Name: The Keeper of Night
ISBN: 9781335405661

Kylie Lee Baker

"Sharp and seductive...a fantasy with teeth." --Julie C. Dao, author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns A girl of two worlds, accepted by none... A half Reaper, half Shinigami soul collector seeks her destiny in this haunting and compulsively readable dark fantasy set in 1890s Japan. Death is her destiny. Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami, Ren Scarborough has been collecting souls in the London streets for centuries. Expected to obey the harsh hierarchy of the Reapers who despise her, Ren conceals her emotions and avoids her tormentors as best she can. When her failure to control her Shinigami abilities drives Ren out of London, she flees to Japan to seek the acceptance she's never gotten from her fellow Reapers. Accompanied by her younger brother, the only being on earth to care for her, Ren enters the Japanese underworld to serve the Goddess of Death...only to learn that here, too, she must prove herself worthy. Determined to earn respect, Ren accepts an impossible task--find and eliminate three dangerous Yokai demons--and learns how far she'll go to claim her place at Death's side.

The Keeper of Night

Liz Griffin

"Why am I the only one with no say in who I am?"

Abigail F

Death brought humans fear, and fear made humans interesting. Without Death, humans would grow complacent and stale.

It turned out that Death drew all of us close, even if we weren't aware of it.

I was nothing but Death that bled from every organ and anger so vicious that it could tear the sky to shreds, drain the oceans dry, and crack the universe in two.

Death is not a dog you can teach to roll over. You can set her loose on others, but she does as she wishes.

Interesting concept but the story line felt rushed. The relationships felt unrealistic. I didn’t feel connected to the FMC and the last 75 pages fell very flat. 

*Review originally published for TheNerdDaily

“How could I possibly feel so close to the precipice of unraveling, so powerful yet so untethered?”

 is a dark historical fantasy YA novel inspired by Japanese folklore and mythology. Half British Reaper and half Japanese Shinigami soul collector, Ren Scarborough has never felt like she belonged. However, one fateful night, in 1800s London, Ren’s Shinigami powers manifest and, as she loses control of them, she injures some High Reapers. Knowing she would be severely punished, she decides to flee to Japan, along with her half-brother, Neven. There she hopes to find her true identity and to be accepted by other Shinigami. This quest for belonging and respect, and desire to serve the Goddess of  Death will certainly take Ren to places she didn’t expect when she embarked on this journey.

Kylie Lee Baker’s world building is magnificent. Through the main character, the author effortlessly eases the readers through a world so vibrant and intricate and introduces us to underworld creatures such as Shinigami (death spirits), Yokai (supernatural spirits) and the nine-tailed fox. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know anything about Japanese mythology because it’s explained in a simple and easy to understand way. The visuals and imagery are extremely vivid and entrancingly beautiful whilst also being gruesome and dark at the same time. All that, accompanied by a plot that’s extremely fast paced along with the author’s compelling writing make 

a novel that will keep you glued to its pages at all times. That being said, there are some flaws and issues but they were mostly resolved by the end or proven to be intentional. And the climax of the book is definitely unexpected and exciting as well. We’ll be desperately waiting for the sequel!!

The characters themselves are another strong point of the book. Morally grey characters are always fun and interesting to read, and we definitely have those here. Ren is a great main character, even though she does questionable things her motivations are interesting and what makes her feel real and therefore one can’t help but root for her. She’s tough and resilient but she also feels sorry for herself a lot and questions her own morals. The book is deeply rooted in Ren’s struggles with being biracial and her quest for validation. She’s constantly caught between two cultures and trying to figure out where she belongs since there are no examples that show her that she can embrace both. It will certainly strike a cord with biracial or diaspora readers.

On the other hand, her brother Neven sometimes seems to be the only voice of reason and one can’t help but feel for him. The relationship and dynamics between these two siblings is painful to read at times but it’s clearly evident that they care so much for each other. The other main character who will accompany the siblings on their journey is Hiro. His character has so much depth, certainly a character that keeps surprising the reader. Maybe the only critique here would be the insta-love relationship between him and Ren, it’s frustrating even though it does take the reader to unexpected places.

Overall, with themes of belonging, identity, family, and love 

is a wickedly delightful read that perfectly blends a rich historical setting with magic and mystery. With morally grey characters, unexpected turns, and a ton of dark folklore and fantasy elements, 

 is definitely one novel you’ll want to have by your side this season.

anna

*Review originally published for TheNerdDaily

“How could I possibly feel so close to the precipice of unraveling, so powerful yet so untethered?”

Kylie Lee Baker’s first work The Keeper of Night is a dark historical fantasy YA novel inspired by Japanese folklore and mythology. Half British Reaper and half Japanese Shinigami soul collector, Ren Scarborough has never felt like she belonged. However, one fateful night, in 1800s London, Ren’s Shinigami powers manifest and, as she loses control of them, she injures some High Reapers. Knowing she would be severely punished, she decides to flee to Japan, along with her half-brother, Neven. There she hopes to find her true identity and to be accepted by other Shinigami. This quest for belonging and respect, and desire to serve the Goddess of  Death will certainly take Ren to places she didn’t expect when she embarked on this journey.

Kylie Lee Baker’s world building is magnificent. Through the main character, the author effortlessly eases the readers through a world so vibrant and intricate and introduces us to underworld creatures such as Shinigami (death spirits), Yokai (supernatural spirits) and the nine-tailed fox. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know anything about Japanese mythology because it’s explained in a simple and easy to understand way. The visuals and imagery are extremely vivid and entrancingly beautiful whilst also being gruesome and dark at the same time. All that, accompanied by a plot that’s extremely fast paced along with the author’s compelling writing make The Keeper of Night a novel that will keep you glued to its pages at all times. That being said, there are some flaws and issues but they were mostly resolved by the end or proven to be intentional. And the climax of the book is definitely unexpected and exciting as well. We’ll be desperately waiting for the sequel!!

The characters themselves are another strong point of the book. Morally grey characters are always fun and interesting to read, and we definitely have those here. Ren is a great main character, even though she does questionable things her motivations are interesting and what makes her feel real and therefore one can’t help but root for her. She’s tough and resilient but she also feels sorry for herself a lot and questions her own morals. The book is deeply rooted in Ren’s struggles with being biracial and her quest for validation. She’s constantly caught between two cultures and trying to figure out where she belongs since there are no examples that show her that she can embrace both. It will certainly strike a cord with biracial or diaspora readers.

On the other hand, her brother Neven sometimes seems to be the only voice of reason and one can’t help but feel for him. The relationship and dynamics between these two siblings is painful to read at times but it’s clearly evident that they care so much for each other. The other main character who will accompany the siblings on their journey is Hiro. His character has so much depth, certainly a character that keeps surprising the reader. Maybe the only critique here would be the insta-love relationship between him and Ren, it’s frustrating even though it does take the reader to unexpected places.

Overall, with themes of belonging, identity, family, and love The Keeper of Night is a wickedly delightful read that perfectly blends a rich historical setting with magic and mystery. With morally grey characters, unexpected turns, and a ton of dark folklore and fantasy elements, The Keeper of Night is definitely one novel you’ll want to have by your side this season.

Gracie Marsden

The first 3/4 of this book would have gotten an enthusiastic 4 stars from me. The stories of Yokai and the immersive mythology were everything I wanted from this book! However, I really struggled with the final quarter. The tone and character personalities seemed to be from a different book altogether. Worth a read, though!

nina 

I absolutely loved this world and the magic/myths built into it. The concept of different types of soul collection and death magic across different cultures made for an amazing read. Plus I loved the idea of a mixed death-god race! 

At times though, I will admit, Ren was not my favorite character. She felt naive and selfish - though she blatantly admitted this many times over.  My working theory is that whatever curse the Reapers placed on her with death was eating away at her compassion and essentially amplify the darkness. But who knows. Also - I don’t buy the love interest. Didn’t get it honestly.  

But Neven - absolutely adored him. He truly loves unconditionally and I feel like that is something critical to the story that we don’t yet get to know. And god I hope he hasn’t actually died. I’m sure the compassion he showed to the yokai will play a big role in the next book.  

Tace

I absolutely loved this world and the magic/myths built into it. The concept of different types of soul collection and death magic across different cultures made for an amazing read. Plus I loved the idea of a mixed death-god race! 

At times though, I will admit, Ren was not my favorite character. She felt naive and selfish - though she blatantly admitted this many times over.  My working theory is that whatever curse the Reapers placed on her with death was eating away at her compassion and essentially amplify the darkness. But who knows. Also - I don’t buy the love interest. Didn’t get it honestly.  

But Neven - absolutely adored him. He truly loves unconditionally and I feel like that is something critical to the story that we don’t yet get to know. And god I hope he hasn’t actually died. I’m sure the compassion he showed to the yokai will play a big role in the next book.  

I can’t wait to read the sequel.

✓ Dark Fantasy

✓ Japanese mythology 

✓ Sibling bonds

It was like watching a teen make a really bad mistake and know they will regret it for ever

Mel Contin

Vilandra

This book felt like a fairytale, and I really enjoyed a story based in Japanese myth rather than the ones we see all the time. I also liked the flawed main character - so often “strong females” are one dimensional, but that wasn’t the case here. Looking forward to the second book.

Kristen Claiborn

I have mentioned before that I rarely know a lot about a book prior to cracking it open and digging in. This one, outside of knowing it was fantasy (only because of the title), was completely unknown to me. It wasn’t until about 30% of the way in that I finally looked up the synapsis and discovered it was considered a young adult novel. 
	Oh HELL no. I view the young adult genre as geared towards 4th-8th graders. High schoolers are capable of reading and understanding “adult” books (most of which are written at a 4th-8th grade level), so the young adult genre is aimed at younger readers. My niece is one of those readers, and there isn’t even a remote chance I would recommend this book to my brother for her. It’s entirely too gruesome. There’s nothing wrong with that, but maybe we should hold off on forcing death and destruction down the throats of still-developing young brains. Fourth graders should be reading much more uplifting material (yes, this is my opinion, I understand others might not agree with me. I respectfully think they’re wrong). 
	This book is incredibly well-conceived. The idea of each area of the world having it’s own keepers of death is fascinating, and might actually get me out of my research funk to do a little additional reading on this subject. I applaud the author for giving these creatures human-like features and lives, despite the small fact they eat souls for a living. It’s quite the imaginative tale. 
	However, the opening of the story seemed rushed and stunted to me. There wasn’t a whole lot of development into Ren’s backstory, and her rush to flee from London seemed, well, rushed. The brutal bullying Ren endured towards the beginning is the first of many examples of why I don’t feel like this book is suitable for the young adult designation. Then she got to Japan and it became murderous….almost gratuitously gory even. There was death and destruction, murder, dismemberment…and a lot of random hair. It just was too much. And this is coming from a Stephen king fanatic. 
	I’m going to read the second one, because I really want to know where this author is going to take this story. However, I don’t really recommend this one.

Amanda

This book is pretty dark, especially at the start and end. However it is also really, really well-written and very exciting. I very much enjoyed most of the story and if you can handle a bit of gore (not too intense, but it's there) and some questionable, almost dubcon "romantic" scenes, then I highly recommend it. The story is fantastic.
https://certifiednoonas.com/2021/10/2...

Rich with Japanese folklore and featuring a prickly morally gray protagonist, The Keeper of Night doesn’t shy away from the gritty obstacles facing a biracial heroine feeling like an outcast in “both” worlds.

Rich with Japanese folklore and featuring a prickly morally gray protagonist, The Keeper of Night doesn’t shy away from the gritty obstacles facing a biracial heroine feeling like an outcast in “both” worlds.

CW: gore/body horror, blood, death

Megan Lowe

3.5 stars.

This book was quite challenging for me.
I wanted to love it, as a biracial person I was so excited to see a biracial character. But this book is not something I’d usually read if I knew all that entails.
This book is dark. And gruesome. And very spooky. 
I liked the twists and turns but there were so many times when I flat out disagreed with what happened. I really don’t like doing that with books I read.
This is a great book for people who like dark, who like horror. There are moments I loved, but the overall feel of the book just wasn’t for me. Sorry!

Lia Yuliana

Update 23/09/2021

Find my reviews on :  An Ode to Fiction
Official Release Date : 12th October 2021
Playlist :  Spotify 
Buy the book :
 Amazon |  Book Depository

4/5 ⭐️


  
    Death, didn’t need to find me because it was always there, in my blood and bones. I was made of Death.
  


ARC provided by the publisher Inkyard Press / Harper Collins through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review as part of blog tour organized by TBR and Beyond Tours

The Keeper of Night is an enticing dark fantasy story about identity and belonging that is perfect for this spooky season.

First and foremost I would like to thank TBR and Beyond Tours for choosing me as one of the many amazing book bloggers for The Keeper of Night tour from October 11th to October 17th. Thank you as well to the author and publisher Inkyard Press / Harper Collins for providing an ARC (Advance Readers Copy) as part of this blog tour.


  
    Everywhere in the world was its own hell.
  


When I first looked for books that will be releasing in 2021 earlier this year I stumbled upon this book being mentioned on my Twitter timeline. The cover reveal and interview that CW from The Quiet Pond did got me hooked and Kylie did mention briefly about the premise which further peaked my interest. At first I really tried getting the ARC (Advance Readers Copy) from NetGalley but I got denied. Thankfully because of this blog tour I can read books that at first weren’t accessible to me so I’m very happy about it when I got to join in to promote it. The cover illustration of the book is done by Jessica Coppet and directed by Kathleen Oudit. It is so beautiful how every time I look at it I see new details! It’s a cover that definitely stands out from the rest.

The Keeper of Night is the first book to a dark young adult fantasy series based of Shinto mythology and Japanese folklore. In this debut Kylie Lee Baker explores themes about identity, family, love, power, death, and a sense of belonging. The story follows Ren Scarborough, a half Reaper and half Shinigami girl that has lived for centuries collecting souls of the dead in London. Being a biracial child Ren is often bullied and treated badly by her fellow Reapers. Even her own father and step mother doesn’t acknowledge her or help her when she is in need. One day when a confrontation with other London reapers went awry, Ren is forced to runaway from her home to avoid execution. Together with Ren’s half brother, Neven, they set out on a journey to Japan, the home land of her Shinigami heritage, to find her mother. But having family ties isn’t enough to be acknowledged as a Shinigami. Ren will need to prove herself to the leader of Yomi and embrace the light that she’s been suppressing all her life.


  
    “Why am I the only one with no say in who I am?”
  


Kylie’s writing is enchantingly dark and atmospheric engulfing readers within the world that gradually becomes more haunting as the story goes. There is dread creeping slowly that follows not only the characters but also the reader. The writing emphasized the darkness of the story with it’s precise, descriptive, and nuanced world building. The setting provides an atmospheric depth to the story adding a layer of eeriness, especially when the characters visit Yomi, the underworld that is ruled by Izanami. Kylie created a world that is unique filled to brim with Shinto mythology and Japanese folklore that I find fascinating. The Yokai that are mentioned and the lore of Shinigami in the story are some of the few that I’ve known from watching animes that are loosely inspired by Shinto mythology and Japanese folklore such as, Bleach, Nurarihyon, and Shounen Onmyoji. I’ve seen plenty of animes with worlds based of this but I’ve never read a book before with this setting and magic system. This is what attracted me to The Keeper of Night in the first place and it is what makes this story all the much more meaningful. It is unique and a refreshing story in young adult fantasy that has never been done before in my opinion.

The gripe I have with the world is the magic system overall because it is vague and abstract specifically the Shinigami side. I wanted to know more about the magic as it plays a big part in the story. It is sad that the story offered only glimpses of the capabilities of being a Shinigami or Reaper. Personally, I had a hard time grasping the scenes when the Shinigami magic is used in the story. For the Reaper part it’s a simple concept as it is straightforward and easily understood. The magic is used mostly during combat and there are a lot of encounters between the party and other beings. During these encounters in my opinion the action scenes isn’t gritty enough for my taste. There’s always an easy solution to the fights that made me think the stakes were too easy. But that’s just me! I still enjoyed the story even though I had thoughts about the magic and action. If readers don’t mind it shouldn’t become a hindrance. Hopefully in the sequel these factors could improve because I do see a lot of potential for it to be more impactful.


  
    The idea of being nothing and no one was so much scarier than dying.
  


As a reviewer characters are one of the many important factors that make or break a story for me. While reading The Keeper of Night there are three major characters that are introduced and they are : Ren, Neven, and Hiro. Kylie did a great job with the characterization as each character are distinct, well fleshed out, and have clear motivations. The character development in the story are gradual and full of intent that is in harmony with the plot as a whole. Though there are a few moments it felt slightly rushed and inconsistent I could easily overlook it because the way I see it the characterization overall is good. The brother and sister dynamic between Ren and Neven are believable and heart warming. It is reflected on page how strong and deep their bond is with each other. Neven acts as balancing agent and good conscience to Ren’s chaotic and cold demeanor. Hiro on the other hand is the character I have slight issues with as his characterization is weaker compared to Ren and Neven. Hiro is the mysterious fishing spirit that aids Ren and Neven on their quest. In my opinion, Hiro’s character could’ve been explored a bit more since it took me a while to warm up to him. Ren’s relationship with Hiro is slightly insta-lovey at first but after I marinated my thoughts I finally understood the intent behind their dynamics. The way Kylie portrayed the rose tinted glasses and blinding infatuation that plagued these characters is commendable. I like how their relationship turned out as it is vital in the climax of the story shifting the narrative which opens up the story in preparation for the sequel.

Kylie weaved in many important and relevant themes in The Keeper of Night but the most prominent theme is about identity. Kylie weaved it through her characters, specifically through Ren, that any reader who is biracial can relate to. Being a Chinese-Indonesian myself I see the similarities of experiences Ren goes through that are parallel to my own. The struggle and inner conflict the character goes through are relatable and reflects in real life situations. Ren’s constant battle against herself as she tries to embrace a new identity in Japan but still being viewed as foreigner that doesn’t belong resonated with me. These moments is what led to Ren’s development that pushed her to make the choices that is monumental to the story. Acceptance and a sense of belonging are important factors for Ren, it didn’t connect with me while I was reading but after thinking about it for a while I finally understood the stakes and Ren’s position within the over arching plot.


  
    The names that she had fought for meant nothing in the loneliness of eternity.
  


Final thoughts, The Keeper of Night is a wonderful first book to a promising dark young adult series featuring intriguing world building, unique magic system, and strong characters that surprised me with it’s deep themes of identity and belonging. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as it is a fresh kind of young adult fantasy with intricate world building that is unique and heavily filled with culture. There aren’t many books like The Keeper of Night that is written by own voices authors of color that I know of. I’m glad I picked it up and I think everyone should too! If you’re looking for a book set in Japan with a world that is reminiscent of Animes such as Bleach, D Gray Man, or Demon Slayer I highly recommend for you to check out The Keeper of Night.

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Sierra

“Why am I the only one with no say in who I am?”

This book was so cool and I loved the premise of the main character who is a Reaper and harvests souls upon death. The main character, Ren, is morally gray and doesn't fit in with the other Reapers in late-1800s London. She's half Shinigami, a Japanese equivalent to a Reaper and soul collector, and seeks to reconnect with her Japanese side after centuries of enduring bullying by Reapers in London. She decides to run away with her brother and they end up caught up in a whole new version of darkness and death.

While it did take me a few chapters to really get into the story, it was worth it! I loved how intricately the legends and Japanese folklore combined to create a story that felt wholly original and fresh. Both the characters and the plot are complex and well done. It's an eerie read full of betrayal and uncertainty that leaves you completely enamored with the world by the end. The end leaves you wondering what direction the second book will take (it's a duology!) and I'll certainly be reading the sequel! If you're looking for something interesting and unique, this is it!

Carley Whitehead

I’m torn because I wanted to love this, but really didn’t. The main character wasn’t very likeable for one. For two, the “romance” felt both rushed and not very romantic at all. 

Leia Douglas

This was such a fun read for me. I loved Kylie’s descriptions of the world. This book is full of terrifying women and I loved that.
I’m a half Japanese woman born in the US and I too struggle with not feeling Japanese enough, but also not quite feeling like I fit in here, so I did relate to Ren’s struggle and desire to feel like she belonged somewhere. Overall just a fantastic and fun read.

Savannah Muron

the writing of this book is STELLAR. i love the descriptions and how an amazing picture of the setting and characters was created. i wanted to be absorbed in the plot much more than i was though. sadly, i thought it was slow to take off, and then the end seemed a bit rushed. the morally grey mc was a nice touch but something about her immaturity rubbed me the wrong way, even though i understand it was intended. either way i’m really excited to read the second book!! 

Maegan Kennedy

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an arc in exchange for an honest review. 


Set in 1890’s Japan, “The Keeper of Night” follows Ren, a girl who doesn’t know where she belongs in the world of the dead. She was raised as half Reaper but soon learns of the origins of the Shinigami, her other half , like her mother. She makes it her mission to become a full Shinigami and by doing so learns who and what is most important in her world. 

This book was absolutely incredible! It’s filled with rich Japanese mythology, betrayal, and even a bit of romance. I loved Ren’s character; I felt sorry for her and hurt with her at times while reading. Ren’s brother, Neven, was such a cinnamon roll. I just wanted to protect him with my whole being. I like Hiro’s character too and his story arc fit the story really well, even if it didn’t go the way I wanted. 

The writing style was easy to follow along with while still being enchanting, especially through the inclusion of the myths and legends. There were a couple terms I knew while reading which was cool but I also got to learn some new Japanese terms which is super neat. I also liked that this book didn’t hold back. Japanese mythology is terrifying. It’s gruesome and deadly and absolutely enticing! 

Without spoilers, the ending didn’t really go the way I was expecting. I like the way Baker ended it though. She definitely set it up for a sequel, while still having most things fully resolved. 

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to getting a physical copy for my collection. I highly recommend checking it out if you love learning about Japanese mythology!

Alyssa North

I’m now fully intrigued by Japanese folklore and I want more! I cannot wait for the sequel to this debut novel! This book was better than expected. I really enjoyed the dark mythical creatures surrounding everything that is DEATH. I can see how some people thought it was underwhelming as it did have some writing flaws, but I felt like the writing was to the point, great plot, and detailed enough to understand what was going on. Not every fantasy novel needs to be a 500+ page, 7 book series in order to be good.

CN. Holly

4 out of 5 stars, my dear this book feeds my inner darkness, me wanting to understand all about different cultures and just obsessing over anything with reapers too? Also my Husband's obsession with anime and hearing him talk about Shinigami's. I'll allow it. but this book. *chef's kiss*

(spoilers...) 

Let me preface this with, just because I enjoyed this book very much does not mean I liked the ending. There's a reason it's only a 4/5 stars. because I promise you the second I read the beginning of the end 'you dumb bitch' were the first words out my my mouth and I spent the next half day ranting to my husband about this ending. God bless this man for dealing with my ranting antics (I'm still not done ranting about the Night Circus) 

When I tell you I fell in love with this book even after they killed a CAT? that takes a lot. I was pissed and wanted to put it down, oh how did it hit harder once I realized she killed her brother (accidentally?) to marry this man she met after A WEEK?? Ma'am your brother left his comfort to go along with you to make sure you were safe and you left him for some dick you just met? no. I can't. 

She was amazing in this book Her brother was amazing in this book, this book was BEAUTIFULY written, I felt like i saw it on screen in my head it was amazing. and yet. in the last 20 pages I wanted to throw the fucking book against my wall. The passion i felt for this book, the AUDACITY OF THIS WOMEN. I'm just ready for the second book whenever it comes out... Kylie.... I'll be waiting. 

Sammie Piotrowski

I went into this book with very few expectations and an open mind, and I was pleasantly surprised. It incorporates Japanese mythology in a way similar to Percy Jackson, with the main character actually encountering the figures and fighting them. I found this so cool because I knew very little about Japanese myths, apart from the Kitsune (thank you Teen Wolf). The story itself was very good, and I loved the dynamic between Neven and Ren. Also, I enjoyed that Ren wasn’t always a moral character, and that her trauma actually affected how she viewed the world. I feel that we don’t see this a lot, especially in YA, so it was refreshing and I loved the darkness (literal and figurative) of this book. That ending was also INSANE. I had vibes for possible outcomes, but no way could I have predicted those last 50 pages. I cannot wait for the sequel!

Tatyana

Japanese Folklore, YA Fantasy.....it's a yes for me!! I enjoyed this book. It was literally a dark, slightly scary adventure. This literally reminded me of some anime shows I watch.
Definitely worth reading I just don't want to have to wait for the next book lol. Gotta love a cliffhanger.

Lily D

Really enjoyed it!! (Neven is a perfect angel and no one can convince me otherwise)

Sahi K

CW: bullying, assault, racial slurs, violence and gore

It’s probably more of a 4.5. 

I used to be quite disinterested in reading any dark fantasy until a while ago and probably why I used to read a lot of YA because they could be gritty but never too dark. But that changed when I started exploring books mostly written by BIPOC authors which blew all my assumptions about the subgenre, and I have read quite a few amazing ones since then. And that’s how I found this book on my tbr. And I find myself lucky that I received the audiobook advance copy because it was just wow. 

I didn’t know much going into this story, so it was actually a pretty surprise the way this book started. It set the tone for what was to come and it only got more intense. The author is brilliant at creating the atmosphere in this story. As we are dealing with Death and Reapers and Shinigami here, it’s really interesting how oppressive and suffocating the setting feels, even more augmented by Rebecca’s narration. The writing is very evocative and searingly emotional, forcing us to feel everything that’s happening. The story does start off a bit slow but immediately picks up once Ren reaches Japan and from then on, it’s like a bullet train ride with no brakes. The author also uses many creatures from Japanese folklore and mythology in her plot, interweaving their legends with the lives of our characters, making for a very exciting read. But the many confrontational scenes are what will leave a mark on any reader because they are very gory and violent and explicitly described, making them feel even more scary and horrifying when listening to them. 

Ren is a protagonist whose arc is a masterclass in characterization. She is biracial and has always been made to feel less and worthless and unwanted due to her mixed heritage, but she has kept it all bottled up because she doesn’t have much choice. But once the dam breaks, we get to see just how much rage and wrath she has been hiding and what she is ready to do to finally find her true place in this world. She is extremely frustrating as well as equally sympathetic at the same time, and that’s what makes her a compelling character. We want to hate her because she is making horrible decisions but also feel like she finally deserves to do what she wants. It’s a tale of contradictions, the descent into the thirst for power, the rise and fall and transformation of a powerful woman who is ultimately lonely despite being surrounded by thousands. 

And then we have Neven and Hiro. Neven is Ren’s brother, the compassionate and merciful among the two, who is the moral compass trying to pull away Ren from a path of no return. But he is not always successful because her deep anger and sadness is not something he can understand, because he has never had to feel unwanted or bullied because of his heritage. Hiro on the other hand is a charming man who instantly ignites a feeling in Ren, encouraging and supporting her in everything that she needs to do to achieve her goal, however distasteful the task might be. They are an unstoppable force when together and it’s easy to get lost in their love story. 

But ultimately this is a story of death, not love. The author weaves a terrific tale of power and anger and hope, and what happens when all three come together. This is harsh and brutal but extremely unforgettable, with the narrator’s voice remaining in our head long after we’ve finished listening to the audiobook. And what an ending that was. The last 10-15% seems both predictable and utterly shocking and it left me gasping because I couldn’t believe it all happened… and kept happening. I can only guess what more horrors we’ll have in store for us in the sequel but I’m ready to take the plunge.

Rina

*3.5
This book was quite twisted in a lot of ways and really does require an open mind. What brought this book up for me was the Japanese mythology. It was creepy, gruesome at times, but even then I remained interested. It wasn’t something I was able to read in other books. And the way this was woven into the setting and time period was great; it was fitting and set the vibe and tone of the book well. Another thing I enjoyed were the characters, Ren especially. I thought she was a great main character. She may have done and said some questionable things throughout the book, it didn’t stop me from rooting for her. She’s tough and harbors no regrets; caught between two cultures, constantly trying to figure out who she really is and where she belongs. 

What I didn’t like about the book though, was that some events - even dialogues- felt abrupt and out of the blue. Some scenes made me feel uneasy, a lot of these were in the last few chapters because honestly what was THAT. I thought the ending was a banger, don’t get me wrong, but I really wasn’t expecting that and I didn’t know it would lead there and now I still don’t know where things are going. Definitely awaiting the sequel.

Review found here as well.

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the arc!