Review: The Keys of the Watchmen by Kathleen C. Perrin

The Keys of the Watchmen (Watchmen Saga #1)The Keys of the Watchmen
(Watchmen Saga #1)
by Kathleen C. Perrin
NA Historical, Paranormal, Christian
Paperback & ebook394 Pages
December 12th 2014 by Langon House

Summary

Katelyn Michaels plans on hating every moment of her visit to Mont Saint Michel with her father’s new French wife. Once there, she is confused when she experiences sensations of déjà vu as she and her younger brother explore the medieval village and abbey. She is even more disturbed when she is confronted by two unusual young men, one who insists she has a sacred mission, and the other who will stop at nothing, even murder, to prevent her from fulfilling her destiny.

When the oddly-dressed but alluring Nicolas slips Katelyn a strange medallion, she is whisked back through time where her Watchmen hosts tell her she is the only hope to save Mont Saint Michel. Even worse, she learns that those trying to destroy the mount are led by a fallen angel intent on learning the mount's closely-guarded secret.

Katelyn is torn by feelings of anger at being taken back in time, inadequacy at finding a modern solution for a medieval problem, and responsibility for the mount’s starving inhabitants. She is also perturbed by her surprising attraction to the ill-tempered Nicolas. Will she stay to learn why she was chosen by the Archangel Michael and find a way to save his mount?

  

My Review

The Keys of the Watchmen was a story that began and ended in current-day France, but for the majority was spent in medieval France during the 100 Years War when England laid siege to Mont Saint Michel. It was somewhat of a fantastical tale as Katelyn travels to the past through the use of a special key and takes her place in history to thwart the English forces in fighting for the Kingdom of Heaven against Satan and his fallen angels, which is represented in one fallen angel who heads the attacks and siege against the Mont. The story wasn't religious in the sense of it being preachy or the characters going through a spiritual journey. It's more of just the background for the characters and events.

I initially liked Katelyn when she is travelling with her brother as a tourist on the Mont. I then had a tough time accepting her reactions when she goes back in time and then began to like her more towards the end of the story. She undergoes a process herself in maturing, so that definitely plays out in the story. Nicolas I pretty much liked the whole way through. He's steady, committed, attractive, and an all around good guy. There were a few other characters who made some impression on the story (Jean, Abdon, and Katelyn's brother), but the story pretty much revolves around Katelyn and Nicolas.

There were some good and bad things about the plot. Overall I liked the story. I especially liked the beginning, before Katelyn goes back in time, and the end when things get a little more intense and Katelyn feels some emotional loss. I finally felt more of a connection with her. The beginning was full of lots of sarcasm and dialogue between Katelyn and her brother, which was fun. The story did feel weighed down by too much info dumping (historical details and other facts that felt forced or like there were several mini historical lessons) which disrupted the flow of the story. Some of the facts I could see Katelyn needing to know, but others could have been omitted or absorbed by the reader in a more natural way, such as in Katelynn experiencing them. There also was a problem with the tense changing here and there and some believability. The historical setting was definitely accurate, although some things were accepted rather easily.

The story ends with somewhat of a mystery and left me curious, which is also how I feel about the next book. I know that Katelyn will face another challenge in the future that will hopefully include a certain someone, but I'm not sure what that will entail in any way. This book gives a good enough of an ending that I didn't feel left hanging, which I appreciate. There is just enough of a hint of things to come and it was a perfect way to end.

Content: Some innuendo and violence, but would consider this clean.

Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author, which did not affect my review in any way.


What do you think? Do you like books with religion in them, but that aren't preachy or about religion, that just have historical religious backgrounds?

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