Like all the children in Keara’s world, she was blessed with an animal companion or darkbeast at her birth. The darkbeast has a magical connection to take upon themselves the faults and flaws of their human child. At the age of twelve, children sacrifice their darkbeasts to show they have left childhood and entered adulthood. But when Keara turns twelve, she cannot kill her darkbeast, Caw. Her failure causes her family to shun her and sets the religious order of the Inquisitors after her.
Keyes has created an incredibly detailed world where religious and patriotic beliefs intertwine in a fantastical Dark Ages society. At times the complexity of Keyes’ world can cause some confusion when it comes to describing the twelve gods in their religion and imagining the locations of cities and villages Keara visits. It would have helped Keyes’ story to have a description of the twelve gods and a map showing Keara’s land at the beginning of the book. Otherwise, Keara’s story is a compelling tale based on faith, doubts, friendship, and holding fast to beliefs in your heart. Darkbeast echos similar themes found in Fly By Night, The Golden Compass, or Beyonders. Keyes second book is called Darkbeast Rebellion.
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