Keeper of Scarlet Petals is a romantic fantasy following Jasmine. Training to become a keeper after a chance opportunity from the King himself, she is surprised to find herself assigned to a Starvein Noble less than a year in. Even worse, she can’t stand him. Lacking in all Keeper skills outside of combat, Jasmine quickly find balancing her training, protection of her charge & her own desires to be a unique challenge.

I really enjoy this story and the characters on a surface level, however it doesn’t hold up to much scrutiny. The romance is cute enough & while I do want to see where the mystery leads, I found myself needing loads more information and depth. Characters do end up falling pretty flat and the enemies to lovers is more of a “they’re already in love they just don’t know it until 50% in” thing. The side characters forgettable, but charming in the moment.

I think you’ll like this if you’re looking for a quick kinda-rivals to lovers romance with a splash of magic where she protects him.

3⭐️ for me.

Overall, I think this would have been a great book if it had been properly marketed in the right category. I think being listed as NA is inaccurate. This is a YA book and as a YA book it was great. As an NA book it was ok. I had a hard time connecting with our main characters because I found them both to be incredibly immature and childish (hence my suggestion that this book should be marketed as a YA series). I did get major Vampire Academy vibes from this book, just without the vampires…and everything else that made it Vampire Academy.

I do appreciate a good reverse gendered bodyguard storyline on top of our normal favorite tropes (enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, magic, fighting, etc.). I don’t want to say anything really about the plot or else I’ll end up giving away spoilers. I’ll just reiterate what I said at the beginning, this would be a GREAT YA book. I would have been more prepared for that type of vibe/maturity level of the characters rather than going in thinking they’d actually act like adults. I think the author wrote a great story, it was just marketed to the wrong age group/literary group. So far me, I’d give it 3 stars, but I think it is a good book/story, so I’m giving it 4 stars overall.

Friends to Lovers
Forced Proximity
One Bed
Fantasy
Romance

I really enjoyed this fast-paced easy fantasy read. The plot was good, the character building and world building could have been better. It just left me wanting more. I do look forward to reading the second book.

I recently read "Keeper of Scarlet Petals" and found it a fast-paced romantic fantasy read with likable characters and engaging action. However, the book's new adult (NA) classification felt more like a young adult (YA), and the romantic development seemed rushed and, at times, confusing. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic and badass heroine elements didn't come through as strongly as expected. The story had potential, but I struggled to connect with the characters, and the world-building felt lacking. With more depth and world-building, the story could truly shine.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book. My thoughts are my own.

It was fine. I didn’t love it nor did I hate it. The mystery was engaging enough to finish the book, I don’t know if it grabbed me enough to read the next one.

The main characters were fine. Jasmine tended to annoy me initially, but I was relieved that she learned and changed as the story unfolded. Asher was likable. I would have liked more background information on how the magic came to be or how one group gained what another group lost, but I assume that there is more information to be found in the next book(s).

Thank you to NetGalley, Aethon Books | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles, and A. N. Skye for the eARC

To be a Keeper was to dedicate one’s life – and heart – to protecting another. Jasmine wasn’t ready for it. Less than a year into her training at Sanctuary, a college for Keepers and mages alike, and with a fresh start from a brutal life of thievery in the slums, all she wanted to do was continue mastering the sword arts and avoid her other responsibilities.

This was decently solid. I don't have many feelings about it one way or the other.

I think I would classify Keeper of the Scarlet Petals as more of a YA-but-add-spice than a true new adult fantasy.

What I liked:
- The main characters, Jasmine and Asher, had some funny banter! I enjoyed their interactions and each character's personality was really clearly defined in their dialogue
- I love a snarky woman/man who's mostly-just-happy-to-be-around-her duo
- The magic system was interesting; I'll be the first to admit that the mechanics of magic is not something I usually pay attention to in a book. I can pretty much get into any kind of explanation for a magic system because... it's magic. In a fantasy novel. I'm prepared to accept pretty much any explanation an author gives me regarding their magic system.
- The overall plot was solid, if a tad slow and a smidge underdeveloped at parts. I was engaged as it went along, nothing too unpredictable but still interesting, and then! I thought I had guessed the twist, they proved me wrong, UNTIL.... Honestly, just the epilogue alone makes any eventual sequel/series worth reading to me because I WAS right!!

What I didn't like:
- The romance felt a tad rushed and underdeveloped to me. I absolutely knew they were getting together because, obviously, I just wanted more meat to the buildup of their relationship; I feel like I blinked and they were together.
- There was kind of a lot of internal monologuing done by Jasmine for this being a third person POV novel. Not inherently against a good internal monologue, of course, but it felt a little disorienting as a reader.
- I wanted more of Lydia and Pina!!!
- This is admittedly a bit of a nitty-gritty critique, but I wanted more lore in this universe! Some things could have been explained a lot more, like the history of their magic, history/politics of the kingdom, the Starvein/Xolani conflict/history, Jasmine having Xolani blood, how the Starvein/Keeper relationships came about, etc.
- Again, a little nit-picky, but I have no idea where the title of this book comes from and where it fits into the story! Besides the obvious "Keeper" of course. What are the Scarlet Petals? Where did those come from? Maybe that will be answered in a sequel? I hope so.

And just some incredible roasts from the characters to round this off:
"Well-rounded? No, you are not, much to my disappointment."
"Your limitations are well-known to me."
"[...] his voice nasally and somehow even more irritating than Jasmine had expected it to be—and that was quite a feat."
"If you pat yourself on the back any harder, the friction will make your shirt catch fire."
"If that is the case, I will hang you from the rafters by your feet until the blood drains from y1`our loins and back into your head."
"What's that? I can't hear it over you choking down your own blood."
"I have seen her before, and I suspect a prune has amoother features than she does."
"I've come to appreciate her logic, but this isn't really the time for it."
"Why would I say that? I'm not an amateur."

For fans of:
- Fourth Wing
- the Treasured One
- The Branded

“Keeper of Scarlet Petals” brings a fun twist to the bodyguard trope when Jasmine is assigned to be her classmate’s, Asher, Keeper when his family is assassinated and he is forced to begin magic training. As his Keeper, it’s Jasmine’s job to protect Asher at all costs, allowing them to work as a team against any adversary.

This book includes:
- subverted bodyguard trope
- magical school
- forced proximity
- FMC pulled herself up out of poverty
- aristocratic MMC
- he fell first, she fell harder
- murder mystery

I really enjoyed the concept of this book, especially since it all goes down within the context of a magical training school - which is a fan favorite. Jasmine is spunky and Asher is very sweet. The story kept me engaged for the most part. Unfortunately, I found that this book is yet another victim to the YA plot, dialogue, and characters but add a lil spice and call is New Adult. Jasmine was not well developed and the book lacked any strong motivation for her. Asher was one dimensional at best and became more and more useless as the boom progressed. I don’t know how he went from the top of his class in every subject to a total himbo dummy in a week. I found the twists to be extremely predictable and I felt there were several gaping plot holes. The magic system also fell short. All in all, I was greatly disappointed by this book, especially since I had been looking forward to it so much and was relying on it to take me out of a reading slump.

I received this eBook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, AC Skye, and Aethon Books for the opportunity to review this book. This review is also available on my GoodReads - check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863

Now and then, even clichés are enjoyable and make the plot a pleasant read. The story of rivals-turned-friends-turned-lovers unfolds with action, dynamism, and a fair amount of originality that helps make the novel smooth and highly entertaining. The fantasy setting, two well-defined characters both in their personalities and their weaknesses, and a narrative style suited to the novel’s target audience (along with good writing that ties everything together) ensure that the entire book is an engaging read.

What fascinated me the most was the academic setting, which has a unique charm thanks to original descriptions and a distinctive plot and event structure. A very favorable point for me is the presence of a subtle romance that aids the narrative without weighing it down; instead, it blends with the plot twists presented here, making everything more dynamic.

If the upcoming volumes enrich the setting and the events are managed to give them the right historical pacing, then it will undoubtedly be a fantastic saga that will fully express all its potential.

I loved the banter between the characters. Sometimes I would catch myself giggling - the sign of a good book for me! Great magic system with a strong female character. The romance works for the story - a little fast but explained. Characters are well-developed throughout. Plot moved along at a great pace.

I was excited to see what it had in store. The blurb promised enemies-to-lovers vibes, cursed magic, and a kickass heroine, which sounded right up my alley. But, truth be told, the book didn't quite hit the mark for me.

Right from the start, I was intrigued by the potential of the enemies-to-lovers dynamic and the whole cursed magic thing. However, as I kept reading, I found it hard to really get into the story. The characters, who started off hating each other, just kind of stopped without much development, and suddenly they were all buddy-buddy. It felt a bit forced and didn't quite click for me.

While the idea of cursed magic was cool, it didn't grab me as much as I'd hoped. And even though the main character being a female keeper thrown into forced proximity situations sounded promising, it didn't fully deliver the excitement I was anticipating.

Sure, there were some moments where I was intrigued by the plot, but honestly, I found myself zoning out for a good chunk of the book. It just didn't hold my attention like I wanted it to.

Overall, "Keeper of Scarlet Petals" has its moments, but it didn't quite live up to the hype for me. It might still appeal to YA fantasy fans, but if you're looking for something truly gripping, you might want to keep searching.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC copy of this book. Shout out to the author, I think anyone who can write a book is amazing. I really enjoyed the premise of the story but felt a lack of buy-in at the beginning. I would have loved a prologue with some history of magic and the Xoloni. Some parts felt over described and others not described enough. The dialogue didn’t flow quite as naturally as it could have between characters, especially where Riker was concerned. There were also a lot of typos which overall doesn’t impact my review of the book but it bothers some people. There was a lot of potential for Jasmine and Asher as main characters but I felt their romance was very rushed. It definitely read more as a YA book versus a NA. This is solely my opinion, I know others really enjoyed it!

This book was ok. I wasn't as engaged with it as I thought I would have been.
I did however like the characters and the development of them. I thought it was well written and expressed who they are.

The plot of the story was good but I felt like it had missing information. Some areas had a good build but then it went flat. I did feel like I didn't fully understand the keeper's job which made it hard for me to follow what was going on.

I think this book has potential but I also think it needs more work on the outline of the book.
Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read this book for free and give my honest review. Thank you, A.N. Skye, for writing this book, I did think parts of it was good! I will be reading more of your books!

The cover and synopsis had me interested from the jump. The author does a great job of writing in the third person and the world building I this is great. The characters were enjoyable and written well. This is a great fantasy with tons of action going on but remaining easy to follow and understand. Jasmine and Asher are great MC's. This is a YA which I dint realize but I still enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this book. The third person always takes me a bit to get used to but the author did it really well. It was also very descriptive- I felt like I was there with the characters. I loved how it also kept you guessing, I had ideas as to who the leak was but all of my guesses were wrong. I am super excited to find out what happens in the next one. I do feel that the beginning was a bit drawn out and it was a lot of the same day to day stuff that I feel could have possibly been taken out. Other than that though it was a great read! Thanks for the opportunity!

This is the first publication by author A.N. Skye. Keeper of Scarlet Petals was published last month and it is the 47th book I completed reading in 2024.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, mature languages, and mature situations, I categorize this novel as R.

The Whitewater Kingdom is strong, but under subtle attack. The Sanctuary , students who are potential Keepers and Mages are taught their respective skills. Mages learn the intricacies of magic, while the Keepers refine their combat skills and learn how to advise their charges. The Mages, with their Keeper bodyguard, are the primary defense of the Kingdom.

Jasmine has only been at the Sanctuary for six months. Most of her 19 years-of-life were on the streets, just struggling to survive. Now she is at the top of her first-year class in combat skills, but struggles with the more subtle arts required of a Keeper. Jasmin is shocked when she is abruptly chosen to leave Keeper training and prematurely begin her Keeper duties with a Mage student. She is surprised when her new charge turns out to be Asher, the young man who had been her most challenging sparring partner. He comes from a noble family which had recently been murdered. As the only member of his family left, he has been transferred to train as a Mage and eventually assume leadership of his House. Their friendship rapidly becomes an unexpected, intimate relationship.

Attempts are made on Asher’s life, which Jasmine must confront. A group known as the Last Light is behind the assassination attempts. Asher and Jasmine only have two other students as allies. Lydia is a fellow Keeper in training, and Pina is studying magic. The four young students team together to survive. This task is made all the more challenging because of a traitor in their midst.

I enjoyed the 8.5 hours I spent reading this 364-page young adult fantasy. This was an excellent fantasy novel. The plot was full of action and intrigue. It also has threads of romance with a slight touch of LGBTQ. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

This book is one I got early from #netgalley and I am so thankful for that. I would give this a 3.5 but rounded it up for the review. It was an interesting read and I liked the character development and I’m always up for force proximity type of reads. I feel like there just wasn’t a much draw that kept me interested and obsessed. I feel like maybe it was just me but I needed something to really pull me in and keep me. Like reading non stop. Not that there wasn’t good parts or great moments but I felt like it was just inconsistent. I definitely know a friend or two that would love it and recommended it already. Keeping my eye out for more of this author’s work because I feel like I will want to stick around they develop and grow as a writer

I believe this book may have been mismarketed as enemies to lovers — the main characters don’t really go through this arc throughout the story that shows where they ever disliked each other.

The characters, while I enjoyed them, felt a bit underdeveloped and I definitely would like to learn more about them.

The Magic system was very interesting, but I feel like this was another underdeveloped aspect of the story that could have used more time on the page as well.

A great read with NA/YA flavour, a bit of spice in there as well!

Good pacing with just the right balance of storytelling and world building.

I love that the protector is the woman in this story, and the build up of the characters was really fun to read, with good banter and some quirky aspects to their characters, and the twist in the plot was well written! overall a great read :)

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn't influence my review. Tropes include: forced proximity, hate to lovers, guy falls first, fantasy romance, bodyguard romance, fighting
This. This is all I want in a book.
Guys their chemistry????????????? LIKE READ IT!
I don't even know what else to say, just read it.
This book is perfect for fans of Scholomance and Fourth Wing.