I think a complex, standalone, YA fantasy is a super rare thing in this day and age and Lucier should be rewarded for it. It's not a book for everyone, it took me a minute to get into, but I thought it was a really good, solid book.

Thank you NetGalley for sending this arc for an honest review!

Now this is exactly the kind of standalone fantasy I was looking for. The charcters, world building, badass female? Yes plz give me more. I will admit initially I requested for this arc because the cover reminded me so much of sky I’m the deep my Adrienne young which happens to be my all time fave book. Now per usual I shouldn’t judge a book by a cover yet I did and was most definitely not disappointed. I truly enjoyed this book and the happiness it filled inside of me. The writing style was spectacular and so easy to undestand that I could not stress enough how eveyone needs to get off their butts and read this book.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

hmmm. mixed feelings about this one.

While I enjoyed it, I would be doing everyone a disservice if I said this was anything like what was advertised. I think calling this a fantasy book is a biiiiiig stretch. If anything its supernatural- and if we're calling it that, well its barely that as well.

Really interesting premise! I think what saved this book was the MC Cassia. Overall, this book didn't go very deep, and felt like it was written for a younger audience. I did enjoy the major plot twist, but still did not see much explanation throughout the book. Like we know WHY it happened, but why do we as an audience care? It all seemed a bit muddled in the writing.

Like I said I had a fine time- enjoyed the characters and the world, but I found the conflict lacking. I also would have liked to have had an explanation for Cass' ability. Like I said, the plot seemed broad and didn't go very deep.

Would recommend for those readers who enjoy a quick read of medieval-inspired tales filled with ghosts!

xx
-Christine

Year of the Reaper was the classic young adult classic fantasy that I have needed and wanted to read in the last few years but with a twist! The historical realism of the story grounded the story while leaving room for the fantastic elements of our the protagonist to see the spirits of those that had died. The dynamic nature of so many of the characters with so many subtle identity markers allowed for an enjoyment of the diversity of the characters without thinking that was the only point of the story. Finally, the subtext of a worldwide pandemic and its mass causality rate added a layer to the story that was familiar and allowed the reader to deal with our own worldwide situation.

3.5/5 stars.

This is definitely not a book to judge by its cover. But the fact that the cover does not represent on of the main characters should not deter you from reading this book. The main character is Cas, who returns from his home after three years in a post plague world. The new queen is at Cas’s home and he finds himself caught in the middle of a mystery as the queen’s entourage begins to be killed. I really enjoyed the characters and their personalities. The writing was super engaging. My only compliant was that towards in end the writing felt rushed. Big scenes ended super fast and with little action or detail. It felt almost anticlimactic after the slow, but engaging, first two thirds of the book.

While this book started off with tons of info dumps... I'm glad I stuck with it, because it was a fun ride! I loved our main character so freaking much, the rep, and some other aspects of the story that I wont go into - because spoilers.

If you find yourself drawn to this read, go ahead and give it a try.
thank you netgalley for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Year of the Reaper introduces a compelling protagonist in the first chapter. After being a prisoner for three years and being chained and abused, Cas is a different person than the one who disappeared when he was just 15 years old. His older brother and the people who know him are shocked when he returns home.

It’s soon apparent to everyone that Cas isn’t the same person. No longer a boy, it isn’t just the physical developments that underscore the changes. He’s troubled and his easy-going, sociable nature is long gone. At his core, he’s still a good person with good values, but he has dark moments when he struggles and he doesn’t find it easy to cope with affection or attention. For example, unlike the Cassia people once knew, Cas doesn’t like to be touched now.

Cas is different and home isn’t the same, either. A plague swept through the nation, killing entire families and decimating the population. Cas’s return home is filled with both happiness and grief as he learns about those who didn’t survive.

Despite his struggles, Cas can think on his feet, skills that come in handy when he rescues the new prince from drowning on his naming day. The rescue marks his dramatic return to his hometown, and he struggles to cope with the attention he receives for his heroism and his unexpected return.

This is one of the tougher books for me to review, and I’m going to embrace ‘me’ and ‘I’ phrases throughout the rest of the review. I was drawn right into this story and completely engaged from the start. I read over 30% the first day, which is rare for me because I’m not a quick reader and this isn’t a particularly short book. Lucier created this character I wanted to spend time with and did a great job introducing the world.

My pace slowed a little in the middle of the book. Although a threat had been introduced early on, Cas wasn’t tasked with finding the would-be assassin or protecting the prince, and given his circumstances, there was no reason for him to be assigned that task from the start. Much of the focus is on him adjusting to life back at home and coping with the challenges of hosting the king and queen and their entourage.

Cas is also struggling with his ability to see some of the dead and he’s not quite ready to admit to himself that he fancies the king’s sister, who he rescued before returning home without knowing who she was.

The prince almost drowned and then one of the queen’s entourage is found dead, wearing a lavish wedding dress, with gold coins on her body. Cas also found a gold coin at the place where the would-be assassin who shot the prince’s nurse hid. I wasn’t convinced the king would have moved his queen and infant son back to the capital so soon after these events. Moving made them vulnerable and exposed everyone to greater danger, but it does advance the plot, and eventually the story centers around the reason for the attacks and how to find those responsible.

I suppose some readers may feel the first part of the second act is unfocused because it maintains a solid focus on Cas’s return home, but it held my interest, and I think it’s brave and rewarding to see stories that aren’t solely focused on the next plot point. Lucier indulges us with a lot of reunions and discoveries, and it’s more important than people might realize because this story is every bit as much about Cas’s journey and his healing. Whether the book works for you or not depends solely on your view of him, because as the sole protagonist, every part of the story’s filtered through his eyes.

I’ve read a lot of books I’ve raved about this year, but with Year of the Reaper, I did something I never do. After I finished the book, I started re-reading it. And found myself drawn right back in. Upon my second reading, I thought about how important some of Cas’s homecoming scenes were, because of what they told us about his character, and why that matters as the story progresses. For me, this worked incredibly well.

The story develops in unexpected ways, keeping it from being predictable. While delivering some anticipated outcomes satisfies the reader, Lucier walks a fine line by giving us credible outcomes, including a mix of happy and sad moments. For me, the ending felt earned and realistic, and it was ultimately satisfying. There’s a lot to like here, and readers looking for character-driven stories will want to ensure they grab a copy of Year of the Reaper.

"Year of the Reaper" by Makiia Lucifer is a story of what could have been. It follows Cassiapeus as he returns from three years of torture and hard work in a Brisa prison, and it could have been amazing. Cas could have developed an amazing talent instead of having one that is never used and is ignored the entire book. The assassin who tries to kill the queen's maid and newbornly born crown prince could have had a well developed backstory that gave creedance to the anger and relentless need to maliciously kill. The friendship of Cas, Lena, Ventillas, King Rayan, and Queen Jehan and their wit could have been endearing. The ending could have been one of the best. Instead, in the end, the reader is left with what could have been and is left wondering why it wasn't better.

Thank you Netgalley for this incredible arc!

I loved this story from start to finish! As soon as I met Cass I was instantly hooked by his story, particularly due to the Dark times of this period. The world building was amazing and I kept turning pages and reading nonstop due to the twists and turns that had me so engaged.

Like I said, this is a dark book with some imagery that could possibly make some readers uncomfortable. However, the story itself is remarkable and my only complaint is that I wish there was more!

Cass has just survived a plague. He returns to his homeland--only to find that the royal family has taken refuge there. Thank goodness he comes when he does; he is able to protect one of the royal family members from certain death by a sniper. So, Cass begins to investigate; he needs to find this unknown enemy before they do more damage.

I loved this story! I confess the time between when I requested it and actually got a reply was....ages. So, I'd forgotten why I was even interested. But the first few pages had me hooked!

Cas' journey was thrilling, heartbreaking, and utterly amazing to follow. Lucier has created such engaging characters and rich settings. I was so sad to see this was just a standalone. I could follow Cas & Co. through an entire series, I swear.

Bubonic Plague is sweeping through the land like wildfire. In the midst of the deadly epidemic, rival nations Brisa and Oliveras have decided to put an end to their long-running war and hatred for one another through marriage. Princess Jehan of Brisa will marry the young King Rayan of Oliveras. I mean, sure, most of the party escorting Jehan to Oliveras die of Plague, but she still manages to make it and marry the king and everything is hunky dory.

Apart from, you know, the Plague.

Anyway, within all of this, we meet Cas. The son of a nobleman, Cassiapeus (he’d much rather be called Cas, thanks) was captured by Brisan forces three years prior, spending much of that time in a miserable prison/labor camp. He only recently managed to escape because he caught the Plague, and, rather than dying like so many others, Cas wakes up in a hospital and just...leaves. Everybody else was busy being sick or dying, so no one stopped him. Cas just nabs a horse and some clothes and heads home.

Though Cas was lucky enough to survive the Plague, it left him with an interesting side-effect: he can see, hear, and even interact with ghosts. And there are a lot of ghosts around. By the time Cas makes it to the outskirts of his home city of Palmerin, he’s learned, for the sake of his own sanity, to pretend not to see or hear the ghosts. Doesn’t stop him from being guilted into digging a grave for the old bridge keeper outside of town, though. I mean, Cas knew the guy. It’s kind of hard not to dig a grave for the guy when his ghost is literally right there and he knows that you can see him and yeah, fine, I’ll dig your grave, alright? Jeez, leave me alone.

Just as Cas gets done digging that grave for his old pal, Izaro the bridge keeper, his horse gets stolen by a girl dressed in the livery of a royal messenger. Her own horse was stolen, but she’s definitely not stealing Cas’s horse, she’s just borrowing it and she’ll totally give the horse back and she is super late and in a big hurry ok, thanks, byeeeeee!

The girl doesn’t make it far, though, as Cas only has to walk for a few hours before finding his horse again. Turns out the thief has been treed by a plague-addled lynx. Cas saves her because, horse thief or no, he’s not about to leave someone to be mauled to death by a plague-addled lynx. We learn that the girl is called Lena and she desperately needs a ride to Palmerin and Cas, being a decent human, lets her ride along with him. They reach the city, Lena takes off and Cas gets nervous as he gets closer to home. Is his older brother, Ventillas, alive or has he died of the Plague like so many others?

Luckily for, well, everyone, it turns out Palmerin is one of the few cities in the country where the Plague isn’t all that bad (mostly because the city is so far up in the mountains, but also because the city inspector seems to be one of the few people who have made the rats --> fleas --> plague connection). So, of course, the royal family has fled the capital and taken up residence in Cas’s family home. The day Cas waltzes back into the city happens to be the same day there’s a massive celebration for the baptism of King Rayan and Queen Jehan’s firstborn son, named not-at-all-suspiciously after Ventillas, who was one of the few members of Jehan’s escort who didn’t die of Plague.

Cas watches the festivities, including the parade where the baby prince is being carried around by a nurse for all to admire. As the royal parade crosses a bridge, wham! ARROW! No, it doesn’t get the baby, what kind of book do you think this is? No, the arrow hits the nurse in the shoulder, causing her to fall off the bridge and into the river, and who else should come running to the rescue but our friend Cas? He jumps into the river with zero hesitation, saves the nurse and the baby and is reunited with Ventillas all in one fell swoop. He’s taken back to Palmerin Keep where, of course, people freak out in varying degrees upon seeing Cas again after believing he’d been dead for three years. Cas is also reunited with Lena who, aside from being a gorgeous horse thief is also an official court historian and the king’s half-sister.

But! Who has time for that when there’s an assassin on the loose? Cas caught a glimpse of the archer just before they fired, and he’s certain it was a woman. But why try to kill an innocent baby? Is it Brisa, trying to stir things up again? Why would they do that when Queen Jehan is Brisan? Also, there’s clearly something suspicious going on - people are keeping an awful lot of secrets regarding Jehan’s journey from Brisa to Oliveras. As a historian, Lena is interested in knowing the finer details regarding the trip, but things aren’t adding up. As the assassin continues to target Rayan and Jehan’s household, it becomes clear that this isn’t some political maneuver. These attacks are personal. Someone is out to get the Queen. But who? And, more importantly, why? As the royal family begins their return to the capital, Cas and Lena team up to discover the truth.

But if the truth could destroy two nations already devastated by disease and war, wouldn’t it be better to keep it hidden?

Oh man, this book is one hell of a ride. Twists! Turns! Mystery! Intrigue! Lynxes! Lynxi? Or is Lynx itself plural? Whatever: So. Many. Lynx(es)(i)! And they just live in people’s houses and both people and lynx are cool with it! I want my own lynx...

But man. Year of the Reaper is a thrilling YA fantasy/mystery/romance/adventure that is really, really difficult to put down once you get started. My only complaint is that, unlike Lucier’s prior Tower of the Winds duology, Year of the Reaper is a standalone book. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say that the book leaves you with plenty of unanswered questions. Like, what will [Spoiler!] do once they find out about [spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler]? And why does [spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler]? Lucier definitely knows how to leave you wanting more, because I really could use a second book.

A propulsive mystery set in a harsh but beautifully built fantasy world, with a fully fleshed-out hero and supporting cast. Lucier keeps the pace moving as her hero returns home after a traumatic imprisonment, only to find his home upended by the presence of the royal court and an assassin on the loose. Lucier never pauses to give us lengthy descriptions of the world's history and politics. We get just enough to ground us, while the focus remains on uncovering the identity and motivation of the assassin. The relationships are layered, with romances and friendships that build slowly and naturally. A large cast provides lots of suspects for underhanded dealings and more than one important test of loyalty. An engaging, fast-paced read, with a plague-torn world in which princes and princesses have much bigger things to worry about than their sparkly crowns.

After I started reading this book I just didn't want to put it down, and devoured it in just a few hours.
I loved Cass! When we first meet him, he is on his way home, he stops to bury a body he comes across.. Not the first one he has buried thanks to the plague that has been ravaging the land.. He also happens to stumble across a young lady who is stealing... I mean borrowing his horse.. Thankfully he ends up gettin his horse back..
When Cass finally arrives home, its to find it much the same but also different. He has been gone for 3 years, and it seems the royal family has taken up residence in his house...
When he ends foiling an someones attempt at killing a member of the royal family. Cass starts to ask questions, and begins investigating on his own..
While this book wasn't really action packed, it was still fast paced and had me needing to keep turning the pages to figure out how the mystery was going to play out and how it was all going to end.. There were some major twists and turns. some went pretty dark.. but. I loved all of it, the world building, and all of the characters..
I believe this is supposed to be a standalone, but I would love more stories set in this world, even if we didn't follow the same main characters.
I will definitely be getting a physical copy of this book, and be checking out this authors backlist!

Lord Cassia has returned after disappear three years ago in the midst of war... and the kingdom will never be the same. He has been tortured, beaten, and held captive by the enemy kingdom....a kingdom that belongs to the new queen. Queen Jehan has married King Rayan and with their marriage comes a peace treaty between the two kingdoms and yet upon Cassia’s return things start to test this peace. Cassia only wants to return to his family, to his brother and his friends, to live a peaceful life after enduring three painful years of imprisonment and seeing his friends die. However after an assassination attempt against the King and Queen’s new born son and new strange events threaten the royals, Cassia takes it upon himself to figure out who is behind this and why they are targeting them. He is joined by a beautiful and lively historian who he meet on his way home.... since she stole his horse. Soon Cassia and Lena (the historian) are steeped in dark royal family secrets, a mystery that keeps opening doors to more questions, and a secret that could shatter the peace between the two kingdoms. This was a wonderful read! I enjoyed the twist and turns in the mystery and the ultimate reveal by the end. Having Cassia be the main protagonist was great, you could see how he is still recovering and how he struggles with his new freedom. This was a thrilling read with a great mystery at the heart of it.

*Thanks Netgalley and Clarion Books (formerly HMH Children's Books), Clarion Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5) Isn’t the cover fabulous? I grabbed this one loving the story of a broken Cas returning to his kingdom after being held prisoner for 3 years. Plague has ravaged his world in that time and the royals have temporarily taken over his court.

Cas was my favorite with his harsh past and kind heart. He was very affected still by his previous captivity and it showed. Being able to see spirits was such a great aspect of the story. It brought in an interesting element of being able to learn things from them that he wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. Lena and Ventillas were great supporting characters, adding in those friendships that were so crucial to him.

The middle was slow at times but I found myself still interested in the story. It’s a tale of finding ones self and learning what’s important. Helping those you love and doing what’s right. I liked the writing and the imagery the author brought to the story.

I liked the twist that I didn’t see coming! With betrayal, ghosts and a plague, what’s not to love?

I did wish I had more info on why he saw spirits. Did he die and come back? Did he connect with the after life? Even the title doesn’t play into the story much other than the plague. That being said, I still really liked it and am looking forward to reading more of her other books.

Content Summary: Minimal language, very minimal intimacy/romance, few details with violence and blood, a near drowning, previous torture and seeing dead spirits.

Thank you to Clarion Books for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lucier doesn’t waste a word in Year of the Reaper, which throws readers right into the action of this thrilling story. While the protagonist, Cas, can see and speak with ghosts, the book’s fantastical elements exist more on the periphery of the story as opposed to driving it. More than anything, Year of the Reaper is a murder mystery, as Cas attempts to unravel the complex assassination plot targeting the royal family.

The twists are often quite difficult to predict, and the tight pacing makes the book even more difficult to put down. But it really is Lucier’s strong character development that makes this book worm its way so fully into your heart. Cas is a captivating hero, struggling to acclimate to life back home after three years as a prisoner of war. And Lucier does an impeccable job exploring his shifting connections to those around him as slowly finds ways to cope with and heal from the traumas of his past. But Cas is far from the only intriguing and complicated charcter; from the hopeful historian who catches Cas' eye to the determined assassin targeting the new queen, every character in this world is designed with equal care. And though this is a standalone novel, it will likely leave you wishing Lucier changes her mind and decides to make this the start of a new series, if only so you can spend a bit more time with these characters.

I just finished this am still debating a rating. Firstly, I flew this book! It was easy to read and super engaging! I thought the climax happened a little fast and I would have liked a little more time in the world, but ultimately I really enjoyed the story. I will be ordering a finished copy and I am hoping for more stories in this world.

This book was full of adventure and interesting twists. I was not sure if I would enjoy this book but I was pleasantly surprised. I really recommend this book to anyone looking for adventure.

This is an honest review in exchange for a free ARC.

All I can really say about this book is wow. I was not sure if I would like this book when I started reading it but I soon found myself enthralled by the book. After three years of being held prisoner by a rival kingdom, Lord Cassia (Cass) is finally free and able to return to his home. He is beaten, slightly broken, and can for some reason see ghosts now. When he gets home he discovers that it's being used by the King and his bride to hide from assassin's that are getting dangerously close to Cass's home. Cass gets drawn into finding the assassin's before they kill the King.

Over all I really liked the book. I loved the interactions with Cass and his bother Ventillas. Their relationship felt like they were brothers who really did care for each other. I also liked the romance between Cass and Lena. It felt well developed and I just loved Lena so freaking much.

The first half of the book is a little slow but that is from all of the world building that is needed for the story. It's also a little gruesome, just a warning for those who don't like that in books. It's not really bad, just descriptions of the violence and sickness that has destroyed this world. After you get past the first half things really start picking up and I could not put the book down.

If you are a fan of fantasy, I would recommend this book. It's a good solid story.