An incredible fantasy adventure story! Year of the Reaper has everything I love in a book- great characters, a plot line that keeps you on the edge of your seat, well crafted setting. I want everyone to pick this up!

Year of The Reaper was an absolutely stunning debut from Makiia Lucier! It took a minute for me to get into it, but once I did it was almost impossible to put down! From the spin of the Black Plague, to the politics of royalty, Lucier knows how to craft a story. I am looking forward to reading her next works!

I enjoyed this book, from the setting to the characters it gripped me from the first page and I read it straight through., Extra bonus is that it is a stand alone which makes it perfect for reluctant readers that want something to excite them but are wary of series!

Year of the Reaper is a story about Cas who is returning home after years of being away and his country has been ravaged by plague. Although all he wants is to settle into his home and old life, he instead gets dragged into plots against the queen and the mess of the royal family. I truly enjoyed how Cas wanted nothing but to go home and be by himself and instead gets stuck dealing with all these issues since he’s around. I also loved watching the change in dynamics between all the characters, and how every relationship seemed to grow and change naturally. The characterization were spot on and made up for the action scenes that sometimes got a little confusing and convoluted.

While this book took a second for me to get into it once I was, I was totally hooked. This take on the Black Death was fascinating and the fantasy world was built in was so cool to read about. While there were some plots points I wanted more of an “answer” to I enjoyed it and the mystery of it all. Cas and Lena were definitely favorites, and Bittor most of the time.

Quality fantasy with compelling characters and young love. I'm a sucker for a fighter with a mace.

Read in advance thanks to Netgalley.

YEAR OF THE REAPER was an interesting experience. Reading a book about a fictional plague in the days of COVID-19 is one of those things that rubs me in odd ways, not necessarily bad but it does have a whole new pertinence these days. Especially when you consider that this book was written before we even knew about COVID. It feels prescient, but also cathartic with the way Lucier shows the grief and the scars that mass illness and death leave on a kingdom. She handles such a heavy topic with grace and with tact and I honestly found myself resonating with the overall theme and tone of the novel in a way I would not have before the pandemic struck. This is my first Makiia Lucier book and it makes me really want to read her other books sooner rather than later because I love her writing style. This book also stands out among other books I read in that the MC POV is from a male perspective. You can't help but love Cas as he returns to his home and finds himself embroiled in a mysterious assassination attempt with the bookish and lovable Lena. I really liked the slow burn of this friendship/relationship between the the two of them and how they meet. In this plague torn world, we are plunged into a twisty web of lies and secrets the reader doesn't see coming. Pacing wise, I thought this book balanced character growth with twists and action well. I also like how this is a standalone that ties up really well and doesn't leave questions unanswered. YEAR OF THE REAPER has a particular kind of resonance that will strike readers to the core, yet is an enduring tale about coming home, dealing and healing from loss, and how resilience in the face of horrible tragedy.

This stand-alone fantasy for Royalty/Fantasy loving Teens is full of excitement and twists. It's really a historical fantasy because it does deal with the aftermath of the plague. Both Cas and Les are believable as teens and I loved that we get a romance told from the male YA POV

This book was just not for m. Violent, grotesque and ghosts. I was so hopeful and the concept drew me in but I think the synopsis was a little misleading. The synopsis mainly focused on a plague and kingdom politics. This was more grim then that and a ghost right from the beginning was off putting. I did not read anywhere in the synopsis that this book had paranormal elements.

Loved this genre-defying story - a little mystery, fantasy, horror, historical... The two main characters are wonderful and play well off of each other as they get closer, each of them dealing with their own issues. For him, some PTSD. For her, some feminist kick-assery. After the opening scene with the ghost, I thought perhaps that plotline had been dropped because it didn't show up again for awhile but then it was part of the story at the points where it needed to be part of the story. There were twists and turns that I kind of guessed, but then talked myself out of because so many other great things happened that made me sure the story couldn't really be going there. The world-building is detailed and absorbing. And although there are some other books that could be similar in atmosphere, this one is unique and well-crafted to stand apart from anything else.

Fast read; lots of fun. The novel has good worldbuilding as well as strong male and female characters. Already purchased for my library!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Are you ever just totally blindsided by a 5 star book out of nowhere? I had heard virtually no press about Year of the Reaper, so imagine my delight when it turns out to be one of the best YA fantasy books I've ever read. AND it has the benefit of being a standalone, so you don't have to worry about waiting on future installments that may or may not get worse as the series goes along.
The story starts off with a young prince returning home after having escaped an enemy prison camp. Plague has ravaged the lands, and countless homes are abandoned or filled with only corpses and even the animals have become more dangerous. He arrives home only to find that he's just in time to witness the blessing of the King and Queen's new baby and to save the very same child from assassination. His dramatic entrance proves to be a fine return home, though the assassin remains at large and the mystery only deepens as he begins to investigate with Lena, the King's half sister and historian.
The mystery aspect of this story is fantastic and took me somewhat by surprise, as I didn't know what to expect from the story. The characters are excellent and well fleshed out given that this is a standalone and easy to root for. Also, can we just talk about the plot twists??? OMG, I was STUNNED and at that moment I knew this was going to be one of my best books of 2021. And the it totally stuck the landing too!! I am shook.
Hands down, this is one of my favorite books of the year and one of the best Young Adult fantasies I've ever read. It could have easily been marketed as an adult fantasy and have found equivalent success among that audience as well. I'm a little surprised I haven't seen much hype about this, but it deserves to be shouted about from the rooftops. Guess I'll just have to step up and do it myself! 10/10, this is worth checking out especially if you love some mystery in with your fantasy books. This is kind of a low fantasy, with minimal fantastical elements but it didn't lack because of that. It was actually a lovely change of pace for me.

Three years ago, Cas was attacked and kidnapped by enemy soldiers as plague swept over the land. Now, he's finally escaped, and only wants to return to his family home. Only once there, he discovers that his home has become a refuge for royalty. The king, queen, and newborn prince have been hiding from the plague all year... but they haven't managed to hide from their enemies. As an assassin sweeps through the streets of his family township, Cas is thrown together with the king's sister, Lena, a historian-in-training, to find the identity of the assassin. And why the assassin is after them, in the first place.

Year of the Reaper is a hard book to describe. It feels like a historical fantasy with some sort of mystery/thriller aspect. While I was planning this review, I kept wondering how I was going to explain this. Because, interestingly, it doesn't really feel like a lot was happening... and I sort of enjoyed it?

The tale is quite simple, as the book is primarily driven by its characters and their relationships. It primarily follows Cas, a lord and former prisoner, who is not quite sure who he is anymore. Coupled with quirky historian Lena, Cas's protective brother, and a mysterious queen, this is a novel that is rather quiet, yet I felt gripped immediately.

As far as I've seen, this novel is a standalone, which is my least favorite part. The world--one which inherently feels like a fantasy, but has threads that suggest historical roots, is an interesting one, and I would be thoroughly invested in reading more about this place and the people that inhabit it.

Some books are just so easy to read, and this is one of those books. From the first chapter, I was hooked, and the effortless writing kept me turning the pages whenever I had a chance to keep reading. Cas is an excellent main character; I felt as though he was very real and I loved seeing the book through his eyes. I also really enjoyed the twist that happened; I didn’t see it coming but it was perfect!! A wonderful fantasy book.

I loved this book! This did not come as a surprise to me since I also loved the other two books I've read by this author.

I also did not hesitate to pickup YEAR OF THE REAPER, especially once I realized it was a standalone novel.

Things I loved:
- The story is told from Cas's Pov. It's not very often we get a YA book solely from the male's POV.
- I was hooked from the very beginning. There was a very slow reveal on what had happened in the past and what was currently going on. No big complex information dump to slog through. Instead, I couldn’t stop reading because I was too curious about the back story. (This almost never happens for me.)
- I loved the banter between Cas and Lena, it might even be my favorite aspect of the book. Plus, the slow burning of their relationship. No rushing, insta-love here.
- I loved the mystery. I figured out much of it, but there were still a few twists I did not see coming.
- I loved Ventillas! I loved his relationship with his brother and I was equally invested in him as a character as I was invested in Cas and Lena. I am heartbroken over his broken heart.

Things I did not love:
- There could have been a touch more romance, or at least a little, more happiness. I know this was set during the time of plague, but I wanted a little more to swoon over.
- YEAR OF THE REAPER is a standalone! I know, I know, it being a standalone was one of my initial “pros” to reading the book. But, come on! Ventillas 100% deserves his own book.

I will not stop hoping...

4.5 stars

I am SHOCKED that this book doesn't have more recognition. It was fantastic! I wish so so much that it wasn't a stand alone novel, because I'd read 15 books set in this world. A fabulous YA Fantasy novel that deserves all the love!

This was a surprisingly deep/emotional read for a relatively fast paced action/adventure/intrigue type of story. I'd consider this a "Fantasy Light" as it reads more like historical fiction just set in an imaginary world, there's no "magic" to speak of and only a very little bit of something more or less supernatural. But I never once felt the lack of magic in this world, it was a gem of a read and I highly recommend it. **Thank you so much to NetGalley and Clarion Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!**

This was a really great mix of action/adventure fantasy (light) with a little political intrigue and a really great mystery mixed in. And I did not expect to relate to and enjoy our MC Cas as much as I did. Instead of a drama rama angsty teen drama, this was way more deeply character driven while still having a very active, mysterious, and forward moving plot. I couldn't put this down and read in single day. My only slight complaint would be that I didn't feel like I got enough of this world & these characters (and there were a few threads left unexplained), I very much felt like there was more to the story still to tell....maybe a sequel?

Highly recommend to those who want to root for a great yet imperfect hero, and like the vibes of historical adventure and intrigue. Would especially recommend to fans of Megan Whalen Turner, Robin LeFevers, and Erin Craig.

Year of the Reaper is a fast-paced, fantastical mystery that’s rife with courtly intrigue and rooted in nuanced depictions of personal and societal trauma. https://www.bookpage.com/reviews/year-of-the-reaper/

Isolation and vigilance against illness is at the forefront of the story, as is death; however, Year of the Reaper offers so much more than a story about surviving disease. What struck me first was the warmth of the characters. Despite three years of imprisonment and torture, Cas only wishes to see his life return to normal. When given a chance, he is more likely to grant mercy than to swing his sword.

What truly made this book stand out for me, however, was the mystery behind who was targeting the queen. As the synopsis says, “Cas and Lena soon realize that who is behind the attacks is far less important than why.” I am not often too shocked by the twists and turns of a book—the cost of being such an avid reader—and yet, I found my jaw on the floor when the time came to learn what was going on at the heart of this story. I'll only say this: The best villains are the heroes of their own story, and Lucier has crafted an antagonist you can understand, if not quite agree with.

This is a story about love and loss, death and rebirth, and most importantly, forgiveness and personal responsibility. If you’re looking for a standalone novel with a satisfying ending, look no further than this one.

Wow, this book blew me away! I had a peek at the first pages to see what I was in for, not planning to actually start reading it yet, and then couldn’t put it down. Makiia Lucier has a way of writing that gripped me completely and left me thinking of the the story whenever I had to leave it for a while . I resented the times I wasn’t reading and felt fully immersed whenever I picked it back up, which is all I can ask of a book, really. I also don’t know if this was written before or during the pandemic, but having a plague be part of the central storyline really hit home in a way it might not have at another time, especially seeing it in a more fantasy kingdom setting than the usual pandemic story set as post-apocalyptic or futuristic. But really, apart from the writing and world-building, the characters are absolutely phenomenal. Cas in particular, our main character, was someone I wanted to protect at all costs, and I loved being inside his head.

Cas, aka Lord Cassiapeus, is one of the lords of Palmerin, but he was captured three years before the start of the story, by a group from the neighbouring country, with which they were at war. He wound up in a labour camp, and was the only one to survive when the entire camp caught the plague. His story starts as he makes his way back home, hoping to find his brother still alive, and longing only for a quiet life in a familiar place. But, of course, life has other plans, and he arrives in Palmerin just in time to stop the assassination of the newborn prince. He discovers the royal family have taken up residence in his family estate, where the plague has had less of an effect; king Rayan is an old friend, but his wife Jehan is from Brisa, the country Cas was tortured in, the country that Oliveras has been at war with for fifty-two years. Their union has ended the war, but tension still runs high, enough for their son to be in danger. Instead of a quiet homecoming, Cas finds himself investigating who might be behind the attempt, and discovers other strange happenings around the estate. He has help in his search from Lena, a clever historian-in-training who Cas immediately takes a liking to. Lena and Cas are brilliant characters, and whenever they’re together they riff off each other really well, making all their conversations flow well and remain engaging.

I loved the mystery element to this story, but it was only one of the things I loved; I’m finding it difficult to pinpoint what about Year of the Reaper made me love it so much, but there’s just something about it. The writing flowed well, the mystery kept me guessing until the last, the characters are all distinct and loveable, even their dark sides, the soft romance made me feel things, and the world building wasn’t overdone but had enough to make me want to explore more of the world. And, though it has the elements of a medieval fantasy in terms of setting and names, there is no magic in it, and is more of a historical fiction. I wish I could do this book more justice, but the best way I can describe it is that it makes me scream internally whenever I think about it, and that I wanted to reread it as soon as I finished it, which is always the sign of a good story. I know it’s a standalone, but I really hope we get to see more of this setting, and maybe more of the characters, in the future.