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bittennailbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Keeper of Night is a beautiful retelling of the diasporic Reaper Ren who will do almost anything to stay out of the high Reapers criticizing gaze or abusive reach. Being half British and half Japanese, Ren is consistently kicked down by other Reapers for her "half-breed" status and dreams of running away with her best friend/half-brother in tow.
A reaping night like any other, Ren finally fights back against the other Reapers who torment her, unleashing her long hidden Shinigami powers and thus sealing her fate. She now must flee to a home in Japan she's never known in hopes of finding her birth mother and hopefully, a way to control her Shinigami magic.
I finished this book in one sitting due to its fast paced writing but it sort of felt a little bit empty when I closed in on the big twist. I wish I would have been taken a bit more into the adventure to Japan or that Hiro's advances didn't feel so out left field later on. However, I would definitely continue on with the series as it stands and hats off to Baker for her raw examination of bi-racial experiences.
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Violence and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment
kkmillsaps1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Bullying, Gore, Violence, Body horror, and Cannibalism
josephinefarine's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, and Gore
Minor: Emotional abuse
annegoodreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Abandonment, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Racism, Torture, and Violence
wai's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I know a lot of people have mentioned not liking Ren, but personally I like that she's difficult and cold. It's interesting to see the discrepancies in what she said she was like vs her actions and reactions to things. And I've read books with male characters who were far more unlikable who we're supposed to sympathize with. But I do feel bad for Neven and think he deserves much better as well.
I'm really interested in this as a duology and am not sure where the second book would go from here. I'll definitely be picking up a copy when it comes out.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Xenophobia, Animal death, and Abandonment
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death of parent
lynneliu's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cannibalism and Death of parent