"Death didn't need to find me because it was always there, in my blood and bones. I was made of Death."

The Keeper of Night is an interesting story! Ren our main character, cares for her younger brother and wants what's best for him. Her Shinigami powers are greater than those around her and makes her a threat causing her to leave. So, she leaves with her brother, saying goodbye to what she knows to find something better.

It was so wonderful to see how important her brother Neven was to her and how she always wanted the best for him. I am looking forward to book two and seeing how the rest of the story plays out. Overall, this was an intriguing story and one that has a morally gray character at its center.

Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

tw: violence, gore, matricide, death, threatened death of child

I wanted to like this more than I did. The folklore was A+ but I found myself having a hard time connecting to the inhumanity of the main character - which, I mean, she’s not human - and with the world as a whole.

I’m not sure if I’ll seek out Book 2 in this series though it ended on a compelling note, because I’m not sure it would be fair to the author for me to engage with something I’m so clearly not feeling for reasons I have trouble articulating.

This book took me outside my comfort zone. It was a bit disturbing at times and definitely a more serious read. The main character has a Japanese mother and British father. She is looked down upon by and ridiculed by society and is by all accounts virtually left as an orphan with no one but her brother, Neven, for support to aid her on a set of dangerous events that found me on the edge of my seat. Excited to read the next book in this series!

This book was really good! It’s been a while since I got my hands on a solid historical fantasy novel that didn’t either confuse or bore me so this book was a very pleasant surprise. Not only was the world-building and the lore super well done and fascinating, but the characters were also all consistent. The protagonist was morally grey but not in a way that people call downright villainous characters morally grey - no, she was actually morally grey. This book left me feeling breathless in the best way possible; my only criticism was that occasionally the setting wasn’t described enough for me to imagine the scene vividly enough. All in all, I highly recommend this!

I’m a huge fan of YA fantasy, but I think I’ve decided I’m not a huge fan of fantasy duologies. I have started to notice, at least in the duologies I have read recently, is a big issue with pacing. Most fantasy stories need time to develop and establish world-building. I find that the first book in a series of 3 or more books, spends the majority of book 1 just creating the visual for readers. While duologies tend to priorities plot over world building. The success of the initial depictions generally decides how much I will enjoy the series, so it is a pretty significant thing for me. I need to feel immersed in the world before I can appreciate the plot, characters, and ultimately the story. Instead, with these fantasy duologies, I feel rushed and book 1 and 2 feel almost like separate stories to me.
The Keeper of the Night series falls into this duology pitfall for me. While I have not read book 2 yet, I would have preferred book 1 to simply be longer rather than have another book. Baker covers quite a bit of ground in this first story, and I felt a bit rushed while reading it, simply because we are still learning about the world of Death while being in the middle of the action.
For the story itself, this is such a unique take on death lore from around the world. While our focus is mainly on Shinigami/Japanese mythological creatures and legends, Baker does a great job of tying in lore from a variety of other cultures as well. It’s such a cool concept to explore the world through ‘death’s eyes’ and to really see the differences and similarities of death lore from different cultures. Huge points for uniqueness.
Our cast of characters is also extremely unique. They are all hard to relate to especially Ren but considering none of them are human, it actually adds to the story rather than detracts. Only Ren’s brother Neven, shows any sort of humanity which makes it hard to determine exactly how the siblings feel about each other. The relationship with Hiro is also a bit hard to fully understand but once again could just be because of the lack of humanity in the characters.

For a debut and being targeted at a younger audience, I did enjoy the story. If you are looking for a fantasy that dives into folklore, specifically Japanese folklore but not limited to it, then I would pick this series up. The ‘rushed’ feeling I had while reading the story though, took away from my experience. I would have liked a bit more lead-up and world-building at the beginning of the story.

The Keeper of the Night is out now. Huge thank you to Inkyard Press for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof_books.

4.5

This was a very interesting read and it was the perfect fantasy mixed spooky for Halloween time. This was such a complex book and I loved it a lot. The characters were really well written and the plot was super interesting. I loved Ren and Neven and I loved seeing their relationship grow and change throughout the novel. This book has such a strong female main character, Ren is such a complex character and I really felt for her so many times. Neven is such a cutie (in the way that he is young and super sweet to Ren most of the time lol) and I loved him, I'm so glad Ren had him. Hiro was an interesting character, not my fave but definitely played an important part in the book. The writing in this book was so well done and beautiful. I loved the inspiration from Japanese folklore. It was an amazing adventure novel in such a fun historical fantasy world. The plot twist/cliffhanger at the end is leaving me wanting more and I can't wait for book two!

An epic and unique dark fantasy story steeped in Japanese mythology and sprinkled with elements of horror, ‘The Keeper of Night’ by Kylie Lee Baker was freaking fantastic (and perfect for spooky season)!

Atmospheric and action-packed, the plot was strong, suspenseful, a little hair-raising, and a lot engrossing. Every single character was morally grey; there were no “good guys” here, and I loved that. I never knew who to trust, didn’t always know how to feel about a character at any given time, but I did still love them all.

No matter the nature of the relationships in this book, the status of all was “complicated.” I loved the brother-sister duo of Ren and Neven, conflicted as it was. And Hiro…from the beginning, I wasn’t sure what to think of him, and by the end…I still am not sure how to feel about him, though I do have some very strong opinions I won’t share because spoilers. Ren herself is badass, flawed—just such a gorgeously written, poignant character—and I adored her and sweet Neven the most, even when they were at their most vexing.

The world building in this book was freaking flawless. So striking and labyrinthine. And the supernatural entities—the Reapers, Shinigami, and Yōkai—were vicious and enthralling, alluring yet dangerous, like the best apex predators.

‘The Keeper of Night’ is totally “no holds barred.” Baker boldly holds nothing back in the BEST way, and it makes for an intense, immersive read. I was utterly emotionally wrung out by the end. And completely ready for Book Two, which I was thrilled to find out is happening! I can’t wait to dive into this wild universe again. If you read anything this season (or after), read this! ‘The Keeper of Night’ is absolutely one of my top reads of the entire year. I wish I could give it more than five stars!

**I was provided an eARC copy of this book by HTP Books/Inkyard Press (thank-you!). All opinions expressed are voluntary and my own.**

I really wanted to love this book. So many other people obviously do, but it just wasn't for me. But that doesn't mean that it won't be for you!

Folklore is always great, and I loved how it was incorporated into this story. I also think that Ren's struggle is something that is relatable to many people who are part of two or more cultures. Ren is not enough British Reaper to be fully included in their society, but also not enough Shinigami to be a part of their society. It was also refreshing to have a morally gray protagonist.

However, I felt like I was forcing myself to finish the book. To me, the writing was repetitive at times, and parts of the story were too predictable for my liking. I also couldn't immerse myself in the world completely.

Overall, I loved the concept of the book, but some of the execution was lacking for me.

Although I had high expectations of this novel thanks to how it was marketed, as well as how my fellow early reviewers seemed to love it, the very first chapter had me dubious about whether it would deliver. Not at all because of its writing—which was very pleasing throughout, especially in its picturesque descriptions—but because its main character, Ren Scarborough, had a personality too depths-of-despair for my liking. Since this book is presented from her perspective, I was afraid I wouldn't enjoy it to the extent that I had hoped.

I am happy to announce that I was wrong. Ren's personality did not change much throughout, but what she did manage to do was grow on me. An anti-heroine with no intention of doing things by the book, not when she had suffered so much at the hands of others, I found myself disagreeing with every single one of her actions yet greatly appreciating how in-character said actions were for her.

If I have any complaint, it's that the romance progressed too fast. Regardless, the plot was compelling and the twists entirely unexpected; I would recommend this to readers who enjoy historical fantasies with a rather dark turn.

Gorgeously creepy, with lovely prose and intricate brushes with mythology. A compelling journey from start to finish.

**I received this book in exchange of an honest review.

Ren Scarborough is a half British Reaper and half Japanese Shinigami who just wants to avoid being targeted by the fellow Reapers in London. Having never known her mother, Ren lives in London under the care of her father. When she is cornered, she accidentally uses her Shinigami power and flees before she can be punished. While fleeing, Ren's brother Neven joins her. Ren's goal is to make it to Japan and find her mother. In order to do that, she will have to prove herself to the Goddess of Death and her fellow Shinigami.

The story follows Ren as she tries to discover her true self. Many times, Ren is seen as less than because she is both Japanese and British. Because she isn't truly "one" thing, she herself sees herself as something unlikeable. Neven's character is almost instantly likable. He struggles with himself as a Reaper because he doesn't want to take life. He's seen as young and weak, but throughout the book is forced to prove himself along with Ren.

The pacing in the book starts off as slow, but engages readers as it progressively increases in speed of action. While the first 50 or so pages make it difficult to be immersed in the story, the Japanese folklore is deeply rooted in the book making you feel like you're discovering something brand new for the first time. This book is a lush fantasy that is hard to put down once you get far enough into the story.

I recommend this book for fans of fantasy, folklore, and character driven stories.

this was a great well done book, it had great characters that were interesting. The plot itself is really well done and I enjoyed going on this series.

I was intrigued by the concept behind the story: a girl from two worlds who doesn't truly feel like she belongs in either one, much less be able to combine the two. Unfortunately I found that the execution wasn't quite to my liking. The reader is given an awful lot of information and no way to make sense of it; the first 200 pages dragged on and I kept having to go back and re-read sections. It did get more interesting towards the end, but the pacing threw me off. Ren was more likeable than I thought she would be.

Thank you to HCC Frenzy for sending me an ARC for an honest review.
4/5 stars
I enjoyed reading this one! I thought the world and the mythology were very intriguing, and the characters felt fleshed out, complex, and realistic.
The story follows Ren, who is a half British Reaper and a half Japanese Shinigami, and she doesn’t feel like she fits in anywhere. Her centuries living in Britain have seen her belittled, beaten, and denied her Reaper heritage. When an incident forces Ren to flee Britain, she knows it’s time to finally make her way to Japan to explore the other side of her heritage. With her half brother Neven as a companion, Ren sets off to become a Shinigami.
I both liked and disliked Ren while reading the book, and I appreciated the complexity that the author gave to her character. On the one hand I wanted to root for Ren during her journey to find her place, but on the other hand she was incredibly selfish and often rude. I got so frustrated with how she was treating Neven, and I was really rooting for their connection and relationship.
Neven was a neat character, but as Ren’s journey progressed he fell into the background. I liked how this showed how Ren was changing as a character, but I wanted more moments with Neven.
Hiro was also an interesting and complex character, but I found him unsettling. I couldn’t root for him throughout the book because something about the character felt off, so the author did a good job of portraying Ren and Neven’s anxieties about Hiro.
The plot itself was quite interesting, and I found that it picked up in pace towards the second half. The pacing in the beginning felt a little off to me, but I know that was because we needed to be introduced to the characters, the world, and how the fantasy elements work.
The world of Reapers and Shinigami was very fun to read about, and I liked learning the stories about the Yokai. I also liked the inclusion of different beliefs about Death.
Overall, I thought it was a really good fantasy read that shows how desire can be corrupted, or that what we desire isn’t always what we truly want.

I absolutely loved this book! A great start to the series. The scenery was so beautifully described, and I loved the darkness it portrayed. The plot and characters were well-written. Cannot wait to read the next one!

I found this book to be full of beautiful descriptions that were vivid and rich, which was great cause the characters were lacking. I didn't like Ren. I found her annoying and thought she just kept making horrible decisions over and over again. Neven, was my favorite character and I felt bad for him. Hiro was obviously a bad guy and I really only enjoyed it when she killed him. I loved the death mythology of the two cultures. I just wish that I enjoyed the characters more.

Listen, I don't think this book is bad. I am just not in the mood for it, despite it being a book about reapers and shinigami and it's currently October. I've read the third chapter 4 times as I wasn't able to focus on it. While I made it past the third, I find myself easily loosing focus on the following chapters as well. I'm lost again in the 5th chapter.

I think this book will hit the mark for many readers. Some have commented on the heavy info-dumping in the first few chapters of the book, which I think is what is mostly causing a struggle for me. I can't get over this hurdle right now, and for those who get through it will find a refreshing and original YA fantasy. The blend of British reapers and Japanese Shinigami with a focus on Japanese folklore in Japan sounds wonderful. But I need to set this book aside. I hope one day to return to it, but for now I need to move on.

The Keeper of Night is about Ren, half Reaper and half Shinigami. Born as half breed made she have to search across the world to find so called home. 🌍
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I start reading this book with low expectation and voilà I fell in love at the end. It is such a captivating story with amazing world building. Ren's story set in 18th century which isn't my favorite time setting but overall it still fascinating. The writing style makes me can't put down the book.
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Talk about the characters, if you like a story with morally grey MC and anti-hero characters, you should try this Japanese folklore retelling novel. We can find so many Japanese mythical creatures and its history behind it. Also, I love the family bonding between Ren and her brother.
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Out of all so many things I love about this book, I found something that I can't accept. I think the end battle is so fast and easy. ✌🏻😁 Definitely I can't wait to read the second book. I'm happy this book will be a duology. Hope it doesn't change. 🤣
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Overall, this book perfect for Grim Reaper story fans. If you're looking forward for slow burn romance, fantasy mystery and action-packed story, you can try to read 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩.

I have a lot of thoughts about The Keeper of Night, and honestly, I’m not sure where to begin my thoughts. Taking inspiration from Japanese mythology and folklore, Kylie Lee Baker’s debut novel captivated me from the first sentence as Ren Scarborough tries to find her place in the world.

The Keeper of Night started out strong, but quickly fell into flatline.
There’s a lot of books that capture my attention from the very beginning, and Baker’s novel is no exception, pulling me into Ren’s world as a Reaper collecting departing human souls and sending them onto their next destination. There’s a lot of detail and information in the world-building, and while I loved learning about the Reapers and ultimately the Shinigami, the beginning is especially heavy on the information dumping. There’s a lot to absorb in the moment, and while I was fascinated, it ultimately drew my attention away from the story.

Identity is a huge part of this novel.
Growing up in 1800s London, Ren has always been told she doesn’t fit in with the Reapers because of the way she looks. She’s bullied throughout her life from her peers and her father doesn’t really care what happens to her; the only person who seemed to truly care about is her brother, Neven, who unfortunately gets similar treatment thanks to his relationship with her (and how he essentially refuses to treat her like dirt).

As much as she tries to keep her head down and hide her Shinigami powers, this doesn’t always succeed, and eventually it gets to a point where she has to flee London after her powers go out of control and is revealed. She’s unexpectedly granted her desire to finally leave for Japan in the hopes to find her mother. The Keeper of Night is Ren’s journey to find where she truly fits - constantly being told she doesn’t belong because of her Japanese heritage (despite being half British), she’s hoping Japan will accept her for who she is.

But instead, when she gets to Japan, she finds herself in the same place as she was in England: she has to prove herself to earn her place among the Shinigami, and to do this, she’s sent to kill three Yokai (demons).

Ren’s sibling relationship with Neven plays another huge role.
Outside of hardcore relating to Ren’s constant battle with her identity and desire to find her place in the world, Ren’s and Neven’s relationship was another favorite part of the story. I loved seeing them support and stick by each other, but I also loved the growing tension between the two as Ren gets closer to reaching her goal. There’s a growing distance in their relationship as Neven watches the darker side of her (though she pretty much falls under morally grey) unleash over the course of the story. It'll be interesting to see just how their relationship will ultimately play out.

Neven is such a cinnamon roll and a precious gem honestly. I just love him so much? But I also love Ren and Hiro’s constant mystery that he carries about him throughout when he joins the two on Ren’s task.

Overall
The Keeper of Night is a solid debut and first novel in a duology with Japanese mythology and folklore, and an angry protagonist who simply wants to find her place and discover who she is. While the information overload at times didn’t work for me, I can’t help but be at least a little excited and interested in what’s next for Ren.

Thank you to the publisher, Inkyard Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ren Scarborough is half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami, and while she has been raised in London, she has never felt like she belonged, often looked down upon for her mixed heritage. When one night, Ren loses control over her Shinigami powers and injures three High Reapers, she knows that her only chance of survival is to flee England. With her brother in tow, Ren heads for Japan, hoping to find acceptance and a place serving the Goddess of Death, and also seek out the mother who abandoned her. The Goddess however, sets her a task to complete in order to prove her worth, to destroy three deadly Yokai demons who are threatening the balance. With her brother and a new ally, Hiro, by her side, this dangerous journey will test the limits to which Ren is willing to go to become a Shinigami and what she is willing to sacrifice for it.

This was such a good read! The world building alone makes it a rich and immersive read, and it incorporates a lot of Japanese folklore, much of which was new to me, so I found that aspect of the book especially interesting. Ren’s journey from London into the Japanese underworld was a fascinating one to follow and I’m hoping to see more of this amazing world building in the next book. The writing was wonderful, and the narration style made for such a riveting read that the pages just seemed to fly by.

Ren was my favorite character in this book. As the story is narrated entirely from her perspective, it makes it easy to really understand her state of mind as she struggles to define herself and find a place where she feels like she truly belongs. Despite the magical setting of this book, I think this aspect is something that anyone can relate to on some level. Her arc was very well done, and her zeal to belong often clashes with her morals, leading her to make some highly questionable decisions, but it all fit perfectly with her character. Her brother Neven, on the other hand, was basically the voice of reason that was ignored throughout, but his loyalty to his sister was admirable.

The only thing I want to mention is that this does get kind of dark and creepy at times, but that does make it a great choice for this month. That ending was definitely not something I saw coming. It was just one jaw dropping twist after another and I can’t wait to see how what happens next in the sequel! Highly recommended!