I am attempting to go back and read some of these older books to bring up my ratio, but unfortunately I can't find a copy of this in my library system! I will not be reviewing it apologies :(

Thank you for the opportunities to read this book. I have attempted it on a number of occasions but unfortunately I haven’t been able to get into it.

I really wanted to love this book. It started really well, but the main character in all her smartness turned pretty dumb pretty fast and that's such a turn-off for me! I ended up sadly DNF-in this book.

I did not read this book but would like to in the future. Unfortunately for me, it was archived before I could download it.

I received this free eARC novel from the author and NetGalley. This is my honest review.

After a few years, I finally got around to reading this. And I honestly enjoyed it. The beginning of this book showed just how ordinary Lainey's life was, but everything got chaotically different when her powers grew out of control.

I adore Maggie and her love of all things nerdy. She was a bright point of this story, no matter what the situation was.

Ty is a complicated character who i feel like we haven't figured out his story yet. It that's what I'm hoping.

Lainey grew into one brave woman by the end of this book. She acted like any normal teenager world of they discovered everything she learned, but the more she unvielded, the more she wanted to change things.

Very curious to see what happens in book 2!

The first of Kim Chance’s duology, “Keeper” was a rollercoaster of a ride from the start.
I enjoyed the adventures of our quirky protagonist as she experiences some interesting hallucinations and goes through a ton of twists and turns to sort out this new development. The book managed to keep me on my toes for the majority of it and the last section of the plot is the best.
The characters are relatable and their relationships, including the wonderful female friendships, are excellent. I found myself rooting for them all.
Wonderful debut novel!

A copy of the book was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Kim Chance’s debut novel is an overall good read, bringing an interesting take on the paranormal and witch genre. Although the book was written well, the story itself did fall into many scenes and character tropes that had been written many times in the YA supernatural genre. Lainey and Ty were definitely characters I had seen many times before - the not-like-other-girls bookworm who isn’t a damsel (although she’s been in many life threatening situations through her own actions) but refuses to accept the truth until much, much too late and the misunderstood gorgeous bad boy who gets into many fights and yet is surprisingly well read. Yeah, these two were definitely archetype of insta love, which is personally one of my pet peeves in fiction and I just couldn’t invest into this relationship - they were already on a romantic footing on their first meeting, which made the love story seem less authentic. Maggie, the best friend and third main character was the only character I was really invested in and I am looking forward to reading her perspective in the sequel.

However, the quality of Chance’s writing cannot be disputed and she’s penned a strong debut that readers who enjoy this genre will appreciate. The book definitely got stronger as the story progressed and for that reason, I am looking forward to reading Seeker.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I've been a fan of Kim's YouTube channel for a long time and rooted for her to get her book published. I'm super happy for her and fortunate to read the book.

I enjoyed the characters. I don't really feel like I love them as much as I expected but they were all likable to me. I think Maggie was my favorite. I like Ty as well but I feel like it was a bit too insta-love for me but I always love romance so I'm good with it for now.

The writing is good, a bit simplistic but it carries the story well. My struggle was with the pacing. I had a difficult time reading after the comic book store to about a third or half of the book wondering where everything was heading. Felt too boring and everyday life. I wanted more action and adventure but didn't get that till about maybe half to 2/3 of the way through the book.

The climax and ending was great in my opinion. Loved the plot twist and wanted more after it ended.

I wanted to know more about the magic systems and the paranormal world. We didn't get to learn much about Garrett and I wanted to know more about his kind. Feel that this could have been developed better. No training montage or for Lainey to learn how to control her magic which I found lacking for the plot.

Overall, I think this is a fun and touching read, especially for the last half of the book.


3.2 out of 5 for me!

I enjoyed this book. The magic and intrigue were something that really gripped and captivated me. I adore magic and this book has all of it!

Lainey's life goes haywire when she starts to experience strange and unexplainable things. She was a great character. flaws and all. The rest of the characters were great additions to the story and add to a lot of the excitement of this plot.

As I've said, this book is fun and exciting. There was a certain level of predictability but that didn't subtract from the overall feel of the book as there were still a few twists and turns that surprised me. I adore the urban fantasy element of the world. It makes the characters more realistic and the world more mystical.

I'm a sucker for the bad boy romance and what is a YA urban fantasy without a bit of romance?

And that ending! Leaves a lot to look forward to in a sequel.

If you like YA supernatural, then this is a book worth checking out. I enjoyed the variety of personality in the cast and the fact that they felt real and three dimensional. My favorite part of this book was the strong female friendship which is highly lacking in the YA scene. The author has a seamless way of bringing the reader into her world and describing things in a way that is relatable too anyone.
This is a well done debut by Mrs Chance and I look forward to reading more of her work as it comes out.

Kim chance is a beautiful writer. She constructs the world that Keeper is set is so beautifully you can't help but love it. She allows us to explore the beautiful friendships of Lainey and Maggie a romance and a gritty plot. I would highly recommend this book.

The Dragon’s Horde was a comic book store in a small town in Georgia. Lainey managed to get the last bit of standing space in the store. She was wedged in between a display of anime novels and a large cardboard Captain America. Lainey used her S A T prep book as a barrier between her and the thong of cosplayers and super nerds in the store,it was Superhero Saturday and the shop was packed with every die- hard fan within fifty miles. With little to do in the small town the Horde’s monthly meetings were as big a deal as San Diego's Comic Con. Lainey thought Maggie really owed her. Maggie was her best friend. Lainey tried to tune out the noise as she needs to have fifty new vocabulary words memorized by the end of the night. Lainey decided she needed some fresh air as she tries to get to the exit a guy dressed as Thor said “ Now where are you going pretty lady?” Lainey tried to figure out an escape from this guy. Than she saw a tall guy wearing a dark gray t shirt and started to head his way. He looked about as thrilled as she did to be stuck here. Lainey yelled “ Babe, there you are” and walked over to him and put her arm through his. Than the guy pulled away but only to put his arm around her and pulled her closer to his body. He said his friend had paid him twenty dollars to drive him here. Than he said “ down with some light reading?” Than Lainey said the test was in two days, she was graduating early and had to get at least a 2200 to get into her top schools . The science programs were pretty competitive. Than Lainey thanked him and told him she was Lainey and he said he wa Ty.Lainey went to leave as Maggie was going for coffee with Heath. As she started walking to her car she heard her name called. Yet she didn’t recognize anyone around her. A tall figure of a woman walked out of the shadows of a building. She stood apart from the crowd. Than Looney noticed the woman’s green dress and green overcoat were stained with blood. Than Lainey stumbled back and when she looked again the woman was gone. Then she heard Lainey yelled and she went to get in her car and the woman was behind her and grabbed her with her icu hand and grabbed her above her elbow. As soon as their skin touched a wave if electric energy went through her body . The wave of energy intensified with each beat of her heart. Lainey passed out. Than Lainey came to by her car door and everything hurt. Lainey than had to work through a panic attack . Lainey called Maggie and asked her to meet her and Maddie said of course and than Lainey decided there had to be a logical explanation as Lainey is very logical. The scientific method had never failed her before. Most of the pain had left her body. But right above her elbow is the very spot where the woman had grabbed her there was an angry red handprint. Lainey called Maggie and asked her to come meet her. Maggie suggested they use a spirit board- ouija board- and they could try to contact the woman. Than Maggie mentioned talking to Serena who Lainey thought was crazy. Serina who was her uncle’s girlfriend and Lainey had known Serina her whole life.Serena was a seer and psychic. She was like family. Lainey’s uncle Garrett took her in when Lainey’s parents died. It had been the two of them and Serena. Lainey went to her room to study the last picture of her and her parents she was only a baby that had fallen from the book. Than Lainey noticed noticed the necklace her mother wore was the same one the woman wore that had grabbed her. Than Lainey saw the woman again. Lainey has flashbacks and nightmares about the lady covered in blood. Lainey is a powerful witch and her uncle has known all along. Lainey is Du Cermont. Now he finally tells her. Garrett isn’t her blood uncle. Lainey has magical powers but has no control over them. Ty is Lainey’s guardian and Lainey was his Calling which meant he stood beside her. . The Master is an evil being that had been killing generations of Lainey’s family to get a spell that was stolen from him and placed in the Grimoire.
I enjoyed this book. I loved how Lainey and Maggie’s relationship. I also loved how Maggie stood close to Lainey no matter what. I did feel there weren’t answered by the end of this book. Lainey annoyed me at times. I hated how Ty betrayed Lainey. I chuckled at times while reading this. Especially with Maggie’s character. I did really enjoy the fast pace and plot. I loved the characters and the twists in this book and I recommend this.

This book was a little bit cliche, but I really enjoyed the little twist throughout. Overall a solid start to a series.

Chance writes a contemporary fantasy that is laced with secretes, dark magic, and a family that throughout generations have had the power and courage to be the worlds saving grace.


I have always loved a well crafted witch read, and this contemporary fantasy did not disappoint! We follow Lainey who is a very straight laced student who relays on scientific facts, and sensibility. She has lacer focus on her main priority, acing the SAT. Lainey's life quickly takes a turn when the unordinary starts to happen, and even her beloved science can't explain it away. With the help of her comic obsessed best friend Maggie, and a cocky fighter named Ty, Lainey learns more about who she truly is, and the journey she is about to embark on.
Keeper was paced wonderfully and was hard to put down! After leaving a bookstore event Maggie dragged her to Lainey sees a woman covered in blood calling her name, and the adventure begins.The journey she goes on is exciting and heartbreakingly forged with twist and turns I didn't see coming. Her best friend Maggie is someone I would love to have in my life. She is full of knowledge and all her answers come from her trusted comics. At times her love for comics felt a little overboard, but I would expect that's how it would feel to have a best friend that believed to be the Robin to your Batman. Her loyalty to Lainey is a beautiful and admirable characteristic. I hope that the next book allows us to get to know Maggie better. I wouldn't mind having a book dedicated to Maggie and her own story!
Lainey and Ty's banter was fun to read. During the book I kept wanting more from Ty's character, and wanted to learn more about his backstory. I felt disconnected from him as a reader, but once I finished the book I realized that disconnect made sense. Chance has a way of creating characters where I wish each one had their own book, and I don't say that lightly. Her craft in character development is extraordinary. In many books characters voices start to become muddy, and it's hard to keep up with whose who. The characters in Keeper have unique voices. Some chapters flip from visions of the past and we feel and see from a different perspective other than Lainey's. I never got confused or felt like the characters were so alike that they started to have the same characteristics, and that's saying something about Chance's writing since these two characters have the same motives.
While I am drawn to character driven books the plot in Keeper was just as intriguing as the characters. Chance took ideas that I've read before and flipped the idea on it's back creating something unique that still held familiarity. The idea of a teenage witch has been done before, but the twist that Chance put on it was fun and unique. I loved how the plot never fell flat and the pacing stayed consistent. It's hard to find the balance between letting your character go through the process of denial, anger, and finally acceptance without feeling like the pace of the book becomes stagnate, and Chance successfully found the sweet spot.
Keeper kicks into an even higher gear in the end, and was filled with so many twist and turns I refused to put it down till I finished it. I am beyond excited for the next book and will more then likely binge read it just like I did Keeper.
With the atmospheric writing, the witchy elements, and the haunting past that follows Lainey, this read is perfect for fall. This book is Kim Chance's debut novel and I cannot wait to read more from her.

It took me awhile to get started on this book but once I did, wow, was I sad for leaving it on the shelf for so long. The wild adventure we follow with Lainey is simply fantastic. Filled with magic, adventure, and all the things you want in a good witch novel. I love the use of flashbacks and as an author myself, this is something that can be done very poorly or very well, and in this case Kim did a great job incorporating them making them feel fluid and part of the story itself.

The pace of this story was great and kept me engaged the entire time. Would highly recommend and can not wait to buy a hard copy.

The story is interesting and has something unique that draws you in, but the writing is young, it says it's aimed for young adults but it seemed to be towards a younger audience.

I received a copy from Netgalley.

First time I’ve ever been approved by anything from Flux...and sad to say I really didn’t like the book. The cover caught my eye on this one and it sounds like the kind of cheesy kind of YA paranormal romance I usually really like (even if the plot is rather silly).

The premise of this one was interesting enough, study mad Lainey is attending some sort of convention with her pop culture obsessed best friend, she has a strange encounter with seeing someone - a woman in what looks to her like a costume - starts feeling sick and dizzy, and decides to bail. Also, an encounter with a cute guy she just brushes off.

Her parents are deceased so she lives with her uncle Gareth and his odd new agey wife. Heading home Lainey has another encounter with the strange woman, who calls herself Josephine...and seems to be drawn into her memories.

The idea was fairly interesting. Lainey was a reasonably likeable main character, there was nothing particularly off about her. She’s fairly smart, quite logical. The writing itself isn’t bad. The story picks up and starts taking shape with chapters from Josephine’s point of view several centuries ago.

Josephine is last in a line of very powerful witches tasked with protecting an ancient Grimoire the bad guy really wants to get his hand on and isn’t afraid to kill or do whatever he has to do make sure he gets it. Josephine is having none of it. Lainey through some bizarre connection is watching all this unfold...and finds her own life getting stranger and stranger. The cute guy she had a brief encounter shows up again, Ty, and she finds herself getting to know him quite well.

A fair amount of action, not too much focus on the inevitable romance. There’s a battle between good and evil, and an ordinary girl thrown in who discovers she may be the key to everything. I didn’t find there was much emotional depth (at least not for my taste) but there’s enough mystery and enough questions to keep the reader interested and wanting to know what’s going on.

What really spoiled this book for me was the romance angle, Ty, who was flat and boring as hell and completely uninteresting. Though of course with twisty REASONS for his actions. The other thing that drove me up the wall was Maggie, Lainey’s best friend. Maggie was constantly spurting out pop culture references - comic books, TV shows - ALL. THE. TIME. It was fucking annoying. And every time something happens she comes out with her signature phrase “Holy crapkittens!” Which pissed me off to no end. Every time she said it - which was a lot - I wanted to slap her silly and tell her to shut the fuck up.

Though to be fair, Maggie did stick by Lainey’s side throughout the whole thing, when Lainey discovers secrets about herself and her family that her Uncle had hidden from her, was on hand to listen and be there. (She must really be a good friend - she’s the one who’s magic/paranormal/superhero obsessed and her best friend is the one who gets the superpowers? And she’s not even a little bit put out or jealous?) Just such a shame she had such an irritating personality. Combined with her and Ty who were a major part of the story it really let it down for me.

The revelations were kind of silly and eye rolling as the novel got to the end. It’s left quite open but it doesn’t look like there’s a sequel. There could be. I’m not sure I will be rushing out to get it if it does come.

It was okay, the novel had it’s moments and a fun concept, but in the end just not to my taste I guess.

Thank you to Netgalley and Flux for approving my request to view the title.

This book started off strong in that it was easy to read and captivated me from the start. I was very intrigued with the storyline. [I liked the unknown of the ghost girl (Josephine) who was following Lainey and the mysterious Ty. But at the story went on I started to become really frustrated and unable to feel any empathy or relation to the main character. I found Lainey was always whinging, being negative and towards the very end mean towards Maggie. There were a few holes I didn't grasp eg. why there was no talk of how Serena felt when Gareth died. I wish Lainey was more likeable as it would have made the story more enjoyable. I do think I will continue with the series as I want to know more about Ty and how he deceived her.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Flux/North Star Editions for a voluntary review.

This book was awful. The main character Lainey was incredibly annoying. Throughout the entire book she whined, cried, threw fits and was extremely over dramatic. It was like a soap opera. I wouldn't have finished this book if it wasn't a review copy.

The thing is, it had a good plot. There was potential for this to be an interesting fantasy novel. It was like a movie with a good script, but terrible actors. I even liked some of the secondary characters. Maggie, in particular, was optimistic and accepting of the fantasy world. She would have made a much better protagonist. But Lainey was one of the worst main characters I've ever read about.

The writing wasn't awful. The pacing was okay. The plot was pretty good. But I still hated this book. I found myself internally mocking it every step of the way. Lainey blamed herself for the actions of others when she wasn't being a whiny brat. Do yourself a favor and skip reading this one.

I’ve been following Kim Chance over on her authortube channel since last October, and when I saw her debut book available to request on Netgalley, I jumped at the chance to read it. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped. This YA urban fantasy is heavier on the romance and angst than is my taste. I found many parts of the plot to be cliche and predictable, and the ending was far from satisfying – it was more a set up for the next book, which was VERY frustrating. There are readers who will enjoy this book, but it wasn’t for me. However, I think fans of the Percy Jackson series or the Mortal Instruments series might enjoy this.