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silene's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
This one is very much a tragedy, but there’s supposed to be a sequel that might ease that or make it worse. The world building is fantastic, and I love the merging of English and Japanese myths. The characters are deeply flawed, but their motivations and thought processes are believable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Animal death, and Racism
jackierabbit's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
Um. I wanted to like this. I wanted to love it. Unfortunately, even from the ninth page, all my annotations were about plot-holes or things that bothered me.
After reaching page 130, I flipped through the pages to land on a random one, page 336, and picked up from there. Everything still made sense and I skimmed the rest.
Ren was deeply unlikeable—morally grey doesn’t describe her, she is just…bad. Good for her, but I didn’t enjoy reading about it, nor did I connect with her. Whether that caused, or was a result of, my skipping half the book, who knows. She continuously made stupid decisions and trusted the wrong people.
The writing style was fantastic though. Easy to read while still being gorgeously descriptive.
Can’t believe the only worthwhile character DIED. WTF. Rest in pieces Neven.
Also I should have known I wasn’t going to enjoy this book when the cat died in chapter four.
After reaching page 130, I flipped through the pages to land on a random one, page 336, and picked up from there. Everything still made sense and I skimmed the rest.
Ren was deeply unlikeable—morally grey doesn’t describe her, she is just…bad. Good for her, but I didn’t enjoy reading about it, nor did I connect with her. Whether that caused, or was a result of, my skipping half the book, who knows. She continuously made stupid decisions and trusted the wrong people.
The writing style was fantastic though. Easy to read while still being gorgeously descriptive.
Also I should have known I wasn’t going to enjoy this book when the cat died in chapter four.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Body horror
Moderate: Racism
author2223's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Gore, and Death
kkuesters's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I kept flip flopping how I felt about the story. I didn’t really care for the first 70 pages then I really liked the middle 200 pages but hated the last 100. I think what got me is that I really liked the mythology bits but I did not like Ren's actions at the end. Which would have been fine if they were justified but they just seemed very out of the blue to me. Overall, I liked it and would still recommend it but I’m hesitant about picking up the second book unless the description pulls me in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Murder and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Kidnapping
josephinefarine's review
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, and Gore
Minor: Emotional abuse
kylieqrada's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Um ok, but, Kylie???? There is no way that this is your debut!!!!!!! I was absolutely just enthralled by this one. Like, couldn't put it down, ignoring all phone notifications, my left hip hurts from sitting badly on the couch, super hungry past time for lunch, enthralled. If you like morally gray characters, biracial bad-asses, Japanese folklore, and/or action-packed journeys to find oneself, you will like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, and Racism
Minor: Bullying, Child death, and Death of parent
betweentheshelves's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Ooo this was dark! And full of Japanese mythology. If you're looking for a book that has a morally gray main character who does some questionable things, this is the book for you. Baker does an excellent job creating this world and pulling you in with these characters. The entire book is atmospheric and engaging.
I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator absolutely helped make the story for me. She pulled me into Ren's story and helped with the world building and enchanting nature of the story. With that ending, I can't wait for the second book!
I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator absolutely helped make the story for me. She pulled me into Ren's story and helped with the world building and enchanting nature of the story. With that ending, I can't wait for the second book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, and Racism
Minor: Bullying, Child death, and Death of parent
kilic's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Violence
yamoksauce's review
dark
emotional
tense
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
Well. That was an absolute banger. I need the sequel immediately.
Seriously: The Keeper of Night is excellent. The writing is both enchantingly beautiful and nauseatingly gruesome. THE BODY HORROR IS REAL. The characters are legitimately morally gray: they mess up, they mess up bad, they mess up and they're okay with it. The story moves quickly, but never rushes; and it had that moment where I was like, Ok, I'm calling off the rest of tonight's plans, because I NEED TO FINISH THIS BOOK.
Most importantly: this book is a powerful, heartbreaking examination of the unique racism that biracial people face and the extent to which people will go to feel like they belong. Even in the fantastic realm of Reapers and Shinigami and other Gods-of-Death, the analogy is crystal clear. Kylie Lee Baker pours her heart and soul into this novel and I am so lucky to have read it.
Seriously: The Keeper of Night is excellent. The writing is both enchantingly beautiful and nauseatingly gruesome. THE BODY HORROR IS REAL. The characters are legitimately morally gray: they mess up, they mess up bad, they mess up and they're okay with it. The story moves quickly, but never rushes; and it had that moment where I was like, Ok, I'm calling off the rest of tonight's plans, because I NEED TO FINISH THIS BOOK.
Most importantly: this book is a powerful, heartbreaking examination of the unique racism that biracial people face and the extent to which people will go to feel like they belong. Even in the fantastic realm of Reapers and Shinigami and other Gods-of-Death, the analogy is crystal clear. Kylie Lee Baker pours her heart and soul into this novel and I am so lucky to have read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Racism, and Violence
lynneliu's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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