Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Redemptor

Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko

23 reviews

brokenbodybitch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

5.0

This book was somehow even better than Raybearer and that was a very easy 5 stars; I do want to preface this one with an added warning that if you have any issues with intrusive thoughts or feelings of not being enough you should go into this book with caution, it may be immaculate, but it also took me 12 days to be able to finish and normally it’s a few days max. However, Jordan Ifueko is very easily an auto-buy after this duology. Also sorry this is a long one...

*SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT YOU’VE BEEN WARNED*

At this point I don’t think I can say a bad thing about the duology, the writing was so detailed and layered that I yet again can’t figure out where to start; the dynamics between Tarisai, her childhood and her mother, and how it continues into this second book or, even what other character to talk about and what I enjoyed about them and their relationship with Tar, Dayo and other council members or… maybe the way intrusive thoughts, self doubt and other terrible thoughts are able to manifest in these more tangible forms in a way that is truly horrific yet I can’t help but give 5 stars because it is genuinely immaculate and spot on.

Jordan Ifueko has truly masted the art of giving enough depth to characters, no matter how much of a focus they are; they are given the perfect amount of history and backstory in the moment or leading up to events, that no matter the character or sequence of events, each character you read about has layers and nuance to them. I genuinely hated certain characters, like as ‘people’ but the depth they are given, make you at minimum have some level of understanding for the situation that they find themselves in, so even if you think someone is a piece of shit you are still some level invested in their trauma or their story of what lead them to this path and why they became that way, which is a talent.

There’s also this depth to the relationships between characters which I really loved reading; the aspects of found family are explored so much more in this book and the discussions of what counts as love are really interesting. You see them not only trying to figure out the balance 1 on 1 but, they are also trying to find their place in the council itself. Most notable relationships I enjoyed the dynamics of were the ones between: Tar & Sanjeet, Tar & Zuri and, Tar and Min Ja. Tar and Sanjeet have this cozy and warm love that radiates the feeling of a hug which contrasts so well with her relationship with Zuri that is a lot more fire-y and abrasive. Tar and Zuri have this dynamic where they will cause the other to burn brighter but they may also burn each other to the ground - a harsher expression, where as Tar & Sanjeet is much more of a supportive, softer kind of love. I also had to add, how much I enjoyed the plot line with Min Ja because it is a very challenging start to their connection and it gets a little rocky for a while but ultimately they end up loving each other and having a very adorable dynamic. A line I love is when Tar goes…

“in the words of my council sister Queen Min Ja,” I whispered back, “that’s what makes me so popular”

I don’t know it was just really sweet how she ended up having such an impactful moment with her after how they started.

I must say though, the ojiji spirits and the abiku are straight up fucking nightmare fuel, they will and have been in my nightmares for a bit…but at the same time I can not help but admire how well it was done. The way these terrifying spirits are written is a painfully accurate analogy for what it is like to have these deep feelings of not being enough, that manifest as intrusive thoughts but in this case, it’s manifesting as these oh so lovely creatures that, I will let you read the descriptions of because I physically shuddered when I read it. The creep factor aside I really do love the way these spirits and her time in the underworld were done, as for me at least, it was a fantastic way to show these awful thoughts, that loop in your head and when they tend get worse, along with generally some of the effects of trauma; but in a less direct way by using these things outside of just mental ‘thought loops’.

I really really love what happened with Tarisai and her mom in the underworld, it was very satisfying to read Tar walking away that final time, and it was like second hand therapeutic tbh. The way Jordan Ifueko shaped the underworld is very interesting yet terrifying; the idea you must walk though your regrets and all these hard things was truly immaculately done. From the scene with the Abiku masking itself Zuri and her only recognizing it because he can’t physically touch her without her asking (that shattered my heart just a bit...), to her animal guide in the underworld, to ‘The Lady’ pretending to help her but leading her to her death, to those fucking stairs of mirrors, that show you versions of yourself and life that tempt you into the mirrors…. Damn is literally all I have to say.

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aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

A wonderful sequel to Raybearer. Although not as good for me as the first book, it is still a solid book. Loved expanding on the ACE character. A little slow in a few parts but nothing so slow that it ruins the story.
Also the narrator is fantastic! Joniece Abbott Pratt embodies Tarisai perfectly and does a great job with the other characters as well.

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katsbooks's review

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adventurous challenging emotional 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

“You don’t get to choose why people love you. But what you do with the love you receive . . . that’s a choice you make every day.”

“B-But . . . what good is a v-voice with no st-story to tell?”

“The only thing more powerful than a wish is a purpose.”

This was an outstanding follow-up to Raybearer. I love this duology with my whole heart. I'm not kidding. The found family Tarisai finds in the council is so heart-warming. I loved all the truly warm relationships and support she had. The ojiji were a great metaphor for depression and I really appreciated that representation. It made the Underworld chapters so much more intense and believable. I also really enjoyed the commentaries on power and resistance. I think it was very timely given the world events of the last two years. This duology is going to live rent-free in my head for a long time. I can't recommend it enough. I loved it so much I can’t even come up with a half-decent review other than, “Please just go read it.”

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kirstenf's review

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adventurous dark 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

4.75

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kaziaroo's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

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meaghanelizabook's review against another edition

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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

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rorikae's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful fast-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

4.75

'Redemptor' by Jordan Ifueko is a near perfect finale to the story that began in 'Raybearer.' Ifueko infuses it with the same care and compassion that made us fall in love with the characters in the first book. Delving too far into the plot would spoil the first book but I can say that the story follows Tarisai as she deals with the events at the end of 'Raybearer' and what she can do next for Aritsar.
A lot happens in this book and at times I did wonder if Ifueko was going to be able to include everything that needed to happen. YA series are so often trilogies but Ifueko does a great job of creating a story that fits well over the two books. Despite the amount of growth that Tarisai has gone through in the first book, there is still more for her to learn and she grows into an even more compelling character in the conclusion.
As with the first book, the real star of these books are the characters. I think it is near impossible to read these books and not love so many of the characters. Tarisai, Dayo, and Sanjeet are characters that will stick with me and they have quickly become some of my favorite characters that I have ever read. In 'Redemptor,' Ifueko introduces us to a few new characters who have their faults but are also easy to care about. There is one in particular that quickly became a new favorite.
As a conclusion, 'Redemptor' answers our questions left from the first book and also delves deeper into the world. It expounds upon what was first introduced in Raybearer in a way that I found incredibly satisfying. Ifueko has quickly become a go-to author for me and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. I am sure that it will be fantastic.

Content Warnings