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friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
Jordan Ifueco is an absolutely brilliant author. I cannot fathom how this story came out of her imagination. so neatly tied every loose end in my opinion. a perfect end to this incredible duology. I love that she wasn't afraid to create the ojiji as blunt and cruel as they are. Anything else I say is un needed. love jordan ifueco.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Gaslighting, Gore, Colonisation, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
meaghanelizabook's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Grief, Gore, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: War
plumpaperbacks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I read Raybearer last year, and it was one of the most unique, immersive fantasies I’d come across, one that kept me interested despite the slower, character-driven story. I was so excited to dive back into this world with Redemptor, and it didn’t disappoint.
Ifueko did such a brilliant job further developing Tarisai, Dayo, Kirah, and Sanjeet, as well as all of the other characters and the world they live in. I was once again immersed in the story from the first chapter, and sped through it, eager to know what solutions there could possibly be to all of the new and old problems the characters faced.
Tar and Dayo and their council siblings really grew on me in the first book, and I enjoyed being back with them. I also grew to like many other, new characters, especially Min Ja, Adukeh, Ji Huan, and even Zuri. Although, I must say, my shipper heart was already quite set on Tar x Sanjeet, so I never did hop on the Tar x Zuri bandwagon. I’m not sure if I was supposed to or not, but I did not. My favorite new relationship, by far, was Tar and Min Ja. The latter basically adopted the former as her younger sister, and that was so sweet to see. (Also, I may or may not find Min Ja attractive. 🌚)
One smaller detail that I found refreshing was Tarisai’s disinterest in having children. Granted, there was some personal trauma tied to it, but even beyond that, she simply didn’t think it was for her. While I have absolutely no qualms about series ending with the protagonist and their love interest with or planning to have a kid or multiple—in fact, I’m quite obsessed with the idea of any of my ships as parents, whether it’s canon or not—it was nice to see Ifueko shake that standard up a bit.
I found the end of the book quite satisfying, too. There were some stressful and unexpected moments in the final chapters, even some unexpected moments in the very last chapter, but everything worked out. I’m happy with the way Ifueko wrapped things up, and I look forward to seeing what she does in the future.
Representation
Ifueko did such a brilliant job further developing Tarisai, Dayo, Kirah, and Sanjeet, as well as all of the other characters and the world they live in. I was once again immersed in the story from the first chapter, and sped through it, eager to know what solutions there could possibly be to all of the new and old problems the characters faced.
Tar and Dayo and their council siblings really grew on me in the first book, and I enjoyed being back with them. I also grew to like many other, new characters, especially Min Ja, Adukeh, Ji Huan, and even Zuri. Although, I must say, my shipper heart was already quite set on Tar x Sanjeet, so I never did hop on the Tar x Zuri bandwagon. I’m not sure if I was supposed to or not, but I did not. My favorite new relationship, by far, was Tar and Min Ja. The latter basically adopted the former as her younger sister, and that was so sweet to see. (Also, I may or may not find Min Ja attractive. 🌚)
One smaller detail that I found refreshing was Tarisai’s disinterest in having children. Granted, there was some personal trauma tied to it, but even beyond that, she simply didn’t think it was for her. While I have absolutely no qualms about series ending with the protagonist and their love interest with or planning to have a kid or multiple—in fact, I’m quite obsessed with the idea of any of my ships as parents, whether it’s canon or not—it was nice to see Ifueko shake that standard up a bit.
I found the end of the book quite satisfying, too. There were some stressful and unexpected moments in the final chapters, even some unexpected moments in the very last chapter, but everything worked out. I’m happy with the way Ifueko wrapped things up, and I look forward to seeing what she does in the future.
Representation
- full cast of characters of color
- Black protagonist and side characters
- Black biromantic asexual side character
- sapphic side character in a sapphic relationship
- queer side characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Grief, and Child death
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Gore
Explanations -mental illness: Tarisai experiences anxiety. -death of parent: Tarisai lost her mother and Dayo lost both of his parents, all prior to the story. -child death: Mentions of child sacrifice throughout the book, all prior to the story. -fire/fire injury: Reference to an event of the first book that’s briefly remembered/reflected upon in this one. -suicidal thoughts: By a side character, at the very beginning of the book.melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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
5.0
Thank you so much to Pique Beyond for the arc of this book.
This review contains spoilers for Raybearer, the first book in the duology.
After the events of Raybearer, Tarisai and her council siblings are attempting to settle into their new role while the threat of Tar's Redemptor journey into the Underworld hangs over their heads. She was given two years to anoint a council of all the kingdom's rulers so that she could become a fully-fledged Raybearer and enter the Underworld. Not only does Tar have to find some way to make these 12 strangers love her, and train for the Underworld, but alugbatos are also showing up all over the kingdom and a mysterious figure called The Crocodile is inciting workers to riot against the nobleman in various regions. Tar and her siblings will be split up so that they can keep the kingdom safe, and she will have to deal with the haunting visions of past-Redemptors that tell her she is not doing enough for her kingdom.
This was the ABSOLUTE perfect ending to this duology. I could not have asked for a better way for this series to conclude. Raybearer is one of my all-time favorite books, and I am so happy with how this ended and everything that happened.
The writing in this book is absolutely incredible. I love how much incite it delves into Tarisai's characters. I love that there was more world-building and we got to understand more of the various cultures going on. I love that Tarisai has changed since the first book, but is still attempting to hold up her title of The Just and do what is right for the Kingdom.
I loved getting to know Tar's council siblings better, as well as all the new characters that we met in this book! There are so many important characters, but it doesn't feel confusing to me or hard to remember. They are all very unique, and though some are not very well-developed, it is clear they all have their own personalities.
I will shout about this series for the rest of my life.
Pub Date: August 17, 2021
This review contains spoilers for Raybearer, the first book in the duology.
After the events of Raybearer, Tarisai and her council siblings are attempting to settle into their new role while the threat of Tar's Redemptor journey into the Underworld hangs over their heads. She was given two years to anoint a council of all the kingdom's rulers so that she could become a fully-fledged Raybearer and enter the Underworld. Not only does Tar have to find some way to make these 12 strangers love her, and train for the Underworld, but alugbatos are also showing up all over the kingdom and a mysterious figure called The Crocodile is inciting workers to riot against the nobleman in various regions. Tar and her siblings will be split up so that they can keep the kingdom safe, and she will have to deal with the haunting visions of past-Redemptors that tell her she is not doing enough for her kingdom.
This was the ABSOLUTE perfect ending to this duology. I could not have asked for a better way for this series to conclude. Raybearer is one of my all-time favorite books, and I am so happy with how this ended and everything that happened.
The writing in this book is absolutely incredible. I love how much incite it delves into Tarisai's characters. I love that there was more world-building and we got to understand more of the various cultures going on. I love that Tarisai has changed since the first book, but is still attempting to hold up her title of The Just and do what is right for the Kingdom.
I loved getting to know Tar's council siblings better, as well as all the new characters that we met in this book! There are so many important characters, but it doesn't feel confusing to me or hard to remember. They are all very unique, and though some are not very well-developed, it is clear they all have their own personalities.
I will shout about this series for the rest of my life.
Pub Date: August 17, 2021
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
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