Sins of the Zodiac Book 1: Never Keep by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

 

Sins of the Zodiac Book 1

The dragons are lost.

The elements are at war. Enlisting isn’t optional.

And I’m falling for a man who wants me dead.

I’m a wielder of hearts and summoner of corruption. Heir to nothing and born to a fool in the wrong damn month.

But I’m also one of only two Fae in this divided land of hellions who might be starting to see through the lies we’ve swallowed for so long.

In the year we turn twenty-one, conscripts from across the warring nations of air, fire, earth and water are sent to Never Keep – the only place in our besieged continent where our magic can be Awakened.

But something is wrong inside Never Keep. Something which might extend far beyond the reaches of this desolate fortress. Within the gothic walls of this frigid castle in the snow, we’re left to hold our own against the brutal Fae from the opposing lands.

The Reapers are merciless. The Royals are lying. The Werewolves run rampant and Vampires roam the wastelands in bloodthirsty covens. But even though death lurks in every shadow of the Keep, it’s the least of my worries.

I’m delving into secrets the stars don’t want me uncovering, making alliances with Fae born to be my enemy, falling for a sinner while promising my heart to a different heathen and somewhere amid it all, I’m supposed to win a war.

I thought the only thing I had to do was survive my magical instruction.

Turns out, fate doesn’t favour the wicked.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210966754-never-keep

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Back in the world of Solaria but this time to a land far beyond them. Where the rules are a bit different. Here, we have a land split into four nations based on their elements. And they have been at war for a very long time. The only time a sort of truce appears is if you are at Never Keep. A place led by the Reapers and where your magic is awakened and you spend time learning how to wield it for six months before you are sent home once more and most likely back into the war. The story follows Everest and Vesper. Everest is on the water element side. But her life has been anything but easy. Rejected by her father who is the leader, she has fought every day to survive and has been tormented. Her mother and best friend were the only ones to care for her. But when her mother dies in an attack that scarred Everest, she swears to find the one from fire and end him. Vesper has been cursed in her own way for the air element nation. But she has clawed her way up bit by bit. Fighting to stand and be the monster for one of the princes. She is known as the Sky Witch throughout because of her affinity to blood magic in addition to her Order gifts as a Succubus. When Everest and Vesper make it to the Never Keep, they learn quickly that things aren’t what they appear. There is more going on. And these two are sick of the lies and betrayals and scraping for a place in their worlds. They’ll have a temporary alliance as to find out the secrets of the Reapers and outside of that, they each have their own journeys and issues to deal with. 

So much going on in this story! And it just the beginning. But expect everything you know about a Zodiac book from the Twisted Sisters. Because we got the humor, the magic, adventure, romance, and a whole lot of betrayals and secrets. And of course a cliffhanger that will have you demanding the next book. It was so interesting to be in a Zodiac world book but see how the rules are different or things you thought they would know but don’t. There was a lot of familiar and a lot of not. But I loved it all. And I can’t wait to see where this series takes us!