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A review by serpina
Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Wow! This book is a fantastic sequel to the Raybearer, which I also loved.
I was a bit skeptical when I realized that the big showdown only happened in the last ~50 pages because it felt like not enough time, but it was. No big rush, no cut corners.
At the end of book one, Tarisai was recognized as raybearer and empress. She made a deal with the abiku (kinda the demons of the underworld) that she has to anoint all 12 rulers of the different kingdoms and then go to the underworld as the final redemptor, to save all future redemptor children from being sacrificed.
And that is, what she does. Working as an empress, trying to anoint the kings, and changing the world to be better for everyone. And all the time, she slowly turns mad, because the abiku use the souls of the previously sacrificed redemptor children (ojiji) to not only protect her against assassins but also to isolate her and guilt her.
Me, as a German, who has pretty much no contact with African culture and who just started to read diversely, I admit, that I frequently had problems with names and remembering, what or who they referred to since they were very unfamiliar to me. I probably should have made a list of people, places, spirits, and events, so that I could properly identify them throughout the story.
I was a bit skeptical when I realized that the big showdown only happened in the last ~50 pages because it felt like not enough time, but it was. No big rush, no cut corners.
At the end of book one, Tarisai was recognized as raybearer and empress. She made a deal with the abiku (kinda the demons of the underworld) that she has to anoint all 12 rulers of the different kingdoms and then go to the underworld as the final redemptor, to save all future redemptor children from being sacrificed.
And that is, what she does. Working as an empress, trying to anoint the kings, and changing the world to be better for everyone. And all the time, she slowly turns mad, because the abiku use the souls of the previously sacrificed redemptor children (ojiji) to not only protect her against assassins but also to isolate her and guilt her.
Me, as a German, who has pretty much no contact with African culture and who just started to read diversely, I admit, that I frequently had problems with names and remembering, what or who they referred to since they were very unfamiliar to me. I probably should have made a list of people, places, spirits, and events, so that I could properly identify them throughout the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, War, and Death
Minor: Child death