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Gatekeeper's Deception II - Deceived
Part Three of the Gatekeeper series
“Two lives for a life.” Lord Bartheylen rose to his seven-foot height. “Kyer Halidan owes me four.”
The party of adventurers is fractured, divided between those who believe Kyer delivered the poison that is killing Lady Alon Maer, and those whose faith in her remains intact.
Racing against time and relentless pursuers, the company must align to find the cure and deliver it to Alon Maer. The magical intervention that can hasten their journey is not only a clue to Kyer’s true identity, but further damning evidence of her guilt. Somehow she must clear her name.
As the evidence against Kyer stacks up, her nemesis launches his final plan to destroy her life.
“Two lives for a life.” Lord Bartheylen rose to his seven-foot height. “Kyer Halidan owes me four.”
The party of adventurers is fractured, divided between those who believe Kyer delivered the poison that is killing Lady Alon Maer, and those whose faith in her remains intact.
Racing against time and relentless pursuers, the company must align to find the cure and deliver it to Alon Maer. The magical intervention that can hasten their journey is not only a clue to Kyer’s true identity, but further damning evidence of her guilt. Somehow she must clear her name.
As the evidence against Kyer stacks up, her nemesis launches his final plan to destroy her life.
- GenresFantasy
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2022
4 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Krista Wallace
12 books11 followersI am a writer, actor and musician. I have a Theatre degree from UVic, and sing jazz in two bands (FAT Jazz and the Itty Bitty Big Band). I have sung in rock bands for years, too, and also spent many years as Musical Director for the local middle and high schools. (Seussical, Les Mis, Urinetown, Rent, Anything Goes, Rock of Ages, etc.)
I write mostly fantasy, in novel length and short fiction. I dabble in other genres... My short fiction becomes whatever it needs to be.
My work can be found in Pulp Literature, Heart's Kiss, 49th Parallels--an anthology of alternate Canadian histories and futures (from Bundoran Press), and electricspec.
I produce a podcast called [Totally Fantastic Title], and do audiobook narration.
I write mostly fantasy, in novel length and short fiction. I dabble in other genres... My short fiction becomes whatever it needs to be.
My work can be found in Pulp Literature, Heart's Kiss, 49th Parallels--an anthology of alternate Canadian histories and futures (from Bundoran Press), and electricspec.
I produce a podcast called [Totally Fantastic Title], and do audiobook narration.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 17, 2024
Absolutely LOVE When the Truth Comes Out!
One thing I will say before anything else is that I’m an absolute sucker for when characters discover something big that the reader already knows. We spent all of last book watching scenes unfold from Kyer’s perspective, then from Derry’s as he misinterprets her actions behind a mask of his own anger, and now, finally, they are seeing things clearly. I always love the buildup, then the huge realization that they’ve been blind this whole time.
Again, this book is written in the third person, but it follows multiple characters and as such, follows their perspectives. It’s used less as a literary device here than it was in the second book, as it’s not as important that everything falls apart due to unreliable narrators. The text is still small and still on white paper, so my eyes are a bit sore after reading for longer swathes of time, but I’m used to it by now.
We get all the same characters as the second book, but get to watch their growth and realization as they evolve. The party, after Kyer’s abandonment, first believe their suspicions against her—all but Phennil, who is a truly loyal friend and now more bold after standing up to his father (great consistency for his character!). The antagonists come back to deceive the party, and it’s intense to watch Fredric/Hunter gain the favour of other characters. It makes you wonder if he’ll succeed.
I loved seeing the evolution of Derry and Kyer’s relationship. They were reluctant friends in the first book, but after that was a divide that only widened as they went on. This divide clouded Derry’s view, and in return, made Kyer defensive, but now that they’re apart and both thinking clearly, the wrongs they’ve done to one another becomes clear. Still, suspicions and mistrust run strong, especially with so much evidence popping up against Kyer—and emotions getting in the way.
The quality of the writing is awesome as always, even if I like books with sparser description. It’s beautiful, but just a bit too heavy for me. Anyway, the world is unique, and it’s never a chore to explore the new places that the quest brings them.
As I said, the pacing of Wallace’s books is a bit slow due to excessive description, so readers used to fast-paced books would not enjoy it. It’s a great book for fans of LOTR though, giving the similar premise and length!
I’m excitedly awaiting the next two books in the series! We finally get to know more about Kyer, so even if this quest is over, the next one is sure to be just as intense! This whole series is recommended to sword & sorcery readers, and fans of high fantasy.
One thing I will say before anything else is that I’m an absolute sucker for when characters discover something big that the reader already knows. We spent all of last book watching scenes unfold from Kyer’s perspective, then from Derry’s as he misinterprets her actions behind a mask of his own anger, and now, finally, they are seeing things clearly. I always love the buildup, then the huge realization that they’ve been blind this whole time.
Again, this book is written in the third person, but it follows multiple characters and as such, follows their perspectives. It’s used less as a literary device here than it was in the second book, as it’s not as important that everything falls apart due to unreliable narrators. The text is still small and still on white paper, so my eyes are a bit sore after reading for longer swathes of time, but I’m used to it by now.
We get all the same characters as the second book, but get to watch their growth and realization as they evolve. The party, after Kyer’s abandonment, first believe their suspicions against her—all but Phennil, who is a truly loyal friend and now more bold after standing up to his father (great consistency for his character!). The antagonists come back to deceive the party, and it’s intense to watch Fredric/Hunter gain the favour of other characters. It makes you wonder if he’ll succeed.
I loved seeing the evolution of Derry and Kyer’s relationship. They were reluctant friends in the first book, but after that was a divide that only widened as they went on. This divide clouded Derry’s view, and in return, made Kyer defensive, but now that they’re apart and both thinking clearly, the wrongs they’ve done to one another becomes clear. Still, suspicions and mistrust run strong, especially with so much evidence popping up against Kyer—and emotions getting in the way.
The quality of the writing is awesome as always, even if I like books with sparser description. It’s beautiful, but just a bit too heavy for me. Anyway, the world is unique, and it’s never a chore to explore the new places that the quest brings them.
As I said, the pacing of Wallace’s books is a bit slow due to excessive description, so readers used to fast-paced books would not enjoy it. It’s a great book for fans of LOTR though, giving the similar premise and length!
I’m excitedly awaiting the next two books in the series! We finally get to know more about Kyer, so even if this quest is over, the next one is sure to be just as intense! This whole series is recommended to sword & sorcery readers, and fans of high fantasy.
August 29, 2022
The books in this series keep getting better - I finished this one in a day! Fortunately, this book resolved a lot of tension built up in Gatekeeper's Deception I - Deceiver.
I love how Wallace juxtaposed characters in similar positions who end up with drastically different outcomes due to their choices. We see villains become good and heroes become enemy under the guise of righteousness (but selfishness). The main characters fight physical as well as psychological battles, and friendships are strengthened and strained. Kyer's strength of character is further emphasized by her faith and forgiveness for her friends.
We finally get a vague answer to Kyer's origin, but it's still shrouded in mystery that leaves us wanting more. Can't wait until it all becomes clear in book #4! In the meantime, I'll have to listen to the audiobook as well. It would help with my pronunciation of names/places and different languages...plus, there's apparently singing of made-up songs from the book!
I love how Wallace juxtaposed characters in similar positions who end up with drastically different outcomes due to their choices. We see villains become good and heroes become enemy under the guise of righteousness (but selfishness). The main characters fight physical as well as psychological battles, and friendships are strengthened and strained. Kyer's strength of character is further emphasized by her faith and forgiveness for her friends.
We finally get a vague answer to Kyer's origin, but it's still shrouded in mystery that leaves us wanting more. Can't wait until it all becomes clear in book #4! In the meantime, I'll have to listen to the audiobook as well. It would help with my pronunciation of names/places and different languages...plus, there's apparently singing of made-up songs from the book!
September 11, 2021
Part two of book two... good idea to break it into two. I sit and wait for Wallace to offer up book three in the trilogy. Book two leaves us needing a bunch of stories to be tied up. Well written clean prose, chapters roll up and down the tension trail with some quiet chapters countering the insanely intense ones. Thanks for giving us a chapter or two off. Give me book three!
January 20, 2025
I said the previous book was gripping. Well, this one is even grippier, if that's a word.
I was hoping for all the answers this time, but apparently no. I shall have to wait for the next two books in the series, expected to be published mid-year. I hope so.
I was hoping for all the answers this time, but apparently no. I shall have to wait for the next two books in the series, expected to be published mid-year. I hope so.
July 15, 2022
Loved it! I just cannot get enough of Kyer and her adventures. Still not sure on where we’re headed with her identity but the tension is mounting. Wallace’s writing style is a treat. The flow of the story keeps your attention at all times. I am hanging on every word. I cannot wait until the next book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews