Rachel Neumeier’s Griffin Mage and Keeper of the Mist Fantasy Fiction Review

In 3 Parts

By Azalea Dabill

(Part 3)

Book 3, Law of the Broken Earth, ties the three volumes together with new characters and old. Linularinum looms on the scene with the appearance of a spy named Tan, who unwittingly stole a Linularinum legist’s law, and fleeing, brought it to Iaor, Bertaud’s king of Fierabiand.

Mienthe, Bertaud’s young cousin, takes Tan under her wing, strangely drawn to him. Chased from her home by Linularinum agents, driven to the king of Casmantium by events, Mienthe and Tan form an unlikely alliance between kingdoms. Marching at Mienthe’s word into Fierabiand, hoping Iaor will not act precipitously, the Casmantium Arobern brings his forces to bear.

There in Mienthe’s home—pursued to ground by a Linularinum mage—the griffin Kairaithin, Mienthe, the spies Jos and Tan, and Kes—the secret of Linularinum will be revealed. A secret inimical to the well-being of the world. Can they rewrite the law between them and their lands in time to thwart the Linularinum mage’s deadly purpose?

“Indeed . . .” said Lord Beguchren. “Indeed, one might almost wonder why it is that Casmantium has endured the continual threat of fire, why it is that Fierabiand’s border with the desert has now and again been breached and is now threatened again, and yet Linularinum has never seen so much as a grain of red sand blowing in the wind. Fire stays well clear of Linularinum. It always has. I wonder why that is? Just how have the legists of Linularinum written their binding law, this law that their clever kings have owned from the beginning of the age, and have hidden from the rest of us?”

Despite the insupportable human ego that dreams we could write the law of any world, there is much to like in Law of the Broken Earth. The care of timid Mienthe for others, and her journey to learning that she has valuable things to contribute to people, to life, and to the world. And that she learns to trust her gift—a good thing if one knows who has given it—for one must know the giver, to trust the gift. (Our hearts, and many beings apart from us, are not to be trusted.)

With intricate characters and their lives and lands portrayed so well in the Griffin Mage trilogy, I have high hope that Rachel’s The Keeper of the Mist will be as good or better.

I see hints of the same entrancing weave of characters and motives, hearts and souls, in the preorder description below.

Since her books have also always had excellent structure and plots, I’m looking forward to reading The Keeper of the Mist. How about you? Like and share on your favorite social media if you enjoyed this review and want to read The Keeper of the Mist too.

A lush new fantasy about finding the will to lead against all odds, perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone.

Keri has been struggling to run her family bakery since her mother passed away.  Now the father she barely knew—the Lord of Nimmira—has died, and ancient magic has decreed that she will take his place as the new Lady. The position has never been so dangerous: the mists that hide Nimmira from its vicious, land-hungry neighbors have failed, and Keri’s people are visible to strangers for the first time since the mists were put in place generations ago.

At the same time, three half-brothers will their own eyes on the crown make life within the House just as dangerous as the world outside. But Keri has three people to guide her: her mysterious Timekeeper, clever Bookkeeper, and steadfast Doorkeeper. Together they must find a way to repair the boundary before her neighbors realize just how vulnerable Nimmira is.

With a spunky main character, lyrical storytelling, and hidden romance, The Keeper of the Mist is an engrossing story that is full of adventure.