I remember the first time I read The Path Keeper, I knew a couple of pages in that it was going to be something special, and all those feelings came flooding back to me as I settled down to read it again. I was filled with anticipation at the thought of rediscovering the characters that I fell in love with, and I am pleased to say that my second read was every bit as captivating as the first. Even though I knew the story this time round, I was swept away by beautiful, mysterious Zac and feisty, foul-mouthed Ella.

Besides Zac and Ella’s story, I loved dipping in and out of the lives of different generations of women, and found that this time round I noticed more of the connections between these women. When I am enjoying a book, I sometimes have the tendency to race through it, and miss the little touches that give an added depth, and I delighted in spotting them this time round. I have a feeling that I could return to this book time after time and keep noticing things for the first time with every reading.

I read a lot of fantasy, and honestly, I have read many books that are similar to each other – you start to recognise the same character types and dilemmas occurring time and again. With The Path Keeper, there is none of that. It is one of the most original books I have read in a very long time.

When I first read The Path Keeper, it was marketed as a Young Adult read, I think purely based on the age of Ella. Since than it has been reclassified as purely Fantasy, and this makes me very happy. There are elements that are most definitely not YA, and sadly this has led to some negative reviews in the past that really came about as a result of this being read by the wrong audience. Please pay no attention to any of these are they are completely undeserved. Just rush out now to buy this book so you can read it and be ready for the release of Son of Secrets on 28th May – pop back in a few weeks to read my review of that one.

This book was definitely strange and it managed to succeed in being unlike anything I’ve read before. The premise was sort of Twilight-esk, but with a different creature instead of Vampires. There was certainly a mirrored obsession surrounding the male characters though. As usual, we have a normal female lead who comes across a sexy male and can’t stop thinking about him. If you’d have told me the premise of this book in great detail before I read it, I may not have picked it up, but I did and I ended up enjoying certain aspects of it.

I really liked the mystery and intrigue behind this book, when I started it I had forgotten the blurb so I went in fairly blind. I was definitely taken away with the guessing game of the plot, I wanted to uncover the secrets of the story. I wanted to know who Zac (said sexy man) really was and why he was so into Ella.

I liked seeing this book from both perspectives, Zac and Ella as well as some dipping into the past. I can say for sure that this book wasn’t boring, there was always a new angle/direction that it was taking. I also found it hard to predict where it was going, so that was another good thing because usually with this genre you can tell from the off.

Character-wise I found myself annoyed with Ella as a lead, she seemed very dependent on Zac and that bugged me because she was clearly able to function on her own from when we first meet her. Her mother is a stunning woman, married to a rich guy who seems to provide anything the two desire. This book certainly had the glitz and glamour!

I’m left confused by who the audience for this book is, it seems to have the premise of a teenage book, but the themes of an adult one that shouldn’t be read by teens. I appreciated an older main character because that is rare in young adult books, but I think this could certainly be targeted to the older spectrum of young adult readers. There are certainly a lot of problem themes this book deals with and I think they could be upsetting to younger readers. I’m glad to see the addition of a trigger warning on the finished copy though.

The Path Keeper is one of the books that I’m really nervous about because the reviews indicate that you’ll either love it or detest (and DNF) it, and oh boy were there a lot of DNFs on Goodreads. Since I started blogging here, I only have one book I DNFed. I’m going into this one sincerely hoping I will finish it, and if I’m lucky, enjoy it.

And good news! (as you may have figured from my rating). I’m officially invested enough in this series to click that “Request” button on Netgalley for Book #2 Son of Secrets. Really keen to see where N J Simmonds will take us.

First of all, I have to underline that this book utilises a couple of things that might offend some people. If you’re uncomfortable with religion being used in the plot, then steer clear away from this series. A subset of the community that might get offended is rape and sexual assault victims. It was used in the plot in a sick way. I honestly have no other way to put it without revealing spoilers. It had a point to make, to show how the world in this book works but still…

For the first half of the book, my engagement depended much too heavily on my mood, which is not a good thing. I found that I could only appreciate this book if I let myself feel like a teenager again when emotions used to run amok and respond to a situation more intensely than they do now. I say this because very early in the book, I noticed that the main characters feel too much, resulting in them being super broody or super-expressive/loud, or an odd combination of the two within one conversation. At times the characters’ dialogues were just plain weird; You know how sometimes people react in a way that you didn’t expect at all and you just stand there for a solid two seconds trying to figure out what just happened. That happens a lot for me in this book. Somehow this stopped being an issue in the final 30% of the book, probably because it’s where the plot really picks up the pace.

Other than a comment of appreciation on writing style, I rarely have much to say about the writing because obviously authors and their editors know more about that than me, hence I don’t feel I can contribute anything. Most of the time, I don’t have anything to complain about, anyway. However, for this one, I felt that in a lot of places there’s just not enough description given about the scene that I had trouble picturing it. A simple example (not from this book): “The sun was so bright she had to shield her eyes” vs “The sun was so bright she used her left hand as a visor”. This is just something minor and not really what I actively look for in a book. It’s just that I notice when the author goes out of his/her way to write that out for the readers and I notice it too when it’s missing.

Nevertheless, from the first page, I get the feeling that I’ll love the premise. In the first chapter, you can already figure out that Zac’s no human. From his narrative in that first chapter, you already know he’s in love with Ella and has been for some time. Then, my curiosity gets really going. He’s not supposed to interact with her, but he did and she thought she recognizes him but turned out to not know him at all. Just from that, we know Zac’s guarding a life-changing secret. This secret was revealed earlier than I expected but the great thing is my interest didn’t dwindle after finding out, I got hooked even more. For me, that decided it – The Path Keeper was a good read indeed.

Didn’t intend for this review to be quite so long-winded. I rarely write reviews with buzz-words but here it comes. The Path Keeper: An epic tear-jerker about true eternal love.

Content warnings: Sexual assault; emotional abuse to a child

Thanks to BHC Press for providing me with a copy. All opinions are my own and are based on the advanced digital review copy.

A stunning YA books which draws you in as you follow fiesty Ella and mysterious Zac. I love the premise, the characters and the link between them all. The big reveal was a complete surprise. It is hard to review without giving spoilers but I can't wait to read the second in the story.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was easy to get into and flowed nicely through the story line. The story was complex enough that I didn't guess what was happening and how the characters were intertwined - a interesting development. I can't wait to read the next instalment in the series

A very exciting start to a new series that clicked all the right boxes for me. Forbidden love is one of my favorite troles and this was such a well written book. I loved it and highly recommend it.

This is a gripping read about past lives and fate and what happens when two people who shouldn't be together fall for each other. N. J. incorporates fantasy and religion in a unique way which makes for an intriguing read. I am definitely curious to see where this series will go next.

Every character was more interesting than the last. It was impossible NOT to fall in love with Ella and Zac from the start. It was a perfect story with the right amount of magic, adventure and romance. The world-building was FANTASTIC! It was a I-want-to-read-it-in-one-sitting-but-ugghhh-studies! kind of book.
Looking forward to the next book!

I started this book because the synopsis made it sound really interesting and something that would be right up my ally. I was left with more questions than answers and just not much interest left to continue the series. The religious undertones were a bit weird and did not really seem to have a purpose. I never really connected with the characters at all. The plot is basically about Ella falling for Zac and all the weird secrets and why they never can be. There are tie ins to fate and whether they should be together or not. It just did not do it for me sadly.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

This read a bit closer to middle grade than YA. The main character, something was off about her to me. It was a bit too cliche for me.

I guess fantasy just isn't something I like. I've tried reading various fantasy books but can never get into them or enjoy them as much as others. Plus, I wasn't aware that this was the beginning of a series, and I prefer standalone books.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Yet again, I prove myself incapable to keep my own time frames, and ran out of time on this book before it was archived. I swear, every time I get a book on NetGalley, life immediately decides that I don't need to have free time or drive to read. Anyway. I'd gone on my usual hunt through the libraries to see which books I could borrow and read, so that I could get them the reviews they'd been promised, and was lucky enough to find THE PATH KEEPER at one of them. And when my hold came through, I curled up in my new reading chair and set to reading.

And is so often the case, I devoured it in two nights.

I had no idea what I was really getting into, from the synopsis of the story. YA novel, two kids not supposed to be in love, very dramatic. Okay, cool! I'm on board for that. "The brutality of GAME OF THRONES," the blurb says.

...In a YA novel? I'm paying attention.

And I'll argue that point, honestly. It's brutal for a YA novel, sure. But it's not Song of Ice and Fire. I can't speak to the correlation to COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES since I haven't read it yet, but I can also cast a bit of hesitation on the correlation to TWILIGHT too. Both forbidden romances of sorts, sure. But in such wildly different ways, it's hard to think of them in the same breath. Edward has NOTHING on Zac.

NOTHING.

But I'm a sucker for reincarnation and angels, so it was easy for me to be dragged along by this story of a girl who meets a boy who changes her life, and the boy who knows he's made all the wrong decisions and still can't stop himself. It feels like Simmonds is trying a little too hard sometimes to make the story "grown-up" with the cursing and the sex, and while I suppose it fits, it doesn't seem necessary? I do admit that this may be a personal bias, however, so it is what it is. We do get a glimpse of some of the past lives, and that can be a bit jarring when you're not expecting it--and we have an interlude near the end of the book with a step-brother that I do not understand the purpose of in the slightest other than as a catalyst for other actions--which, given the subject matter, isn't enough to warrant its inclusion.

But by the end of the book, I was still invested in our main characters, I was looking forward to seeing what happened, and I was off and running to Twitter to flail at the author since the next book isn't out for MONTHS yet. So now I wait, to see where Zac and Ella's story goes from here, how Lily and Leo will fit in, and what all happened in the past that led them to where we found them now.

Sign me up for the ARC list for SON OF SECRETS, please!

Rating: ***.5 - Definitely Worth a Look

This is going to be a short review but because I have some very strong (negative) feelings. Ella is a horrible person. For a person that doesn't want to use her money or her fame to get certain things she sure as heck uses it quite often within this novel. She is disrespectful, spoiled and throws a temper tantrum every time she doesn't get what she wants.

She made this book so hard to continue, I kept putting it down because my eyes were hurting so much from rolling them so hard. It took forever for the author to get around to point of the novel and because Ella is so bad, I missed the kicker.

The book had potential but it wasn't executed well.

The Path Keeper by NJ Simmonds has to be my favourite book one of a series I have ever read! What I don’t understand is why this novel hasn’t blown off the shelves like Twilight, The Hunger Games or Harry Potter! It deserves to be a book on everyone’s book shelf!! It is so amazing that words can’t describe how wonderful it is!!

This is NJ Simmonds debut novel with two more novels for the series.

I don’t even want to write anything for this review because it is one that you need to experience going in blind!!!

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I am unable to review this book via Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy!

I am sorry to say that I didn't have time to read this book before the expiration date on my e-reader.

Any book that claims to be a mix of Game of Thrones, Twilight, and A Court of… in their presser, I’m going to be intrigued, as are I’m sure numerous other adult YA fantasy fans. While The Path Keeper by NJ Simmonds is a decent read that hooked me in enough to have me keep an eye out for the follow-up, it’s also sure to be divisive among readers, and with good reason.

I enjoyed generally enjoyed the story. Steady pacing that increased as we reached the climax made The Path Keeper a breeze to read through in practically one sitting, with the intrigue as to how the pieces we’re given fit together making you want to keep reading. Protagonists Ella and Zac don’t truly get a chance to stand-out, which could end up being a good or bad thing depending on how deeply a reader needs to have that connection to enjoy a book. I think a lot of groundwork was being placed and perhaps character building and development was brushed aside for future installments. Even still, the mystery of why Ella and Zac couldn’t be together was enough to carry me through the finish and leave me wanting more. There are breadcrumbs of worldbuilding and mythos that we will hopefully see as the series progresses and there are definite shades of the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz, but only crumbs and only shades.

That said, The Path Keeper by NJ Simmonds was a bit difficult to get into at first. I didn’t understand the need to make Ella a Spanish transplant to England other than to showcase the author’s own parentage and love of travel. The speech itself does not feel like that of someone who is Spanish first and English second/English at home. I myself am bilingual raised in a bilingual house, as is a friend I consulted with when asking if i was the only person finding issue with the speech, and it simply feels like an English speaker using Spanish words every now and then instead of genuine code-switching. Once Simmonds stopped awkwardly forcing Spanish words into English sentences, the novel became so much easier, interesting, and genuine to read.

Another issue that will be incredibly dividing amongst readers will be the idea of predetermination. While the summary makes it sound that everything is already laid out before we’re born and it’s this very mystical type thing, the actuality of it being the person being reborn mapping their own path to take makes what happens to Ella a very difficult and bitter pill to swallow.

WARNING TO FOLLOW FOR SPOILERS AND MENTION OF ASSAULT.

Bad things happen to Ella — a mother that doesn’t care, cool okay, that sucks but it happens. But what really makes this idea of people choosing what happens to them offensive is having sexual assault and harassment be explained away as a thing a person chose in order to prove themselves. Not only does that sound like really horrible victim blaming, but also being assaulted and harassed isn’t a test of anything? People who ‘can’t overcome’ being assaulted/harassed/etc aren’t weak or failures. It shouldn’t say anything about them. I personally can’t ever think of a single time where I’d choose for something like that to happen as a test. A test for what? To see if you can push through? A test to see how others react? It’s a disaster of an idea that is just extremely offensive to any survivors that might pick this up.

The Path Keeper by NJ Simmonds is a divisive novel that blends youthful romance and ideals with more intense adult themes that may not always work depending on the audience. If you enjoy YA tropes but want them in a more adult setting, and are willing to place faith that an author knows their world and will develop it in future books, then this might be something you’d quite enjoy. If, however, you’re looking strictly for something YA or something adult, or want something fully developed with amazing characters from the start, you might want to wait and see what happens with the follow-up.

This book focuses on ideas of reincarnation with fate and how our paths are already laid out for us. I thought it was an interesting concept and definitely a book for those interested in urban fantasy.

Why didn’t this book work for me? For a few reasons:
- The whole book screams “2009 YA”, take every sensation of that year and mix them together and you’ll get this book (but the writing is even more bad).
- Like, seriously, this is what you get when you mix Twilight, Fallen, Hush Hush...in all their angsty and cringey glory.
- The two main protagonists are awful: she’s an annoying hysterical brat too stupid to live, her life is perfect on paper but guess what? It’s not enough for little miss universe....her mom is as dumb as the daughter, the stepfather is new to the scene but boy does he catch up quick with the program! Meanwhile the male lead is the love child of Edward Cullen and Travis Maddox (big red flag, giant af red flag!). Oh and let’s not forget the secondary characters: a couple of cardboard cutouts with voice boxes taped to their back.
- The plot is unnecessarily intricate, with a religious theme that doesn’t make any sense with the plot; it almost seem like the author kept switching between two different stories and the end is a nonsensical book.
- The insta-love....I hate it. With a passion.
- The writing: rough, boring, alienating.

I don’t know to whom I would recommend this because If the book was written for the younger readers, I don't understand why it has so much sex scenes and if it is a new adult book, I don't understand why it is so childish.