Thank you for granting me access to this audiobook! The narrator is wonderful and the story is beautiful - a great conclusion to the duology.

However, I was not able to listen to this audiobook on the Netgalley app as it had an echo as if two voices were speaking at once. I was stalking Netgalley for this audio for a really long time and it was only posted a couple days before publication and my approval didn't come through until after publication. I am actually very glad of this because of the issues with the Netgalley version. Since the book was published I was able to smoothly switch to another copy of the audio to listen to it.

I received an eARC and audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited for this book because I loved the first book The Keeper of Night. This book was a little bit slower at the beginning than the first one. I think it was harder to get into because of where the first book ended. This book starts where our main character, Ren, is at the lowest point in her life. The pace of the book increases as we move along in the story so it doesn’t stay slow for long at all. I loved all of the development of some of my favorite characters from book one. I also enjoyed some of the new characters. If the author decides to do a third book or a spin off book, I definitely would like to learn more about some of the characters that are mentioned in this book. I really enjoyed this book. I did not give it five stars simply based on the fact that I thought book one was better. When Kylie Lee Baker comes out with another novel, I will definitely pick it up. I like the writing style and subject. As for the audiobook: I did not receive the audiobook until after I was about halfway through the e-book so I listened to some of the audiobook as I finished the novel. The audiobook was decent. I liked the way the narrator read for the other characters, more than anything, (I’m not really sure why) but it could be that I had already decided what Ren sounded like in my head by the time I got the audiobook. So I would also give the audiobook a four based on the book itself.

THE EMPRESS OF TIME was one of those sequels that outshined the first and still very good book, THE KEEPER OF NIGHT. I was really intrigued at the end of TKON about where Ren's story would go and I was not disappointed. I remember struggling with Ren's character in book 1 because her choices really bugged me, and I think that was the point, but all the reasons why I struggled with Ren's character in book 1 really made me love her in book 2. She's sharp, morally grey, and has her jagged edges and isn't classically likeable, but she's raw and fearless and real and strong. And I loved that about her. Baker does a great job making Ren confront the consequences of her action and portraying the toll that her choices took on her character. Truly, Ren's character development, when taking into account both books, is nothing less than masterful. I also really loved the juxtaposition between Ren's relationship with Hiro and her relationship with his brother, Tsukuyomi and how different those dynamics were. As with book 1, I appreciated Baker's discussion of Ren's inner conflict with her half-British Reaper and Half Japanese Shinigami identity and how she views herself and fits with the world around it. There is so much wonderful elements of this story and imagery based in Japanese folklore and myth, and Baker's writing is gorgeous, dark and a bit gruesome, and I was 100% into this one from beginning to end. THE EMPRESS OF TIME is about a girl with sharp edges and her feet in two worlds come to terms with who she is and the things she's done, and it was just a phenomenal ending to this duology!

I really enjoyed the first book in this duology and was looking forward to seeing how everything would play out after Neven goes missing and Ren takes over as the Death Goddess for Japan. This definitely had some good moments, a quest, more mythical creatures, and a new love interest. I also thought Ren and Neven's relationship was interesting and I liked that they had to work out their issues instead of everything immediately being fine.

The pacing was slow for me, especially the first half. I felt like some of the plot could have been cut out without making much of a difference. While I understand Ren having a difficult time being the new Death Goddess and getting her Shinigami to respect her, I didn't love that she became so mean and hardened. She's a morally grey character and that's fine, I just had a hard time rooting for her sometimes.

The ending wrapped up pretty well and the duology was definitely unique. I also thought the audiobook was well narrated and recommend going that route.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Inkyard Press, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the copy

This was just as good as the first book. I liked the writing and the characters. The only thing I didn't really like was the insta-love. I did like the love interest in this book more than in the first one though. Overall. I think that this is a satisfying conclusion to the duology.

The second in the duology this picks up with Ren paying her penance and hoping to bring her brother out of the infinite darkness with her darker deeds.

Ren is surprised and suspicious when the moon god shows up in her kingdom claiming to be there in his father’s behalf. More shocking is his resemblance to his brother, Hiro, the husband Ren killed for the sake of her brother.

When her brother does unexpectedly turn up he’s much changed and Ren mourns the impact on their relationship.

Then a threat from their past arises and all three must find a way to work together to save Japan.

Ultimately, for me, this is still a story of seeking belonging with a dash of finding and embracing your power.

Beautifully Dark, Gruesome, Japanese Folklore, Conclusion, NA.

This was a fantastic conclusion to Ren’s dark and twisted journey. The story picks up a decade after the first and Ren’s spiralling out of control, buried under a mountain of guilt, self-loathing and uncertainty that bleeds into her newfound title and reign. She’s desperately trying to find her brother while she’s informed that Ivy the new Goddess of Death is a week away from Japan with an army of high reapers. Ren’s then thrown into a wild-goose chase around Japan with the Moon God who looks uncannily like Hiro and a few other unexpected companions. The romp through Japan is wonderful, narrated in the same hauntingly beautiful fashion as the first book and highlighting more of Japan's wonderful culture and history.

I absolutely loved Ren’s self-actualization moment when she finally realized who she was and what she was capable of. That she was so much more than just a half reaper half-shinigami that seemed to belong nowhere but the Empress of Death who forged her own path and made her own rules. Again, Rebecca Yeo did an immaculate job narrating and bringing everything to vivid life. Such a good read with a perfect ending.

As a side note, I do wish we’d get one more book but from Neven’s POV and maybe jump forward a hundred years to the present and have one last crazy adventure. However, that’s just me being greedy and wanting more from Ren and Neven.

Special thank you to #NetGalley, #KylieLeeBaker and #DreamscapeMedia for sharing this digital copy, these are my honest thoughts on #TheEmpressOfTime
Also, a thank you to narrator #RebeccaYeo

Rebecca Yeo nailed the narration yet again. Fantastic audiobook!!!

Full review:

The Empress of Time is the conclusion to Kylie Lee Baker's The Keeper of the Night duology. This story follows Ren Scarborough, who is half-British Reaper, half-Japanese Shinigami. In the first book, Ren and her half-brother, Neven, fled London for Japan, where Ren hoped to learn more about her mother and her Shinigami roots.

Once there, Ren was given a difficult quest by the Goddess of Death. She needed to find and eliminate three dangerous Yokai demons. Along with her brother and a new friend, Hiro, Ren's quest kept me glued to the pages. Death work is difficult business. It's fast-paced with extremely high-stakes. Over the course of the first novel, I became easily attached to this group of characters.

Additionally, the first book had a fairly earth-shattering conclusion, so I have been anxiously awaiting this second installment.

In The Empress of Time, Ren has now been ruling the Japanese Underworld as the Goddess of Death for the past decade. She is no longer the same conflicted girl who fled the streets of London all those years ago. Now Ren has received startling news that her past has come back to haunt her though. There are British Reapers approaching the shores of Japan. They're here for Ren, for vengeance.

Ren seeks help and is again sent out on what seems to be an impossible quest. This time she must find and retrieve a magical sword said to have been missing for thousands of years. With Hiro gone, Ren is joined this time around by the moon god Tsukuyomi, Hiro's brother, on her mission. Together the two race throughout the country trying to find the object they seek before time runs out for Ren.

As mentioned above, I have been really excited to get this second book. It was just as intriguing as the first one. I was a little surprised by the huge time jump, however. I was sort of anticipating this would pick up right where the first book left off, but that wasn't the case. It did take me a little bit to come to terms with that.

As with the first book, Kylie Lee Baker really succeeds with the dark, beautiful imagery she is able to conjure up with this. And when I say dark, I mean it. There's a lot of death, mutilation, even the occasional consumption of body parts. It gets bloody, dangerous and gruesome, but we love to see that in a Fantasy. I loved the inclusion of so many elements from Japanese folklore and myth. The world is well-constructed and worked really well over the course of this story.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this was how Baker kept the themes from the first book alive. For example, in the first book there's a big focus on Ren's heritage and her inner conflict over being half-British Reaper and half-Japanese Shinigami. For Ren, she never felt like she belonged in London and she was in fact treated like an outsider by the other Reapers.

In this book, even though Ren has found a bit more peace with who she is, she still doesn't feel like she has a true place she belongs. Particularly at the start of this. So, bringing the Reapers to Japan and now having the Shinigami battle on her behalf, it was like the two sides of her being having an external conflict, instead of just the inner one from the first book. I am most likely explaining this terribly, but I found it really interesting.

This story was still about Ren searching for the place she truly belonged, but the playing field and the actors were so much larger in scope than in the first book. There has been a great evolution to Ren's character, but she is still a character in deep need of finding greater meaning for herself.

With that in mind, I loved how this concluded. The final little section was the icing on the cake. A conclusion that seems fitting for the life that Ren lived. I definitely recommend this to fans of Dark Fantasy, Japanese-Inspired Fantasy and classic quest tales. Kylie Lee Baker really knows how to wrap it up. This was a beautiful finale for this lush story.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Inkyard Press and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. I had a lot of fun with this duology and definitely look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

**Review will be published on my sites & socials October 11th, 2022**

GLAD I WENT WITH THE AUDIOBOOK.

Audiobook review: Fantastic. I have zero complaints about the narration, story telling, or anything in regards to the audiobook. Easily would say to read this book that route.

Why am I happy I did? Because I could speed it up a bit. I adored the first book in this duo, and I’m unfortunately writing another meh review for a second book in a duology.

The plot was a bit meandering as if it was trying to fill space. I didn’t really get the sense of adventure I think was trying to be conveyed. All of the lore with Reapers and Shinigami was still one of my favorite aspects. I love dark fantasy and I this did hit those notes really well.

I also did like the sibling relationship. It’s not always simple to love your brother / sister and I liked the exploration of those dynamics. The good and the bad that can come with family, but how ultimately they were able to work things out. I loved Neven and Ren for these scenes the most.

For once I’ll say I don’t think the romance was necessary. I actually thought this had none and wasn’t upset about it (because it’s not the vibe here) so no harm no foul. BUT then when a little was woven in it felt out of place. I would have been here for a strong friendship over a relationship because Ren needed that kind of connection in her life.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy
- Language: very little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: blood and gore depiction, loss of loved ones

The second book in the Keeper of the Night series and I liked it SO MUCH more than the first one. The plot was a lot more thrilling, I wasn't as frustrated with Wren, and Nevin had a backbone. So many wins.

I would recommend this book to a friend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great end to a series. The book was exciting and was a great way to wrap up a series.

Loved this one!

Although it does take place 10 years later you already know what she's been doing the whole time. Trying to get her brother back and she didn't just stand and stare at the wall she was doing what she could to become stronger and destroy the barrier sperating them.
Which I thought was very well expressed in the first chapters....and even the first book she will do anything for her brother.

Much like the first one we get to go on an adventure with Rin while she tries to stop her past from catch back up to her and take what she has paid for in blood.

This book makes me hope that Kylie does other stories in this world, because I would love more!! She absolutely knows how to suck me in with the violence.

I received a both a print and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. This book comes out today October 4, 2022.

I enjoyed the narrator. She did a good job with the narration of the various characters.

This picks up where book one left off, however about 10 years have passed for Ren who has claimed the title of Goddess of Death. She is still searching for her brother Neven in the deep darkness and much like she did in her previous life she is still trying to find her place in the world. She wasn't respected as a British Reaper, and the Shinigami that she now rules over don't respect because of her foreign heritage. Ren gets word that the head of the Reapers and Ren's worst enemy, Ivy, is on her way to take over Japan and kill Ren. Ren isn't sure she is capable of defeating the British Death Goddess and attempts to make alliances with the other Japanese gods and goddess. To do so she embarks on a quest to find a long lost sword.

I really loved the myth and lore of the first book, and while that concept carries over into this book it isn't the main focus. We do get a glimpse into the larger god and goddess structure which I always find fascinating. We spend much of the book with Ren on her quest to find help to save Japan from the impending invasion. She is a powerful Goddess in her own right, but she has a hard time accepting her new power and role. Much of the book is spent with Ren warring with herself about her own abilities to save Japan and fight the Reapers. There was a bit too much negative self-talk for my liking and I found it frustrating at times. I wanted Ren to embrace the darkness, power, and her anger and harness them into something productive. While I thought the ending was perfect, it took a long time to get there. Ren's character growth was quite the journey, but it was worth it. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it there.

Much like the first book this installment walks the line between fantasy and horror. There are some very dark, violent, and gory scenes. In that sense I feel like the world building was well done, and that is something the author does very well. The descriptions are vivid and detailed. The magic system isn't explained much in this book, but I don't recommend reading this as a standalone. You should definitely read The Keeper of Night first to really understand the magic system and get a better understanding of the Reapers and the Shinigami. I think if you picked this up first you'd be completely lost. This does answer alot of the outstanding questions I had at the end of book one about what was going to happen with Ren, Neven, and the rest of the characters. I felt the book ended with a fitting conclusion to the duology.

Overall, I enjoyed this conclusion and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

3.5 stars rounded up

I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book and I think it suffers a bit in the beginning from doing a ten year time jump from the end of book one. However, it still delivered a good story, a satisfying conclusion to the duology, and the creepy, dark Japanese mythology from book 1. Thematically this continues to explore our main character's struggle to find where she fits as a biracial woman, rejected on both sides. But more than that, it's a story about complicated sibling relationships that still involve intense, protective love. If you liked book 1, it's definitely worth picking this up to conclude the story. The audio narration is good as well and fits the tone of the book. I received an audio review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Wonderful narration that really brought the characters to life: as for the story, I felt like the tone was a bit off here. The first book had the most epic set up for a second book and it seems to have squandered it here. Just ok for me.

I read a physical copy of this and wanted to see how the audiobook held up and I have to say the narrator does a phenomenal job of conveying the story and the tenseness of the plot!