This book has so much going for it, and I think that it could've been great, but the pacing was SO FAST that I never got to stop and marinate and understand what was going on. I couldn't connect with the characters because we didn't get the quiet moments with the main characters. The world building was so interesting, but I've never wanted an info dump more...

I ended up reading this title instead of listening to it, but I imagine that having a narrator read some of the words would have been beneficial.

Stellar world building and a very engaging conflict. Tarisai was a delightful character to follow and the emotional depth to her character felt fully realized. The pacing was steady even while dipping into some meatier topics like generational trauma.

I absolutely adored reading Raybearer, but I wasn't a fan of this particular audiobook. The text itself is great, but I suppose I'm just not a big fan of listening to books. Still a 5 star read though!

Fantastic! What a ride!

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Purchased this title for the home library, and recommended to county system for purchasing in multiple formats.

I was totally absorbed by this story. Even though I more or less knew where this story was heading, and then to find it I was totally off track was wonderful. I could not stop and was excited to read.

This book was everything that I wanted in a fantasy book-- a badass heroine on a mission, magical powers, found friendship, and BIPOC characters. Absolutely amazing!

This book follows a girl named Tarisai who was literally raised to be a killer except her target is the Crowned Prince and it is Tarisai's mission to be selected as one of his Council of Eleven.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the found family aspect and learning about each character's power and how they worked. I recommend this book for my fellow fantasy lovers who want to see more diversity in their characters.

*I received a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! I'm only sad it took me so long to read it, This is one of those great books that are action packed. The only times I wanted to put it down were when it sometimes got too intense. There is a rich world here full of intrigue and I loved all the characters. I can't wait to read the sequel!

After much debate this is a solid 5 star read. I mean the themes, the quotes, lessons, the feels -- everything about this book including the cover is gold. I adored the characters, the world and everything in between. I have high expectations for the sequel to come.

Tarisai is such a naive girl with a brilliant mind! The way she tackled and handled things was amazing. Her heart for the people and how they were ruled was so inspiring to see. She is a girl not to be played with. I love her.

Dayo is a boy who has been kept from the world. I love that he desires to change it. I loved his care for the people. I love how he treated his eleven. Sanjeet is such a broken boy with a pure heart. I love all that he is and hated all that he went through. Kirah and the others are all so amazing! I adored the found family that they built and the trust they had for one another, especially when things went left. I love them all so much!

The romance was everything! I loved every piece of it from beginning to end. I am even happy that it didn't follow the supposed romance that many hoped for. I swooned over the kisses and touches. It was sweet, innocent and everything I needed.

The older eleven of the the king were highly aggravating. A man too scared to have an equal and followers to dumb to speak up. I understand The Lady's anger, but she was also a hot mess. I love that there was more than one villain in this story.

I am too excited for more of the world, more of the characters and more magic. I hope the sequel doesn't disappoint because that ending made me happy and ready for so much more.

Highly recommend! My first 5 star read of the year!

I'm definitely interested to see where this story goes. I think I like the premise, as I know it now, of the second book even more than the first so that's exciting.

GREAT AUDIOBOOK. Read the book first before coming to listen to the audiobook. The narration was good.

Epic, empowering, and powerful West-African inspired YA fantasy with a strong female protagonist named Tarisai. Tarisai fights to become a member of the Crown Prince's Council. But she has been cursed and in conflict with her desire to kill the Crown Prince. Betrayal, world building with magic, revenge, warring powers, bonds that transcends romantic love and destiny The narrator did a good job of narrating this audiobook. .Excellent debut by Jordan Ifueko, I'm looking forward to checking out the sequel to Raybearer, Redemptor coming out in August.

I loved this book and already bought a physical copy for the library. I also bought a digital audiobook of this book! The cover is amazing! It is already checked out!

I am astonished that this is the author’s debut novel! It’s so complex and lyrical and quite simply, amazing. It’s the YA Fantasy I didn’t know I needed in my life right now.

There’s some world-building to be done in this book, particularly in the first half. But while I sometimes find this (understandably necessary) part of fantasy books a bit tedious I was SO into the world Ifueko was creating for us.

Tarisai has been raised in near isolation with an absent mother known only to her as ‘The Lady’. She longs to belong, to be part of a family, and when she’s shipped off to compete to win a place on the Crown Prince’s Council she gets that chance. However, it’s not as simple as joining her new family of peers, because Tarisai has been trained to kill the Prince, as soon as the time is right. Battling an internal war between what she’s been told to do and what she believes is right, and navigating the half-truths, lies and myths she’s grown up with is no easy feat.

Honestly, I can’t do this book justice, so you’ll just have to take my word for it that you need to read it, and get yourself a copy.

If audiobooks are your thing, this one is narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt and was an absolutely beautiful experience to listen to, especially because there are some songs that I don’t think you’d appreciate quite as much if just reading the lyrics in the book. The audiobook comes in at 13 hours and 48 minutes.

Loyalty is everything !! Loved this book. I loved seeing a African American Woman on the cover even more.

Raybearer is a winner! I enjoyed Tarsai’s journey and the magic system. Joniece Abbott-Pratt did a wonderful job narrating the audiobook. I’m looking forward to the next book. Thanks @abramskids @piquebeyond and @macmillan.audio for the ARCs.

I loved this book a whole hecking lot! The concept and world are so interesting and unique, I couldn't get enough of all the details and the geography and the different magics, I was enthralled throughout. It's the kind of world that I would love a history book of just to learn ALL THE THINGS. It was super easy to get absorbed into too and the writing was impeccable

We follow Tarisai, a young girl who's been raised by the elusive Lady. One day, The Lady tells Tarisai that she'll be leaving their keep, the only home she's ever known, to move to the capital with one aim: killing the crown price of the empire

I loved the characters in this book so much. Sanjeet was my absolute fave and finding out more about his backstory brought me to tears a few times, my lil gentle giant. I was also fascinated by our protagonist, Tarisai, and she was such an excellent main character to follow. Everything surrounding her and her past was fascinating and I loved how it was all revealed

The fact that the sequel of this book doesn't exist yet is a travesty and I will be weeping continuously until I have it in my hands

TW: parental emotional abuse/manipulation

Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC of this audiobook.

Tarisai has always wanted to be part of a family. Raised by her aloof mother and absent father, she succeeds in a test to become a member of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. Within the council, she finds friendship and family, but her destiny is to kill the prince. She doesn’t want to be a pawn, but can she outrun her destiny?

I started this book yesterday morning in the wee hours while fighting a migraine, and I thought I’d go through it at a leisurely pace, maybe take a couple or a few days with it. Nope. I was done by the end of the workday, haha! The worldbuilding and characterization are on point, and the pace moves so quickly I just didn’t want to stop.

There is so much to unpack with this story, and it looks like a series, so I’ll definitely want to revisit this before moving on to the other books. There’s Ace rep, complicated relationships with family and friends, and the struggle of the beliefs we are raised on vs. forging our own destinies, and it really resonated with me. I can’t wait for more.

I’m still catching up on the backlist, so this one is out now if you love your fantasy books epic.

Raybearer is a truly magical read set in a sweeping West African inspired fantasy world. I was charmed by every chapter and the narration only made it better.

Tarisai has been raised for treason, by a mother as mysterious to her as the outside world. All she wishes for is a family and a purpose of her own choosing. When she is sent by her mother and enveloped into the Crown Prince’s Council, she finds herself experiencing the love and friendship she’s always desired. But her joy is overshadowed by her mission to gain the prince’s trust and then take his life.

This story is an enchanting tale of the power of bonds, of friendship and love and blood. I was bewitched by the stories within stories, mythology and lush world building.

I especially loved the LGBTQIA+ rep in this. There is no shame in loving who you love – in fact, it is expected and celebrated amongst the Council members, whose love for one another is deeply entwined. Most of all, in appreciate the aro/ace representation and how important it is for the narrative of the story, I imagine it will be touched upon more in the next book!

I remember watching a Yallstayhome panel with Jordan this past Spring, hearing her talk about this book and thinking: “Damn, it sounds better than most of the books releasing this year!”

I can honestly say, it is.