A fantastic narrator highlights this Black Girl Magic feminist fantasy that was one of my favorite reads of the year. Amazing debut from Ifueko that will leave readers/listeners clamoring for the sequel.

This was a solid fantasy book. The world was well-developed along with the magic and other aspects of the setting. It solidly stands on its own, while also generating interest for the sequel. I needed to listen to this book. The reader sang the songs throughout, which added a deeper layer that enhanced this novel. I found that when I tried to read this book I would lose interest, but as I listened to it, I loved it. This book is a commitment, but if you are looking for a great fantasy, this should be your next read.

Finally completed this beauty. One thing that was made clear is I need to wrap up my YA TBR because I feel like I'm getting close to that age threshold where I start to enjoy YA books less day by day. I started this one as an audiobook and as usual, fantasy and audiobooks does not work well for me but I HAVE to mention that the narrator did a fabulous job nevertheless. There are certain songs in the book that the narrator sings and I feel that gives such a good essence to the reading/listening experience.

This book was packed with diverse characters, you see an Indian rep, Asian rep, Black rep, Ace rep as well! The magical world was fresh & did not follow the similar patterns of other generic fantasy books, something I reaalllyyy appreciated. The description of everything is just so well detailed that it will suck you inside the magical world. I completed the the last 10% of the book in the ebook format and enjoyed it better so maybe I'll give it a read again sometime later that way. For now it was overall enjoyable read with a well structured story line.

Once the story got going, Raybearer was enjoyable. The beginning, however, was a bit slow-paced and made it a bit difficult to get immersed into the story. Once you get there, though, it is worth the time investment.

Although it took me a while to read Raybearer, I had a lot of fun with this debut fantasy novel! I started out reading Raybearer as an audiobook (thank you, NetGalley) and I immediately fell in love with the narration. I think the narrator truly added to the experience of reading this book as she captured the protagonist’s voice perfectly.

I finished off Raybearer as a physical book, and I have to say I do think my reading experience was enhanced by listening to the audiobook first, because I kept hearing the narrator’s voice in my head!

Raybearer is a fast paced fantasy novel, and while it is a bit longer than your average YA book, I found that the time flew by and I enjoyed every second of the book.

The main point I want to press that truly makes this book stand out from the rest is the relationships between the characters. As I grow older, I find myself more and more drawn to books with solid relationships between friends and partners. Raybear was more than solid, with excellent platonic friendships between people who truly cared about each other, and a romance that wasn’t exactly what was expected.

I’d highly recommend picking up this unique fantasy debut that explores friendship in such a complex and fantastical way. I’m very much looking forward to reading the sequel, although I’m definitely going to have to recap this one first!

Wow. Just wow. This book was incredible and took me through a whirlwind of emotions. It’s hard to articulate just how exceptional this book is. Everything about “Raybearer” is original and unique – from the world itself to the writing style to the characters. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where so many of the characters logical and smart and reasonable. They’re flawed, of course, but there weren’t many times where I rolled my eyes at a plot device or a character’s reaction. Even if I disagreed with what they were doing, I understood why they were doing. I often felt that if I were in their position, I would probably be doing the same things. I love and respect Tarisai, the main character, so incredibly much. She was wonderful to get to know, and I can’t wait to read the next book.

No plot points were too drawn out; albeit, the beginning is a little slow, but it picks up in the second half and is a race to the finish. The world created is amazing, and it’s so naturally built throughout the story. It never felt forced upon me or, on the opposite side of the spectrum, not detailed enough – Ifueko gives you the amount of information you need to know, when you need to know. Plus, Ifueko is an expert at showing balanced with some necessary telling. I’ve never read any world like this before, and I seriously couldn’t get enough.

The commentary on society is masterful. The parallels to our world and the metaphors woven through the story aren’t shoved in your face, but they’re not difficult to pick out either. Also, the setup for the next books in the series is incredible! I was left satisfied with some of the points in this book, but also burning with so many more questions and theories. This book is seriously such an impressive feat. Raybearer was a book that made me feel grateful for the ability to read, and I’m so grateful to Jordan Ifueko for writing it. The story is vibrant and rich and enthralling – I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

The audiobook was wonderful. I’m very picky with my audiobooks, and I feel like this one enhanced my experience of the story. I alternated between reading a physical copy and listening to the audiobook, and I had a great time doing so.

Tarisai is just wanting a loving family. Wanting respect and love of The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital for her to compete with other children who if pick will become part of the Crown Prince's Council of 11. The story starts with Tarisai very young and we follower her as she's growing up. She goes through a lot in her life; giving things up and fighting for what and who she believes in. Even though we do watch Tarisai and others grow up, the pacing is steady. This is not rushed or pushy.  
Raybearer is amazing, powerful, one of a kind; I could list words afterward about how much I love this book. I fell into this world, easy, it has so many layers that it felt real. Like it's somewhere, I could go to right now. The characters Tarisai, Dayo, Kirah, Sanjeetso, and more brought this book to life. This is one of my all-time favorites found family books. There was not one moment where I was bored. I always wanted, no, needed to know what was going to happen next. The Council of 11 is something I found very interesting, the way everyone is connected and what they stand for in this world fascinated me. The relationships drove this book. Watching them grow and develop is done so well.
The way music plays into this book is beautiful, if you get the chance to read this book by audiobook, then to do. The narrator brings this word, this story, alive in a magical way. It's one of my favorite audiobooks. It's narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt. I would love to hear more books read by her, her voice is strong, emotional and it's easy to tell the different voices for each character.
I have to talk a little about Jordan Ifueko's writing style because her style is just wow, I can't put it into words but her as a writer may be my number one new favorite from this year.
This is a book that I see myself talking about over and over for the up and coming years, I need more books by Jordan Ifueko like now, she's a new favorite!

I received a complimentary ALC of Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko from Blackstone Publishing through Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Raybearer came out in August 2020!

Tarisai grew up isolated from the outside world. Her only family has been her absent mother known only as The Lady. When The Lady sends Tarisai to the capital to compete to become one of the Crown Prince's eleven council members, Tarisai has the chance to become part of a new family. If she's chosen to be on the council, she will be permanently and magically linked through the Ray to the crown prince and the other council members. Unfortunately, Tarisai knows she must not accept a place on the council. The Lady used a magical wish to compel Tarisai to kill the prince as soon as she becomes a council member because the Ray protects him from everything except his chosen council. Tarisai must find her own path and avoid becoming her mother's pawn.

I adored this book. It's epic, beautifully written, and full of gorgeous, African-inspired world-building. The characters are loveable and complex and it's lovely that we get to see them mature and grow throughout the story. I listened to the audiobook and I can't recommend it enough! The narrator Joniece Abbott-Pratt did a fantastic job bringing this book to life. Although there is a love story, this book is primarily about friendship, loyalty, and found family. If you're interested in a YA fantasy inspired by West African mythology, look no further! This book is stunning and I can't recommend it enough! (And seriously, the audio is 🙌)

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this audiobook. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.
Wow! Okay! Where do I even start with this masterpiece of a book! The worldbuilding in this book was incredible. I felt like I was instantly transported into the story. Also, I LOVE the main character Tarisai! I was inspired by her intelligence and strength. I usually get annoyed by the main characters of books, but not with Tarisai. I usually give a short synopsis in my reviews but I feel like readers should just pick this one up. I did that, and I was instantly immersed into the story. Also, the narrator did a very good job on this audiobook. The whole listening experience was amazing! I would suggest this book to anyone, not just YA readers. It was that good!

Raybearer is by far my favorite fantasy read of the year! The complex world based on West African culture, beautiful prose, wonderful characters, and elaborate plot, make it a truly one-of-a-kind debut fantasy.

I received an audiobook from Net Galley, which is read by Jordan Ifueko herself. Her voice is lovely to listen to. As the author, she changes her voice to embody each of the characters, making them even more fleshed out and life-like.

I don't know a lot about West African culture or mythology, but I can tell its influence in the book make the world incredibly rich. Artisar is a complex, vibrant world that seems to jump off the page. Paired with Ifeuko's immersive writing style, worldbuilding alone would make for a fascinating book. But the characters are also complex and well-written. Tarisai is a fascinating, complex protagonist, and I admired her tenacity and wit throughout the book. I was also pleasantly surprised by the wide scope of plot. While it's a very complex plot and jam-packed with events, it was well-paced and never felt too rushed or busy.

Overall, Raybearer is one of the best debuts I've read in a long time! It's truly unlike any other fantasy I've read before. I can't wait to read the upcoming sequel and whatever else Jordan Ifueko writes next!

This is one of the single most beautiful books I have ever read. The cover... the settings... the characters... the inclusion and diversity... the narration... the songs... I NEED MORE. Honestly, this was such a beautifully written story. It is easily my top read of the year. Without giving away much I loved the found family idea here. It was so well done. The narrators singing was beautiful and really immersed me into the story. My heart broke for Tarisai. She spends the whole story just wanting to be loved and I can see how this story needs to be told. So many children always looking for love and never getting a healthy dose. That is where this beautiful found family comes in and I AM HERE FOR IT. Also, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the queer and asexual representation here. There needs to be more where queer people are just living their lives.

Rating: 9/10

Raybearer is one of the most unique fantasy books I have ever read, most likely because I have not read a lot of African-inspired fantasy. I am happy to have expanded my reading palette for this book because the plot was really intriguing and I enjoyed the cultural aspects.

I have never really read a plot like this. It is a totally different take on royalty and power. The big theme in this book, in my opinion, is the strength that comes from the collective. It shows up in all aspects of the story, from the Council to the ceremonies to the group chants, and gives off a harmonic vibe which creates an embracing atmosphere that I felt very acutely throughout the book. It was very comforting to read a fantasy that steps out from the standard and creates a world where togetherness and trust is the key to success. In the fantasy book realm, this is often accomplished through acts of war and violence. In Raybearer that same goal is attained through unity and love; and, in 2020, I think we can use more of that.

Do not get me wrong, I am talking about a vanilla utopia, here. The plot has its share of conflict and tension. It is just that the author, Jordan Ifueko, chooses non-traditional fantasy means to solve them. It is also very much a coming-of-age story which is centered around the main protagonist, Tarisai, which is an interesting element that compliments the rest of the narrative well. The book not only embraces the themes of unity, love, and togetherness as power as I mentioned before, but it is written over the backdrop of Tarisai and the rest of the council growing up. I think there is something really inspiring there, in putting easily-influenced young people in a situation where they are surrounding by acceptance and warmth. That is an important message.

Interestingly enough, as I was typing that last paragraph I decided to look up the listed genre/sub-genre of Raybearer, as the term “coming-of-age” always sends my mind in a particular direction. I see that it is listed as “Teen/YA Fantasy”, which I find interesting because I never got that vibe reading it. Looking back I see a few of the tropes and the angst that are typical of YA-style books, they are not overwhelming. I am not an avid YA reader, but this book resonated with me.

One of the best aspects of Raybearer, in my opinion, is how good the writing was in relation to the different settings. Ifueko was so descriptive and everything felt so vibrant that it was a real treat for the senses. I could visualize everything so well, and I found it really easy to get lost in the story that way.

From the interesting characters, intriguing plot, beautiful settings, and contemplative themes, Raybearer was a really good read. It is also one of the few books that truly cannot tell where the second book in the series is going, and I am really looking forward to the surprises that will show up. I recommend this book for all fans of fantasy, and especially those who are looking for something unique.

An engaging, compelling, and effectively-narrated audiobook that compares to Children of Blood and Bone but better! Balanced blend of myth, romance, vengeance, deception, and quest - the essential fantasy elements. Recommended for age 12+.

hands down one of the best reads of 2020. set in Africa this epic novel intricately introduced me to the cultures and heritage of the continent. interweaving both state politics and magical elements the book floats between both the genres of historical fiction and fantasy. Not a single plot and subplots felt out of context, rather the seamlessness and slow build-up of the story make it worth reading. the detailed sketching of every scene gives a visual experience to the reader. focusing on subjects like generational rivalries, politics, gender disparities, rural and urban economy, cultural diversities, grey relationships, friendships and sacrifice gave the book a very matured structure. definitely recommend reading it.

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?
I listened to the audiobook of Raybearer and it was just purely magical. I felt like I was being carried through the worlds and the story and I was there with the characters on their journeys. Narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, and she did the perfect job with bringing this world to life, I couldn't imagine anyone could have read it better.
I felt the story was especially strong in the area of celebrating friendship. The whole story surrounds how important and significance of friendship. It is strongly represented through the ‘Ray’ that the crown prince and his chosen 11 council members have. It is a beautiful aspect of the story. The other main theme throughout was of identity. Tariasai wants to create her own path and find out who she is rather than be who her mother wants her to be. It was nice to see her stand up to the pressure put on her and watch her grow into her own person along the way.
I was captivated throughout by the narration. I haven't yet read the book but I know when I do come round to reading it then I will be reliving the wonderful way that Joniece would bring the songs to life.
Overall a wonderful story that I would recommend and would suggest you listen to the audiobook if you get the chance to, it is magical.

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko crafts a larger than life story about family, friendship, and identity.

When we meet Tarisai, she's a child, and we follow her as she grows up, first in Burkina House and then at the various palaces. Her lonely childhood has made her long for the family she finds in her council, but The Lady's wish haunts her and she goes to extremes to get away from it before finally accepting she needs to find a way to free herself. This journey of self discovery is complicated, and heart wrenching, but makes her strength all the more obvious. Ifueko subverts the usual YA tropes of love or friendship being enough to break magical bonds, to give us a fresh take on a hero's journey. A particular detail I loved about Tarisai was how her journey was represented by her hair: At first, it's gathered in braids, that tighten the more she follows the rigid rules of palace life, but this changes as she discovers the truth about herself.

Ifueko also takes care with her secondary characters. Tarisai's council siblings lend her strength and complement her personality. Sanjeet and Dayo, in particular are calm presences in her life that anchor her. I will say that beyond Sanjeet, Dayo and Kirah, we didn't get to know the other council members as well, which I would have liked.
I found The Lady to be a formidable villain. She's an imposing figure one that takes up most of Tarisai's life even when she's not present. Learning her reasons and history only makes her more complex.

Ifueko's writing, like every aspect of her novel, is breathtaking. Her lyrical prose reflects the importance of having a voice in her world, without bogging the text down so much that it's unpleasant. At times, she also incorporates frequently used YA tropes in her subplots, only to subvert them later on, which kept me on my toes throughout.
In terms of plot, there's two distinct parts in Raybearer. The first part of the book is rather slow, both because of the rich worldbuilding, and the fact that we're essentially skipping through Tarisai's life growing up, and then follow her as she attends to her duties with the prince. However, plot takes off rapidly about midway through, with a quickening pace that lasts up until the climax. Personally, I welcomed the pace of the first part as it allowed me to understand the world as well as get to know the characters well.

A central theme of the book is culture, specifically belonging to one. The council is made up of members from the difference provinces, one to represent each. During official outings, they wear patterns and cloth from their province to show this belonging. Midway through the book, there is a push to unite the people under a single culture in order to strengthen the bonds between provinces. However, instead of celebrating the different cultures, they are squashed. The empire's cloth is cheaper and therefore more attractive, while children who receive an "empire" name are given a stipend. The council representatives are dressed similarly, and finally the protests are quashed with violence. The uniformization of the empire in this manner echoes attempts to erase African heritage during colonial times.
Another theme is tradition. Ifueko's world places incredible importance on oral traditions and histories with griots, traditional West African story tellers, being central to plot development and certain subplots.

This is where the audiobook format comes out on top in my opinion. Joniece Abbott-Pratt's narration pays particular attention to the sounds and rhythm of the text during the passages of oral history. She also takes care with each character's voice and accent, which served to make the experience even more immersive.

Finally, I loved Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko. It blew me away on every level and I cannot wait to read the sequel.

Everyone was talking about Raybearer in the lead-up to its release, and like with most hyped YA fantasy books I was a little cautious going in. I'm a reader that can really be let down by hype, however I'm here to say that Raybearer is absolutely worth your time and is one of the best books of the year!

I wont lie, I've been struggling with YA fantasy for a long time. After "discovering" the genre in 2017 and reading every YA fantasy book I could get my hands on, I became much more picky with what I liked. Since that point, I've really struggled to find books that break the mould and are truly something special. Raybearer is one of those books.

The world that Ifueko creates is absolutely marvelous. From the gorgeous settings across cities and countryside and mountains, to the lush architecture and blend of cultures, to the magic that connects people, the world of Raybearer is easily one of the most beautiful I've read (and one of the few fantasy settings I'd love to explore in real life!). The magic system is particularly special. The power of a raybearer to mentally connect their council and communicate across the ray was fantastically done. The consequences of this power, 'council sickness', was so fantastically done and works so well with the themes of found family, friendship, and trust within the novel.

Tarisai is a fantastic character and a new all-time favourite of mine. Ifueko does a wonderful job of developing her from a lonely young child to a cautious preteen and into a sharp and intelligent young woman. I totally understood her every action and decision, as well as how her loneliness and desire to belong to a family or a group impacted her. Her romance, although definitely a side plot and not the main focus of the book, was particularly well written and one of the few YA pairings that felt truly authentic and real. Although she was mature, she still felt like the teenage character that is so central to YA fantasy. I think she could easily be a case study into how to write a fantastic teenage heroine.

There is so much to say about Raybearer and I could go on and on to anyone who will listen to me ramble about this fantastic book. I read this book alongside the fantastic audiobook narration, and would highly recommend the audiobook for anyone interested in listening to a novel with a fabulous narrator.

Raybearer is easily one of the best books of the year and Ifueko is a debut author to watch!

Raybearer was one of the best YA fantasy novels I’ve read in a long time. I complete devoured this one and am so excited for the sequel. The world-building was fantastic, the characters felt so realistic, and the plot was filled with action and adventure.

At first, I wasn’t completely sold on this book. And then I kept reading and this incredible world that Jordan Ifueko created drew me in. I can’t say too much without spoilers but Raybearer is a book that you will not want to put down. The descriptions are so vivid, I felt like I could see everything that was happening. Plus I loved seeing how the dynamics between the characters shifted and changed as they grew older.

If you’re a fantasy fan, definitely pick this one up! I’m definitely planning on preordering the sequel because I need to find out what happens next.

Epic YA fantasy rich in cultural diversity and with lush, descriptive settings.. If you loved Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone book, you'll enjoy this title even more.

Unfortunately I couldn't get this audio to work, but I did buy a copy instead because this book sounded amazing. ❤