ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*🚨POTENTIAL SPOILERS FOR BOOK ONE BELOW 🚨*.

This was quite a solid ending to the duology.

In all honesty, I preferred this much more than the first book, The Keeper of Night. I won't lie, I didn't really like the first book (I was fascinated by the magic system and world but I wasn't really invested - I ended up rating it two stars) but I was interested in seeing how this duology would conclude especially after that cliffhanger ending.

This book I found was so much stronger and I was utterly invested and enthralled. I loved Ren's determination towards finding her lost brother and the morally grey things she did to save him. She was still trying to find herself and a place that she could belong - but I found that overall, her character was definitely strengthened more in this book as she faced up to larger threats and higher stakes than book one.

World building, I felt, was strengthened in this book and we were introduced to more mythological creatures and new characters too. Tsukuyomi was a stand out for me - he was such a golden retriever sort of character. If you read The Scarlet Alchemist (which I adored and rated 5 stars) - Tsukuyomi has a lot of similarities to the Prince's character from that book (which shouldn't be a surprise since both books are by the same author). But I really liked the energy and dynamic he brought - a happy, bright presence in amongst a lot of the horror and darkness of the fictional world.

Overall though, I enjoyed this conclusion to the duology. I'll recommend this to any reader who loves dark fantasy stories with a bit of gore.

The Empress of Time by Kylie Lee Baker is the second and final book of the Keeper of Night duology. Ren Scarborough is Japan’s Goddess of Death. The Reapers from Britain and their Goddess of Death are bent on destroying Japan. Ren must work with the moon god Tsukuyomi, her younger brother, and a Yōkai to find a long lost sword to convince a god to help them.

This is a sequel that was just as dark as the first book. Ren is the perfect morally grey character that you can’t help but understand and root for!

This was the oldest arc on my NetGalley list, but thanks to ARCtober, I got it done! This one published in 2022 and is the follow up to The Keeper of Night, which I loved! This one finishes the story of Ren, the girl who will do anything to save her brother. The plot ends nicely after another quest like storyline. We meet some unique new characters, but there isn’t much world building and the ten year gap between book 1 and 2 makes the story lose steam. But I’m still glad I read it and I’m looking forward to reading Baker’s newest book, Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng, which comes out in April next year.

Thank you @netgalley and @inkyardpress for an advance digital copy. All opinions are mine.

The Empress of Time is the sequel to The Keeper of Night and finishes off the story. This is a YA fantasy story involving death and the underworld. Ren is half British Reaper half Japanese Shinigami who is now having to deal with the fallout of the events of the first book. She is on a quest to find a sword that hasn't been seen in thousands of years so she can persuade the god of storm and seas to help her defeat her enemy. Aiding her in the quest is the moon god, Tsukuyomi, who just so happens to be the brother of her deceased fiancé.

There is a ten year time jump between the two books and I don't think it was necessary to be that long. The characters still felt YA, which isn't a negative itself but it becomes one when you are starting the book off with such a large time gap. Because of that I didn't enjoy the setup of this book as much. The saving grace was the quest aspect of the story. I love following characters as they are doing tasks or strategizing what they are going to do next. And of course the mythology in this book is spectacular. I loved learning about all the different gods and customs. Baker also redeemed herself with the ending of this story. One of my big negatives of the first book was the never-ending ending but the pacing and conclusion of this one were well done.

Overall, I do recommend this series if you are looking for a fun Japanese mythology filled duology. Next year Baker is coming out with an adult horror novel and I will definitely be reading that one. This duology is her debut and she completely nailed the atmosphere and creepy elements so I am very excited to see what she can do with a horror.

I don't think I enjoyed this quite as much as book one, which is why I knocked off the half point, but overall I think it's a pretty solid duology -- even if it won't be a new favourite.

A great continuation in the series. Delightfully dark without becoming too much to keep readers up at night. Centring the story around Japanese Yokai folklore is a fantastic alternative to other young adult horror stories on the market.

DNF - i tried to get into this a few times, but the setting of 10 years later just took me out. I will read more by this author though - just not the duology for me!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>The Empress of Time</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>The Empress of Time</i> by Kylie Lee Baker is a riveting mythology, and historical fiction. Set in a lush and intricately crafted world. It is the second installment in the the <i>The Keeper of Night</i> series.

<h4>The Details</h4>

Baker's writing is capitvating, drawing readers into a mesmerizing realm.

At the heart of the novel is a relatable and dynamic protagonist.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its exploration of themes such as destiny, sacrifice, and the nature of power. Baker deftly weaves together intricate plot threads and complex character dynamics, creating a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

In addition to its compelling characters and engaging storyline, <i>The Empress of Time</i> also offers a lush and immersive setting that will enchant readers from start to finish. With its vivid imagery and richly imagined backdrop, the novel is a feast for the senses, transporting readers to a different world.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>The Empress of Time</i> is a captivating and enchanting read that will appeal to fans of fantasy and adventure alike. With its vibrant prose, compelling characters, and imaginative world-building, it is a must-read for anyone seeking an escape. Kylie Lee Baker has crafted a remarkable story.

This read was a sequel to the Keeper of the Night, and I felt like it continued the story beautifully. The character development was great. And I thought the plotline of having to retrieve a lost mythological sword was fun and different. The story was pretty dark, but it didn't take away from the enjoyment of reading it. Definitely recommended if you enjoy mythology retellings, or morally gray characters.

I loved the conclusion to this duology. I think I might have liked it even more than the first book. I loved that this story explores even more mythology and we got to meet more Japanese mythological characters.

This one is also pretty spooky / gorey so if you’re looking for something for spooky season, definitely look no further.

Lastly, I loved the romance in this one. The romance in the first book broke my heart but I was so happy to see Ren find love in this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'd been waiting with baited breath for the continuation of this story, and here we are! We come back to our morally gray Ren doing her new "job" while looking for her brother without real respect from... well... anybody. It doesn't seem to bother her much that she isn't liked or respected as long as she's followed. Her priorities are finding her brother while trying to stay alive.

Simply stated, Ren is not the most likable character for me and there are points in this story where she's nearly unbearable. Her attitude was grating on my nerves to the point that I nearly DNF'd this book. That said, I'm glad I didn't. If you start to feel the same way... keep going... there is hope. I can't say much more without spoiling the story except to say that you will come to appreciate Ren and the conclusion is satisfying. I hope to read more of what this author comes out with next!

The Empress of Time is the second book in The Keeper of Night #2, which follows the story of Ren, who has become the Goddess of Death ruling Japan’s underworld. Thematically this continues to explore our main character’s struggle to find where she fits as a biracial woman, rejected on both sides. But more than that, it’s a story about complicated sibling relationships that still involve intense, protective love. Their relationship remains one of my favorite sibling relationships. It’s imperfect and imbalanced, but it works and is necessary. To see Neven come back hardened after a century in the dark was fascinating. I’m so glad they reconciled — watching him pull away from Ren was hard. Empress of Time is just as dark and atmospheric as Keeper of Night, diving more profoundly to the corners of Yomi as Ren wrestles with her ghosts. The conflict between Ren and the Reapers was captivating, especially when you see Ren use all her powers together. The way these two siblings fight with time was exciting to read. Also, that ending was entirely unexpected for me but so good!

Incredible finish to this duology. Kylie Lee Baker has done it again with creating an immensely atmospheric and dark world that will pull you in and keep you at the edge of your seat the entire time. Stunning work.

Thank you Inkyard Press for allowing me to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Empress of Time is the sequel and conclusion to The Keeper of Night duology. While I enjoyed both books, they each have a pacing flaw. Some moments were too slow and others were over too quickly. I love Ren and her character development the most. She is character I enjoyed reading about and it makes me very excited to see what is in store for the future of Kylie Lee Baker's books. While the pacing was off, the writing is very cinematic and I was hooked immediately.

4.75 stars

As a conclusion to this story, I was really satisfied. Ren continues to be a complex character, always seeking to fit in, but never truly finding what she desires. While the first book felt more of a commentary on external forces, this one felt a bit more internal. I did have moments where I nearly gnawed at the book, but (in a way) that also translates as a good thing, lol. I would definitely pick up another book by this author

The Empress of Time is the second and final book in the series that started with The Keeper of the Night. In the series we follow Ren a half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami as she struggles with power and her coping with the fact that she isn't accepted in either the British or Japanese society due to her being a mix of both. I adored the first book in the series but I struggled with this second book. It was both darker and slower paced to me. I also struggled to connect with Ren and found her character to be very unlikeable in this book.

The Empress of Time picks up where The Keeper of the Night! In this novel, Ren is the Queen of the Underworld. However, the British Reapers after for revenge. I liked learning about how Ren has changed into a queen. She has grown very mature and is a strong protagonist. I also found the pacing to be very fast-paced. The world-building was very complex. I thought the writing had very beautiful prose and interwove Japanese mythology throughout the novel. Thus, this was an excellent conclusion to an epic duology. I recommend this for fans of Shadow of the Fox, Eon, and Shadows on the Moon!

Thank you to the publisher for a review copy!

You know when an author writes a book that feels like a gift? That's this book. I love this series so much and cried through the ending.

The mythology and prose is gorgeous. Truly you have never read such a multitude of creative and lovely ways to describe darkness. But what impresses the most are the characters and their relationships.

As a woman who was raised not being allowed to be angry, who was raised under the teachings that anger is sin, I love Ren so much. Ren is angry and fierce and brave, and the consuming love that she has for her brother is heart wrenching. She's going to stick with me for a very long time.

Also, what a testament that the young adult genre is not just for children. Like please try to argue that this duology is not absolutely suitable and entertaining for adults.

And - AND! It makes me so excited that young adults get to read this story and these characters.

If you enjoy angry girls and lush mythology, or dark prose from authors like Ava Reid, you're going to love this duology as well.

An excellent follow up that flirts with darkness so well! I think teens tend to find shinigami fascinating and would highly recommend to them as a murkier read that helps them process their own selves.

Love love LOVE this series so much! The dark and morally gray aesthetic of both KOTN and this sequel was the perfect bow on top. I recommend this to anyone looking for a darker, YA fantasy