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Note: This book has just been re-released in the omnibus The Complete Keeper Chronicles.
This is my second foray into Tanya Huff's worlds (the first being her Enchanted Emporium). This series has the same flavor as the other, in the sense that it's set in our world but mixes in a fantastical element. I enjoyed this read as much as the other series.
The premise is that Claire is a Keeper, summoned to handle accidents of the supernatural, may-destroy-the-world nature. She summoned to the Elysian Fields Guesthouse and tricked into taking over the bed and breakfast before she knows what's going on. Now she has to figure out how to deal with the woman sleeping in Room 6, the rather amorous ghost in the attic, the hunky cook and handyman who's too young for her, and--oh, yes--the pit to Hell in the basement. If she doesn't, she'll be stuck caretaking the B&B for the rest of her life.
Claire is a great character and she's the main reason that readers will keep reading here. Well, her and the cat. Not just any cat, but a rather talkative, outspoken cat. The two play off of each other well. Once you introduce the other elements--the ghost, the handyman, the imps, Hell--all of whom are great characters in their own right, the drama unfolds in their interplay. The plot itself is not that complicated, mostly Claire trying to deal with the occasional guest who stays at the B&B while she attempts to figure out how to handle the delicate balance between Hell and the sleeping, evil beauty in Room 6. These plot elements were a little episodic in nature, especially in the middle, where the Hell/Room 6 plot mostly stalls out and Claire deals with the parade of supernatural guests, but they were still interesting.
One aspect that was a little odd was the use of the same terminology (Aunties, Uncles, Cousins, etc) that the author has in Enchantment Emporium. I wasn't certain if the books were connected in any way. My initial reaction is no, although I can see how the author may link the two series up. There was no mention of Keepers (that I recall) in the other series, the aunties from that series didn't seem to have the same duties as the Aunties here. So reading another book with the same terms was a little weird. My writerly brain kept trying to make connections which weren't being made in the book.
In the end, the book was a nice, easy read, flowed well, and introduced me to some new characters that I'll certainly continue to follow in the sequels. I might have liked a slightly more tightened plot, something a little less episodic in the middle (with the guests mostly unrelated to the main plot), but it was still a great read.
This is my second foray into Tanya Huff's worlds (the first being her Enchanted Emporium). This series has the same flavor as the other, in the sense that it's set in our world but mixes in a fantastical element. I enjoyed this read as much as the other series.
The premise is that Claire is a Keeper, summoned to handle accidents of the supernatural, may-destroy-the-world nature. She summoned to the Elysian Fields Guesthouse and tricked into taking over the bed and breakfast before she knows what's going on. Now she has to figure out how to deal with the woman sleeping in Room 6, the rather amorous ghost in the attic, the hunky cook and handyman who's too young for her, and--oh, yes--the pit to Hell in the basement. If she doesn't, she'll be stuck caretaking the B&B for the rest of her life.
Claire is a great character and she's the main reason that readers will keep reading here. Well, her and the cat. Not just any cat, but a rather talkative, outspoken cat. The two play off of each other well. Once you introduce the other elements--the ghost, the handyman, the imps, Hell--all of whom are great characters in their own right, the drama unfolds in their interplay. The plot itself is not that complicated, mostly Claire trying to deal with the occasional guest who stays at the B&B while she attempts to figure out how to handle the delicate balance between Hell and the sleeping, evil beauty in Room 6. These plot elements were a little episodic in nature, especially in the middle, where the Hell/Room 6 plot mostly stalls out and Claire deals with the parade of supernatural guests, but they were still interesting.
One aspect that was a little odd was the use of the same terminology (Aunties, Uncles, Cousins, etc) that the author has in Enchantment Emporium. I wasn't certain if the books were connected in any way. My initial reaction is no, although I can see how the author may link the two series up. There was no mention of Keepers (that I recall) in the other series, the aunties from that series didn't seem to have the same duties as the Aunties here. So reading another book with the same terms was a little weird. My writerly brain kept trying to make connections which weren't being made in the book.
In the end, the book was a nice, easy read, flowed well, and introduced me to some new characters that I'll certainly continue to follow in the sequels. I might have liked a slightly more tightened plot, something a little less episodic in the middle (with the guests mostly unrelated to the main plot), but it was still a great read.
