4.5 stars

It’s hard to put into words exactly how amazing this book was. Ifueko crafted such a diverse and interesting new fantasy world that was incredibly interesting to learn about and explore through Tarisai.

I have to applaud this story for constantly surprising me. When it began I thought I knew where it was going in the end and I was completely wrong. This story was complex and multi-faceted. It was a reminder that no person is completely good or evil, and it constantly challenged me to see beyond the surface to recognize the way that our pasts shape us, but how we are ultimately in charge of our destinies. I was very much taken on a journey through this book, and it was one wrought with surprises I couldn’t have anticipated at the beginning -largely because it was rich with characters that are -realistically- able to surprise us.

On that same note, I love that amidst this entire exciting story was an undercurrent of deep wisdom. There are numerous points in the book where I just wanted to pause and marinate over some of the wisdom Ifueko was communicating because it was truly full of thought-provoking material. The ideas this book communicated about destiny, leadership, love, and right and wrong were some of the best I’ve seen in YA literature. I really can’t express enough how well Ifueko blended a unique fantasy story with such deep truths that apply in our world today.

Because I can’t not include it, here are some of my favourite quotes:

“You want to follow your heart? ...Should a fool follow his heart? A thief? A murderer? Your heart is not your friend unless you know who you truly are.”

“Leadership isn’t good or evil, it’s what you choose to do with it.”

“Only one thing is more powerful than a wish, and that is a purpose.”

I will say however, the one things with this story that I had trouble with was the ending. While it said a great deal about Tarisai’s character, and set up the next book (which I am quite excited for) very well, the whole situation with Songland felt like too much of a secondary detail throughout the book for it to have been so pivotal by the end. It’s not that I didn’t like the ending, but I didn’t love it mostly because it felt a little like it came from left field. Outside of that though, amazing book all the way through!

Last but not least, I feel incredibly lucky to have gotten an audio copy of this book rather than a readable one. I am amazed that one narrator could do such justice to this story. If I didn’t know any better I would have thought there were multiple readers because she truly brought the story to life. Not only did each of the characters have their own unique voices, but the story itself had a quality I would have completely missed if I had just read it. From the songs that were sung to the drum beats, and all the little details in between, the audiobook helped me to feel like I was right there beside Tarisai the whole time. This is honestly one of those books that -I believe- are even better listened to than read because it brings an already great story to life.

While there were some things I loved about this book, the lyrical writing style especially, I found some of the events lacking in continuity and often had to backtrack so I could figure out how the story got from point A to point B and the transition was not always clear to me.

I already read the physical arc so it was nice to have a refresher and listen to the audiobook and see if it elicits the same feelings. I found the audiobook did a good job bringing this book to life. And I'm so glad that despite being African inspired the narrator didn't try to put on any weird fake accents like I've become so accustom to in audiobooks. Tarisa's tale is just the perfect pace and the right blend of magic to keep you entertained.

Everything about this story left me utterly entranced. I can usually guess the ending or where things will go next. It is rare that a story keeps me guessing in the way that this one did. The main characters are so fully fleshed out that I'm certain readers will each have personal favorites. There are side characters whose names we rarely get, but I trust Ifueko enough at this point to believe that they might be in the next book. The world is both familiar and new to me. The prevalence of magic on every page and in so many ways made it so immersive and visible!
Jordan Ifueko is a gift to the YA fantasy community, and I cannot wait to see what comes next for Tarisai and her friends.

*I received a digital copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review*

If able, I tend to jump back and forth between listening to and reading a book. With Raybearer, I found that I just wanted to listen to it more and more. Joniece Abbott-Pratt was such an incredible narrator. Due to a glitch with the app, I wasn't able to listen at my normal 1.25 speed. However, this was a blessing in disguise, since Abbott-Pratt's narration speed was perfect for the story. Her voice work was so incredible that I almost couldn't believe it was a single narrator.

As for the story, it was just as amazing. Raybearer follows Tarisai from youth to her teenage years as she learns more about the troubled past of both her land and her lineage. This book is filled with magic and takes inspiration from African folklore. I loved it to pieces and can't wait for the sequel.

I have seen a lot of hype already surrounding this book and I'm so glad I was able to snag the audiobook from NetGalley. Also, yay for audiobooks on NetGalley because I go through so many from my library and I'm glad it's now an opition.

In the beginning we are introduced to Tarisai who has had a very interesting upbrining. She has always been searching for love because she never received it from her mother.

I really liked Tarisai as a character. There is a lot of development from her throughout the book as she tries to battle between what she wants and what her mother has cursed her to do. Life isn't always easy for her and it made her feel authentic and just very real.

Another thing I loved about her, and the other characters, were the bonds she created with them. She cares deeply for them and sometimes you didn't know how much until another character brought something to light and then it just made you feel so many things!

The Lady, her mother, was such a fascinating character from the beginning. There is a backstory for her and I really enjoyed getting to know what makes her tick. Even though she has done some questionable things, I can't say that I don't like her. She definitely went through some things and it's what shaped her to be who she is.

A couple other characters that are at the top of my list are Dayo, Woo in, Kierah, and Sanjeet. Each one has their special qualities that I love and help Tarisai become who she wants to be. Even if they can't understand her reasoning and may get upset, they still don't walk away.

Honestly, there really wasn't any characters that I disliked in this book. Some got more page time than others but each one brought something to the table.

The plot of this book is unique, refreshing, and lives you needing to continue the story without long breaks. There are interesting abilities from healing to reading someone's memories. The drama involves politics and rivalries amongst family. The world that this author created is just mesmerizing! From the beginning I wasn't sure where exactly the plot would go which is good because each new plot twist had me surprised. That ending is really intense and I will definitely need to read the second book to find out what happens next.

As for the audiobook aspect, it was nicely done!

It is done by one narrator but she changes her voice for the different characters. It made it a bit easier to figure out which was talking if it didn't mention their name.

There are also lyrics for different songs and it was actually sung instead of just spoken. I really liked that!

Overall, I enjoyed this book! It was such an exciting experience and I know that many readers will love this story.