The Keeper
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
A young Black girl finds herself trapped between desperation and her family’s dark history in The Keeper, a horror graphic novel written by New York Times bestselling, award-winning masters of horror Tananarive Due (The Reformatory) and Steven Barnes, illustrated by Marco Finnegan.
NAMED A BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST
NAMED A BOOK WE LOVED BY NPR
Aisha has suffered a devastating loss. Her parents were killed in a car crash, and now she must move to decrepit and derelict Detroit to live with her ailing grandmother. However, shortly after moving in, Aisha’s grandmother’s health rapidly deteriorates. With her dying breath, she summons the dark spirit that has protected their family for generations to watch over Aisha.
At first it seems that this spirit, whom Aisha refers to as the Keeper, is truly doing as her grandmother asked, caring for Aisha and keeping her safe; however, it soon becomes clear that this being can only sustain itself by stealing life from others. As the Keeper begins to prey on the apartment building’s other residents, Aisha and her friends must come together to destroy it . . . or die trying.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This timely horror fantasy written by Due (The Living Blood) and Barnes (Lion's Blood) and drawn by Finnegan (the Nick Travers graphic novel series) unfurls a tale of survival and sacrifice set in an unassuming Detroit apartment building. After the parents of Aisha, a young Black girl, are killed in a car accident, she goes to live with her grandma, who warns her that "I can't sugarcoat the real world" but does her best to keep her granddaughter out of the foster care system. Exploring her grandmother's building with her friend Darnell, Aisha uncovers its connection to her family, its history of violence steeped in racial injustice, and the existence of the Keeper, a supernatural presence that "builds a nest inside you" and provides protection at a price. When Aisha's grandma is no longer able to look out for her, Aisha summons her own power as well as the menacing Keeper to carry on. Finnegan's sturdy, naturalistic art is workmanlike but holds a down-to-earth simplicity suited to a script that weaves volatile magic into the fabric of everyday life. Fans of smart horror will snap up this fresh, sharp take on the haunted house trope.
