GoodReads:
Nothing is more important than loyalty. But what if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy?
Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood.
That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself?
Book Information
Title: Raybearer
By: Jordan Ifueko
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Page Count: 496
Format: Paperback, Kindle [And Hardcover Fairyloot Edition!]
My Review
Let’s see what my notes have to say for this as I read it before its original release date was pushed to this month.
“Perfection with a pretty cover.”
I kinda feel like that would be the best way to just leave the review, but I guess I’ll try and give you all something more to go off of.
Why was this perfection for me?
There was an absolutely BRILLIANT cast of characters, love, betrayal, family, magic, tech and science, politics, and adventures abound, and that’s not listing everything.
This tale is told from Tar’s POV and I adored her, seriously, I would kill to protect her if necessary lol.
Dayo and Melu were other faves of mine but this was seriously such a great cast of characters, so there’s a lot of possible faves to have.
I don’t think I wrote many notes because it was just a distraction from the story.
Tar breaks your heart in so many small ways, the love she holds for her mother and the way she so desperately just wants her in her life is just, well, it got me emotional.
But, Tar does get the love from a family, just not in the way she expects.
The found family, the magic, the lore, it was all so well done. Seriously, if you love worldbuilding, you’ll adore Raybearer.
Ifueko excels not only at worldbuilding, but Tar’s character development, and pacing.
This story is not to be told in a blink of an eye but it never feels as if Ifueko is drawing it out too long which is always such a huge plus for me.
Overall, this book has been one of my faves of 2020/ever, and I give it 5/5 huge cups of coffee. Thank you so much to HotKeysYA for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Remember this book hits the shelves on August 18th!
Author Links
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