I throughly enjoyed reading this book, it was delightfully different to other fantasies out there in the best way. Ifueko’s world building transports you to Aritsar and Tarisai’s life, this is a book that you can’t bear to put down. While events in the story happened seemingly in rapid succession, I think it works, because nothing feels like a placeholder or pause before the story continues; the story is always happening.

All of the characters in this book are so unique and complex and written in such a way that I can envision them standing before me. A lot of the characters are definitely lovable and even those who may not be are given reasons for their negative traits, but these are never presented as excuses for their bad behaviour. 

I found myself relating the themes of this book and the societal issues within the story to our real world, such as sexism and equality. Can people who have been pushed down for so long rise up against the system? I’ll let you read and find out.

While there were these positive things, I was confused by the lodestones (idk if this is the right spelling), because I couldn’t quite imagine what they   looked like, which brought me out of my immersion a bit.

One things I wasn’t expecting was Ekundayo’s asexuality. I am pleasantly surprised that this was presented in this book, and that it linked with Dayo’s character and the story as a whole. I hope this will be seen more in the second book.

Overall, a great story with a brilliant cast of characters and can’t wait to get my hands on the second book.

Raybearer is one of the books you can't put down. If your a fan of found family and stories about breaking cycles of abuse, this book is for you. The Lady shows an abuse child that grows up to hurt others on the way she was hurt. Tarsai is a abused child who grew up wanting to do things that would help instead of hurt. Sanjeet is also another abused and also bullied child that choose to protect and heal instead of seeking vengeance or choosing to inflict pain to make other hurt they way he has. This is also a story of women erased from history and how child are often  sacrificed to preserve the status quo. It not just about breaking the cycle of abuse and finding purpose outside the life parents wish for you, but it also about do what is right even if it not easy to make a better world for everyone. Frankly, this is my favorite read in 2021 so far.

The only thing I really wanted more from in the story would be the other count members outside of Sanjeet and Kirah. Tarsai talk about the fondly and says she loves them like family, but we only get a few interactions with them. Often, the other members blend together because we don't hear enough or speak to them enough for them to stand out in the way Dayo, Sanjeet, and Kirah do. However, they don't do much in the grand scheme of the story compared to Dayo, Sanjeet, and Kirah so I can see why they weren't as fleshed out.

THIS WAS SO GOOD

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko is a West-African inspired fantasy novel following Tarisai, the girl from Swana confined to her childhood home, Bhekina House, invisible to outsiders, where she learned everything aside from who she was and how the emperor and his councils worked. When she is sent to the capital of the Aritsar empire with nothing but her ability to see people’s memories, longing only for the mother who remained distant from her entire childhood, she is amazed to find a new family, one who loves her and wants her.

Having struggled to read much of anything for the past few years, I came to a realisation that if I were to rekindle (no pun intended) my love of reading and kickstart a new reading habit, I was going to have to come at it a little differently. No more reading things because I felt I should or I was told a book was great. I’m a big mood reader, so this time around I’d find a book I’m in the mood to read, and read it. The idea is to attempt reading more during the day, rather than at night when I end up making excuses and procrastinating instead. So I picked up my Kindle and just picked something at random, something that looked intriguing and landed on Raybearer, which I believe I picked up in a Kindle sale back in January. Eleven days later, I’d finished the book, and heck it was a great read!

When I’m looking for a book, I need a few things. Primarily, the characters have to have some depth. If I don’t love the characters, the story will be a grind. I also need the writing to flow around the story, showing me the world and everything within it. If I can feel the story, the writing is spot on. And of course, the world, the magic, and the story itself need to enchant me. Raybearer did all of this and more.

Ifueko’s prose weaves a tale as beautiful as though it were told by Am the Storyteller themself, often leaving me in awe of the lyrical nature her words can take, and scattered throughout were folk songs sung by the locals of the Arit empire, creating a very real sense of a world and its beautifully diverse cultures, which is effective in making you care about what happens to its people, how they are treated, and what happens to them.

The characters were complex and interesting. I did grow frustrated with Tarisai at times, though she acted like a teenager who was still discovering who she was, working through years of emotional abuse. Sanjeet was adorable in his determination to protect the ones he loved most. Kirah provided a spark of sisterhood that Tarisai always needed in her life. And Ekundayo is the sweethearted young boy that you want for Tarisai, his kindness, and attempts to do right always a comfort. Then there’s The Lady, Tarisai’s mother, I hate her and how she treated Tarisai her entire life and there was a moment late in the story when Tar is talking about abusive parents with another character and I’ll admit, it spoke to me and my own relationship with my own mother, it really hit home. The Lady, though heinous, does have a history and reasons for being the way she is. It doesn’t excuse it and we know that, but she’s an interesting character, for sure.

I read so much medieval European inspired fantasy that the entirety of the Arit empire was like a breath of warm but fresh air. It actually woke me up to the diversity I’m lacking in my fantasy reading and I’m dying to read so much more fiction inspired by all sorts of worldwide cultures now. The way each country is described is wonderful, but none so wondrous as Swana’s savannah with it’s little specks of light from the tutsu sprites, the fae creatures within, the trees, the people. It feels alive and very real and I long to go there. I was utterly enchanted by the world Ifueko has created.

The magic system is an interesting one. There is magic that can be learned, though many do not. Most of the magic comes from the emperor’s ray and people’s Hallows, a random ability granted at birth. Tarisai’s ability to see people’s memories, take them, grant them, is her Hallow, and each member of the Emperor’s Council must have their own, as well. From healing magic to illusions. It is fascinating. Learned magic is more elemental in nature, and I dearly hope we get to experience more of it in future books.

There were a few moments, maybe halfway through, where I felt some of the dialogue and the reasons behind things felt a little contrived but this didn’t last too long before I was drawn right back into the magic of that beautiful prose once more.

Overall, I loved this book. It was just what I needed after such a long reading slump and I absolutely went ahead and preordered the follow-up, Redemptor, due for release in August. I recommend Raybearer to anybody looking for something a little bit different and hey, the brief asexual representation was wonderful too. But no spoilers from me! 

This was such a beautiful, incredible book. I loved the plot, the characters, the writing, and honestly, I don't have anything bad to say about it. Writing style is so important to me, and every word of this book just filled me with such joy. I gave this to my younger brother to read before my loan at the library expires, and I will be recommending it to any teens or adults I come across from now on! I cannot wait for the sequel!!

This book has such incredible things to say about different types of love, systems vs. individuals, admitting & fighting historical prejudice, found family, pride, empathy, the importance of names, cycles of abuse, gaslighting, and even gossip. There is asexual and queer representation, and it's unquestioningly accepted by the characters, which is so great for young people to read. The characters are racially diverse, and I didn't take issue with the clear real-life inspirations for the different lands. I loved learning about the magic as well as the religions of Aritsar, and as a government major, I loved the political aspect as well. READ THIS BOOK!! :) 

WOW. JUST WOW.

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I wasn't even thinking about reading it to begin with. Yet here we are.

This is one of those books where you should know as little as possible going in, so I won't give you a synopsis. Instead, I'm gonna leave you with my messy it's-1am-and-i-just-finished-reading-a-5star-book thoughts.

I'm still amazed with the crafting of this book. Every fantasy requires a high dose of imagination from the writer, they're building up a whole new world out of thin air, after all. But this book. This book. It baffles me how someone can come up with a world so intricate as this one with this level of detail. It's not just the world-building, it's the magic system, the politics... The whole thing is chef's kiss perfection.

And the characters. Yes, there were some council members we didn't really get to see much of, but the characters we did get to know had layers to them, a backstory, I knew who they were and why they did what they did. Let's talk about The Lady and all the work that went into her as a character. Do I hate her? Do I feel sorry for her? Is she the villain? Aren't we not all villains in someone's story? The way she was crafted was so great I can't really say anything else because I don't have words.

Everything in this book was brilliant and unlike anything I have ever read. I think that's all I need to say. 

There are SO many amazing-looking diverse YA fantasies coming out these days, so many new series are starting, and it's awesome! But also, I feel so behind in getting to them. I cannot keep up! And I'm also a little nervous about starting them all and then not following through on finishing. I have a weird ability (curse?) to do that and I end up starting so many series that I don't finish. (I do it with tv shows, too - my partner hates it.) But I feel guilty waiting til the entire series is published to binge-read it, becasue that doesn't help ensure that the publication continues. And I don't know what to do! Anyways, me and my anxiety will continue to sit with that. But in the meantime, I finally got around to this series-opener, thanks in large part to the fact that I received the audiobook as an ALC from Libro.fm. 

 

Raybearer opens with Tarisai being raised in isolation, tutored intensely by caregivers under the direction of her oft-absent mother. Then, she is suddenly thrust out into the world in a most dramatic way, competing to become one of the Crown Prince of Aritsar's Council of 11. If she is picked, she'll become connected to the Prince and the rest of the council through the Ray, making them closer even than family. Tarisai wants more than anything to have that kind of bond after her lonely childhood, but she tries to resist because she knows that if she agrees, she'll be forced to follow through on her mother's magic wish, a wish that she cannot help but complete, to kill the Crown Prince once she's gained his trust. But the history of her mother's magical wish is even more intense and fraught than Tarisai knows and, as the story comes out, she realizes that she is much more, and has a much greater purpose, than she'd ever anticipated. 

 

This was a spectacular high fantasy novel. The concept and world-building were amazing and so in depth. The idea of the Ray-bound Council of 11, making the Emperor basically immortal (with the exception/loop-hole of being killed by the hands of one of those 11) was so original. And the depth of the world itself, the different realms, the way they are each represented on the Council, the magic and magic system, the detailed history of the Aritsar Kingdom, and ESPECIALLY the foundational mythology of the nation and how the central ideology and Council of 11 was invented, was wonderful. I did have some questions about the entire Redemptor/Songland storyline... I mean, I get that that's the "big deal situation" that the rest of the series is building to, based on the ending and since Tarisai's mother/magic wish situation was wrapped up in the opening book, but it seemed like an afterthought and not as developed as the rest of the world and plot. I am assuming it'll get more delved into later, but to be honest, it just didn't feel as right included here. There was so much packed into this first novel - I had a sensation of being pulled along by the story and the numerous twists and turns (like, my goodness, there was never a moment to take a breath with everything that happened and the years passing) and I loved that. The *need* to keep turning pages is a great reading experience, always, and I will never be mad about it. But there were definitely a few times where things felt a bit rushed. I can tell you for sure that this was in part because of how many characters were introduced over such a short period of time and, with years and years passing from the start of the book to the end, there were a lot of relationships to work on understanding and buying into. Honestly though, I was impressed with how much I was invested in most of them, especially the big ones, like Tarisai with her mother, the Crown Prince Dayo, Kirah and Sanjeet, and even with Woo In. There was great casual diversity in their backgrounds, interests, types of relationships (the focus on found family was wonderful and there was an ace side-character), goals/plans, etc. 

 

I want to also point out a few major themes that I really loved. First, and in main part, the pitfalls of forcing a "melting pot" situation. There is no real unity that comes from being forced, and requiring people to lose their individuality in order to come together as a single nation/people is doomed to failure. We all have our own strengths and things we bring to the table and there is real beauty and importance in recognizing that and celebrating differences, individually and culturally. I hope that we get even more of that as further background in the coming novels about the split between Aritsar and Songland is developed. I was also, of course, into the power grab situation that led to a single male heir to the throne of Aritsar and the hidden history of the female leader(s)/sister to the first Emperor. It's such a clear indictment of the way power can corrupt and a wonderful reclaiming of power from males by females. I appreciated everything Tarisai did to undermine and reclaim that history as she learned more about her own lineage and came into her own power/position. 

 

Overall, like I said, this was a really original and stunning fantasy. I hesitate to say visually stunning, since it is a novel, but that's how it felt to me as it played out, in my head and as I listened to it unfold (because let me just say, the narrator crushed it).  A super lush and detailed new world was laid out as the plot unfolded and I found myself irresistibly pulled along by the many twists. Tarisai was a wonderful and strong leading lady, soft and tough in perfect measure, and I'm definitely planning to pick up her story when the sequel comes out! 

 

“You write your story, not the people who came before you.” 

 

“I hope you never win the pride of a monster, Tarisai. It’s worse than their contempt.” 

 

“‘Why does everyone hate change so much?’ I demanded. ‘Because things could get worse.’ ‘Maybe. But do you know what I think? […] I think deep down, we’re afraid that things could get better. Afraid to find out that all the evil – all the suffering we ignore – could have been prevented. If only we cared enough to try.’” 

 

“Was it better to have a perfect solution that I couldn’t enforce? Or a weak solution that everyone loved?” 

 

“No, we don’t deserve the burdens that our parents gave us. But we can’t defeat monsters that we won’t face.” 

 

“You don’t have to help me change the world. But you mark my words; when I get going, this world will change. And you can be a part of that…or you can stand back and watch.” 

 

“But our greatest good is the one we can’t contain: compassion, loyalty, softness, fierceness. The ability to win hearts, or recognize beauty, or weather a storm…Our gift could be anything really. And when we use our greatest good for something beyond ourselves, that’s our best desire. Our purpose.” 

 

“Uniformity is not unity. Silence is not peace.” 

 

“Peace comes when stories are celebrated, not erased.” 

 

 

 

 

 

I picked this up via Libby from my local library purely based off the gorgeous cover and it was beautiful. I loved the world that was unrolled before me and how the characters changed and grew.

The Good:
- A different and diverse fantasy. The way leadership was set up was interesting and different from anything I've read before.
- The many facets of the land were beautifully described. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of Swana.
- The ending was just right in that it wrapped certain things up but also created lots of routes the second book could go down.

What Could Have Been Better?:
- I'm aware this is YA but sometimes the characters behaved in ways that seemed too young or out of character.
- Some of the plot lines were more interesting than others and consequently made for different enjoyment levels during different parts of the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the sequel which, I believe, is out in August.