Review of Advanced Reader Copy

In Rome, Ruth Thorne explores, finding a stone edifice. When the guide mentions Mithras, a powerful magician, she can feel his power emanating from the edifice. Encouraged to take the power, she does.

Meanwhile, back at Langley, Amanda Newport, director of the Torrent Control Organization, faces some stiff opposition to the work done in her division. But Amanda fears that the director, Isaac Fitzgerald, doesn’t understand the gravity of the situation they face. Her people keep the world from collapsing into chaos.

Twenty-three-year-old librarian Jayne Thorne and her sister, Sofia, both powerful, yet untrained magicians, are, Amanda insists, the key to the future, to save the people they protect. Those they fight are determined to destroy every nonmagical being on the planet. They are at war.

Despite her desire to hunt for her father, she receives another assignment from Amanda and heads for Rome in search of the necromantic grimoire of a lost fire goddess. But does Jane . . . or Sofia . . . have the power to stop the Kingdom from accomplishing their malevolent goals?

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Third in the authors’ Jane Thorne, CIA Librarian series, “The Keeper of Flames” continues the story begun in “Tomb of the Queen” and continued in “Master of Shadows.” With sufficient backstory for readers who have not read the earlier books in the series, this one works well as a standalone.

Anchored by a strong sense of place and ingenious world-building, strong magical power, and a compelling mystery, the narrative moves along at a brisk pace, pulling the reader into the telling of the tale from the outset and keeping those pages turning as fast as possible. Well-defined, likable characters and a plot filled with unexpected surprises keep readers guessing as the unfolding narrative throws new obstacles in Jayne’s path.

The relationships between characters are realistic and believably portrayed. With the magical elements firmly embedded in the narrative, readers will find much to appreciate here.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily. ( )