Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a different fantasy novel. It was unique and was a challenge to read at times. Overall it was a decent novel.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This definitely had a lot going on! I enjoyed it for the most part but didn't love it. The pacing felt either too rushed or too slow. Still enjoyable though, and the narrators did a good job.

Keepers of the Stones and Stars by Michael Barakiva is a captivating blend of fantasy and coming-of-age storytelling. Barakiva weaves an enchanting world where ancient magic and personal destiny collide. The novel follows the protagonist’s journey to unlock their potential and embrace their role as a “Keeper” while navigating the challenges of friendship, loyalty, and self-discovery.

The book shines with rich world-building, compelling characters, and a fast-paced narrative that hooks readers from the start. Barakiva expertly balances action with moments of introspection, making the protagonist’s growth both relatable and profound. The themes of identity and responsibility are thoughtfully explored, resonating with young adult readers and fantasy lovers alike.

Overall, Keepers of the Stones and Stars is an engaging read that leaves a lasting impression, blending fantasy elements with deep emotional arcs. A must-read for fans of magical adventures with heart.

This was a fun YA fantasy read, full of lots of action and great characters! The plot was really interesting, and I loved the diversity. I will definitely check out more by this author!

💎💎💎BOOK REVIEW - KEEPERS OF THE STONES AND STARS by Michael Barakiva💎💎💎

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Thank you, NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) & Michael Barakiva for providing a copy of Keepers of the Stones and Stars for review.

Full disclosure - I absolutely love all things crystal/gemstone fantasy, I continue to live for Deltora Quest 20 years later! So I was so so so on board for this book! It's about five teens with magical gems trying to save the world. Sounds epic, right? Well, it’s actually as chaotic as my crystal collection.

The plot is like a rollercoaster on fast-forward. One moment, action; the next, new characters, flashbacks and sudden twists. It's a lot to keep up with, and my brain needed a map to keep up whilst having very little interest in actually keeping track of what was going on. Unfortunately, because there was so much going on I don't think any of the characters were developed beyond teenager stereotypes.

On the plus side, the characters are diverse and fascinating, and the mythology is a rich blend of Armenian traditions, Mughal history, and Aztec myths. However, it tries to juggle too many elements at once. I genuinely feel like this concept would have been much more successful over two 300/350-page novels instead of this edition.

In short, this book has potential and sparkle but needs some polishing. If you love fast-paced fantasy and can handle a bit of chaos, give it a whirl. Just keep a crystal for good luck.

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Unfortunately this book was a miss for me. The pacing was rushed, the plot confusing, there were too many characters with sudden motivations and randomness.

However, I enjoyed the exploration of the main characters, their culpability, the sprawling mythology that was the setting, and the casual queerness and deconstruction of colonialist myths.

Overall, I can see why other people would enjoy this book, it simply didn't land with me.

The narrators, on the other hand, really pulled their weight, especially with the accent work!

Overall the story is a good one and my curiosity kept me to the end. You have a queer main character who is a superhero. Love it. However, it's a very ambitious book that Michael Barakvia is trying to make. Creativity is strong with the author and while I overall enjoy the story I do feel a little too many side stories were tried to be told along with the main story and it was just too much to the point I almost wanted to stop reading it. Overall the cast of characters is diverse and you kept a bit on your toes throughout the book I just wish we didn't bounce all over the place with different stories.

This book wasn't bad. but it is (in my opinion) on the lower side of teen YA. the world building and story line were very juvenile. but i'm sure thats my own personal biases coming in.

I’ll be honest, this one did not engage me. So much time was kind of wasted on nonsense things (it’s not team building if they don’t actually build the team) that the pacing, particularly in the second half, just couldn’t hold water. And once one half of our main duo took a hiatus for pretty much half the book, the entire story, pacing, character development, EVERYTHING suffered for it. The last two main characters barely got enough screentime to make them feel like more than a collection of character quirks (I mean, go Emerald for claiming and defending the word “fat” but when your entire personality is “Theater Kid” there’s not much to latch onto).

This book had the bones of a book I really should have enjoyed, but the substance was sorely lacking. Also, for the audiobook specifically: Frankie Corzo was a much better narrator than the other guy, and she has maybe 25% of the total narration.