A review by thenovelmaura
The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker

adventurous dark fast-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

Whatever I expected when I first picked up this book, Lee Baker threw those expectations out the window from the very first page. This was a fast-paced, borderline villain-origin story, so you have to like your characters morally grey in order to enjoy this one. And the book is gruesome! These monsters from Japanese folklore are terrifyingly described, but that's what makes the fight scenes so enthralling. Ren's anger at her treatment as a biracial Reaper-Shinigami and her confusion about her identity are so relatable to those of us who have been there. I also liked the prominent and complex sibling relationship between Neven and Ren. His involvement ended up making things a lot more interesting than if Ren had undertaken the journey on her own.

Something about the pacing didn't sit quite right with me; events could happen so quickly that they ended up feeling brushed over. This fed into the instalove relationship that ended up feeling shallow, as well. Personally, I liked the ending and don't necessarily think it needs a sequel, but I'm curious to see where Lee Baker will go with the story. All that being said, if you're looking for an intense rollercoaster of a YA fantasy, then this may be the book for you!
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