Raybearer was one of my favorite books of 2020, so I was incredibly excited to receive an ARC of the sequel! Redemptor picks up right where we left off, with Tarisai facing an impossible quest to save her people. Tarisai must convince fellow rulers to join her council and prepare to undertake a dangerous journey to the underworld. Meanwhile, she faces court opposition as not everyone is convinced that having an empress is a good thing. When the ghosts of dead children start appearing before her, Tarisai is overwhelmed with guilt and fear. Tarisai must rely on Sanjeet, Kirah, Dayo, and her council siblings to help the spirits and ensure justice prevails.

I absolutely loved Redemptor! Themes of social justice and equality shine through this book, seamlessly intertwined with Tarisai’s perilous quest. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the extraordinary growth that Tarisai goes through, while always remembering who she is and where she comes from. The focus is on Tarisai’s journey, but the supporting cast is really endearing and lovable too! Tarisai steadily adds to her found family throughout the book, which is one of my favorite tropes. The prose was smooth and flowing, with vivid descriptions that carefully paint each scene. Ifueko makes so many poignant points about activism, mental health, and self-care. These are very important lessons and I really appreciated how they were incorporated.

Redemptor is a lyrical and spellbinding conclusion to the Raybearer duology. I hope we get to see more from this world one day! Maybe a novella to follow up with Kirah or Dayo? This is one of my favorite duologies that I will be recommending to everyone! Thank you so much to Jordan Ifueko, Amulet Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.