The Treasure Keeper

Zoe Cyprienne Lane is a simple daughter of a seamstress in hidden Darkfrith, in 18th. century England, the home of the magical Drakon. The Drakon look like ordinary humans but the males can turn invisible and take dragon form and some of the women can turn to dragons or have other powers. Zoe discovers she has some powers which would cause her to be married off to a member of the ruling family, something she objects to. Instead she keeps her powers hidden and eventually becomes engaged to Hayden. When Hayden disappears on a mission to the Continent, Zoe breaks with all the rules of the English Drakon and runs away to try and find him.

The book opens with the first chapter in diary form, written by a young Zoe. Young Lord Rhys is show more obviously infatuated with her, but young Zoe rebuffs him. The second chapter onward is in more typical third-person form. A big problem is that Zoe is not all that sympathetic. Sure, she's flaunting tradition and is gutsy about going off on her own, but it's not easy to fathom her motivations. For one thing--why was she so intent on keeping Rhys at a distance? Why was she engaged to Hayden, who seemed as cool to her as she was to seemingly everyone else? Why is she so intent on breaking Drakon law and going into danger to find Hayden when she never seemed to be that in love with him (until he disappears, anyway)? The good thing about her is that in her coolness, she seems totally unafraid and amazingly competent out in the real world, despite having lived a very sheltered life. (This was somewhat unbelieveable, but still kind of neat.)

The good thing is that once Zoe is out in the world she bumps into Rhys's ghost. Rhys was always in love with Zoe, even though he definitely played the field as young and relatively indulged lordling (he was taken during an attack on Darkfrith and was thought to be a captive or killed). His personality was always lively and fun and remained so even as a ghost. He hangs about Zoe, helping her whether she wants it or not. It is this part of the book that is the most fun, and there is an interesting sweet pathos to him being in his unsubstantial form, still longing for his childhood sweetheart.

While the plot of this paranormal romance/romantic fantasy is somewhat thin and most of the secondary characters remain mere sketches, there was still something here that appealed enough for me to want more. show less

Excellent story, weaving an independent female drakon with rare gifts and the Lord who loves her, finding her even through his captivity. Heat is a 4 but the first heated scenes don't appear until late in the book.

Too bad it wasn't a better book. My friend loaned me this one because we have been reading the series together. Ms Abe should have stopped at three. Not that it doesn't have its good points because the author is really gifted at setting a mood and creating an atmospheric other world, but it just can't match the other books. IMHO her books have been uneven in quality....and she plans on writing another.

THE TREASURE KEEPER, the fourth installment in the drakon' series, picks up where the previous installment, Queen of Dragons, leaves off. The brother of the Alpha, Lord Rhys Langford, had been attacked and is now being held captive.

Zoe Cyprienne Lane is the daughter of the town seamstress. Growing up, she thought herself plain and fervently wished that she would be granted the gift of smoke and the Turn. It was very rare for the females of their clan to shapeshift into smoke or dragonform, and Zoe was no exception. When young Rhys would float outside her bedroom window in dragon form, wanting her to meet him in the nearby woods, she turned her back on him. She knew without any exceptional gifts or beauty she would never fit into Rhy's show more league. Years later she catches the eye of Hayden James. After courting awhile, Hayden proposes and Zoe accepts. She doesn't love Hayden, but believes he is a good man and that they will make a decent life together. When Hayden is sent out by the council to journey to the Carpathian Mountains to gather aid, Zoe is patiend and waits. But when Hayden's letters abruptly stop, she knows something is wrong and leaves the shire to look for him herself. Unknown to anyone, Zoe has her own unique gifts that may be just the weapons they need.

Lord Rhys Langford believes himself to be dead. It is always dark and a melodotic tune is always playing in his mind. But when he sees a light for the first time, he pulls himself to it and is stunned. There she lies in overwhelming light and beauty, Zoe Lane. She can see and talk to him, but she cannot touch him. Rhys is in spirit form. Wherever Zoe is, Rhys can follow her as long as there is a reflection for his spirit to jump to and fro, such as a puddle, a mirror, a wineglass or a window. Zoe fights her attraction to him as she is betrothed to Hayden.

Rhys pleads with Zoe to return to the safety of their shire, but she is determined to find Hayden. She shows Rhys her unique gifts, turning invisible and catching thoughts, to prove that she can take care of herself. With Rhys's spirit by her side, Zoe unexpectedly runs into the young Prince of the Carparthians, who in a turn of events, leads her to Hayden.

Hayden and the Prince had been watching a ramshackle house they thought to be holding the Lord Rhys captive. The three of them make plans to infiltrate the house, but it may already be too late for Rhys.

THE TREASURE KEEPER is a beautiful addition to the drakon' series. As the plot twists and thickens, the bond between Rhys and Zoe strengthens. You won't want to miss a drop of this sparkling and magical adventure! show less

The Treasurer Keeper is the fourth book in the Drakon series. The drakon are surrounded by an enemy almost as strong as they are. The sanf inimicus have sworn to slay the drakon and they have captured young Lord Rhys Langford. In a similar time, James Hayden, suitor of Zoe Cyprienne Lane sets out to see what can be learned. When he ceases communication with Zoe, she follows the trail to Paris. It was always thought that Zoe had not been born with any of the gifts of the drakon, such as the ability to turn to smoke or drakon. But she has kept secret her ability to become invisible and to feel the emotions and thoughts of others. During her search for James, a strong mind link is forged between her and the missing Lord Ryhs. The story show more readily describes the sights, sounds and smells of Paris in the late 1700s. The developing romance between Zoe and Rhys is at times humorous and at others sensuous. But it does lack some of the color, beauty and magic of The Smoke Thief, the first in the series. show less

Can't stop reading it! Wonderful writing, riveting characters. I'm heading out to buy the first two books now!

oh meh. Steamy and fun, but really poor writing. The plot is fuzzy and confused, and the leading man spends most of his time as insubstantial ghost. Queen of the Dragons had better characters, but a worse plot. The first two books in the series were marginally better.