This YA fantasy novel inspired by Japanese folklore had me hooked from the very first page.

Ren Scarborough is half British Reaper and half Japanese Shinigami. For most of her life, Ren has, at best, felt like she hasn’t belonged, and at worst, hated because of her mixed heritage.

One fateful night, Ren loses control over her powers and accidentally injures three High Reapers. Ren knows that she would suffer severe punishment if she stayed in London, so she decides to flee to Japan with her brother Neven, where Ren hopes to find her identity. In Japan, things do not come as naturally as Ren had hoped and she ends up going on a quest to carve a place for herself among the Shinigami of her birth country.

This novel incorporates plenty of dark and fantastical elements of Japanese folklore, including Shinigami (death spirits), yōkai (supernatural spirits), Yomi (the Underworld), the nine-tailed fox, and much more. Before reading this, I knew embarrassingly little about Japanese folklore and mythology, but now I am very excited to learn more.

This novel is set in the late 1800s and due to that fact, Ren endures a lot of racism and Othering. There are discussions on belonging, white fragility, identity, and family.

As I mentioned, this book hooked me from the first page. My one critique would be the insta-love relationship, although I will say that it goes to very unexpected places, places that had me shocked and wickedly delighted.

I cannot wait for book two in this incredible duology.

Thank you to Inkyard Press for the ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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.

With a tagline that grabs you from the getgo and a plot focusing on Japanese yokai and shinigami, I was ready to love this. Unfortunately for me, this just didn't go the way I wanted it to. Books that follow the main character doing whatever they need to to get what they want are simply not for me. That is exactly the case with Ren's story as her journey is fueled by, while not exactly unwarranted, entirely selfish desires that isolate both the other characters and the reader from her. That being said, take what I say with a grain of salt because a lot of what I didn't like about this book comes down to personal taste.


Writing:

Starting on a positive note, I found the writing to be rather stunning at points. Poetic isn't exactly the word I would use, but it was very beautiful and philosophical. It is the kind of writing that makes you sit there and go 'wow'. It didn't feel forced either, like it was intentionally trying to sound that way as the words flew naturally off the page.


Plot:

This book wastes no time diving right into the catalyst for our main characters to go on their journey. While that might not be a bad thing in certain cases, everything was moving too quickly. I think the book would have benefited from having more initial time getting to know Ren and Neven, our main and side characters respectively. The further I went on as well, the more I found my enjoyment waining. The folklore aspect was the saving grace of the book, especially when it started to focus on character relationships instead which wasn't exactly what I wanted to read about.

What also decreased my enjoyment of the book was that the entire journey was fueled by misplaced optimism and incompetence. When she is forced to leave the reapers, Ren thinks it is only logical to travel to Japan where she will meet her mom, fit right in with the shinigami, and get everything she thinks she deserves in life. The reader knows that that probably isn't going to be that easy (or happen at all), so it is frustrating to see her bumble her way to a different country without even thinking of a plan b.

When I reached the climactic point, I had no sympathy nor empathy in my body for Ren. Her character development, while not necessarily a bad thing, just didn't work for me. Personal feelings aside, I felt like the climax happened way too suddenly, and way too much was going on. I was rather baffled by the chaotic ending, and not in a good way. I was left there suspended in disbelief, wondering why it ended like that and whether or not a sequel is necessary.


World-Building:

This is set in a world where each respective country and culture have servants who are under the command of their respective figure of death. On the positive side, I thought that the book did a good job at establishing the world and explaining the aspects of the cultures. The author interweaved the tales of the yokai into the story which I thought was a way to integrate backstory into the world. What I would have liked more of, however, is an explanation as to why the reapers act the way they do.

I found that a lot of the book hinges on being cruel for cruelty's sake. The world of the reapers is cutthroat, but I didn't get a good enough sense as to why. You are just told that there is a hierarchy where the superior can do whatever they want to the inferior. I think Ren's journey would have been more appealing to me if she went to find her place in the world out of her own volition, and not because the reapers were horrible to her.

There were other small details that bothered me as well. For one, I had no idea what time period this was supposed to be set in. It is not stated in the synopsis, and although some hints are given due to the obvious sexism, racism, and xenophobia, it would have been nice to have a concrete date instead of a vague one in order to help get a better sense of the surrounding world.


Characters:

Let's start with our main character, Ren, shall we? She is, to say the least, unlikable and unsympathetic. I know that not all characters have to be likable, but when they have no redeemable qualities whatsoever, I tend not to have a good time following them. The best words I would use to describe her are selfish and foolhardy, and she is not alone as it seems like most of deaths servants are supposed to be emotionless and love the macabre. I spent more time hoping for something bad to happen to her than for her to get what she wanted. It makes it really hard to enjoy a book whose main characters' entire journey you are hoping would fail.

I also found her to be rather hypocritical when it came to her half-brother, Neven. Neven joins Ren on her journey and, as time goes on, Ren becomes less and less sympathetic with what Neven is dealing with, and not rightfully so. Neven honestly deserved way better than her, and it was a shame to see his character used that way, not as a supporting character but as something that was in the way. He was a much more intriguing character than Ren, and I would have liked for him to have more of the limelight.

Hiro, someone they met in Japan who aids them on their journey, was also more intriguing than Ren (for the most part). He is mysterious and suspicious and has a lot more personality than Ren does. I wasn't a fan of the direction his character arc went in though as it wasn't surprising and, like Neven, I felt like it was a waste of potential. In the end, it felt like his character was only there for Ren rather than being his own character.


Concluding Thoughts:

Books that focus on the main character doing whatever they can to reach their goal never ends well for me. If you don't mind characters who are on more of the chaotic evil side, then this might work for you. If you like the idea of yokai and shinigami, then your best bet would be to watch some anime or read some manga. I would suggest Bleach, Demon Slayer, XXXHolic, Mushi-shi, and Natsume's Book of Friends (if you want something more on the lighter side).

Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for granting me access to review this.

What a fun freaking time!!

I feel like this book is so good and it is not at all what I expected!! Lots of thoughts to process, but I can say that this book is DARK. And not in a super gory, people are getting tortured kind of way, but more so it features the literal underworld (not the cute version where women fall in love with hades and want to stay with him forever), with infinite darkness, decay, and sadness. AS WELL AS a goddess of death, loss, betrayal, ancient lore, intense fight scenes and just WHAT WAS THAT ENDING.

I really thought this was a standalone so I’m very interested in what the second book in this duology will be like! But be warned this book is not for the faint of heart!

Overall I really enjoyed this. If I had anything to compare it to I’d say it reminded me of a cross between Bleach (anime) and Princess Mononoke (anime), but dark y’all- DARK DARK DARK. Our MC is in no way a good person and it shows, but like… I love her anyway???

If you want a true epic tale centering around Japanese lore, featuring trials, a soul reaper storyline/magic system, and hints of tragedy.. then this baby is perfect for you.

Bravo Ms. Baker. BRAVO

xx
-Christine (less)

Ren is half British Reaper and half Japanese Shinigami, a heritage that leaves her shunned and abused, even though she has been dutifully serving Death in London for centuries. But she can only take so much. When her Shinigami powers of light go out of control, she's forced to run from the only home she's ever known, hoping to find her place alongside the Japanese. But even there, she has to prove her own worth, and is given a dangerous task: find and destroy three powerful Yokai. With only her half-brother and a mysterious water god to assist her, she will learn how far she is willing to go to earn her place.

I have mixed emotions about this book. I adore Asian mythology and was thoroughly excited to see it represented here. But I also must acknowledge that while I don't mind morally gray characters, I struggle a little bit with "villain stories," and I think Ren's can be described as such. (This, of course, is an arguable point, but that was my take on it.) And so, in true mixed-emotion form, I'm giving The Keeper of Night 3 stars.

The novel is set sometime in the late 1800s, starting off in London, where Ren is constantly bullied and belittled by the Reapers around her. Reapers are generally cold and not prone to emotion, and Ren even more so, in an effort to survive the climate she lives in. Ren is a difficult character to love, as she's truly detached from most situations. Combined with her half-brother, Neven, and the secretive water god Hiro, and you've got a formula for a lot of interpersonal conflicts between characters.

What stood out for me was Japanese mythology, complete with the story of Izanagi and Izanami and the land of the dead, as well as various Yokai. From spider-women known as Jorogumo to the snow woman Yuki-onna, fans of this Eastern mythology will feel totally immersed in a magical, yet dark world.

At the end of it, I enjoyed The Keeper of Night, but I just didn't love it. I believe it just wasn't the right kind of book for me, but remain confident that others will thoroughly enjoy it.

Posted to Goodreads 9/21/2021

A completely different type of fantasy book than what I am used to and I loved it!
I found this book super interesting and different with the use of Reapers/ Shinigami (Japanese soul collector) and it was set in the late 1800s! The Japanese mythology and Folklore was woven beautiful throughout the story and was intriguing. Ren who is half British Reaper and half Japanese Shinigami goes in search of her mother and homeland after being persecuted by the British Reapers for attacking a High Reaper with her ever growing powers. She leaves in search of a place that will finally accept her and she brings her brother along. Once they reach Japan they meet Hiro who 'helps' them. Ren is set on 3 missions that she must complete in order to be accepted as a Shinigami.
There are a lot of dark themes and talks a lot about death but that is what I find makes this book stand out from the rest. Definitely a must read and I cannot wait for book, I need to know what happens next!

The Keeper of the Night tells the story of Ren, a Reaper/Shinigami who is split between two countries and fits in nowhere. She is not British enough for the British, and is treated as the lowest of the low. When she is forced to flee the Reapers, along with her brother, Neven, after an attack, Ren believes Japan is the only place for her now.

Only to find out that she is not Japanese enough for Japan, either. However, the Japanese goddess of Death will allow her to join their version of the Reapers, the Shinigami, after she proves herself by completing three seemingly impossible tasks. But how far will she go trying to find a new family for herself, and what about Neven?

This book was absolutely brilliant. The story, although based around mythological characters, was original, the feelings experienced by the characters real, and the plot twists, fantastic. Read it, read it, read it!

A dark fantasy with rich Japanese lore, The Keeper of Night will devour readers into an abyss of death and destruction, while hoping for a glimmer of light when this story concludes.

I instantly felt swept away by Kylie Lee Baker’s story. The rapid current pulling you under into the colorless depths, a rabid creature lurking in the dark, wrenching you deeper into a nightmare you didn’t know existed, until your very last breath.

What I thought most compelling in The Keeper of Night is the feeling of belonging. When you are not seen as whole, but having two distinct and separate identities. Being of mixed ethnic backgrounds, in Ren’s case half-Japanese and half-British, is always a challenge of who do you identify with most? And when the world has you under it’s ever judgmental microscope, debating your worth by your features alone, it’s no wonder Ren wants to tear the world apart and watch it burn to ash.

As the reader you feel the cruelty inflicted on Ren as though they are your own. Like tiny incisions repeatedly imposed over and over and over again, making you wonder, when and if she’s ever going to snap.

And after everything Ren goes through my hope is the next novel is more of a redemption book.

Because towards the end there is such a deep seeded betrayal.

In the beginning, Lee Baker sets up this perfectly erected and stable bond between Ren and her brother, Neven. That he would do anything for her and vice versa. But that relationship is tested to the brink of collapse when they make it to the shores of Japan.

As the story progresses, Ren is set on a path that her brother begins to resist. We see over time, their once strong and unbreakable relationship begins to erode. And I feel they both are at fault.

There’s this utter devastation and loss in the end that I hope is reconciled in the end. Where perhaps (just speculating) Ren will be unmade in order to find what she’s looking for. Reunited with the love that she lost as well as being forgiven for her seemingly selfish choices.

Epic in scope, Lee Baker’s world building is mesmerizing. You feel the cold depths of the underworld and its colorless landscape. Readers will be equally transfixed by the lore and characters Lee Baker brings to life on the page. I am anxious to see if we step back into London and possibly dive into Ren’s British heritage. Where we experience the landscape of that underworld and who we may encounter.

Happy Reading ̴ Cece

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

The Keeper of Night follows Ren, a girl who doesn’t know where she belongs in the world of the dead. She was raised as a Reaper but soon learns of her origins as a Shinigami, like her mother. She makes it her mission to become a true Shinigami and by doing so learns who and what is most important in her world.

This book was absolutely incredible! It’s filled with rich Japanese mythology, betrayal, and even a bit of romance. I loved Ren’s character; I felt sorry for her and hurt with her at times while reading. Ren’s brother, Neven, was such a cinnamon roll. I just wanted to protect him with my whole being. I like Hiro’s character too and his story arc fit the story really well, even if it didn’t go the way I wanted.

The writing style was easy to follow along with while still being enchanting, especially through the inclusion of the myths and legends. There were a couple terms I knew while reading which was cool but I also got to learn some new Japanese terms which is super neat.

Without spoilers, the ending didn’t really go the way I was expecting. I like the way Baker ended it though. She definitely set it up for a sequel, while still having most things fully resolved.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to getting a physical copy for my collection. I highly recommend checking it out if you love learning about Japanese mythology!

This was darker than I expected!

Ren is a Reaper in London, but she's also half Shinigami, a Japanese Reaper. She never knew her mother and lived with a father that didn't want her. The only good thing was her half brother, Neven. Ren was bullied by other Reapers because she was different. When a power she had got out of control, Ren knew she would be punished. She decided to run away to Japan and find her mother. Neven left with her even knowing that he would never fit in. They traveled and got away. But things did not go as planned in Japan. Ren basically has to audition to be made a Shinigami. Izanami, the Goddess of Death, gives Ren the names of three Yokoi to kill. If she does this, Ren can serve the goddess. Their guide, Hiro, helps, but he doesn't tell Ren about the last Yokoi until they get to her. Ren has to make a lot of (poor) decisions to decide what she wants in life. And that usually ends up being something that could hurt Neven, the only person who has ever loved her. They face the Yokoi, but things still don't happen the way that they should. There's a bit of a twist and then a second twist.

I enjoyed how dark and creepy this book was. I can't wait to see what happens in the second book after that ending.

I gave this book 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my earc.

Warnings for blood, death, bullying, parental abuse (mental), and a lot of creepy demon/ghost moments.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an egalley for review. Kylie Lee Baker's "The Keeper of the Night" has all of the elements of a fairy tale plus all of the dark elements that makes it modern and engaging. It follows the rule of three, three monsters to defeat, but instead of having the lead be male, it's the female lead that defeats the monsters...or does she? Ren is of mixed race, so she is made to feel unwelcome in both London Reaper and Japanese Shinigami society. She is constantly trying to prove her worth, which is why she undertakes these Yoki tasks, but at what cost?

I picked this up because I've always found Japanese mythology to be intriguing, and on that mythology, this novel 100% delivers. The writer has pulled from English, Irish, and Japanese mythologies to create a breathtaking fantasy world filled with magic, monsters, and ruthless gods. At the same time, the story is grounded in the pure trauma of Ren's life as a half reaper, half shinigami who fits into no world at all.

What astonishes me most about this book is the author's ability to take such a deeply flawed character and make the reader root for her. Ren is not nice. In fact, she has very few redeeming qualities at all. Her love for her loyal brother, Neven, might well be her only good quality. That said, I could not stop hoping that she would succeed--that she would get everything she wanted.

This dark tale is definitely one to look out for, and I think it's sure to be the great YA hit of October (especially since it manages to avoid the typical YA tropes and cliches).

I reeeally wanted to like this and I did enjoy draw from Japanese yokai and demons. But it just took way too long to get started despite, strangely, simply just starting. I was very confused by the opening chapters, which did very little to draw me into the characters or the setting or even the plot. It felt like I was being dropped into the middle of the story. It really didn't compel me to move on.

For me this was not a strong series launch. I had a hard time getting into the story after Ren & Neven left London. I found the opening scenes in London to be very strong. I was pulled into the story and the world-building was nicely handled in this section. I would have not minded a little bit more time with this setting, getting to know the powers and the world of the Reapers. I also think some of the journey between London and Paris could have given us a chance to see how our main characters move in the world and further develop the relationship between Ren & Neven, which even by the time we reach Japan, I did not find particularly convincing. Overall I didn't love the writing style and I found the world-building to be a bit confusing or inconsistent at times. It didn't grab me and I won't be continuing the series.

This book tore me in two. The writing style is wonderful, and I love the way that we get to know each of the characters so well through their distinct voices. The setting was incredible, and I felt like I was there, running away with Ren.

Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami, Ren has been collecting souls in the London streets for centuries. Expected to obey the harsh hierarchy of the Reapers who despise her, Ren conceals her emotions and avoids her tormentors as best she can. The only person she has to help deal with the pain is her younger half-brother Neven.

When her failure to control her Shinigami abilities drives Ren out of London, she flees to Japan to seek the acceptance she’s never gotten from her fellow Reapers. Accompanied by her brother, the only being on earth to care for her, Ren enters the Japanese underworld to serve the Goddess of Death, only to learn that here too, she must again prove herself worthy. Determined to earn the respect, Ren accepts an impossible task—find and eliminate three dangerous Yokai demons—and learns how far she’ll go to claim her place at Death’s side, even if it means betraying her own blood.

Overall, this book was a 5 star read, and I can’t wait until the second book comes out. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this early, in exchange for an honest review.

Ren Scarborough has never fitted in with the other reapers because she is half British Reaper and half Japanese Shinigami. Ren grew up being treated as a burden and respecting the cruel hierarchy of the reapers all who despise her, well everyone except her younger half-brother. One day after a little over two centuries of tormenting she can no longer control her Shinigami powers she inherited from her mother. Now that the reapers want her dead, she is fleeing to Japan to reconnect with her mother and become a Shinigami. However, when she arrives in Japan, she must prove worthy of becoming a reaper. Ren is given an impossible task of eliminating three legendary Yokai demons by the goddess of death. The keeper of the Night has to be one of my favourite fantasies of 2021. Throughout it we see major character development on all the characters parts. One of my favourite elements is the historical fiction that was intertwined with both fantasy and Japanese folklore. I haven’t seen any books before talking about Japanese folklore and this one was amazing. It explained it really well and wasn’t confusing at all. The character’s had real lives and at times although it was a thriller it was also funny. The book lures you in like a Yokai and doesn’t leave you disappointed either. The absolutely unpredictable plot twist towards the end were done well. I can understand and fully believe that the book deserves all the hype it is receiving and once it releases it will not only become a Young Adult staple but also a bestseller. The story and ending have stayed in my head for a while and the more you dissect it and look back you realise the level and quality of the story and writing. Kylie Lee Baker truly has talent and amazing stories to tell. So for now I will be on the lookout for more information about the sequel and keeping an eye on all of Kylie Lee Bakers future stories.

A couple days after finishing, and I'm still trying to decide how I feel about the book.

A bit of a slower start (I HAVE seen slower though) combined with some fairly childish behavior from beings supposedly the personification of Death himself had me put the book back down for a day or two. I chugged through the first couple chapters, then almost out of nowhere "we" are in Japan instead of London and things start happening at a breakneck pace.

The characters are fortunately not clearly morally light or dark, as a Reaper or Shinigami and representing Death, how could they be? Ren and her brother Neven lean in opposite directions, though neither fully to one end of the spectrum, so their dichotomy is interesting to see. There is some realistic representation of the feelings of looking for somewhere to belong, especially as a bi-racial Asian woman in a Steam Age world.

Overall, I would probably give 3.5 stars but would read it again and would pick up the sequel to see where the story goes next.

I really did enjoy this read. I loved the focus on Japanase mythology and loved the world that was created. I also really loved the siblings realtionship that was at the heart of this read. This book did have some pacing issues in the start and towards the end. It felt like the pacing was a bit confusing and clunky. I also really liked the quest elements and also just the big world for these characters. The main character i sometimes struggled with, but the end made me really enjoy her. I will def be checking out book 2 in the future

**Review will be published on my blog/Instagram, October 7th*

MURDEROUS.

That’s pretty much the whole vibe of this one. Dark, twisted, and oh so murderous. And while that’s not generally my jam, this grim YA fantasy was pretty good. I cringed a lot and the mental pictures painted are a bit horror movie style, and that’s its charm!

I really enjoyed the main character Ren. Struggling with her identity as biracial and not feeling like she fits in anywhere, she goes to Japan in hopes of finding a new home there. Upon arriving with her brother are when things start to turn, ahem, deadly. She’s very much morally grey and you’ll want to follow her down to the dark side.

The lore behind all of the terrifying monsters had me keeping the lights on. The writing was vivid, and I felt myself on the journey with Ren. I adored her brother Neven and the opposite views he created. He was the necessary dichotomy to a wicked story.

Plot wise, it did drag sometimes and it took me awhile to understand all of the different things Ren was trying to accomplish and why. But I loved her journey and her ability to express and acknowledge her emotions and standing in her feelings while she worked through what life had handed her.

The ending was wild. Did not see the majority of it coming and am so dang curious how the second book rectifies it all. There is a dash of something akin to a romance, but I don’t want to say more because it would definitely be spoiler-y. It was rich in explorations of family, identity and place to be who Ren wanted to be and I can’t wait to follow her journey further.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: a little
Romance: intense kisses/make-outs
Trigger/Content Warnings: ableism, racism, many blood & gore depictions, mutilation of bodies (dismemberment, etc.), death of a parent, multiple murders, exile, bullying

The premise was intriguing (I always enjoy when fantasy novels put a new spin on old stories: in this case Baker riffs on both Japanese mythology and two different cultural personifications of Death), but I found the initial pace and setup in The Keeper of Night way too slow. I liked the concept of the British Reapers, yet felt like we should have either gotten more about them (some of Ren and Neven's powers feel inconsistent as the story progresses), or much less--they're mostly forgotten once Ren is exiled and takes off for Japan.

The pace picks up once Ren and co. start hunting Yokai (some of which are decidedly creepy!), and I thought the plot twist near the end was well done. Also, Baker's treatment of Ren's dual heritage felt sadly realistic for this vaguely Victorian time period: as a biracial woman, she's ostracized in England, but once she arrives in Japan she's also viewed as a stranger there. Ren isn't a particularly likeable heroine, but I found her quest interesting enough that I didn't need her to be likeable all the time. (I did find it surprising that our supernatural, centuries-old characters often acted like teenagers, but that's probably not as much of a detriment in a YA novel.)

In short: Our heroine is dark and unlikeable, but I still felt invested in her story. Once we leave England, the story really picked up for me--I just wish that the first quarter/third of the novel was either faster-paced or more tightly-constructed, because I think the beginning might lose some readers.