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purplepenning 's review for:
Redemptor
by Jordan Ifueko
An impressive conclusion to Raybearer, one of my favorite books of 2020, but I didn't enjoy reading this one nearly as much as I did the first. I also don't think it's quite as well paced or cleverly developed as the first, but there's A LOT going on here, so if you liked Raybearer you'll certainly find plenty to enjoy in this one, too.
• Tarisai remains a courageous, determined, principled main character facing nearly impossible tasks (some of the difficulties she endures and works through are powerfully haunting, but also become somewhat repetitive)
• Dayo, Sanjeet, Kirah, and Ai Ling are here as her supportive counsel siblings (though I would've liked to have them around more), and a whole host of new characters are introduced (some strikingly drawn and interesting, some suffering from underdevelopment or cliche)
• Tarisai's quest to end and correct the nightmarish sacrifices of the Redemptor system is broadened as she discovers and understands other unjust, exploitive systems; there's also a nice subversion of the chosen one trope
• The fantasy world continues to be built out with amazing detail (it seems to lean a little harder than the first on borrowed cultural traits, though it's possible I just noticed it more)
And if you haven't read Raybearer (and you're for some reason here reading to the end of a review about its sequel … no judgment!), then I think you're in for a treat — you get to read them back to back, which I suspect would've greatly increased my overall enjoyment of the duology. I'm just not a person who is meant to go a full year between parts of a story. Ifueko does an admirable job of getting us back up to speed, but I still struggled to remember some of the main characters and plot points, let alone the specialized vocab.
Topics, tropes and themes: power, love, justice, legacy, right to govern, exploitation, socioeconomic stratification, revolution, sacrifice, worth, guilt, conviction, commitment, inheritance; chosen one, found family, sacrifice, love triangle, ancient magic, underworld, working for a future world
Content notes: death, undead haunts and attacks, battle violence, assassination attempt, parental neglect and manipulation, revolutionary fervor, mental health and communication issues
• Tarisai remains a courageous, determined, principled main character facing nearly impossible tasks (some of the difficulties she endures and works through are powerfully haunting, but also become somewhat repetitive)
• Dayo, Sanjeet, Kirah, and Ai Ling are here as her supportive counsel siblings (though I would've liked to have them around more), and a whole host of new characters are introduced (some strikingly drawn and interesting, some suffering from underdevelopment or cliche)
• Tarisai's quest to end and correct the nightmarish sacrifices of the Redemptor system is broadened as she discovers and understands other unjust, exploitive systems; there's also a nice subversion of the chosen one trope
• The fantasy world continues to be built out with amazing detail (it seems to lean a little harder than the first on borrowed cultural traits, though it's possible I just noticed it more)
And if you haven't read Raybearer (and you're for some reason here reading to the end of a review about its sequel … no judgment!), then I think you're in for a treat — you get to read them back to back, which I suspect would've greatly increased my overall enjoyment of the duology. I'm just not a person who is meant to go a full year between parts of a story. Ifueko does an admirable job of getting us back up to speed, but I still struggled to remember some of the main characters and plot points, let alone the specialized vocab.
Topics, tropes and themes: power, love, justice, legacy, right to govern, exploitation, socioeconomic stratification, revolution, sacrifice, worth, guilt, conviction, commitment, inheritance; chosen one, found family, sacrifice, love triangle, ancient magic, underworld, working for a future world
Content notes: death, undead haunts and attacks, battle violence, assassination attempt, parental neglect and manipulation, revolutionary fervor, mental health and communication issues