Raybearer (Raybearer Series #1) by Jordan Ifueko
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Web ID: 16223814Ella Enchanted, But Better
I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read this, but that's how I am, always late to the party. I'm excited to read Redemptor after this, with the hopes that Raybearer will have adequately adjusted me to a story that's higher fantasy than what I usually read (I'm more of a casual fantasy, low stakes kinda girl). I feel like this review is lacking, but I don't even know what to say. I had an awesome time reading this while I did a ton of brain numbing data entry and customer communication today. I enjoyed the world building, learning about the different realms, "watching" the council as they grew up and explored their powers and the world around them. Plus Tarisai's relationship with The Lady? Ouch. Yikes. I felt that a little too deeply. Also faeries and giant leopards?????? What's not to like!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Mythical coming of age tale
Tarisai has been raised in isolation and wishes only to have friends, to belong. When her mother sends her to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s eleven council members, Tarisai is bound by a terrible order: kill the prince. This book was a little hard to get into at first due to detailed world-building and backstory that jumped around a bit. Once Tarisai begins the testing process and meets the prince, the world-building slipped in more seamlessly and I was engaged in the unfolding story. Dayo, the prince, was kind of a flat character for a while but I loved the depth of Sanjeet, another candidate for the council, from his first introduction. The relationship between Sanjeet and Tarisai was beautiful as they shared pieces of their difficult histories and grew closer. Woo In was also a wonderfully-crafted, complex character. As a few members of the Prince’s council became disillusioned by the reality of their world, I wished for a bit of a faster pace to reveal plot details and take action, but this story was unique and lovely—discussing loyalty, love, fate, family, and leadership. I’ll definitely read the conclusion of this duology in the near future.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Immersive worldbuilding, great characters
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko is an epic debut and a beautiful story about friendship, family, and the fight to stay true to one’s self. A young adult novel, this book is a great choice for those who are fans of tropes like the chosen one, love triangles, found family, and platonic life partners. Readers are introduced to Tarisai, our main character when she’s a child, and follow her as she grows up. We later learn that all of the training and lessons she was subjected to during childhood were designed to prepare her for the moment that the prince would choose his council of eleven. The promise of a family that will never leave her excites Tarisai, but the magical wish that the “Lady” (Tarisai’s mother) has enacted to force her to kill the prince leaves a dark cloud over the situation. Torn between her genuine care for the prince and the magic that compels her to obey her mother’s command, Tarisai is forced to fight fate and choose her own path. I enjoyed how Tarisai’s journey as a heroine was not defined by romance (though there is a slow-burn romance in the works in this book for those who are interested). Fierce heroines are always a plus for me, and Tarisai embodies all of that description and more. While Tarisai is fierce, she is also strengthened by the care and love from her council siblings. It’s so rare to see such strong platonic love between characters in young adult fantasy novels these days, and I was all here for it. I’m crossing my fingers in the hope that readers will get to learn more about the other council members (besides Sanjeet, Dayo, and Kirah) in the sequel. The worldbuilding is off the charts in this book, and definitely one of my favorite (if not my favorite) parts of the book. It’s immersive, and readers can happily lose themselves in it while reading. While this is definitely a fantasy world, it’s diverse and has a realistic feel that gives you the impression it could be something that could exist in our world with minimal differences. The idea of “Hollows”, or magical abilities, and how they play into the selection of the Emperor’s council of Eleven was unique and interesting. I also really enjoyed how the cultural aspect played into the worldbuilding, and how many characters are driven by their desire to belong. Overall, Raybearer is one of my favorite fantasy reads so far this year. Readers who pick this book up can expect a budding (almost slow-burn romance), amazing characters, and off-the-charts world-building. If you have the opportunity, I would definitely recommend listening to the audiobook as the narrator Jonieve Abbott-Pratt did an amazing job. I’m excited to read Redemptor and learn how the final chapter of Tarisai’s story ends. Trigger Warnings: Attempted Murder, Child Abuse (Neglect), Graphic Violence, Death of Loved One, Death of Children
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Counting Down Until the Release of Redemptor
This fantasy truly had everything: Vibrant cultures, world-building, and songs A heroine carving her own destiny Friends that would do anything for one another Complicated parent/child relationships An asexual prince! This debut is incredible and thus far my vote for the best new release of 2020. I hope that Jordan Ifueko becomes a household name for favorite authors. I can’t wait to read what she writes next.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com