Reaper of Souls eARC Review

GoodReads:

I AM POWER.
I AM MY ANCESTORS.
I DO NOT WALK ALONE.

After so many years yearning for the gift of magic, Arrah has the one thing she’s always wanted – but it came at too steep a price. Now the last surviving witchdoctor, she’s been left to pick up the shattered pieces of a family that betrayed her, a kingdom plunged into chaos, and a love that can never be.

While Arrah returns to the tribal lands to search for survivors of the demons’ attack, her beloved Rudjek hunts down the remnants of the demon army – and uncovers a plot that would destroy what’s left of their world.

The Demon King wants Arrah, and if she and Rudjek can’t unravel his schemes, he will destroy everything, and everyone, standing in his way

In this roaring sequel to KINGDOM OF SOULS, Rena Barron weaves a tale of mythology, love, whip-fast action and trademark twists that asks the question: can you ever leave your past, ancestors, behind?

My Review

This sequel picks right up from where Kingdom of Souls left off. The battle ended, and the war is still raging though war always comes with a price. Arrah is trying to save Sukar from his wounds, some at her own hand. Essnai is supporting Arrah, while Rudjek is at the mercy of his father’s politics and doing everything in his own power to protect Arrah. (To be fair though Rudjek really is too strong and stubborn to be at anyone’s ‘mercy’)

There was so much for Arrah to unravel and wade through in the first book but as far as world-building goes, Barron did such a fantastic job with it in the first book that this sequel gets to focus on not only some new places but mostly on the characters as we fully understand the world they live in as it is. For now. No spoilers.

Rudjek gains strength and it was nice to see him really come into this new role he’d been recently thrust into and the same goes for Arrah with the gifts of magic from the Chieftans.

It feels like everything is ever shifting and changing as the ripples from Arrah’s mom and sister take effect in the world and it is completely engrossing.

This isn’t slowly paced but it’s not rushing through everything, just as I said, engrossing, and it is just a well of tension and emotions lol.

Baron’s writing is truly flawless for me once again and I was so excited that the Orishas were more heavily involved this time as we get to learn more about them and their histories.

The book is seriously an emotional roller coaster though and Barron once more smashed my soul as she did in the last book. If you want to know why, you’ll have to read and find out or if you’ve read it just guess. Or I can spell out spoilers with my tears. Half jk.

This amazing sequel is coming out in less than two weeks so please keep it in mind for your TBR! It does not disappoint and it was just as amazing as the first book. Thanks so much to Rena Barron, NetGalley and Harper Voyager UK for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Buy Links

Amazon US | HarperCollins US | Amazon UK | Waterstones |