DNF Review – Keeper of Cats (Skyla, Book 3) by Elizabeth Boyer (3/5 stars)

Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 346 pages
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: November 30, 1994
ISBN-13: 978-0345381804
Stand Alone or Series: 3rd book in the Skyla series
Source: Gift
Rating: 3/5 stars

“When Jutta’s mother sent her to tiny, windswept Bardhol to stay with their ancient female relations, she hinted slyly that those crafty crones might be hiding a fortune. But all Jutta found was boredom, toil — and cats, spoiled pets demanding constant attention. Their only neighbors were antiquated, mad, or resting — permanently — in the graveyard at the foot of the hill. Jutta’s grandmothers warned her away from the graveyard, but the cats went, and Jutta followed. What she found there would change her life forever.”

This is the third book in the Skyla series. I have not read the first two books in the series but the books are only loosely related. I read the first 120 pages and just couldn’t get into it. This wasn’t an awful book, it was just slow moving and boring. There wasn’t a lot going on here that I was interested in; the writing style felt very stilted and dated to me.

The story is about a 19 year old girl who is sent to live with her five grandmothers. The grandmothers are obsessed with their cats that they say aren’t cats at all but are magical creatures from another realm.

I really struggled to stay engaged with this story and decided to set it aside. The world wasn’t explained that well and none of the characters were that interesting to me. It looked like an interesting mystery might be developing around the grave barrows near where Jetta is sent to live; however it was just so slow moving that it never really grabbed my attention.

The book does have a very classic mid-90’s fantasy feel to it. So if you are feeling nostalgic for an older, slower moving fantasy you might enjoy this one. As I said, it wasn’t awful it just wasn’t all that great either. If I had nothing else to read I would have probably finished it.

Overall an okay fantasy book but a bit too slow moving and boring for me. Has a very classic fantasy feel to it. I wish the world had been better developed, the characters more interesting, and the story more fast-paced an engaging. I don’t plan on reading anymore by Boyer.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Goodreads Reading Challenge
– Mount TBR Reading Challenge