The world building is fascinating with 12 different sections of the main character's home empire each with their own cultures, languages, and values, as well as a magic system along the lines of Pixie Hollow Talents with a side of blood magic and deals with demons. I loved the complicated main character with her conflicting motivations and ideals as well as the adorably sweet emperor to be and the precious love interest. I look forward to diving further into the politics in the next book!

TALENTED BRILLIANT INCREDIBLE AMAZING SHOW-STOPPING SPECTACULAR. QUITE POSSIBLY THE BEST YA FANTASY I'VE READ IN YEARS. I AM IN LOVE 😭😭😭

Not only is the prose in Raybearer Incredible, so is the world building, the character development, the themes— I couldn't stop reading, and when I wasn't reading I was Itching to come back to it.

Would recommend it if political drama, found family, reclaimed personhood and magic bonds all wrapped up in a richly built world told in beautiful prose are your thing.

The only other comment I have is against the pacing. Although it didn't feel precisely rushed, the events in this installment could have probably been covered in two books and that way we would've been given more time to take in the (fantastic!) world and some of the plot points— specially the political intrigue, which I loved, for the record.

But as it is I adored it, I was blown away and left in tears more than once and I can't wait to read the next installment.