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Book Review: Keeper of Light and Dust by Natasha Mostert Blog Tour & Giveaway

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Keeper of Light and Dust by Natasha Mostert is a thriller full with the wonders of magic and the supernatural. I really enjoyed this book for a few reasons: I have always loved boxing or kickbocking and the whole concept of chi which is a person’s energy is something that really fascinates me.

The story takes place in South London with Mia being the central character. She is a very talented tattoo artist and runs her own shop which she inherited from her mother and she is also a martial artist. Also inherited from her mother is the mystical side to Mia which is being a Keeper; she uses chi energy to heal and protect others in her keep. In Mia’s keep is only a handful of fighters but she strives to keep them safe whenever they enter the ring for a fight. The thing is she has to know when they are going to enter the ring so that she can perform something called stepping out~an out of body experience, which enables her to protect them. Things begin to heat up when one of the fighters in her keep drops dead. Unknown to her he entered the ring, didn’t get hurt, but a few days later his heart simply stops.

Among the men in the novel is Nick who has been in love with Mia since they were kids but hasn’t taken the big step and told her. Nick isn’t in Mia’s keep because in her heart she feels he is someone she is destined to be with~it was predicted when they were children by their mothers. Nick is a fighter too and is preparing himself for a big fight. Unknown to Mia and Nick the killer has entered their lives and presents himself as a friend who builds a friendship with them both.

The killer, Ash who likes to call himself the Dragonfly, is revealed early on in the book but this doesn’t take away from the suspense of the novel, it actually added to it. He begins training with Nick, getting Nick into the best physical shape he’s ever been in. Ash also shows up in Mia’s shop wanting to get a tattoo. Mia can feel his energy; mostly that feeling of cold coming over you. However, she’s attracted to him; he’s a really good looking guy in awesome physical shape and a man familiar with martial arts~an attraction also for Mia. Ash is attracted to both Mia and Nick but not in a good way. He’s attracted to them for their energy. He is The Thief and he wants to steal this energy in order to draw it into himself and gain his greatest desire~to live forever.

I was drawn to the writing in this novel because of the mystical quality to the words. I found myself rereading many passages just because of the way they sounded to me. A few favorite passages of mine were…

  • ‘Today I watched you. Stranger, who I know. I know your faithful heart. I know what moves you; how deeply you can love. Warrior woman; loyal healer. You hunt, you defend, you carry in the chambers of your mind the songs and legends , the wisdom of your sisters. I am curious of your ways. Gifted innocent: you touch the great energy easily , carelessly. You need not steal to hold it in your hand. Let me come to your window…'(pg 55, Keeper of Light and Dust by Natasha Mostert)
  • ‘For a moment she waited, sensing the vast city outside with it’s millions of windows—brightly lit and hanging like glowing squares of yellow against the darkness. A city of light despite its cold, black river, its dark alleys and passageways and deserted offices closed for the night. A city of luminous streets, of humming power lines and trains charging down subterranean tunnels. A city of souls. She could sense tidy lives and haphazard existences; flowers blooming in garden squares, weeds breaking through boarded-up windows. Everything connected. and if she listened closely she could hear the city breathing…(pg 182, Keeper of Light and Dust by Natasha Mostert)

By now it’s obvious I enjoyed the novel. I liked the story line of the kickboxers mixed in with a mystical otherworld and this novel kept me on edge wondering what was going to happen next. Was Mia going to be lost to the Dragonfly? Will he steal her energy and Nick’s? I would recommend this book for those who like novels based in the fantasy world and if you’ve never read one before, Keeper of Light and Dust would be a great start.

Make sure to check out Natasha’s website for all kinds of information on chi and out of body experiences and lots of other good stuff. She also has this great game you can play called The Keeper Game which you can find here. I played it myself and found out that I’m a Healer. If you’d like to read this book now you can buy it here in the US and here in Canada. She’s also got a great video where she talks about her book and I have to admit I was entranced by her accent the whole time. Take a look…

And a book trailer to share…

I have to thank Sheri at A Novel Menagerie who organized this blog tour for inviting me along. Make sure to check out the other tour stops for more reviews of Keeper of Light and Dust…

A Novel Menagerie – April 2nd
Literary Escapism – April 7th
The Literate Housewife Review – April 10th
Wrighty’s Reads – April 14th
Savvy Verse & Wit – April 21st
Jo-Jo Loves to Read – April 28th

__________

Would you like to win a copy for yourself? Well I’ve got two of them because I’m going to share my copy with some lucky reader too. Rules are simple:
  • For one entry leave me a comment. If I’m not familiar with who you are please leave me an email address. You can’t win if I can’t contact you.
  • For two entries, follow my blog. If you already do, thank you and let me know~of course you still get the entry.
  • For three entries, blog about this giveaway and spread the word about Natasha’s new novel.

Giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only for one copy and my copy will be open internationally. I will draw for the winners on Saturday, April 25, 2009. Good luck!

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Comments

  5. I would love to be entered for the international copy please. I have always wanted to have a go at kickboxing and have never got round to it. Chi is an interesting subject too. I have always had a keen interest in feng shui, which deals with the subject chi too.

  6. My overwhelming thought through your review was “what on earth would you have to do to get yourself in the frame of mind to write this book?” Not just any author could write something like this, and I am fascinated. Please consider me for your giveaway.

  7. I’m really excited to read this. Thanks for the great review.

    I’m a follower!

    gypsyrover21(at)yahoo(dot)ca

  8. Would love to win this. The reviews are so positive. Thanks for the chance.

    espressogirl at hotmail dot com

  9. Sounds really magical, Dar! It’s interesting how knowing bits and pieces of the story from the beginning, like who Dragonfly is, can enhance the mystery–must be a good one!

  10. I just played the game and I am a Healer, too, which is kind of appropriate considering that my grandmother was a faith healer (no lie). That was quite interesting.

    I am a follower of this blog.

    Margay

    Margay1122 (at) aol (dot) com

  11. I love fantasy and the mystical aspect in a story always appeals to me. You know I’m a follower!! Would love to win this one!!

  12. This seems like my type of book – I would love to win a copy.

    beachlover20855ATyahooDOTcom

  13. No need to enter me, I just wanted to pop over and read your great review! I am also enjoying this book.

  14. I don't know why but I find that cover to be very creepy. I would love to read this so count me in and you already know I'm one of your followers.

    Thanks Dar!

    ♥ Nely

  16. This sounds like a very interesting story, something I would really like to read. I’d love t win a copy, and I am a follower of your blog.

  17. I put this on my to-read list when I first heard of it. I’d love to be entered in the giveaway. I follow with FeedDemon.

    Thanks.

    carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com

  19. No need to enter me, darling. I’m just dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I’ve got this posted at Win a Book for ya!

  25. sounds like a good read, please enter me into this giveaway.

    thanks,
    jakewoodworth(AT)gmail.com

  30. I loved the teaser you posted from this book earlier in the week, glad to hear you enjoyed the read.

  31. I would really love to win this book – it is like nothing I have seen before!

    Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
    hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

  35. I’ve heard such great things about this book. I’d really like to get my hands on a copy.

    I follow you through google reader but I’m going to be a blogger follower in a moment 8)

    Thanks so much for this giveaway.

    mishtakes AT gmail DOT com

  37. Great review, sounds really interesting!

    BTW, I have a little something for you at my blog, you can pick it up here.

  40. This sounds like such a unique book. Different from most of the storylines that I’ve read recently, anyway. :0) Sounds good to me! Please enter me.

    Thanks!
    librarygrinch at gmail dot com

  41. Great job Dar! Don’t enter me. I’m also on the blog tour and having a giveaway. I’ve been visiting the other blogs and wanted to say hi. I enjoyed your review! 🙂

  42. This looks great! Please enter me! I’m in the US,
    btw.

    BookCrossingKitten22[at]gmail[dot]com

  45. This sounds like a really interesting, totally different book and I’d love to check it out. I follow via RSS

    violetreads at gmail

  46. Please throw my name into the hat for the international draw! Thanks!

    Lesley
    lesly7ch(@)yahoo(dot)com

  48. I would love to be entered!
    The cover is so amazing!

    lovejessicamarie [@] gmail [.] com

  51. Keeper of Light and Dust sounds really intriguing and I would love to win a copy.
    Please count me in

  52. I loved Season of the Witch, so I’d love to win this.

    Thanks

    ~ Popin
    proudbookworm[@]gmail[dot]com

  53. Don’t enter me. Just wanted to say great review 🙂
    Different take on magical/spiritual things.

  55. Wonderful review! I’ve been hearing lots of good things about this book. I’d love a chance to win a copy.

    sidhevicious(at)shaw(dot)ca

  60. I’d love to win this book – please count me in!

    Thanks,
    Cheryl
    megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

  66. This is a very different book by the sounds of it, from what I am used to reading but it does sound intreging.

    roylsue(at)telpage(dot)net

  68. Id love to win this! I’m an international reader and follower. 😀

    loony_balooga_91 at hotmail.com

  71. Just found your website. I love it and this book sounds like a GREAT read!

    rmc1ra(at)aol(dot)com