Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Keeper of the Night

Author: Kylie Lee Baker

Book Series: Keeper of the Night Book 1

Diversity: Japanese MC and side characters

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, Japanese mythology and legend

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publication Date: October 12, 2021

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Pages: 394

Recommended Age: 15+ (Death, Violence, Gore, Racism, Language, Animal Gore, Animal violence)

Explanation of CWs: Racism is throughout the book. Gore and violence is frequent. There is one scene with animal gore and violence. There is also slight language.

Synopsis: Death is her destiny.

Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami, Ren Scarborough 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.

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 younger 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 prove herself worthy. Determined to earn 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.

Review: Overall I really liked this read! It was a fun and fast paced. The book had a lot of action sequences and a lot of interesting and informative Japanese mythology. I loved the character development and world building. I also thought the writing was well done overall and the book was well plotted.

The only issue I had is that the book slowed down it's pacing in a few places, but other than that it was a fun read.

Verdict: I loved it! Highly recommend.

The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker may be filled with darkness, but it’s another great read to ignite your spooky season. This story is unique and at the helm is a main character archetype I rarely experience but thoroughly enjoy. Baker immerses her reader in the world of Reapers and Shinigami where death is guaranteed and kindness is unexpected. It was such an interesting read and I’m so excited the story will spread its shadows to encompass a second book.

The Reapers of London are a cruel and selfish group. They venture out into the streets to collect souls and follow the strict rules set in place by the High Council. Ren Scarborough is half Reaper and half Shinigami and has spent centuries in disgrace, receiving not even the smallest of comforts from her powerful Reaper father and stepmother. The only light in her life is her half-brother Neven, who has stayed by her side despite his parents’ wishes. The High Reapers make Ren’s life a living hell, and one day she accidentally retaliates by using the Shinigami light powers she’s hidden away. Ren escapes with Neven in the chaos to Japan to find her mother and embrace her Shinigami heritage. Upon arrival, Ren finds that she doesn’t fit in with the Shinigami either but is desperate to join their ranks. Ren agrees to help the death goddess Izanami with three difficult tasks to earn her place among her court and sets out across Japan with a god of fishermen and Neven as her companions.

Ren is as cold as the London crypt she calls home. Keeper opens with Ren collecting a man’s soul, going out of her way to scare the poor guy and destroy any great expectations about the afterlife. Baker served me up a hardcore main character with little to no moral compass and I was thrilled. I think of how easily this book could have been about Ren’s struggle with her role as a soul collector, but I am glad Baker had a different story in mind. Instead, we get a Reaper/Shinigami who leans into her role, doesn’t hesitate to get violent, adds a dash of cruelty, and tops it off with some satisfaction. Ren’s morality is fascinating in a world where death is her duty, and Baker asks us to draw the line on what is not right in this world of darkness.

Among the fantastical and supernatural elements, Baker tells a heartbreaking story of a biracial girl looking for a home with people who accept her. As half Reaper and half Shinigami, Ren is unable to find a place among both groups because they only see the part of her that doesn’t fit. This otherness shrouds Ren like a cloak, influencing her actions and creating conflict with the people around her. Ren is offset by Neven who was basically born into Reaper royalty. Neven has always cared for her and had become somewhat of an outcast himself for befriending his half Shinigami sister. I enjoyed the sibling dynamic that dominated this story, especially as Ren’s drive to be accepted pushes the limit. She starts to reject the part of herself that is a Reaper, but in doing so she dismisses the brother who has never left her side.

The world in Keeper is as odd, terrifying, and violent as I imagined a Reaper/Shinigami plane of existence would be. Baker has built two fascinating worlds, and both are uniquely structured. The Reapers and Shinigami each have their own death god, method of operation, and possess different powers to aid in their soul collection. London Reapers have the ability to stop time which enables them to collect souls without difficulty, but every moment spent in suspended space is taken off their long life span by Ankou, the Father of Death and King of the Reapers. In Japan, the Shinigami serve the goddess Izanami who lives in an underworld of impenetrable darkness. The Shinigami have the ability to weaponize light and will lead souls to Izanami’s realm to enact a horrifying heart extraction that rivals Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Both worlds are extremely interesting and Baker did a fantastic job setting the scene and pulling the reader into each realm to experience all its horrors.

When you pick up The Keeper of Night, you’re not just getting an awesome horror fantasy, but a story that is emotionally compelling. Within the darkness, there are intense moments of self-doubt as we see Ren attempt to come to terms with all the jagged parts of herself. There’s a lot to love in this story, but I would tell you to pick up Keeper just to see the world Baker created. Ren set her sights on me and lured me in, so I’m officially in limbo until book two.

Rating: The Keeper of Night - 8.5/10

The Keeper Night, by author Kylie Lee Baker, is the first installment in a planned duology. Ren Scarborough is a half English Reaper and half Japanese Shinigami in 1890's England. Her father doesn't recognize her, her step mother hates her, her bio mom is nowhere to be seen. Ren has been collecting souls in London for centuries, never accepted and perpetually tormented by the British Reapers for her otherness. One day after being taunted and teased and bullied, she severely wounds a High Reapers using her Shinigami powers setting off a life or death run to escape before she is caught and terminated

With her half brother Neven as her only ally, Ren flees London for Japan in hopes she can convince the Goddess of Death, Izanami, to allow her to join the Goddess’s ranks. Thankfully, Ren and Neven don't just show up days later. Their journey is fitful, Ren loses all her belongings, Neven is saddened at having found out his true worth, and by the time they reach Japan months later, Ren is road weary and in essence, questioning her sanity as to why she traveled so far to meet a woman, her mother, that she hasn't seen in centuries.

Upon arriving in Yokohama 9 months after leaving London, she and Neven encounter a Japanese Urban Legend, once of thousands of spirits that wrecked havoc on humans. They include Jorogamo, a yôkai with the form of a spider, that can change its appearance into that of a seductive woman when it wants to eat a human. Even when it is in its human form though, its reflection will show a giant spider. Upon meeting Izanami, the creator of all the Japanese Islands, she is ordered to hunt and kill three Japanese Yokai.

Yuki-Onna is a snow woman ghost described as inhumanly beautiful, whose eyes can strike terror into mortals that get lost traveling in the snowy mountains. She floats across the snow, leaving no footprints. Iso Onna, the Sea Vampire, and Tamano No Mae. Tamano is one of the most famous kitsune in Japanese mythology. A nine-tailed magical fox, she is also one of the most powerful yōkai that has ever lived. A nine-tailed magical fox, she is also one of the most powerful yōkai that has ever lived. With a little bit of help from Hiro, a Shinigami who has been banished, and her constant arguments with Neven, things have a tendency to get bogged down.

Hiro, like Neven, are unique characters who have their own choices to make. Ren’s story goes beyond just killing for the sake of becoming a Shinigami. It’s about being uprooted from the only home she's ever known and feeling untethered — a native to no land. She's considered to be a foreigner in Japan even though she is of Japanese heritage. She discovers things about herself that will keep you wanting to read more. In fact, the ending is the most thrilling part of this entire story thus leaving from for the final installment.

Have you heard of The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker? From the moment I saw that cover, I knew it was a book I needed to make time for. Spoiler – it's worth it!

Ren Scarborough is half Japanese Shinigami and half British Reaper. Yes, it is exactly as complicated as it sounds, if not more so. It's her job to wander the streets of London and collect the souls of the dead.

Unfortunately, Ren is despised by her fellow Reapers. Perhaps this is the reason why she was so willing to take a risk, as Ren is about to enter the underworld and serve the Goddess of Death.

"The world will fall silent and the Reaper will knock three times on your bedroom door."

Oh my goodness! The Keeper of Night is every bit the striking and intense read I had hoped it would be. Ren's journey is a powerful one, with plenty of highs and lows to keep readers interested. Okay, her very nature is enough to keep readers interested – everything else is just icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned.

Also, the vibes of The Keeper of Night are pretty brilliant, if I may say so. Kylie Lee Baker's world and writing immediately pull the reader in, and it quickly becomes impossible not to root for Ren. No matter where you look, the odds are stacked against her. And yet, she keeps going. Gotta love it.

It's probably worth mentioning that there are some more graphic elements to this tale – but I'm sure many people expect that. We're talking about death in multiple forms, not to mention the inclusion of yōkai. It's enough to keep most readers up at night!

I still can't get over how much I love the core concept of this novel: a woman with mixed heritage, with both sides of her family dealing with death. It's fascinating, and I already am counting down days for the sequel.

With the mention of a Reaper who collects souls and the Japanese underworld, my interest was immediately piqued. I had no idea what I was in for with this book – I totally underestimated it.

As a half British Reaper and half Japanese Shinigami, Ren has never been accepted by her British peers, who bully her on a regular basis. Her own father and stepmother offer the basics of food and shelter – love and concern don’t figure into the equation. Neven, her half brother and also a Reaper, is the only person who cares for her. Your heart immediately goes out to Ren. After losing control of her abilities, she and Neven quickly depart to Japan, where Ren has two goals: one, serve the Goddess of Death as a Shinigami and finally gain acceptance, and two, find her mother.

I’ve always been a fan of morally gray characters, so it was a wicked kind of delight to see Ren gradually cross the boundaries of what she’d previously considered acceptable. The author puts her into situations requiring impossible choices. The relationship between Ren and Neven is an interesting one. Reapers aren’t supposed to be capable of feeling love, but these two are loyal to each other. Neven even chooses to abandon his parents and country to go with Ren so she won’t be alone. Early on it’s clear Ren is thicker-skinned and actually enjoys her job, whereas Neven takes in stray cats and dreads reaping souls. Character development is a strong point.

The Japanese underworld isn’t a place you’d want to vacation. It’s dark (literally) and full of dangerous creatures, so Ren and Neven are fortunate to come across Hiro. He assists in navigating the underworld, and then travels with them to help complete the tasks assigned by the Goddess of Death. Hiro is persona non grata with the goddess and hopes his assistance will get him back into her good graces. I’m not a fan of insta-love, but the spark between Ren and Hiro ignites almost immediately. Then their relationship goes to places I never saw coming and becomes a key plot point.

If you’re a fan of dark fantasy, morally gray characters, and Japanese folklore, jump on this one. After that jaw-dropping cliffhanger, I’ll be one of the first in line for the sequel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received an e-arc of The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker from HCC Frenzy in exchange for an honest review.

I actually preordered The Keeper of Night even prior to receiving the arc - and I definitely have no regrets in doing so. The Keeper of Night was such an adventure of a story that dived into the world of death - or rather, worlds of death as Britain and Japan have their own beliefs and stories about who rules over the dead. In this story, we find Ren living a rather miserable existence in Britain where she has never been accepted because of her half British and half Japanese heritage. She is denied her place among the Reapers and when an unfortunate event sends her running with her half brother, she heads in the direction of Japan - a place she has always been curious about. But she finds that not all her problems are solved as she is still seen as a foreigner to those in Japan. Ren is put to the test to find her place in Japan as a Shinigami but it may take both her skills as a Reaper and as a Shinigami to survive all that Japan and Yomi has in store for her.

The Keeper of Night is a wild and dark adventure that is sure to thrill and entrance readers. This reader right here is now eagerly awaiting book two of this duology.

“How could I possibly feel so close to the precipice of unraveling, so powerful yet so untethered?”

Kylie Lee Baker’s first work The Keeper of Night is a dark historical fantasy YA novel inspired by Japanese folklore and mythology. Half British Reaper and half Japanese Shinigami soul collector, Ren Scarborough has never felt like she belonged. However, one fateful night, in 1800s London, Ren’s Shinigami powers manifest and, as she loses control of them, she injures some High Reapers. Knowing she would be severely punished, she decides to flee to Japan, along with her half-brother, Neven. There she hopes to find her true identity and to be accepted by other Shinigami. This quest for belonging and respect, and desire to serve the Goddess of Death will certainly take Ren to places she didn’t expect when she embarked on this journey.

Baker’s worldbuilding is magnificent. Through the main character, the author effortlessly eases readers through a world so vibrant and intricate with introductions to underworld creatures such as Shinigami (death spirits), Yokai (supernatural spirits), and the nine-tailed fox. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know anything about Japanese mythology because it’s explained in a simple and easy to understand way. The visuals and imagery are extremely vivid and entrancingly beautiful whilst also being gruesome and dark at the same time. All of this is accompanied by a plot that’s extremely fast paced and coupled with compelling writing, so you will be glued to its pages at all times. That being said, there are some flaws and issues but they were mostly resolved by the end or proven to be intentional. The climax of the book is definitely unexpected and exciting as well, so readers, like myself, will be desperately waiting for the sequel!

The characters themselves are another strong point of the book. Morally grey characters are always fun and interesting to read, and those are definitely within the pages here. Ren is a great main character and even though she does questionable things, her motivations are interesting and what makes her feel real and therefore one can’t help but root for her. She’s tough and resilient but she also feels sorry for herself a lot and questions her own morals. The book is deeply rooted in Ren’s struggles with being biracial and her quest for validation. She’s constantly caught between two cultures and trying to figure out where she belongs since there are no examples that show her that she can embrace both. It will certainly strike a cord with biracial or diaspora readers.

On the other hand, her brother Neven sometimes seems to be the only voice of reason and one can’t help but feel for him. The relationship and dynamics between these two siblings is painful to read at times but it’s clearly evident that they care so much for each other. The other main character who will accompany the siblings on their journey is Hiro. His character has so much depth, certainly a character that keeps surprising the reader. Maybe the only critique here would be the insta-love relationship between him and Ren, it’s frustrating even though it does take the reader to unexpected places.

Overall, with themes of belonging, identity, family, and love The Keeper of Night is a wickedly delightful read that perfectly blends a rich historical setting with magic and mystery. With morally grey characters, unexpected turns, and a ton of dark folklore and fantasy elements, The Keeper of Night is definitely one novel you’ll want to have by your side this season.

Lastly, I must also congratulate and praise the illustrator of the cover Jessica Coppet for their extremely beautiful work! The style, the colours, and all the little details are wonderful.

The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker is a dark historical fantasy YA novel-inspired by Japanese mythology and folklore. It tells the story of Ren Scarborough, a half-Shinigami and half British reaper, who escapes London after one fateful night of losing control over her Shinigami powers, injuring some High Reapers. Knowing she will be punished, she flees to Japan with her half-brother, Neven, hoping to find her true identity and be accepted by other Shinigami. To prove herself worthy, Ren accepts an impossible task from the Goddess of Death and embarks on a journey with Neven and an intriguing new ally.

Baker effortlessly introduces us to a world that’s vibrant with intricate introductions of Japanese mythological creatures, folklore, and culture -- all seamlessly weaved with magic into the storyline. The imagery is vivid with an entrancing prose that will have you glued to its pages. Coupled with a perfectly-paced storyline, Baker establishes morally-grey main characters with intriguing personalities and depth.

Among the many themes that this book presented itself with, I love how Baker emphasized Ren’s struggles with being biracial and how she’s constantly caught between two cultures while figuring out where she belongs, with no one to show her that she can embrace both. With that said, the book also touches on racism, ableism, self-acceptance, and self-identity.

All in all, The Keeper of Night is a highly immersive world with descriptive writing that will surely engross the readers for its prose, morally-grey characters, captivating world, and unexpected twists and turns. The climax is something that you should look out for, and readers like me will surely look forward to the sequel!

All thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours and Inkyard Press for the complimentary print and e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly can we appreciate the cover? Like you've to okay? There's not a single flaw, it's chef's kiss flawless. Moving on to the story.

Lemme tell you five solid reasons why you should definitely read it:

1. REN SCARBOROUGH
That's it, she is the reason number one reason why you should read the book. A badass, sarcastic, loving main lead? YES PLEASE.

2. It's so scary it gives me chills
To be very honest I was not expecting it to be this scary, but well. There are urban legends yokai demons and so many scenes where you'll feel a shiver down your spine.

3. The Writing Style
The book takes you to different places in Japan and the description had many early book my tickets (jk). But seriously the writing style was making me excited as well as nervous as well as scared.

4. The Diverse Representation

5. A squad up against a seemingly impossible mission, but they can do it, right?

The Keeper of Night is a unique premise that looks at what it means to not belong. Kylie Lee Baker brings to life characters from the Shinto Religion in this story about a young half reaper half shinigami as she and her brother travel to Japan to find somewhere to call home.

I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to Inkyard Press for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars

Before I dive into my review, I have to mention the stunning art that is this book cover! The first time I saw it, I was convinced I needed to get my hands on this book before even knowing what it was about. Then I found out that it was dark fantasy with demons and I almost chickened out of reading it but the premise kept piquing my interest so I decided to pick it up anyway and I'm glad that I did! Sure, this is definitely not for the faint of heart so fair warning to those who don't like scary stories and who are particularly squeamish because things get pretty gory; I mean, it's a dark fantasy for a reason! However, if you're curious about Japanese mythology and are eager to read from a unique perspective, I would give it a try because, in my opinion, that's where the story shone!

The world-building was truly exceptional and if I was rating this based on that alone, it would be a solid five stars. I don't know anyone who isn't at least a little familiar with the concept of reapers but I still found the grim world that Baker creates for London reapers fascinating; from the personification of Ankou, the God of Death, to the High Council of Reapers, the High Reaper lineage and the hierarchy—everything was well developed that despite spending minimal time in that setting, I had no trouble picturing it. The world-building only got better when our characters move to Japan! I don't think I've read a book set in Japan in the 1800s before, so it was engaging to see how the country had only just started opening up to outsiders and how much of an influence local folklore still had on people's lives; they were very superstitious (and well, it was definitely for good reason! 😂)! The story is split into two main settings in Japan: Yomi, the Japanese underworld, and the 'real world', however, it was Yomi that stood out to me most because this setting almost felt like a character of its own at times; for the land of the dead, it felt so alive! The depth of the darkness in Yomi felt like an oppressive and almost suffocating weight and it was palpable (and frankly terrifying)! Even the ritual of collecting souls isn't a pain-free or bloodless process. Baker also seamlessly incorporates Japanese mythology into the real world and as much as I was scared by the tales of the Yokai, I was also intrigued and wanted more!

My issues with the story relate to the characters and the romance. I have quite some mixed feelings about Ren, our somewhat complicated protagonist. I admired her grit and tenacity to prove herself worthy of being a Shinigami (and even a Reaper at first) in the face of centuries of bullying and scorn with no one but her brother to support her. Being half British and half Japanese, she's constantly seen as an outsider no matter where she goes and as someone who grew up outside of my home country, her struggles and feelings were something I understood very well. Although I haven't experienced it to her extremes, I'm often made to feel too foreign to be local but I'm also much too local to be foreign, so I really sympathised with her on this. That said, Ren was difficult to root for as the story went on and I started to find her attitude became more bratty and entitled, and I disagreed with many of her actions. I did enjoy the way she evolved though because it fits with her character's near manic desire and desperation to become Shinigami, so to see her go from being morally grey to quite villainous wasn't an unexpected trajectory. I think I was more disappointed with how her relationship with Neven devolved as a result. It was obvious she loved and cared for him in her own way so it hurt to see the change.

Maybe I'm biased though because Neven was the softest reaper who should never have been one. He takes in strays, hates horror stories, cries when he sees someone get hurt, even if they weren't necessarily "good" to begin with, and he's scared of the dark. He loves and cares for Ren so much that he leaves everything behind in London to support her. He was just the SWEETEST BOI and I wanted to protect him at all costs. I really loved the sibling dynamic between Neven and Ren at the beginning because it was obvious they would do (and had done) everything for each other and they balanced each other well. Their dynamic became more complex further into the story but sadly, it took a turn for the worse and honestly, Neven just deserved so much better than what he got and I hated how he was treated.

This brings me to the romance which was insta-love and that's one of my bookish peeves and least favourite tropes! 🙈 It was worse here because of how it affected the other infinitely more important(!) relationship that I was heavily invested in. It was heartbreaking and frustrating! Hiro might've been handsome and he was helpful on Ren's quest but I didn't trust him at all and didn't understand Ren's all-in googly-eyed trust in him. He kept too many secrets and if there's one thing we've learned it's that is never a good sign! I was able to predict part of Hiro's arc so it wasn't all that surprising when things went down the way it did, but I was pleasantly surprised with the direction the book took after that—it was definitely a darker turn and it was great but my gut was also churning with even more dread the whole time, haha!

I initially thought that this book was going to be a standalone and I think the story wraps up well enough for it to be one as there's not really a cliffhanger. BUT I'm curious to see where Baker will take Ren's character in the sequel and even though I have a feeling whatever happens next is gonna probably break my heart, I'm still keen to read on!

Set in the late 1800s, this dark YA fantasy moves from London to Japan as our protagonist, soul collector Ren flees an untenable situation and tries desperately to find somewhere to belong. Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami, Ren’s status in the hierarchy of London Reapers is precarious at best. Attacked by three (bratty) High Reapers who delight in torturing her but are untouchable because of their rank and connections, Ren’s suppressed Shinigami powers break free to defend herself. Left with no choice but to flee, accompanied by her half brother Neven, Ren makes her way to Japan and seeks an audience with the Death Goddess, hoping to be accepted in her mother’s homeland. Assigned apparently impossible tasks, Ren has to use all her skills and cunning to accomplish them, helped by local fisher spirit Hiro.

Wow. I’m still a bit stunned a full day after putting this book down; the worldbuilding is absolutely spectacular, with a ton of Japanese mythology incorporated into the story as we learn about it through Ren’s eyes. There are also some amazing twists and turns I really didn’t see coming, including something of a cliffhanger at the end (this is apparently part 1 of a duology).

Be aware: it is dark. Ren is sometimes hard to feel sympathetic for, and there are moments when she’s actively cruel. There’s a lot of death (including an awful animal death early on) and at least one major character death which came as quite a shock to me. Go in understanding that this delves into the darker side of death mythology and Japanese legends, and I think you’ll be absolutely fascinated, and hanging out for book 2, just as I am! Five stars for an amazing read.

I haven’t read many books with grim reapers and none involving Shinigami, so I was immediately intrigued by the idea of following a character that was both. I was immediately sucked in. The world was familiar enough in the first few chapters so I had time to understand the magic and characters. I loved that we learned the role of the Reapers to later get introduced to the differences with Shinigamis. I found the entire world and mythology completely captivating – I wanted to know more with every page. I was introduced to a couple of Yokai demons and folktales that I wasn’t familiar with. I loved how the Yokai were introduced and represented in the book – and it encouraged me to do a bit of research when I wanted more (especially images of the Yokai). The bit of research wasn’t necessary though because Baker made sure that we learned the folktale while Ren did since she knew little of her heritage.

The characters in here felt fully fleshed out and their actions made sense for that character. We also have some mystery to why these characters are the way they are – we slowly learn about the side character along side Ren so what was revealed and when which made it feel natural and less like we are being told specifically for the plot or story to move forward. I loved Ren and had a deep connection with her. She was likeable, but flawed. Neven was a good best friend side character. You could feel his deep loyalty and love towards Ren and I felt heartbroken with some of the difficult conversations they had to have. Hiro I loved, but was suspicious of. The romantic (?) relationship between two of the characters, I felt, wasn’t a very believable one – one of the rare things I didn’t love in this book. I think my main problem is I’ve been reading too many Fantasy Romances where the Romance has more of a dominant presence.

I felt the pacing was well done. Baker knew when to have high action scenes and when we needed to slow down for a bit to learn about characters or magic or folktales. With the pacing, I felt that the book moved at a fairly fast pace, but had the depth of a slower paced one. I never felt lost, although some of the names I confused (completely normal for me) because the Yokai names and myths were not ones I was familiar with. If you’re wanting to read something different that has Japanese mythology then I highly recommend this one. If you’re looking for a spooky read, then I highly suggest this one too. It’s not a scary read by any means, but the overall atmosphere felt dark and gritty – plus we do spend a lot of time with Yokai, death, and the underworld.

this was excellent! i know its classed as a young adult story, but i'd make an argument it's just a super accessible adult fantasy. anyway, ren is such an excellent character, you can tell how much care kylie lee baker took in constructing her. can't wait to explore the world more.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 hooked me from the first page to the last, and I can’t remember the last time I related to a character on such a personal level. Ren’s journey for acceptance, self-discovery, respect, and a home free of prejudice reaches through the pages and makes the story shine.

As someone who is half Asian and loves their family more than anything, I was able to quickly connect with Ren and understand what drove her actions and decisions. I love that she’s an antiheroine and is relatable. The issues explored in this book aren’t pretty, but they’re real and still relevant today, which makes for a compelling read.

The author also does a masterful job at world-building and weaving in Shinto mythology and Japanese folklore. I used to live in Japan, and even though the time period is different, this book had me yearning to go back (more so than usual). I felt like I was there, and combined with the fast-paced plot, I flew through this one. The ending managed to surprise me, which is hard to do, and I’m dying to know what happens next.

Overall, this book is refreshingly original and atmospheric, does an excellent job at shedding light on racial prejudice and purism, and I enjoyed how different types of love—self, sibling, and romantic—were explored.

This perfectly spooky read is a 2021 favorite. I eagerly await the next book in this haunting duology and have high hopes for it.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ if you enjoy Own Voices books rich with world-building, multidimensional characters, and Japanese folklore.

Happy Tuesday y’all! This has been such a long week already and I’m so ready to sleep and the weekend- unfortunately, it’s still a few days off haha but we can make it! Happy release day to The Keeper of Night! I was able to read an eARC of this one (thank you so much to Inkyard Press and Netgalley for letting me do that) and man y’all, this was such a cool book!

The Keeper of Night 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:

Death is her destiny.

Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami, Ren Scarborough 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.

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 younger 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 prove herself worthy. Determined to earn 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.

This book had such a cool concept- I love the idea of different kinds of servants of death depending on where in the world you’re located and them having different traditions and not being able to fit in if you weren’t 100% one type or the other. There were times where I loved Ren and there were times where I hated the decisions that she made, but I always understood why Kylie Lee Baker had her make the decisions that she did- Ren needed to make her mistakes in the way that she did in order to grow from them and come back even stronger in book two (and y’all, I am the most excited about book two). I really liked Neven and loved how he was always there doing everything he could to help Ren out- yay for sibling bonds! I also loved my flawed main character- Ren just wanted to belong and not feel like an outsider for who she was- and she wanted to make the choice of where she belonged and I don’t think that’s wrong at all! Hiro was such an interesting character and I really liked getting to know him throughout the book. Plot wise, I was always really interested in where things were going. I thought the author did an amazing job really showing how Ren felt like an outsider no matter where she was and was willing to do whatever was needed to get rid of that feeling. I definitely think that should should go out and grab The Keeper of Night ASAP and then as soon as the sequel is out, we all need to go ahead and read that one too!

Ren is a servant of death who takes us on an adventure of Japanese folklore.

In the world of Death, there is room for many religions even if the members are not accepting of each other. This causes problems for Ren who is both a British Reaper and a Japanese Shinigami. She is an outcast with even her father disgusted with her. Her half-brother is the only one who loves her for who she is. One day, her Shinigami powers blossom out of control and the Reapers no longer have patience for this woman who collected souls for them for centuries. On the run, Ren only has her brother and a dream of finding her mother. They reach Japan and coming “home” wasn't as easy as Ren thought it would be and she finds herself on a dangerous mission with a stranger she meet in Death's realm.

Ren's outcastness is something many readers can empathize with. Her journey is real and honest. She is not always the best person; her anger and needs to belong overtaking her morals. This is very realistic and, at points, you want to not like her. Understanding Ren is complicated and gives a female lead that isn't stuck in a sappy love triangle.

The ending is a surprise. I feel like it was rushed a bit but I loved the twist Kylie Lee Baker threw at the readers. Honestly, I should have seen it coming as it follows the themes of the tales Ren learns along the way. But I won't spoil it for you; you have to experience it yourself.

The title leaves a bit to be desired after finishing the book. I believe I understood what the author is trying to do but by changing one word for several others it would be more appropriate. But, as this is a duology, it is possible I should read both of them before deciding.

Overall, this is an ingenious story with originality while honoring cultural history. I would recommend this to friends and look forward to the second book.


Publication Date: October 12

I received an ARC from the publisher; all opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for a digital ARC of The Keeper of Night!

CW: racism, sexism, ableism, gore, murder, death

The Keeper of Night is the dark fantasy, morally grey, Wasian led book of my dreams 🤤

This book is OwnVoices for biracial White-East Asian rep and oof did it hit. That feeling of “otherness” no matter where you are and the journey to accepting all parts of yourself was so real. Much like Ren in the story, it felt amazing to be understood and represented through this book.

Even beyond the representation, this book was a fun and spooky ride. Ren is half British Reaper and half Japanese Shinigami - a soul collector. An outcast in London because of her mixed heritage, she flees to Japan where she will do anything to be accepted. Ren is, by all means, a bad person and she accepts this as part of being a long-lived creature of Death. But, throughout the story, we start to see that maybe everything isn’t as clear-cut as she thinks.

If you aren’t familiar with Japanese folklore, be warned that it can be VERY creepy and this book fully embraces that. From the act of soul collection, to the dark domain of Yomi, to the Yokai demons themselves, this book is gory and atmospheric (aka the perfect spooky season read). The Keeper of Night intertwines both action and introspection to create a character-driven story that still delivers in terms of plot. The ending had me begging for more and I can’t wait to see what Ren will do in book 2.

The Keeper of Night is the first book in the series by Kylie Lee Baker. This young adult fantasy novel inspired by Japanese folklore had me hooked from the very first page. I cannot wait for book two in this series.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of The Keeper of Night!

This is an awesome book!! It's got a super fast-paced plot filled with non-stop action, while also giving the characters tons of depth and internal turmoil. The main character, Ren, is incredibly well-crafted, and I absolutely love books where the main protagonist is not necessarily a "good guy." This book does the dark protagonist particularly well, and I was so interested to find out where Ren ended up both physically and emotionally that I read it practically all in one sitting. The side characters, especially Ren's brother Neven and the mysterious Hiro, are also deep and interesting, and I would especially like to get to know Neven a little better (could have been cool to have some parts from his perspective, maybe?). I loved the Japanese folklore that inspired this book and the major role it played in the story, and I found all the monsters to be deliciously creepy in the best way possible. There are plenty of twists throughout the story, and I was absolutely not expecting the ending to be what it was. I can't wait for the sequel!!

Highly recommend!!