"The only thing more powerful than a wish is a purpose."

I enjoyed Raybearer so much!! And Redemptor was just as amazing!!

Tarisai is such an amazing character! I love how strong she is and how she is trying to change the destructive traditions of her world by sacrificing herself.  I'll tell you when that rock finger touched her I got whole body chills I felt like I was being filled with the memories of the past.

Sanjeet and Tarisai are still continuing their relationship as she is trying to build her new counsel. She's trying to join the nation together and have them trust her to be their savior. I don't even know how to do this justice it's written so beautifully, it's so intimate and so hypnotic. I don't know if it's all made up or created based off culture and myths. But I want all of it.

I loved everything with Zuri. All of it, he was entrancing in all his masks. 

And I want fan art or can someone cosplay these outfits with the hair and makeup. She sounds like a goddess. (Ok I found the preorder incentive by @bxromance!)

I love that there is aspec rep in this book and it's talked about openly in their relationship.

If we could feel the pain and echoes of tragedies that happened on the land we walked could we be silent? 

I felt like the book was delving so deep within societies just doing what they've been doing for centuries regardless of what is humane and right.  And how lonely it is trying to change, you are going against the current.

Also a bit of mental health with Tarisai's abilities mimicking depression or schizophrenia (I'm prob reaching). I mean it's a fantasy and there were demonic beings involved but everyone needs functional representation even in this space. And she was implementing so much positive change and going to hell and back for her people.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
👏👏👏👏👏
🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

Thank you abrams kids and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Jordan Ifueko DID the damn thing with this one. I was worried that it would be hard to top Raybearer, but she absolutely did.

As with Raybearer, Redemptor was a true testament to friendship, but with the added complication of self-sacrifice. What do you do when your favorite people, your support system, can’t help you? What do you do when you’re facing literal demons that they can’t see, that are convincing you that you’re worthless and that you’re not doing enough, even though you’re working yourself to the bone?

This entire book, to me, was reminiscent of a metaphor for depression, grief, and anxiety. Especially the journey to and through the Underworld and the things that the ojiji were saying to Tarisai.

It goes without saying, but Jordan Ifueko is the QUEEN of worldbuilding. She built 13 distinct worlds into one (14 or 15 if you count the Underworld and An-Ileyoba) and made it all flow seamlessly. I sometimes have trouble keeping up with complex worlds but these are easy to follow.

And can we talk about the portrayal of love? I LOVE the idea of the council and loving each person in their own way. The platonic bond of friendship which morphs into romantic love for some, but it’s not expected.

And the imagery...oh my GOD this entire duology is a synesthete’s dream. Reading Redemptor felt like watching a movie in my head.

Nothing that I write will do this book justice. Please do yourself a massive favor and read it. Thanks!

Sophomore slump who? Jordan Ifueko’s follow-up novel to her 2020 debut, Raybearer, is a beacon for all fantasy duologies.

In Redemptor we continue our journey with Tarasai, Dayo, and the rest of their council siblings as they are presented with a series of nigh impossible tasks:

1) As the second Raybearer, Tarasai must convene a council of her own
a) Despite the fact that many of the nobles think she is a murderer
b) Under a deadline set by the underworld who haunts her with ghastly visions so regularly that she begins
to doubt her own sanity
2) A mysterious rebellion leader is not only fomenting rebellion throughout the various regions of Aritsar, but
also stirring up the ancient magic of environmental guardians prophesied to cause multiple simultaneous
natural disasters
3) Because of her promise to the spirits of the underworld earlier in the series, Tarasai must now prepare
herself to take a long walk into the underworld and somehow survive

Building a resolution to any one of these issues would be problem enough for anyone, let alone someone with Tarasai’s anxious nature. Fortunately, her council siblings make it clear that they do not expect her to take on each of these problems alone. From her council sister, Ai Ling, taking the lead on helping Tarasai get to know her potential council members, to each of her council siblings returning to their home kingdoms to counter the impending natural disasters, they have Tarasai (and the kingdom’s) back. While Tarasai recognizes these thoughtful acts, she cannot beat a lingering insistence that she should and could do more. It does not help that a large part of this insistence comes from the creepy voices of the underworld spirits both pushing her to find solutions and isolating her from those who could help. In so many ways Tarasai’s journey in Redemptor exemplifies burn out and how so many of us get caught in this cycle. How it is that the pressure that we feel from others and put onto our own shoulders places us in situations where we seem to ‘set ourselves on fire to warm a frozen world’ [sic]—as Sanjeet, Tarasai’s council brother/love interest, puts it.

In fact, Ifueko successfully pulls several real world observations into this intense fantasy world. We see the various ways in which people cope with greater concerns by crafting elaborate personality masks; the reasons why guilt will never be an effective tool for the collective good; the folly of relying on the kindness of the most wealthy to balance an empire; and why imagination is an extremely important component in fostering hope. The skill with which Ifueko welds these concepts to the central story bolsters her growing reputation as an author to watch. Truly, the only critique that I have for Redemptor is the predictability of a couple of the character reveals. Yet, because there are so many different components to the plot, this predictability did not lessen my enjoyment of the novel overall.
Redemptor has all of the elements of a good fantasy series: relatable characters, top tier representation of different ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, and cultures, not to mention fantastic storytelling that satisfyingly wraps up in two books. I highly recommend this series to any readers looking for any or all of these elements in a future read, especially if they’re looking for a fast-paced story that they will not want to put down.

“Do not confuse guilt with conviction. Guilt is self-centered and leads only to destructive obsession. But conviction brings balance – a sense of purpose beyond oneself.”

Before I get into my review, I want to thank the publisher, Amulet Books, and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! It made my freakin’ year and I’m so appreciative. Now, let’s get to the review!

***SPOILER ALERT***

As this is a review for the second book in a duology, this review may contain spoilers for the first book, Raybearer. If you have not read it yet, you might want to skip this review.

It’s always a good feeling when your most anticipated read of the year turns out to be five stars. Like, this book has cleared my skin and watered my crops. This book was an incredible return to the world of Aritsar and I’m already planning when I can squeeze it in for a re-read 😂

At the beginning of this story, we pick up pretty much where we left off. Tarisai has revealed herself as a Kunleo and a Raybearer and is now getting used to being empress. On top of that, she has two years to prepare to enter the Underworld as, hopefully, the last Redemptor. And that includes anointing her own council of eleven chosen from the leaders of the different nations of Aritsar. So you could say she has a lot on her plate! Tarisai knows she has to work harder than she ever has if she wants to bring about the just version of Aritsar that she envisions. But obstacles keep appearing and she finds it’s hard to bring justice to a land that is happy with the status quo.

Y’all this book was absolutely spectacular! All the vivid imagery and beautiful writing from the first book are on display in this one, as well. It helps to pull you back into the world of Aritsar as if you never left. I fell into the story immediately and was absolutely swept away! This builds upon where Raybearer started and makes the world feel that much richer. I loved how we got into the politics and court intrigue. I loved that we got to see a lot more of the different realms. And I especially loved learning more about the lore of ancient Aritsar and the Underworld. The world-building in this is immaculate and makes me want a book just filled with Arit and Songland folktales!

But, just as before, the real shining star of this sequel is our main character, Tarisai. Oh, Tarisai! Never have I simultaneously loved a character so much and also wanted to slap some sense into them so badly! I spent a good portion of Redemptor reading of Tarisai’s antics and thinking… “Oh no baby what is you doing?”

But I also saw my younger self in her so much exactly because of those decisions. There were often times I would forget that Tarisai is seventeen at the start of this story. Seventeen and she’s expected to help run an empire! An empire where, until very recently, a female Raybearer wasn’t supposed to exist. She has a huge amount placed on her shoulder on top of the fact that she is meant to fling herself into the Underworld in order to save the continent from ever having to send children back in again. And she fully expects to never come back. It’s incredible watching her journey, her growth, and her struggle to accept help from the people who love her. Fighting for change is never easy and I loved that the author doesn’t shy away from what can happen if you try and take the entire burden on your shoulders. Tarisai is such a beautifully complex character who doesn’t always make the best decisions, but has the ability to learn and grow from her mistakes. I think she’s solidly settled her place as one of my favorite characters of all time ❤

Final thoughts: I’m definitely rambling, but it’s so hard to put into words how much I loved this book! At least succinct, coherent words 😂 Everything about this story is immaculate. The world-building is just as good, if not better than it was in the first book! The pacing and plot was fantastic! I would lose myself in the story, reemerge, and realize that several hours had passed when it only felt like moments. I enjoyed the political intrigue, the further dive into the cultures present in this book, and… well… pretty much everything! But my absolute favorite aspect of this book was our leading lady, Tarisai. What a gem of a character! And doubly so because now I get to live in a world where young Black girls can pick up a fantasy novel and see someone who looks like them be a beacon of hope and change. They can see someone who looks like them star in a novel and feel like they are part of the magical world of fantasy, too. And that’s just incredible to me. So, to finally wrap up this gush session, this sequel was all I could ask for and more. I can’t wait to see what Jordan Ifueko comes up with next!

I live for Tarisai, and absolutely adored her in this. Her strength was incredible, and I loved seeing her growth from the first book to the second. Watching her on this journey was so fun and interesting. I enjoyed that the found family trope from the first book was very much still there. I do wish we got to see them a bit more. I loved Dayo and really enjoyed him in this, which I'd expected. I love Jeet and almost wanted more of him in this. Same goes for Kirah and everyone else. I also LOVED ZURI SO MUCH

The plot was interesting, it picked right up from the previous book and was interesting all the way through. The world was well established in book one, and I loved seeing it expand in this instalment. The food descriptions were so lovely and I wanted to eat it all.

I struggled with the pacing of this book in all honesty. It felt disjointed at times, and a lot of time passed off page which isn't personally my fave. A lot happened in this book, but I just felt a little checked out from it for some reason. That's definitely a me problem though, which is why I still think this book is a four star read.

This book was well written and interesting, and I totally recommend reading it if you loved Raybearer. Although I didn't love every bit of this book, I still think it was good. I think it's possible for a book to not be for you, but still one you consider good.I really hope everyone who reads this loves it because it is quite good. I just wasn't in the greatest headspace for it.

THIS BOOK!! was so good. Jordan Ifueko created a world which is so foreign to ours but at the same time it is a world that encounters the same hard hitting issues that our current world faces everyday. And she just! Solves them? kind of but it’s very satisfying to read especially as a political science major/nerd.

ALSO OK y did u have to give me the COMMUNIST BOYFRIEND OF MY DREAMS JUST TO KILL HIM OFF!!!!! idc what u say he’s still alive he used his little stone and went somewhere else

unpopular opinion: i absolutely cannot standddd sanjeet, i think he was too easily forgiven for treating Tar like she was a lesser human being just because she is a girl. I didn’t like their relationship at all throughout the book and wished they left her single tbh, this is where it lost half a star for me

Thank you to NetGalley and Abrams Kids for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This is the sequel to Raybearer, so please read that one before reading this one.

CW: grief, violence, classism

What an ending. I enjoyed Raybearer so much and this was a great follow up. I won't say much for spoilers but what I love most about this duopoly is what it says about love. Everyone deserves it, and there are so many different types. The ace representation, poly, found family, and what it means to love someone. To know them, to show yourself, and to be loved for exactly who you are, not who you think the world wants you to be.

The message is beautiful, so is the writing.

Rating: 4
Steam: 1

This duology provides such an interesting perspective and explorations of grief and trauma while continuing to move the plot forward toward, well, redemption and true change in this society.

Raybearer was one of my absolute favourite books of 2020. Not just 2020, it was an all time favourite ya fantasy and I was eagerly anticipating as well apprehensive about the sequel. What of it doesn’t live upto my expectations? What if it’s so bad that I somehow lose my live for the first book? These were some of the questions plaguing me but I needn’t have feared. Tarisai’s story was safe in the hands of Jordan Ifueko and what a story it was!!!

Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko picks up right from where it left off in Raybearer. We follow Tarisai who is trying to juggle too many things while being plagued by her many ghosts. I related to her on a deep level with this book. The depiction of her drive for justice, of her need to make everything better and her frustration when nobody understands her were all hauntingly familiar to me. I could see myself in Tarisai, in her battles against her spiraling mental health and her growing isolation from everyone around her. Her character development was so adeptly handled by Ifueko, that I was in awe.

I loved how Ifueko expanded on the found family trope in this sequel and somehow made it even better. We get to meet a lot of new characters in this book as well as familiar, much loved characters from Raybearer. Every single one of them were so uniquely memorable. They each had something to add to the plot. I loved how every character learns and grows from each other.

“If the world didn’t care about injustice, then I would simply have to care enough for all of them.”

Ifueko builds upon the rich, beautiful world of Aritsar and immerses us further into its history, mythology and socio-politico-economic issues. The inequitable class system and the unjust divide between the wealthy and the needy could all be considered a mirror to our own society. I loved how the world building also added to the character development of Tarisai. I was fully transported to this imaginary world, exquisitely crafted by Ifueko and wished I could remain there forever.

I cannot find even one bad thing about this book. It was the perfect sequel, the perfect finale and this is one of the bestest YA fantasy duologies ever. It will be a crime to miss out on this series, so add them to your TBRs and fall in love with this beautiful story.

I was provided an e-arc by Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

This kaleidoscopic, heartfelt ya fantasy sets the bar high for a genre that can do so much and yet often opts for familiar plot elements rather than something fresh. This story addresses the feelings of anxiety and pressure that come from living in an unjust society. How do we hold ourselves accountable to fighting back while also maintaining our own mental well-being and will to keep pushing? In this excellent sequel, Tarisai is now viewing the world with eyes wide open and the means to make a difference. Pulled in many directions, she has friends begging her to slow down and accept the world as is, but other voices (even her own) push her harder to fix a broken system and be worthy of her title. The mental struggle is relatable and meaningful.

The relationships are as raw and bone-deep as the first book led me to expect. They are imperfect, powerful, and even transformative. I was particularly thrilled by the romantic subplot for an ace character as he grapples with feelings of inadequacy and self-discovery associated with an identity under constant erasure and dismissal. I felt that all the romantic plots were the perfect combination of feels and real life concerns that I wish all ya ships could balance. It makes the characters' decisions multifaceted and leaves room for wisdom rather than casting the whole story in a lovesick pallor.

With excellent world-building and characterization to bolster this emotional series conclusion, this book and the duology as a whole are can't-miss reading. The story will definitely stay with me, and I can't recommend it enough.

This Raybearer duology, and all its many parts, is one of the more acquiescent series you’ll read, with Jordan’s use of sensory language really grabbing you by the throat, calling to each of your five senses in profound and meaningful ways. It’s quieting in the way a poem is, using what feels like a new catalogue of figurative language to create images in our minds, a dialect that I personally find very soothing. Of course, the opposite is true; aside from some of the more fantastical elements including a fictional Aritsar, Jordan hasn’t introduced a new vernacular at all. She’s simply given us a portrayal of West African oral literature that our white western chauvinistic gaze doesn’t see nearly enough, with Eurocentrism taking up most of the oxygen in the room. And shame on all of us because Jordan, plus a handful of other AOC, are the future of fantasy, heck, according to my bookshelf they’re the present!

Yes, choose any number of adjectives you wish, Redemptor inserts itself into a perfect point in the timeline Jordan has created, with Tarisai rejecting her birthright, thereby altering her timeline and the potentials of her life. Her culture, for various reasons, lead many to believe that people are tied to one destiny, to one timeline. But that doesn’t account for chaos, and whenever there is a proliferation of these events, there is a convergence because their world has encountered a chaotic carbuncle resulting in destiny disruptions. You could call it a collective of destiny’s I suppose, but because of the proximity of these timelines, fluctuation occurs, affecting those on multiple timelines. This is a word-salad, fancy thesaurus kind of way of saying that what Tarisai and Dayo have done is create a rift in time that will forever change the way things are done in this fictional world. In universe, those that lived during these times will forever mark this point in history as before the Empress Redemptor, and after. Basically, Jordan can build the shit out of a world, including a dynamic timeline, and I would put her world-building prowess up against almost anyone else.

Redemptor picks up pretty much right where Raybearer left us, with Tarisai juggling guilt, grief, and leadership, all while balancing on a high wire, too much in either direction, dare as she might, and the whole act will go to shit. This is a precarious position, she, a teenage Black girl, finds herself in. Remember, she’s burdened herself with a quest to end the needless deaths of Redemptor children, haunted by spirits who are looking for their pound of flesh. Tarisai was given two years to prepare for her journey to the Underworld and man, time sure does fly when you’ve got a kingdom to rule and an aristocracy to stomp! She’s also on the verge of anointing a new council, fulfilling her part of the bargain made with the abiku, to form a commission of Arit rulers, which even includes those Songland weirdos. This presents an early and practical opportunity for Jordan to introduce us to a bunch of new characters, some more vital than others, the many heads of state that will make up her council.

There’s a lot happening, and right away in Redemptor, and it stands to reason that the big-picture items are the same as Raybearer, so a retread of them is not necessary. The biggest difference really is not how Aritsar will react as a nation, but how the individual’s themselves respond to these winds of change, the old guard being replaced by the new. So, in that sense, this giant genre story really morphs beautifully into a character driven piece. Yes, with all that annoying plot stuff over and done with in Raybearer, Jordan cuts loose on a growing cast of characters, but she’s not without a message mind you. And while to some it might seem like a bit too much to wrap up, something I’ll get to in a second, I actually found the character side quite compartmentalized, all very neat and tidy.

For the full review, click the link below...

https://www.cinelinx.com/off-beat/redemptor-raybearer-2-book-review/

Raybearer is one of my favorite books of ALL TIME so best believe my expectations for this book were sky high. And once again, Jordan Ifueko has managed to exceed every single one of those expectations.

Picking up right where Raybearer ended, Redemptor was a fast-paced whirlwind of family, love, betrayal, and magic. There's still the exceptional found family from the first book, and we see significant character development from Tarisai and the rest of the group. Tarisai struggles a lot in this book, and it's raw and intense and her growth during her journey was one of my favorite parts of this book. While Raybearer is heavy on the magic of the Ray, Redemptor explores the other magic in the world, as well as the political aspects.

I was worried for a little that this book would fall into the "second-book syndrome" and feed into easy tropes to create conflict, but I worried for nothing, because every conflict was handled with grace and respect to the original characterization of the characters. I maintain my undying love for every person in this book, especially Sanjeet!

This duology is one of my favorite things on the planet. Please read it.

I enjoy Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko. This is the continuation of Tarisai story that began in the book Raybearer. There are several scenes where Tarisai is dealing with guilt, trauma, flashbacks, and the death of people she loved being murdered right in front of her.

Personally, I enjoyed Raybearer more than Redemptor. I felt like there was so much crammed into this book to try and wrap up the storyline. It is worth the read to finish the overall story.

#Redemptor #NetGalley

Raybearer was one of my favorite releases of 2020, so I had high hopes for its sequel. Redemptor rose to the challenge, surpassed my expectations, and gave a satisfying conclusion to this duology.

The author wrote a note at the beginning of the ARC and said that one of Tarisai's biggest challenges in this second story is trying to fit into an unchanged world after experiencing personal changes. This was one of the aspects of the story that I loved the most, because I've seen how hard it is when you're changing at a different rate than the people and environment around you, or vice versa. Tarisai's journey explored this topic well, and it felt very healing to see her embark on her own path while still continuing to learn and grow. I loved seeing the other characters from book one again, too, as well as getting to know a new host of characters. The author also did a wonderful job of setting up a story filled with layers of action and exploration, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Buy, Borrow, or Bypass: If you are a fantasy fan, or a young adult fan, or both, you need the Raybearer duology on your shelves. I thoroughly enjoyed my reread of Raybearer to prepare for Redemptor, and I'm already looking forward to rereading both books in the future. Plus, I still can't get over how perfect the covers are. :D

Well, this knocked my socks off. Wow. I was worried that Redemptor couldn't live up to the brilliance of the first book, but I should not have been cautious. RTC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read and review.  This is the second book in the Raybearer series and it was so good! I simultaneously wanted to race through it and slow down so it wouldn't end. I loved following Tarisai on her quest to save more children from being sent to the Underworld. There are new characters and beloved favorites, like Jeet. I wish the book had a map of all the realms though.

This was one of the most anticipated sequel especially as the previous book must have definitely got all the readers worried about how Tarisai is going to handle her entry to the Underworld. It was a beautiful and satisfactory ending without a doubt. It deals with how she races against time in anointing a full council of hers and how she adapts herself to her new role as an Empress. She has decided to sacrifice herself as the last Redemptor to save all the kids from that horrible fate.

True to her name, "behold what is coming", the readers will have to wait for the justice and new order that she brings along even at a point where it could hurt her and her council. This books has more kinds of magic, more secrets that come out, more interesting characters - Zuri especially. Also I felt there was some underlying philosophy reflected as well when Tarisai ponders over what her purpose should be and what kind of leader should be. That itself is proof on how amazing she will be in that role. Absolutely enjoyed the world-building with all undertones of African mythology.

But I do want to read more of Zuri and his story as the author left a possible opening for that!

A stunning conclusion to a beautiful, immersive, and masterful series by a brilliant author.

After Raybearer became one of my favorite books last year, I was highly anticipating the sequel—and this story did not disappoint. One of the things I loved most about this book is how it focused on Tarisai battling herself and growing in her her new role, as well as introducing us to the world on a deeper level, rather than only focusing the entire book on the harrowing underworld journey alluded to at the end of the first book.

Additionally, this series does a beautiful job of showing the power of friendship, family, and love in its many forms. This wrapped up this story so well, though I truly believe this could have been a trilogy, and I eagerly await Ifueko’s next work.

This book follows Tarisai while she works to keep her agreement with the Abiku. Tar forms a new council, learns how to survive the underworld, and helps lead a coup in one of the countries of Aritsar. She works through anxiety, trauma, and learn how to open herself to new people. The plot was okay, it felt like it was going to be a mediocre second book in a trilogy, however I believe this is a duology. The plot points and character development I was hoping for was brushed over and the focus of the coup took over. If more time was spent developing each part of the second book and it was instead a trilogy I think I would have enjoyed it more.

Huge thank you to Megan at ABRAMS publishing for getting me the ARC of REDEPMTOR in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Jordan Ifueko's sophomore novel lives up to all the hype her debut acquired. From stunning descriptions of culture to delving deep into character relationship, Ifueko continues her streak of brilliance with REDEMPTOR.

REDEMPTOR focuses a lot more on Tarisai's personal journey and growth and it explores a lot of the realationships she made in RAYBEARER. From her romantic one with Sanjeet to her familial one with Dayo to her platonic ones with her other siblings and allies. Tarisai also struggles with balancing being a ruler and doing right by her people which contributes to her personal growth and character arc.

Now I do have to say that I enjoyed RAYBEARER just slightly more than REDEMPTOR. I think that is partly due to the fact that RAYBEARER has a lot more political intrigue and I expected that to continue in REDEMPTOR but REDEMPTOR focuses a lot more on Tarisai's personal journey and growth. The Underworld aspect did also feel a bit anti-climactic considering it was such a cliffhanger in RAYBEARER. However, this is one of the rare cases where I enjoyed the first book more than the second but the second book is still mind-blowingly amazing.

If you loved RAYBEARER, there is no doubt in my mind that you will love REDEMPTOR. 15/10 recommend.