June 19 #Bookreview The Last Keeper's Daughter (The Last Keeper's Daughter, #1) by Rebecca Trogner

The Last Keeper's Daughter (The Last Keeper's Daughter, #1)
by Rebecca Trogner 

The last keeper’s Daughter by Rebecca Trogner is a vampire, paranormal mystery with a dash of romance. It is the story of Lily Ayres, a privileged girl living at Waverly Estates located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Paris, Virginia. She is a sickly mute young woman who has no idea her father has given her to the vampire king, Krieger. Walter Ayres, her father, is the vampire king’s keeper, a historian of sorts for the vampire. When he turns up dead, the lives of many of the characters in the novel are turned upside down, as they are introduced to the Other Realm; a world they didn’t know existed.



I first became interested in this story because of its setting. I live near Paris, Virginia and drive through there regularly. I was eager to see how much of the descriptions sounded familiar. The author never mentioned anything specific that I’m familiar with so that was a little disappointing, but certainly not deal breaking. I pick random places in my stories all the time. The area is full of fortunate families, mostly vineyards. I did find the descriptions in this novel a bit vague at times, but again not a deal breaker. The descriptions just weren’t unique.



The novel has a large cast of characters. It’s written in third person and switches perspectives, which is nice after the slew of first-person books out. The beginning of the book and the description of Lily at the beginning intrigued me and kept me reading. The reader wonders why she is so sickly and strange. Hunter, the detective, also interested me as he surveyed the mess in the church. Nevertheless, as the novel continued on, I started to lose interest. For some reason, I could not connect emotionally with the story or any of the characters. The plot is stimulating, but that is not enough for me. I just didn’t care about any of the characters. As I got closer to the ending, the characterization became melodramatic. Some readers will enjoy the melodrama, but it’s not for me.



Trogner has built a huge world. Part of what keeps you reading is discovering new things about the world she has created. The world is also more distinctive than other vampire, paranormal worlds I’ve come across, refreshingly different.



I did read to the end, and the end is, well, you’ll have to read it to find out. I can say I thought it was strange, and it does leave it open for more books. It does conclude unlike many other book series out there so that’s a big plus in my book. You will have to read on to reach a final conclusion. My only issue, I thought Hunter, the detective, would have more to do with the ending and the rest of the novel. His part in the story kind of dies out. Having Krieger’s brother explain the mystery at the end instead of it all being uncovered by the detective seemed too old school an ending for me.



If you love vampires and want to get immersed in something different with a complicated world and mystery to solve, then check this book out.