The Path Keeper by N. J. Simmonds

What if every coincidence was a tiny miracle? What if our life was already mapped out before birth? What if someone had the power to change the path we were destined to follow?

Ella hates her new life in London, she misses Spain and she’s struggling to get over her past until she meets Zac. He has always loved her but he isn’t meant to be part of Ella’s story. Not this time. Not ever. Little does she know that his secret is the one thing that will tear them apart and will force her to live in a world that no longer makes sense, a world more dangerous than she could ever imagine.

The first in a thrilling new YA fantasy series, The Path Keeper is a tale of passion and secrets, of first loves and second chances, and the invisible threads that bind us. Can love ever be stronger than fate?

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Do you remember the last time you bought a book on a whim and it turns out to be great? I do. I went to Comic Con this year and there were a few awesome women present to sign their books. I bought them all and had them signed. The Path Keeper by N. J. Simmonds was one of them. I hadn’t researched the book before I bought it, so all I knew was on the back and I found it intriguing.

After a month long of working on a historical novel and reading non fiction, I was in desperate need of some Young Adult (YA) romance and I thought The Path Keeper fit the bill. Soon after I started reading, I forgot the time and I had other things to do. I didn’t put it down again after I continued reading. It’s a perfect summer read for when you have time to finish a book in one go.

Note: This book has a few explicit sex scenes. If you don’t think that it’s appropriate for you, then don’t read this book.

Our main characters are Ella and Zac. She, rich and famous after her mother’s marriage to a famous hotel owner, he, mysterious and incredibly attractive (‘hot’ and ‘sexy’). They fall for each other, but he knows their love can’t be. Ella doesn’t understand why Zac is trying to run away from her when she’s sure he likes her as well.

While the forbidden love theme is quite common, the rest of the story is what makes it so great. It’s hard to explain without spoiling everything, since the explanations intertwine. I’ll give you a minor spoiler, a tiny one, just so I can explain why this appeals so much to me. Reincarnation exists. The love that people share are likely lovers from a previous life, but that’s totally up to that person.

I’m a romantic person, and the idea that your love can span centuries warms my heart. The love Zac and Ella share is beautiful, tragic, cruel and heartwarming.

N. J. Simmonds has created a great cast of characters. All of them have their own story and even the minor characters show growth. She knows how to convey their feelings and make them believable. They are the strength of this book.

The Path Keeper has everything I wanted when I needed my YA romance fix and more. The wonderful characters, excellent writing and interesting story mechanisms kept me reading until I reached the back cover. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book. I can’t give this book anything less than five stars, and it’s well deserved.

The second book, The Son of Secrets, will be out February 2018. Mark your calendars, you’ll want this one.

Recommended books to read afterwards

Beautiful Creatures – Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

In both books the two main characters are drawn to each other by a force beyond them.

The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafón

While The Shadow of the Wind is more historical, it has a Spanish setting, a lost love and a mystery the main character wants to solve.

Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare

A classic about a love that shouldn’t be.

Repulsion by Jeroen Steenbeeke

A story set in the Netherlands where two teens awaken to the harsh reality, a supernatural reality that challenges everything they know.