Heather’s Bookshelf: The Keyholder
Author: S. Kallistos
Released: 03/21/26
Genre: Historical Fiction
“Behind her, in the Magnolia Hall, the Empress remained at the window a while longer. When she finally turned, there was on her lips a trace of the smile — the one that, for the first time in years, reached her eyes.”
“The Keyholder: A Novel of Byzantine Constantinople” takes place in 843 AD and follows Theophano Doukena, a lady widow who is approached about the death of a palace secretary.
Theophano finds herself drawn into a secret society, known as the keyholders, and a conspiracy that includes individuals at every level of the palace, including those she thought she could trust with her life…and more.
When Theophano’s past, personal feelings, and revelations collide, will she be able to negotiate her new reality or will she succumb to the same fate as those before her?
Trigger Warning: violence, murder, sexual situations
Overall, I enjoyed this story. Told through the protagonist, Theophano, her POV is one of careful observation and planning. As a widow, she grieves the death of her husband, but keeps her heart open for future love opportunities. Also as a widow, she seeks the truth in relation to her husband’s death and desires to keep those responsible accountable. It is a challenging dichotomy that complicates the plot of the story while also highlighting Theophano’s character. The relationship evolution between Theophano and Theodora is a highlight of this story for the characters, the conflict within the pages, but especially the setting. There are some very touching moments between these two, none of which feels forced. The garden scenes are lovely and descriptive, placing the reader amongst the hidden pathways. Eirene is also a strong ancillary character, one who made a strong impression with her honor, trust, and loyalty without being a constant presence. A pet peeve of mine is when the characters names are very similar and this one was no exception. Having three of the main characters names be so similar (3 starting with Theo) was a bit confusing- especially as they are not commonplace. Some of the revelations and repercussions from them also seem abrupt, including the ending of the tale.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A historical fiction with a strong protagonist, compelling character interaction, and a well-developed sense of time and place that just felt a bit rushed in places.
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Check out my interview with S. Kallistos
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Find it for purchase here
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