The Keep by Veronica Wolff
Book Stats:
Reading level: Young Adult
Trade paperback: 336 pages
Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Penguin
Release date: June 4, 2013
Series: The Watchers #4
Reviewed by: Stéphanie
Source: From the publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository
JUST BECAUSE YOU WORK FOR THE DEAD DOESN’T MEAN YOU WANT TO JOIN THEM.
Drew has just started her second year on the Isle of Night, and the weather isn’t the only thing changing drastically. She has ascended to the rank of Initiate. She’s also found an intimate love in the handsome vampire, Carden. But most of all, she no longer dreams of escape. She dreams of vengeance.
Her friend, Emma, was brutally wounded by the savage vampire Alcántara, and may have been taken to the dreaded castle, from which none of the living return. But there are so many different stories from so many people with so many of their own deceits and machinations, Drew can’t be sure of anything—except that she must find a way into the castle to discover the truth and take down Alcántara once and for all.
But Drew isn’t the only one out for revenge. Someone very dangerous on the island is also out for blood…
Hers…
I was really excited about reading THE KEEP. So much that I started reading it the day I received it in the mail. While it might not be my favorite book of the series, it does set up the future books quite nicely. Like the previous three books, it was edgy, smart and full of historical lore.
The main character, Drew, was someone I was able to identify with in the previous books. While she still comes off as intelligent and unyielding like in the other books, I think her recklessness in THE KEEP makes it a little more difficult to understand her actions. Time after time, she puts herself in dangerous situations, unable to save herself when things get dicey. One of her main goals in this novel is to avenge her best friend Emma’s death, but she finds that very difficult to do, especially when no one is on her side. Not even Yas, who was once her friend, will help her. On the contrary—he’s actually trying to kill Drew since he believes she’s the one responsible for Emma’s death. I know right? A lot of drama and revenge going on, but you have to admit, it makes a great storyline.
Ultimately, Drew tries to find a way into the Keep, which houses all the vampires and the vampire trainees. She believes the answer to Emma’s death lies within the wall of the keep but what she finds inside is even more frightening than what she ever imagined. The whole story basically revolves around Drew trying to get into the keep, and that’s why the title of the novel is very fitting. However, since Drew is more or less friendless and since she’s very focused on avenging’s Emma’s death, interactions with other characters are limited and the novel revolves mainly around Drew and her thoughts.
My new favorite character of the series, after reading THE KEEP, has to be Carden. He’s such a sweet talker and such a mature figure that you can’t help but fall for him and admire him. After binding herself to him in book three by accident, Drew literally can’t live without him. He’s absent more than half the novel but he more than makes up for it with his strong presence in the scenes he’s in. He doesn’t act like the ancient vampire that he is, but he’s certainly as cryptic as any male from the keep.
Overall, this newest installment was a pretty good one. What Drew finds in the keep will definitively surprise you because it certainly surprised me. The cliffhanger at the end promises more to the series and with the new information Drew has gained from her visit to the keep, it would be disappointing if the series didn’t continue. I can’t wait to see what else Veronica Wolff will come up with for this series because it’s certainly one to watch out for!
It's always great to see that new installments in a series are enjoyable. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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