Exile

“Sophie’s hands shook as she lifted the tiny green bottle.

One swallow held life and death—and not just for her.

For Prentice.

For Alden.”

Each book in the Keeper series begins with a preface that depicts a climactic moment in the novel. The first chapter flashes back in time, building the action up to the moment that the Preface highlights, and then moves forward from there. This technique immediately creates a sense of tension and suspense as readers imagine how the story might get to that point.

“Her concentration spread like an invisible veil across the scenery, and the chirping and creaking sounds of the forest faded to a low hum as the ‘voices’ filled her mind.”

Sophie’s superior telepathic ability enables her to track emotions and hear the voices of creatures of all kinds. This ability plays a key role in the novel since it means that Sophie can do things that even other more experienced Telepaths cannot. It’s thus critical for the author to weave descriptions of how it works into the story. Sophie hears the sounds of everything in the forest and ultimately uses this ability to track the animal that she and Grady are seeking.

“The complexity of its mind was shocking. She could feel rapid observations and quick calculations, just like when she was reading an elvin mind.”

Throughout the series, Sophie’s relationship with Silveny, the alicorn whose mind she connects to here, is integral. They develop a strong bond based on mutual respect and affection, which is possible because of Sophie’s enhanced telepathy: She can understand Silveny in ways that other elves, who lack her ability, can’t, and thus she advocates for Silveny in ways that other elves don’t.