Book Review: Keeper and Kinded by Toni Binns

At the start of January, I posted about Toni Binns’ first book, Contracts and Cats. This was the first book in her series, MEOW: Magical Emporium and Wares. While I enjoyed the book, I found the ending slightly disappointing and had high expectations for book two.

Keeper and Kindred, the second book in the series, came out on February 3rd, and I cracked it open. I am happy to report that the story had satisfying momentum. While not all answers were revealed and a book three is expected, there was good progress.

Sable, the main character, still runs the shop, and she still makes coffee every morning. There was also a repeat of many characters from the first book. Sable, however, grew. The first book hinted that she had magic, but the second book actually showed her having lessons and practicing. There was also growth regarding her connection to the shop and the dynamics between her and the cat.

The story has the same cozy fantasy vibes as the first book. There is also the same pacing and story progression. The shop, Magical Emporium of Wares, still visits different realms everyday to solve different problems.

There were a few fun new elements in the book. Each morning, the cat checks a book for the tasks they need to accomplish. However, the book is less and less specific, which irritates the cat. Also, Sable, because of her developing magic, senses things she should do with various customers. These things aren’t mentioned in the book. This also irritates the cat. After one of these situations, the book shows a knot next to a completed task. While the meaning isn’t specified, it is suggested that a task has been fully completed.

What is revealed between books one and two is that the cat, who was once a high elf, did something against the fates. Since then, he was turned into a cat by the fates and placed in the store until balance is restored. So when the knot was shown next to a completed task, I wondered if the cat’s freedom is near.

At present, I am satisfied with the story’s progression and look forward to the third installment. I hope the series does come to a satisfying conclusion, and it’s not too many books away. While some people love series that go on forever, I am not one of those individuals. (I get bored.) So if you’re looking for a cozy fantasy read to get lost in, I highly recommend checking out this series.