teenage girl tries to find her place in a fantastical society where special gifting dictates everything.

Reading Level: Ages 12+
Read-aloud Age: 12+

It is hard to believe this is Ino’s first novel. The world building is fantastic, the characters are relatable and interesting, and the story is brimming with adventure, intrigue, and valuable lessons. The delightful vibe reminded me of a Hayao Miyazaki film such as Howl’s Moving Castle, The Wind Rises, or even Spirited Away. The magic system was tight, well developed, and never felt out of balance or like a plot device. I cheered, chuckled, and cried as the main character waded through temptations, mistakes, lies, hardships, loneliness, anger, and joy. The side characters were numerous, but memorable. I love how Ino weaved together each person into the storyline at just the right time.

There are also so many Christian themes woven into this book. Themes about living our purpose even when it goes against what the world says is good, never abandoning the Word of God or replacing it with vain and empty philosophies, the question of evil, and the importance of valuing every human life because it is made in God’s image and that alone gives someone worth.

This book would be perfect for high schoolers and even some middle schoolers who love fantasy and strong female characters but don’t want all the heavy romance and feminism that is so pervasive in the genre. I did not like to read when I was a teen, but I would have loved this book and will definitely be saving it for my daughter to read some day!

Language:
None

Questionable Behaviors:
Characters do lie and tell half truths throughout the book which is a huge part of the plot line. No one is ever rewarded for lying. The main lesson presented is that lying never pays off in the end.

The characters are teenagers. They gossip, they are sometimes reckless, and they get into trouble. But once again, the reason these characters make these choices is because they’re like humans, born flawed and having to live in a broken world. This book does not glorify bad behavior or sin.

There is a bully character who mistreats other teens.

Sexual Content:
An affair is talked about.
An adult man and an adult woman are seen kissing briefly.
One character does have a child out of wedlock.

Other Things to Know:
This is fantasy. It is heavy on magic but it has nothing of earthly paganism. This is a completely make-believe world not based off of anything in our world.

There are some intense scenes, scary creatures, and fights. I think the author did a good job describing something terrifying without too much gore or detail especially considering a middle school or young adult audience.

The main character has a stutter, but I think the author did her research and presented well what it is like to live with a speech impediment.

This review was written by Good Book Mom contributor, Lynnette. To find out more about Lynnette, click HERE.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclaimer for more info.