this was a fun, action-packed, gory serial killer thriller. a quick warning that if you are uncomfortable with detailed descriptions of violence and murder, this is not the book for you. i enjoyed the complexity of the plot, the various twists, and the two stories that slowly came together for one tumultuous ending. i appreciated the often dry humor through the dialogue. i wish we had a little more insight into the background of the killer. double blind read and was paced like like a wild, totally-bingeable episode of a good ole crime tv show.

A jaw-droppingly beautiful conclusion to one of the best (if not THE best) YA fantasy series I’ve ever read. The world of Raybearer broadened in Redemptor in an impactful way, tackling big societal questions and ethics with grace AND through a writing style that is accessible to young readers. Tarisai and her found family will capture your heart and captivate you right ‘til the end.

This was a delightfully delirious, dark, and disturbing read. :) We follow a woman whose life has been deeply shaped by her need for revenge. How does that impact her joy? Her relationships? Throw in some smuggling, sword fights, and good ole thievery and you’ve found a story that takes us through centuries … right up to the present day in Night Vale, where there’s a faceless old woman who secretly lives in your home. The modern day segments in Night Vale were some of the most fun writing segments, but also felt very disconnected from the rest of the story. Since I’m a big fan of the podcast, this didn’t bother me at all, but I can imagine others may not quite get the charm without the background info. 

Raybearer is a lush, immersive, and colorful fantasy for young readers that feels like a breath of fresh air for the genre. It playfully twists expectations, is full of both tender and abusive relationships, and asks questions around generational trauma, loyalty, leadership, and belonging.

Tarisai is a kindhearted child that craves touch and family more than anything. She was raised by a mother simply called The Lady in a hidden home completely isolated from the rest of the world, and she is given one magical demand once she turns twelve: kill the Crown Prince.

The only way to do so is to become part of his Council, connected in community by the bond of the Ray. Tarisai wants to belong so very badly, but she also is terrified of the darkness inside of her. She must be brave enough and strong enough to battle The Lady’s wish and forge her own destiny.

The world is original, though it is inspired by West African cultures, lands, and mythologies. You’re never overwhelmed as a reader, and each part of the map is unlocked a bit more as you keep reading. The descriptions of each setting are beautiful and I really felt as though I was there. There’s a glossary at the end, and while I always appreciate a glossary because I have the worst short term memory in the world, I really think the book doesn’t need it! The world building is just that patient and clear and immersive. 

Tarisai is just a shining star of a main character. She’s earnest - and makes mistakes - but she cares so deeply and wants not just to protect her people, but to protect all people. Her arc from a sheltered, naive, touch-starved girl to a leader is so wonderful to witness. 

We don’t get tons of insight into all of the supporting characters, but Dayo, Kirah, and Sanjeet all delighted me as well. They all pushed back against the boxes they were placed into and expectations that didn’t feel right. And the antagonists - in all of their forms - were frighteningly believable. Truly, all of these characters felt complex and deeply personal, and while I would have liked getting to know the rest of the Council more, I was happy to trade that off for the depth that was given to the main players. A major character is also asexual! 

I also appreciated the thoughtful (yet clever) twists and turns that often subverted my expectations. I couldn’t put this book down, even on a reread where I KNEW what was coming. The writing was just so well done and completely captivating.

The magic system here is a little bit loose, with some aspects feeling more metaphorical versus a hardcore system with clear rules. This didn’t bother me, because I bought into everything I needed to understand, and I just appreciated how compelling the powers and world were. 

It’s just so good. The threads of legacy, family history, and stories we capture, exalt, and destroy are also always very close to my heart. An all-time favorite duology.

CW: death (parent/child), murder, child abuse, fire, abandonment, violence, misogyny, confinement, gaslighting, blood, grief, colonization, racism, genocide, war, xenophobia, gore, vomit

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UPDATE: i was more than a little shocked to learn that the white author felt “inspired” by the 60s scoop and this story came out of that. through that lens, there are plenty of troublesome tropes. and linus looks a little .. savior-y .. after enabling DICOMY and doing his work (which enables abusers) unquestionably for years, he has a sudden and deep change of heart and saves the day for the poor, scary children? hmm. there’s also some weirdly aggressive, repetitive language around linus’ weight.

a sweet, quaint story that felt like a hug - specifically, the parts surrounding their children and their individual personalities and stories. the adults were the weaker points, and weren’t as fully developed. 

Okay - this was FUN! A pretty unique magic system (I would have loved more info here; maybe in book 2? I wasn’t sure what exactly was so child-sacrifice-worthy about high magick beyond vague references to great power). An interesting group of champions (“villains”), with 4 engaging POVs. Usually with multiple POV books I am dragging my feet at at least one of them, but in this case I enjoyed what each voice brought to the table. As others have mentioned in their reviews .. there’s not much villainy or murder in a book that’s about a villainous tournament to the death. And with 4 out of 7 champion POVs covered, it’s kind of clear who may be the least important to the story. 👀 But all that aside, I couldn’t put this down and can’t wait for book 2. The cliffhanger was a little weird / it seemed like the tournament arc should have been finished in book 1 and then another conflict could have arisen based on the outcome / but I guess I’m sold on the story already!

This was an emotional, compelling read. The plot spans several decades, and we jump between time periods and family members and generations.  The writing is beautiful and the characters are deep and engaging. I’d say the main struggle in this book is that it’s attempting to do too much. In under 400 pages, we’re following several lifetimes and reading about many deeply complex issues (racism, classism, domestic violence, homophobia and transphobia, identity, etc etc). We hop around too quickly to get a chance to know these characters and their struggles on a deeper level (there were so many interesting relationships that remained surface level).

This is a slow, emotional, psychological drama. It is definitely not what I would call a thriller. We follow Lex and the other survivors of an intense child abuse situation (under the guise of religion), which seems to be loosely based on a real case (the ethics of this are perhaps a little tricky). The style is a bit confusing as we are launched between various pasts and the present without much warning - and boy are there a lot of characters thrown at us (so many minor characters that it was easy to become confused and lose track of who is relevant to which kid). I thought the overall setup was well done, though - we see each surviving child (one chapter at a time) through Lex’s eyes. I quite liked the writing style and found it quick and engaging, but there wasn’t much of a plot (very character-driven) and so I trudged through the ending.

Chakraborty’s writing style is delightful - I could see the city of Daevabad so clearly in my mind. Yes, the pacing of this book struggles at the start (a problem across a lot of fantasy since there is so much to introduce) and I was ready for the story to land in the city of brass sooner. In general, though, it was SO refreshing to read a tale based on Middle Eastern history & myths. I enjoyed the cast of characters and the dual perspective, and while I did prefer Nahri’s POV, I was still very engaged when it switched to Ali. The almost-love-triangle plot points were far less interesting than the rest of the story (and I didn’t quite ‘get’ Nahri’s quick attraction to Dara) … but the rest of the plot was so juicy that it made up for that. The book ended with a whole bunch of cliffhangers. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book. 

This is a story about a community that brings a detached man back to life. It’s a story about connection, about love and loss and grief, about justice, about stubbornness, about hope, about friendship, about passion, about a cat, and also (quite a bit) about cars. It’s a story that is deeply affecting and deeply human. It’s beautiful.