I loved Year of the Reaper. I wanted to check this book out because I completely loved Makiia Lucier's Isle of Blood and Stone duology and I had to check out her newest book. I was not disappointed at all. I admit that I knew very little of the actual plot going in but the main driving force of my love for this book was the way the author writes her characters. I cared about them and I was rooting for them and I loved the build up of the romance as well. I think this book has a very similar vibe to the Kiss of Deception and Dance of Thieves books by Mary E. Pearson so readers who like those books might really enjoy this book as well. The stories aren't the same but there's something about the way their written and the character relationships that reminded me of those other books and what I loved about those books as well. Also, the twist near the end left me literally speechless and I had to stop and stare at the wall for a solid 5 minutes because I was so freaking shocked. I wasn't expecting there to be a twist although I suppose I probably should have, but I loved that so much. This is a great standalone for readers who enjoy really character focused stories and kingdom fantasies.

Year of the Reaper was an amazing fantasy novel. The storyline was captivating and the characters were unforgettable. Obviously, Cas was my favorite and he captured my heart. Cas was presumed death for nearly three years until he returns home. Upon Cas arrival he is determined to uncover mysterious circumstances dealing with the new queen. Lena was also an amazing characters and I loved learning about them. I loved their relationship and it made Year of the Reaper an amazing and entertaining novel. Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an amazing book. Can’t wait to have a physical copy.

I loved this story. The characters all came to life so easily while you were reading. Even the minor characters felt real and important. I loved the setting of the story. It felt historical while also being unique. I wish and hope there is more from this world and we see Lena and Cas more.

This is definitely a male protagonist written by a woman.
This was a fast paced adventure/mystery involving royalty, disease, war, and an array of interesting characters. For me, the characters were the strongest aspect of this story, everyone had a reasonable role and felt multi-dimensional, even if they were only present on a few pages.
The protagonist, Cas, is a giant, singing, friend-to-children-and-animals, ghost-seeing, mace-swinging, member of nobility, and is accompanied by a cast of a historian princess, a young mother/queen, a right hand man with a talent for sewing, a baby prince, among many others...
These characters drove the story and kept me interested until the end. The content didn’t have a whole lot in it aside from the central mystery, and I definitely left the book with a lot of questions about concepts that were introduced and then not really explored as much as I would have liked, like Cas’ ability to see ghosts, or a previously eternal war between the two main kingdoms. But I think that the central mystery was strong on its own, particularly because of the quality of the characters.

I would recommend this book for 13+ fans of fast paced, character driven fantasy that features political intrigue with a hint of a supernatural element. If you like court mysteries, royal marriages, and strategizing, you’ll probably enjoy this!

While I recommend this for a ya audience and up, there is a lot of grief and loss from plague in this book, as well as some graphic descriptions of deceased bodies and body parts, so if you feel sensitive to these topics, proceed with caution!

The cover is haunting, the description was intriguing, and the book did not disappoint. In fact, I was a little surprised at how much I really enjoyed it. At times it seems the YA market is inundated with dozens of books that have the same basic setting, characters and plots twists. Not the case here - the world building was excellent and I wanted to know more about the history of the two countries as well as the plague that had devastated them. The characters were believable, not cardboard cut-outs. And the twists and turns of the plot made this book a fast read. I'm now looking forward to reading Makiia Lucier's previous works.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

I really enjoyed Lucier's "A Death-Struck Year," so I was eager to read "Year of the Reaper." I wasn't disappointed--this is an extraordinarily good book. I expected a standard fantasy, with romance, maybe a triangle, etc. Instead, I got a mystery, court intrigue, and plagues! I love it! For some reason, this reminded me of classic fantasies like A Wizard of Earthsea and The Book of Three. I think it's that the relationships between the characters develop very sweetly, without a lot of drama and histrionics. This book feels like it has an old soul, and I'm pretty obsessed.
I'll absolutely be buying this for the library, and hand-selling it to as many teens as I can!

This was incredible! It is dark and intense and oh so good. I loved the depth found in the characters and her writing style was beautiful.

Holy cow. The intrigue, the mystery, and the world building in this! I loved every minute I spent reading it. If you like stories that weave political intrigue with assassins with a swoony, brooding boy, pick this up. It isn't one to miss.

Makiia Lucier crafted such a beautiful well-thought-out world with Year of the Reaper! The characters were deep and engaging the story was a bit dark but not creepy. It took me a bit to get started and get hooked on the book but once I did, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!

I usually don’t like fantasy stand-alones but this made me rethink my opinions. I think this book was a perfect fantasy stand-alone, it had in-depth characters and an amazing story you can get lost in. I read this book in the span of one day and it kept me on my toes. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the ending I kinda wish there was more it felt too fast.

Lord Cassia, or Cas, disappeared several years ago during a war and only wishes to return home; however, he's become a different person the years he's been away. For one, he's seen a devastating plague sweep across the world, killing many and forever altering kingdoms. For two, he can talk to the dead.

I quite enjoyed this novel and the author's writing style. Lucier packs a ton of detail and background into her writing. Although this novel was not steeped heavily with fantastical imagery, I found I really enjoyed the overall dark tone.

I love Makiia's writing style. She crams so much backstory and information into her writing, and I couldn't get enough of it. The characters and their relationships are well done, and the mystery was a pleasant surprise.

This thrilling, fantastic book and talented author were both featured in the Asian American and Pacific Islander roundup at The Young Folks.

I really, really enjoyed this book. This is a great fantasy entry for those who aren't often reading fantasy or find the genre intimidating as the only real fantasy elements are the setting and the fact that Cas can see ghosts (this is a minor plot line of the story that isn't fully explored). The characters are fun and interesting to read about; they grow and develop over the course of the story. The mystery and the tensions surrounding the continued attacks on the queen were engaging and drew me into the story. I definitely recommend this one!

GIVE ME MOREE!!!! i knew this was a standalone but i loved it so much. i truly couldn’t put this down. the twists and turns were amazing, the world building was beautiful. makiia will definitely be a must buy author for me

An excellent fantasy with so many characters to root for. While I would have loved more actual magic (the main character can see ghosts), the mystery and adventure of the story are addicting!

A wonderful standalone. Recommended.

4.5 stars rounded to five.

The story is fantastic; I loved this book! But, it is a little on the dark side. The first quarter of the book is filled with some darker and slightly graphic scenes. A lot of serious things happening. It was a lot all at once. After the first quarter, the book wasn’t as heavy, despite many characters having their own grief and problems/demons that they are working through.

Great pacing. The novel caught my attention from the beginning and held it. A very interesting story that kept moving forward. Not a lot of extra, unnecessary things, The book gets and keeps to the point. I was worried that the ending might feel rush because of the fast pace, but it wasn’t.

Wonderful characters with depth. I loved the brotherly bond shared between Cas and Ventillas; very realistic. Lina was a fun, feisty, and independent character.

This is a complete standalone novel, but I am hoping that the author decides to write more books set in this world, focused on some of the other characters. I want a book about Ventillas and one on what happens next with King Rayan and Queen Jehan.

Thank you Net Galley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group; HMH Books for a young Readers for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #YearoftheReaper

“Year of the Reaper is a suspenseful tale filled with ghosts, romance, and betrayals that will have readers tuck this read into their favorite books.”

Cecelia Beckman, Sheaf & Ink

Has a book ever surprised you?

Makiia Lucier’s Year of the Reaper did just that. Year of the Reaper has so many enduring elements that made for a perfect read. Like a well-crafted recipe with ingredients that entice and ensnare the senses becoming an inescapable, mouth watering meal. Lucier’s story is both haunting as it is hopeful.

Each character is designed with care. From Cas to the villain who plagues the king and queen, readers will be quickly drawn in like a moth to flame, feeling every emotion as though they are the characters themselves. Further, Lucier’s characters are complex, leaping off the page, fully formed and flawed. Their pasts like an afternoon shadow, following them wherever they go, even when they wish it would disappear.

With a slow burn romance that is achingly sweet, a mystery that is eloquently unraveled, and truths that will be painfully felt, Lucier’s stand-alone is undeniably captivating.

Initial Thoughts
I really enjoyed Makiia Lucier's Isle of Blood and Stone series and was really interested in the description of this standalone.

Some Things I Liked
Mystery elements. I loved that there was a murder mystery and a conspiracy at the center of this plot.
Dark themes. There are some heavy topics and this fantasy world doesn't sound like all rainbows and unicorns. It sounds like a hard place to live and I really enjoyed the realism and the themes woven into this world.
Cas as a main character. For whatever reason, I don't read enough YA books with male main characters and I really liked Cas as a narrator here.

Series Value
This story feels relatively complete but I could easily see more books set in this world that follow the side characters. Cas's brother would make a great main character and I'd love to see how Makiia Lucier tackles his grief as a theme.

Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.

I was expecting an entirely different story, but in the end, I was far from disappointed.

Going in, with "reaper" in the title I thought we'd see some pretty dark and actiony story, like some secret grim reaper society stuff. I would say the story is still a bit dark (and action packed) as the country is just out of a war and a devastating plague, but we get a quiet and noble main character named Cas who is returning home after being in a prison camp for 3 years. I love Cas so much! He's my boy y'all. The very core of him is all kindness and smarts. But on the outside is a dude who has just been through a lot and seen a lot of death. All that at such a young age!

The mystery and the story playing out in the background is the right amount of hints and pacing. And, oh! the quiet humor! Every character has their own levels of humor and heart ache and you just want to hug all of them and bubble with giggles. Very well rounded characterization.

After finishing it, I'm feeling that heaviness that comes with knowing a great story is over. I can see myself in the future coming back to drown myself in Olivera's fire forests.

Thank you Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for a review!