Title: Runelight
Author: J.A. Andrews
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Fantasy / Epic
Format: Paperback / Hardcover / Ebook / Audio
Release Date: July 29, 2023
Star Rating: 7,5/10
*Disclaimer*
Everyone is different and likes and dislikes different things. Reading is no exception. One person’s all-time favorite might seem too bland or too high stakes for another. That being said, the opinions of our judges in this contest are just that, opinions. Just because we let a book go, doesn’t mean it isn’t good. It could be your next favorite, who knows?
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can learn more about the contest here.
Today we are reviewing Runelight, which was The Weatherwax Report / Superstardrifter’s pick for this year’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off.
You can see the finalist spreadsheet here.
Kate thought finding the puzzle box would give her all the answers.
But it only holds far more desperate questions.
Kate is a Keeper—a storyteller, magic-wielder, and researcher—but a single mystery has evaded her all her life: What happened on the tragic day when two strangers stole not only the puzzle box that hummed with magic, but so much more?
She and her brother Bo have searched for twenty years with no luck. Until Venn, a surly elf, shows up on the hidden doorstep of the Keepers’ Stronghold, with that same aenigma box—and a message that Bo has disappeared.
Kate needs a guide back to Venn’s homeland to search for him, and Venn needs to find him for reasons of her own. Reasons she refuses to explain.
Despite their mutual distrust, Kate and Venn form a grudging alliance.
Somewhere in the midst of infiltrating dwarven tunnels, discovering the secrets of the aenigma box, and stumbling onto shocking ancient relics, the alliance shifts to friendship.
But as the search for Bo grows increasingly dangerous, they uncover a complex plot woven through centuries, devastating not just individuals, but entire empires.
And even working together, the inexplicable forces standing against them may be too much.
Half treasure hunt and half rescue mission, this epic fantasy adventure is a tale of puzzles, mysteries, and the kinds of friendships—both old and new—that shape the soul.
Our Thoughts:
Adawia: There’s something about Andrews’ storytelling that just hits different. I always feel like I’m being properly taken on a journey by a consummate storyteller.
There are things I’ve come to expect of her novels – aside from general excellence – and that is beautifully depicted family, found family, and friendships, themes of hope, and despair, and interesting discussions around light – physical, metaphysical, spiritual, and it’s converse, darkness. I’ve actually come to appreciate such discussions more since reading JA’s books. This story has mysteries and surprises professionally presented with just the right balance of character and world building, and plot threads that are seamlessly woven between present action and back-story.
It is also through JA’s books that I’ve really come to see dwarves as an actual race with a particular lifestyle and cultural identity as opposed to just humans with height restrictions who prefer to live in caves and enjoy crafting. Yes, I’ve read Tolkien, and a number of other books that feature dwarves, but there’s just something about the dwarves in the Keeper world that I’ve really connected with.
Also, Kate and Venn’s passively antagonistic friendship . . . I love it!!! I wanna be there for ALL their interactions – to adjudicate, or just laugh. Their banter is witty and engaging, actually all the dialogue is very well done, and that is the best way to get me hooked – I relate more easily to characters through their dialogue.
Andrews writes relationships like an absolute master, whether they’re siblings, romantic (though there’s no romance in this book) foes, friends, co-conspirators and everything in between, they’re always relatable and so very well done.
Oh, one more thing I want to mention – this book has feral weasel brothers!
Kerry: I’ve really enjoyed J A Andrews styling of writing in previous books, she certainly does classic epic fantasy well and in Runelight adds a more modern tone which comes off well. The problem I have with Runelight is the length. I wish authors wouldn’t conflate the idea that epic fantasy has to means lengthy tomes. I personally would have enjoyed this if it was about 150+ pages shorter.
I have been reading fantasy for 50 years and often tend to get bored or dnf especially with the usual races of Elves and Dwarves but these characters; like in fellow SPFBOX finalist Oathsworn, these usual fantasy characters have a slightly more edgy side to them that gives off more of a unique vibe. Whilst I enjoyed learning more of Dwarves lifestyle and hierarchy as well as Venn’s life as a high ranking Elf, I wasn’t too enamoured with the keeper Kate. I realise she’s new to her role as a Keeper as well as worrying about and trying to free her brothers, but I kind of felt she kept making some really bad decisions* and I got really frustrated and annoyed with her.
I enjoyed a lot of the elven magic and the cryptic puzzle that is the box. I love puzzle games with cryptic clues in real life so this was fun.
I did start the next book in this series, it may not be one I desperately need to know what happens next but I will finish it one day when I’m in an epic fantasy mood.
*spoiler?
*spoiler*
I started book 2 and early on Kate does realise some of decisions came from arrogance in her role as speaker. She gradually becomes less of a “know it all” & starts taking others advice
Julia: Runelight is a new series, but set in the same world as the Keeper Chronicles and Keeper Origins.
It introduces a fresh main character, making it accessible even if you haven’t read the previous two series set in the same world. However, if you’re familiar with them, you’ll appreciate the little Easter eggs that add a nice touch for longtime fans.
I quickly warmed to Kate and would gladly join her on an adventure! Though we might need to figure out how to escape the library first…
It took me a good long time to really connect with the side characters here, so I never loved this book anywhere near as much as I did Andrew’s last series. While I breezed through the Origins books, this one was really enjoyable, but I definitely felt the length this time around.
In terms of complexity, Runelight falls between the Keeper Chronicles and Keeper Origins. It’s a smoother read than the first series and has a lighter, more humorous tone than Origins. Personally, I preferred the darker, more epic feel of Origins, but Runelight offers a perfect balance for readers seeking a story with dark themes, such as the mystery of a missing or possibly murdered brother, without it being overly heavy.
One of Andrews’ greatest strengths is her portrayal of strong friendships, familial bonds, and found family. I’m always on the lookout for books that explore connections beyond romance, and Runelight offers a refreshing break with no romance at all.
The prose touches on deeper, almost philosophical themes like fear, failure, hope, and loss, which added depth to the story for me, while still being easy to read and digest. I’ll leave you with a quote that really resonated:
Maybe we’re like rivers. We begin as a trickle, moving over the ground. We grow into the world around us. Affect it. Shape it.
But it shapes us as well.
We come up to something hard, something solid and immovable and implacable, and we bend around it. It defines our course, and the longer we skirt it, the more deeply we carve ourselves into that path.
But we continue on, affecting and being affected by the world we encounter. Sometimes finding low, gentle places to slow and rest. Sometimes finding places so low we pool there and cannot rise high enough to leave.
Sometimes rockslides tumble into us, shoving us in a new direction.
There are aspects to the metaphor I like. The river’s path is the path of my life. I could map it out for you. Name the things that molded it.
But somehow, I am also the water. All of the water.
Even here, when I know I’m reaching the end, when I can smell the sea, feel the vastness of the unknown I’m flowing towards—even here I am still in every stretch of the river I’ve passed.
Or maybe it is in me. Particles of silt from the valleys. Slivers of stone I broke off over the rapids.
I suppose it’s both. It has formed me, and some part of me is still back in every turn.
Patrick: I was slightly frustrated with this book. There are some fantastic things about it. The world and the magic are original and fascinating, and even her treatment of “classic” fantasy races like elves and dwarves are new takes. The writing is often engaging. However, I thought it fell into two distinct parts: in the parts where the main character, Kate, is interacting with other characters, it was compelling. But in the parts where she is on her own, the book felt bloated and filled with repetition. Overall, the book did often feel bloated, and I had to force myself not to skim sections. For me, it would have been improved by being maybe 200 pages shorter (it is a very long book) and being tightened to remove unnecessary and repetitive descriptions. There is a lot of good in this. I just wish it had been edited down.
