If the idea of a dark YA fantasy with a morally gray main character and creepy Japanese mythology sounds appealing, you should definitely check out The Keeper of Night.

The story opens in a gripping way that throws you right into the life and experiences of Ren- half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami and struggling to find a place where she can be entirely accepted. At its core this is a book about identity, family, and the experience of being a person of mixed race where both sides reject you and see you as lesser.

Ren has been raised in London where she reaps souls and tries to avoid the young Reapers who torment her for her difference. But when she reveals a secret about her power, she's forced to go on the run with her younger half-brother and Ren is determined to track down the Japanese mother who gave her up.

This book brings Japanese mythology to life and let me tell you, a lot of it is very dark and violent! I didn't expect how creepy this would be, at times almost leaning into horror, but it's kind of perfect heading into spooky season. Ren is hurt, angry, and willing to do anything for the acceptance she has been denied. But will she lose her own soul in the process? This does have a dark romantic subplot as well, but I don't want to say too much about it. Suffice to say I have a feeling that given the YA love for dark and brooding love interests, we're probably going to be see some fan art of this character.

Overall, I really liked this and it's a very strong debut. There were times the pacing didn't totally work for me and moments where the YA angst and tropiness was a bit too much for my personal taste, BUT that was very much overshadowed by the use of Japanese mythology, the cool and creepy world-building, and having an angry, murderous female MC. Definitely one to watch. The audio narration is really great as well and I would especially recommend it if you're unfamiliar with these Japanese terms and their pronunciation. I received an advance audio copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded (?) *may change

I'm actually not sure about this rating at all?
I tend to rate books on a scale of enjoyment. A book could be masterfully written with great prose and storytelling, but if I don't care then I /don't care./ I'll still rate it low. That being said, this book was so not enjoyable to read.

All of the characters are annoying to an unreadable degree, which, YES, I understand is the point, but it doesn't make them any less annoying. Just because the characters are meant to be unlikable doesn't suddenly give them a pass for frustrating the life out of me.

I think it's all of the morality in this book—or lack thereof, or confusion of morality?—that annoyed me so much. Some characters would have tight moral systems that interfered with the greater storyline (which was so damn annoying) but would otherwise do horrible things anyway? Or other characters would be cruel until suddenly developing sympathy out of nowhere. Like, okay, I'm not saying I want to read a book where characters are all horribly dark and vicious people, but if a character is going to be a bad person they should /be a bad person./ I can't stand when they suddenly get a change of heart from human emotions, especially since none of the protagonists are humans? Like, why is a shinigami or a reaper experiencing this much pity? Dude, you literally collect human souls.

Speaking of, I feel like my soul was shrinking into itself trying to get through the second third of this book. So annoying.

It's a bit of a fast-paced story, honestly, which I rather like if the characters weren't so irritating. All of the fight scenes were interesting enough and held some sort of stake.

The rating is absolutely up for change between a 3 and a 4. I just don't know. On one hand, yeah, the author exceeded at doing what they sought out to do with this book. On the other hand, no, reading about it was not fun. I guess this is a book for people who don't mind reading about unlikable people so long as they're meant to be that way.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced reader's copy.

DNF 50%

So why the 3 star review? This isn't for me. It started very very strong but lost me after that. But I know that for a lot of readers and customers it will be loved. The writing just started on the older side of YA and then trended younger.

And that is fine. It is YA and that is absolutely fine. I don't feel comfortable giving a book 1 star because it read young. It is YA. For me, I had hopes it would have stayed on the projector with which it started.

Normally I don't even write a review for a book I don't finish but because of the reasons above, I felt it was important to do so.

t really is a cool again so I can wear this



It is one of the softest sweatshirts I have ever owned. It is so ridiculously comfortable so ridiculously easy to wear


Trust me you will not be disappointed

3.75 stars

The Keeper of Night was a bit of a roller coaster ride for me. A historical fantasy with a morally grey, bi-racial protagonist, it is dark, gory, and full of fascinating Japanese lore. It may have had a bit of a bumpy start (the exposition takes up a good third of the novel), but I definitely think it found its stride even if some of the plot twists were a bit predictable. I have to admit that at one point, I had to stop listening to the audiobook because I was listening at night and getting too freaked out! If you love your YA a little on the darker side, I think that this is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Beneath the fantasy, monsters and darkness this story is truly about the hurt and rage of rejected children.

Ren, born to an English reaper and a Japanese shinigami, has never fit in in London. She's rejected by her father, her peers, other reapers, all except her brother Nevin.

After crossing a line while defending herself from bullies, she flees England to Japan with Nevin in tow. She expects to finally find where she belongs, maybe even her mother, but instead finds yet another place she doesn't quite fit.

Desperate for belonging she agrees to the ruler of Yoni's (Japan's underworld) terms only to be betrayed again.

The story suddenly takes wild twists as turns as secrets are revealed, positions change, but still belonging eludes Ren.

While also terrifying this story is deeply heartrending. It brought to mind the quite "the child not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel it's warmth".

I'm really struggling with writing a review for this book. I loved the Japanese folklore and the eerie (also slightly depressing) atmosphere Baker conveyed... however I feel like I've yet to recover from that ending. Let's just say that I'm glad to hear there's a sequel on the way!

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings (provided by the author): death (on-page + discussed frequently), racism, sexism (brief), ableism, bullying, emotional neglect of a child, mentions of child abandonment, violence, murder, blood, gore, and implied sex.

Well this was a heck of a debut by Kylie Lee Baker!

Ren is half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami living in London. Her Reaper father has disowned her, her fellow Reapers bully her. And everywhere she goes, she is seen as an other, never fitting in. Her only friend is her half brother Neven, who is ostracized by the rest of the Reapers for showing kindness towards Ren and towards living things. After Ren's Shinigami powers cause her to have to flee London to save herself, Neven joins her, even though it means he has to leave the only home he's ever known. Together, they journey to Japan where Ren hopes to find her Shinigami mother. But all is not as it seems and soon they are fighting for their lives and a place within the Shinigami world. Even here, Ren is seen as an other... she was too Japanese for London and too London for Japan.

This is a dark fantasy full of Japanese folklore and mythology driven by a morally grey protagonist. The world building is so detailed and engrossing that readers will feel like they are traveling along with Ren and Neven. Japanese mythology is not for the faint of heart though, the beings that Ren encounters are terrifying.

The last 20% of this novel will pull the chair out from under you. I'm still not recovered from it and now have to anxiously await the next book in this series to find out what happens next.

The only real bummer for me was Rebecca Yeo's performance of the audiobook. It felt very one-note to me.

Brilliant. As a part Japanese part European heritage, it was easy for me to connect with the MC immediately. I enjoyed the lore, the deeply flawed characters and world building. There isn’t much I didn’t like about this. I can’t wait for the second book

This was such an interesting book! I loved all the folklore, spirits, dark history, and everything else was wonderful! I wasn't super impressed with the audio quality. I could hear pages turning, and the breathes in between sentences. It was a bit distracting.