Where to buy
E-book ๐ฑ๐ https://link.amazon/B0f3lJVA3
Audiobook๐ง ๐ https://link.amazon/B02F7ZpOB
Paperback๐ ๐ https://link.amazon/B02a0kGMN
Author Website for Other book retailers ๐️ ๐ https://www.alysmackay.com/wheretobuy
Blurb
She wakes bound on the back of a horse.
The gods are gone.
And the world is no longer gentle.
Tsunala is carried through a land that no longer remembers mercy—guarded by monsters, watched by a half-breed who should be her enemy, and pulled toward truths she is not ready to name. Power lingers beneath her skin, unclaimed and dangerous.
As desire stirs where fear should live, something ancient begins to breathe again. The gods, long silent, are waking—not as legends, but as beings who can bleed, ache, and love.
This is a story about what happens when divinity remembers its humanity.
And what it means to belong to a world that no longer believes in you.
For readers drawn to character-driven fantasy with mythological elements, devotion, and emotional intensity—this is the beginning of the Abandoned Gods series.
Audio Expert
Review
A Masterclass in Atmospheric World-Building & Character Consistency
This is the best audio book I've listened to in my brief audiobook listening period.
I find sometimes audiobooks do not hold my attention. (Quicksilver & ACOTAR ๐ถ๐ซ️๐ซฃ) BUT this was not the case this time.
AUDIOBOOK INFO:
The Keepers, the first book in The Abandoned Gods series by Alys Mackay.
#check the trigger warnings.
The audiobook features a true multicast narrative produced by the incredible team at Blue Nose Audio. Having a whole lineup of distinct voice actors consistently playing their specific characters completely changes the experience!
Huge credit goes to the full cast of narrators:
๐ง June deBorahae
๐ง Keeley Darling
๐ง James Cassidy
๐ง Edward Black
๐ง Benjamin Sands
๐ง Troy Duran
Pros
๐ Immersive, Layered World-Building (With a Twist!)
From the very first line—"She wakes bound on the back of a horse"—you are thrown into a world that no longer remembers mercy. The world-building here doesn't rely on massive information dumps. Instead, Alys Mackay masterfully lulls the reader into a specific reality, only to slowly shift the ground beneath your feet. Every single encounter Tsunala has acts like a chisel, peeling away another layer of her shrouded past and lost history.
The character art is an extra bonus. (See below)
This was so helpful for visualizing Kitor, a half-Verbeeg (type of giant/human) character who meets the main protagonist, Tsunala, right at the start. The opening was incredibly intense!
⚖️ Tsunala vs. The Typical Romantasy Heroine:
What completely won me over, though, is Tsunala’s character consistency. In a lot of popular dark romantasy books—for instance, Quicksilver, which I finished in May —we often see a tough, fierce heroine who instantly changes once she enters the Fae realm, switching constantly between whiny hate and sudden desire for the male lead.
Tsunala is a breath of fresh air. Even while bound on a horse and surrounded by immediate danger, she stays entirely constant in herself. Instead of panicking or obsessing over romance, she focuses on gaining knowledge about her situation. She reacts with a realistic, raw vulnerability born from her blank slate of memories, relying on pure survival instincts.
As the book develops, Tsunala continues to explore her feelings in a way that feels completely earned.
She was honest about her emotions once she started to piece together her identity while navigating the psychological tension and an emotional intensity that kept me completely hooked. ( There are some inner dialogue where she doubts herself, but she soon pushes through them)
⏳ A Slow, Rewarding Slow-Burn
Although I don't want to get into the romance plot too much ( no spoilers here)
The sexual dynamic builds beautifully after she has spent time learning a bit about herself and her surroundings, but she does have her doubts and regrets.
Cons
๐ค So what didn't I like, (BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THIS DESERVED IT NOT TO BE 5/5 ⭐) BUT I give honest reviews and so I will share them:
๐ Costumes:
At the start, the clothing feels traditionally gritty and fantasy-esque—like when Kitor gives her a jacket and a shirt, while the Old Fae at the market was described in classic robes. But further in, once Tsunala gets to the Fae estate, she ends up wearing T-shirts and leggings. For me, T-shirts felt a bit too modern and created a jarring contrast against the mythical realm vibe. I usually expect tunics, shifts, or more era-appropriate garments in a setting like this, so it was definitely an unexpected stylistic choice.
My final thoughts
Highly recommend ๐ง
If you’re looking for a highly immersive escape with deep, logical character growth, I highly recommend checking out this production.✨ This is my top audio recording for 2026 so far 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
๐ Post Details & Credits
SERIES ART
๐จ๐ผ️ The Author also has awesome character art:
Artists ๐จ๐จLoneBirdArt (IG: @lonebirdart)
๐จEmmeli (IG: @emmeli.m)
๐จHailey Puent (IG: @haileypuent.art)
Author Bio
Alys Mackay is a fantasy romance author based in Melbourne, Australia. She writes heroine-led romantasy where women come into their power, devotion is tested, and love is rarely safe. Learn more :
AlysMackay.com or follow on Instagram
@alys_mackay_writes or Facebook
Alys Mackay Author
