Key of Light (Key Trilogy) [Abridged, Audiobook, CD] [Audio CD]

Nora Roberts (Author), Susan Ericksen (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 2010 | Series: Key Trilogy (Book 1)

What happens when the very gods depend on mortals for help? That's what three very different young women find out when they are invited to Warrior's Peak. The Malory Price Life Plan does not include a quixotic quest - but the strangers on Warrior's Peak claim that she must find a key that will release three souls held captive by an evil god. Little does she know that the quest will bring her two new friends, the love of her life, and danger beyond anyone's imagination.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Roberts built her reputation writing first-rate romantic tales involving legends and magic, and now she returns to the supernatural realm with a story that's not as stellar as her earlier works but should delight her fans. The life of gallery manager Malory Price is stalled when she is invited to a reception at a mansion near her small Pennsylvania town. Upon her arrival, she discovers that she is one of only three guests-all of whom are feisty young women with life challenges just like her own. Their mysterious hosts explain that centuries earlier, they allowed the souls of the three demigoddesses under their care to be stolen by a sorcerer. Legend says the demigoddesses cannot be freed until three mortal women find the keys to the glass box in which they are housed. Should they agree, Malory, Dana Steele and Zoe McCourt will each receive $25,000 to search for the keys, plus a million dollars if they succeed. They nervously accept, and Malory is the first to tackle her task, with the help of Dana's charming but commitment-phobic brother Flynn. The legend is as mistily silly as the art history Malory uses to search for clues, and the financial incentives smack more of a reality show than Celtic lore. Fortunately, Roberts's crisp writing, earthy humor and vivid characterizations combine to make this a compelling read.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* A mysterious invitation brings three strangers--gallery manager Malory Price, librarian Dana Steele, and hairdresser Zoe McCourt--to Warrior's Peak, a castlelike estate outside of Pleasant Valley, Pennsylvania, where their elegantly enigmatic hosts, Rowena and Pitte, offer the opportunity to participate in an unusual quest. Malory, Dana, and Zoe will each have 28 days to find one of the keys to a mystical box, which holds the trapped souls of three sister Celtic demigoddesses imprisoned by a jealous sorcerer. In Key of Light, the first in Roberts' irresistible new trilogy, Malory begins her search by bumping into Dana's stepbrother, newspaper reporter Michael "Flynn" Hennessy. Malory can't deny her attraction to him, but she doesn't have time for a relationship with the exasperatingly sexy Flynn: she has a key to find! Characters, plot, and setting all come together superbly. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio on CD Value Priced; Abridged edition (February 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1441841830
• ISBN-13: 978-1441841834
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (113 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,666,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Key of Light, March 7, 2008

By 

Kelly "Reviewer for The Sinfully Sensuous" (Littleton, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Key of Light (Mass Market Paperback)

Malory Price is a woman with a plan. She is organized in every facet of life from her career to her personal life, and isn't the spontaneous type. When she receives an invitation to Warrior's Peak, she is hesitant, but curiosity wins out. Malory likes her hosts Pitte and Rowenna, as well as the other two women that accepted invitations Zoe McCourt and Dana Steele. Pitte and Rowenna relay a tale of angry gods and three special princesses, and that fact that they believe them to be those princesses reborn. The three women are skeptical about the story, but agree to hear the challenge Pitte alludes to. Each woman is offered $25,000 each to search for 3 missing keys. If they find the keys, they will get 1 million dollars each, but if they fail, each woman must forfeit 1 year of their lives. As they start the journey, they find out they will have assistance from three counterparts. Connected to the mystery and the search are three men - Flynn, Brad, and Jordan.

This first book in the Key Series is Malory Price and Flynn Hennessy's story. I liked how Malory and Flynn met when his dog Moe knocks her down. She tries to resist Flynn's overtures, but is forced to be around him because he is Dana's brother. As the duo get closer, they must solve the puzzles, and overcome obstacles to find the first key. Very good start to the series!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 10 Stars!!!, November 9, 2003

By 

pdxbeautiful "pdxbeautiful" (Oregon United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Key of Light (Mass Market Paperback)

Book 1 in the brand new "Key" series!!!

You meet Malory Price, manager of an art gallery in a small town in Penn. She is about to lose her job and doesn't know what she will do with herself. She has always wanted to paint but has never believed that her work has true beauty. She received an invite to a reception at a mysterious mansion. There she meets two other single woman around her age. Dana Steele and Zoe McCourt. At this reception these women are told a story by their hosts, Rowena and Pitte.

The story is said that a Celtic God fell in love with a mortal woman and brought her into his world. They were married and had three daughters. But an evil Celtic God didn't like this and cast a spell against the daughters and locked their souls away in a glass box. The box can only be opened by three keys by the hands of three mortal women.

They are asked if they want to take on this quest and are each given twenty-five thousand dollars, but if they succeed they will each get a million dollars. Each woman must find her key within 28 days.

Malory is the first on the quest. Dana's brother Flynn joins in the search and they fall in love. But each women must face danger in their search and search not only for the key, but a search within themselves.

It's a supernatural story of legends and magic. Reminded me a lot like the Three Sister or Irish trilogies. It's about the beauty inside and the possibilities that are within our reach. A great new series. I can't wait for #2!!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Robert's Style and Story, October 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Key of Light (Mass Market Paperback)

Having read and enjoyed Robert's stories since the early 80s, I am always excited when another offering from this (thankfully) prolific writer hits the shelves! Sliding into the worlds and lives that Roberts creates is a great mini vacation from reality and I especially enjoy her penchance for Celtic, magical and mythical themes, as in this new triology. Roberts loves the "what if?" and as one of the heros (or heros to be)asks: What would life be like, if we KNEW magic was alive and true and that the old stories were based on something real? The question is not new and has been asked in grander literary style, but it is always fun and Roberts lets us share that fun. There won't be any great surprises for longtime fans, the heros/heroines of the next two books are clear, as are the basic man/woman conflicts that will play out. We've met versions of her single mom, grounded realist, eccentic writer, scion of a family empire, journalist and book lover before, but so what? We liked them then and they are no less engaging now. Personally, I also enjoy Robert's stories, like this one, in which her characters realize that their lives to date aren't working and then set about to create a better life that does work. I am really looking forward to the rest of the series.