A review by bazayas
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

adventurous 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

4.5

Raised in an isolated palace by tutors, half-demon Tarisai only wants to please her distant mother, who made her to fulfill her one command: become close to the Crown Prince and kill him. But when Tarisai meets the Prince and is drawn into his chosen family, where she can have the intimacy she never had, she’s caught between giving in and erasing who she is—unless she can make her own destiny. 

Drawing from multiple African mythologies, as well as other cultures, the worldbuilding is incredible. It’s a gorgeous read, with descriptions that made me long for a tv show that could do justice to the costumes. The story is perfectly plotted, hitting all the right beats and pulling out some twists and turns. My one issue is that we don’t get to KNOW Tar’s “chosen family” beyond like 3 fleshed out characters and 2 vague characters—the other 5 barely speak. 12 friends is a tall order—but it’s possible and if they had been more filled in this would’ve been an easy 5/5 for me. 

CW/TW:

child abuse & neglect; implied SA; parental death; domestic violence; death (war, murder)

For fans of:

African mythology; political intrigue; monster girlies; mother-daughter conflicts; found family; lost princess; strong women; friends to lovers; critiques of imperialism