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gem114's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
I've been sitting here with a blank review box for the longest trying to figure out what to say about this book. It was good. Definitely good. There's a LOT to it. Magic, love, telepathy, demons/underworld beasts, POLITICS, etc.
Tarisai is a young girl who was raised in an isolated home protected by magic. She longs for her mother, The Lady, but rarely sees her. When she's twelve, The Lady sends her to the capital to compete with other children for a place on the prince's council, a group of eleven individuals representing the realms of Aristar who will eventually rule the empire. Her mother's goal for her, however, is not just to join the council--it's to kill the prince. The novel follows Tarisai as she bonds with the other children, forming the family she's always wanted, and fights against her fate.
The world-building is thorough and the characters are well-balanced. Their flaws give them depth/complexity without being irritating (a la Children of Blood and Bone--sorry, not sorry). Some of the scenes of the children competing for and then learning their council roles made me think of Yeine in Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.
I'll definitely be reading the sequel, Redemptor, when it is released in August.
Tarisai is a young girl who was raised in an isolated home protected by magic. She longs for her mother, The Lady, but rarely sees her. When she's twelve, The Lady sends her to the capital to compete with other children for a place on the prince's council, a group of eleven individuals representing the realms of Aristar who will eventually rule the empire. Her mother's goal for her, however, is not just to join the council--it's to kill the prince. The novel follows Tarisai as she bonds with the other children, forming the family she's always wanted, and fights against her fate.
The world-building is thorough and the characters are well-balanced. Their flaws give them depth/complexity without being irritating (a la Children of Blood and Bone--sorry, not sorry). Some of the scenes of the children competing for and then learning their council roles made me think of Yeine in Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.
I'll definitely be reading the sequel, Redemptor, when it is released in August.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Rape and Sexual violence
magicalghoul's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Not only is the prose in Raybearer Incredible, so is the world building, the character development, the themes— I couldn't stop reading, and when I wasn't reading I was Itching to come back to it.
Would recommend it if political drama, found family, reclaimed personhood and magic bonds all wrapped up in a richly built world told in beautiful prose are your thing.
The only other comment I have is against the pacing. Although it didn't feel precisely rushed, the events in this installment could have probably been covered in two books and that way we would've been given more time to take in the (fantastic!) world and some of the plot points— specially the political intrigue, which I loved, for the record.
But as it is I adored it, I was blown away and left in tears more than once and I can't wait to read the next installment.
Would recommend it if political drama, found family, reclaimed personhood and magic bonds all wrapped up in a richly built world told in beautiful prose are your thing.
The only other comment I have is against the pacing. Although it didn't feel precisely rushed, the events in this installment could have probably been covered in two books and that way we would've been given more time to take in the (fantastic!) world and some of the plot points— specially the political intrigue, which I loved, for the record.
But as it is I adored it, I was blown away and left in tears more than once and I can't wait to read the next installment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Genocide
Minor: Rape and Suicide
beautifulpaxielreads's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Blood
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Rape
idlereader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Xenophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Sexism
Minor: Rape and Death of parent