Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

67 reviews

jennabean855's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

SUCH A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!!!!! The diversity implemented so beautifully, the politics, the magic system, the found family. To die for!!

This is, I think, the best ya book I have read in a hot minute. The world is vibrant, the fantasy elements are strong, the cast of characters are diverse and interconnected in such a way that you can feel the love they carry for each other. The council system and magic was so refreshing and new, and the character dynamics challenged my own preconceptions of love and family and made for a wonderful twist on a found family and being better than previous generations. AND! This book is GORGEOUS!!! The cover and its illustrations still have my jaw dropping…. 

My only qualm is that the action in this book is both short and lacking description in all of its sections. It got stronger in the end but otherwise it took me out of the moment— I can see it could be to emulate the character’s adrenaline and how everything happens so fast, but I really prefer the descriptions and time slowing down to really feel immersed and in love. It felt so lacking in combat description and the relationships that Tar has with her other council siblings!!! I’d love to see more, but at the same time I understand why it was cut a bit short— there’s a lot of them lol. Literally the only things I dislike about this book, beyond the challenge to my own preconceptions of relationships. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Child death and Death of parent

Minor: Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and War

mothmanisbbygrl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don't even think I can put into words how much I love this book. This might have just become my favorite of all time. Jordan Ifueko's writing is so beautiful and I'm so attached to all of these characters, especially Tarisai and Sanjeet. 

I will immediately be reading Redemptor.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Misogyny and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Child death

taniyo_k's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

“Only one thing is more powerful than a wish, and that is a purpose.”

This was a thrilling YA fantasy that deeply explored themes of leadership, justice, and civic responsibility - all themes that feel particularly resonant and important at this moment in time. The realism and maturity of the young characters’ attempts to understand their roles as leaders was incredibly moving. The plot was also inventive and compelling, avoiding many common tropes while also not choosing the unexpected for the unexpected’s sake. As an adult, my only criticism with the world-building was that each fantasy nation was a fictionalized version of one of a handful of world cultures; that being said, I also think that is something I would have loved as a teenager, so I can’t fault it in its context.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Death of parent

redpollrory's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

caprice_573's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Suicide

Moderate: Misogyny and Vomit

Minor: Rape

readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Physical abuse, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Excrement, Vomit, and Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Stalking, Pregnancy, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

ashlikes's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Colonisation

Minor: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Pregnancy

grace_b_3's review against another edition

While there were interesting ideas and worldbuilding, I wasn’t drawn to the characters and their relationships.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Violence

Minor: Sexual content

shelvesofivy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Abandonment

Moderate: Violence and Death of parent

Minor: Child death and Sexual assault

linhsreadinghour's review

adventurous tense medium-paced

3.75

I was at risk of falling into a reading slump and this took me out! Overall, I thought it was a solid book with a rich and multicultural world, really cool powers and magic system, and premise. 

Easy to read, great for YA readers and introduces them to more adult themes in an age appropriate way. Including misogyny, racism, oppression, intimacy etc.

 For me personally, I was left a little unsatisfied when the book ended. I had issues with the pacing of the book because things happened so quickly or conveniently. I also personally found it predictable and had figured out some aspects of the book in advance. Nevertheless, I think for a YA audience, this is a fab book.

This is a duology and I personally don’t feel that compelled to read book 2, so I think I will leave this series unfinished.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail