This is a good conclusion to the duology and this sequel is still very on brand for the story as a whole. It's dark, it's gory, the characters are morally grey, and it's mythically enticing.

That being said, I didn't quite enjoy this as much as the first book… and I think it's because this installment takes place 10 years after the events of the first book. The first book ends on a cliffhanger and then the story picks up a decade later. Yes, there is a summary of what happened during that time, but I would have loved to see it firsthand. I think the gap between events made me feel a disconnect between the characters and the story.

But still, I enjoyed how this sequel follows the same sort of quest structure as the first book. It allows for more world-building, character betrayals, spooky spirits, and a final resolution. Again, a good conclusion, I just wish there had been a better bridge between this book and the previous one.

I have been waiting for this book forever ever since I finished the first book last year. I immediately devoured this book the second I was approved for an eARC. And I have to say that I was not disappointed at all.

Let’s start from the beginning. Where we left off in the first book, Ren is now the ruler of Japan’s underworld. And she starts looking for her brother since he was taken away. In this book, ten years have passed in the timeframe. And she is still looking for her brother. Ren will have bigger problems than finding her brother when her former archenemies start hunting her down. It will start a lot of problems for her.

I will personally say that Ren may have overcome some issues, but she still has insecurities that she will need to face. She never had the time to process it. She has been fighting for her place to belong somewhere in the underworld. And it does not help that people keep reminding her lack of belonging.

I just wished that Ren was a bit savage to her former archenemies, but I understand why she did it. She will always want to be good in her brother's eyes no matter what.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press!

I had enjoyed the first book, and was looking forward to reading the second. There were a few threads that were continued pretty well-- the darkness of Ren, her fear/hatred of Reapers, her assimilation, her distrust of others, and her familial relationships.

I was slightly taken aback in the direction she did go, but there was no reason for me to be-- she's stayed true to herself, she simply has more power and say now. That does not necessarily mean that she's doing the correct thing, or is in control; she's simply a lot more powerful.

I also enjoyed a few characters turning up, and decisions made; it made me want to take a closer look to see how they go! It may have been a surprise, but it also entirely fit with what we know of them. I do think the "romance" of this book suffered some-- I'm not really a fan of the "identical sibling" trope, and I was not really a fan of his characterization.

I did enjoy meeting other gods, and seeing their reactions to Ren, though!

TW/CW: Death, murder, fighting, scary sequences, racism

REVIEW: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The Empress of Time is the sequel to The Keeper of Night and picks up where that book leaves off. It follows Ren, her brother Neven, and various gods and goddesses through the mythological landscape of Japan as they attempt to fight off the British reapers approaching by sea.

I liked this book better than the first one. While Ren is still not a very likable character (although I think that’s the point), I found myself relating to her and understanding her a lot better than I did in the first book. Very well written, the story moves quickly and is very engaging. I really loved all the mythological creatures the reader meets along the way and I really love the mythology of the gods and how Ren struggles to become one. I also liked the ending of this book far more than the first! I recommend this book to everyone who likes dark fantasy.

Ren Scarborough returns a decade later in The Empress of Time, dripping in darkness and determined to get her brother back no matter the cost. However a greater threat is growing in Japan. Reapers are appearing on her shores, and Ivy is Britain's new Death Goddess. In a race against time, Ren must embark on a quest to enlist the aid of other gods before the entire country falls into Britain's hands.

This is a wonderful conclusion to this duology, with The Empress of Time continuing the dark themes explored in Keeper of the Night. At the heart of this book is the sibling dynamic between Neven and Ren, with Japanese mythology, horror and gore, and raging darkness as its veins. Baker's writing is as atmospheric as ever and I found myself finishing this book in a day. Ren Scarborough is one of my favorite, powerful FMCs! Even when she was doing arguably despicable things (this book IS rather gory for being a YA book), I found myself relishing the moments she stepped into her power and title as a Death Goddess.

In conclusion, one of my favorite quotes that emerged at the very start of this book:

I would show them what happened to foreigners who charged into my land and took what was mine. I would welcome them to Japan with Izanami's katana shoved down their throats. I would slice their souls to ribbons and crush their bodies to dust and eat them like I at the hearts of humans. They had come here expecting to find a runaway orphan, but I would show them a goddess.

The premise of this book sounded interesting to me and I Decided to give it a try. Unfortunately I found the story too gory and cannibalistic to finish. Scary/horror/gore is not my type so I wish the description had been more clear that that was the category - not teen/ya and sci-fi. Disappointed at what could have been promising. Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

I'm rating this purely based on my enjoyment of this book (and the duology as a whole). I loved the first book, but I've seen the criticisms, and while I don't necessarily disagree with some of them, I simply just do not care because of how much I enjoy this series. I do think that if you didn't enjoy the first book, I don't think the second book will be a better reading experience for you (but on the flip side, if you enjoyed The Keeper of Night, I think you'll probably enjoy The Empress of Time).

The writing, as expected, is stunning. It's the perfect balance of lyrical and atmospheric, but also a little graphic and gory (not excessively so, it is still YA after all...). It's compulsively readable, and I found myself flying through the chapters.

In terms of theme, plot, and characters, this book is very much a continuation of the first book. A lot of the same themes are explored, and the general vibe of the book is very much the same - it's still a quest fantasy at its heart, Neven and Ren's sibling dynamic continues to be the driving force of this entire story, and Ren continues to let her anger take over and make bad decisions. I personally love all of these things, and so I loved the second book. As with the first book, there's some unexpected twists and turns, and I think this continues to lean on the darker side of YA fantasy. A couple of negatives: I do think that tying in colonization into this world with the Reapers vs Shinigami was really interesting, but I wish that it went more in depth than what we got, and I also wanted a little more from Ren's character development throughout the book.

If you are a fan of books about folklore and mythology, Japanese folklore, dark fantasy, books that read a little bit like an RPG, and angry female characters, I highly recommend this duology. I was very satisfied with that ending, and I can't wait to see what Kylie Lee Baker comes out with next.

This was a great sequel and ending to the duology! The writing was immersive and atmospheric, and I loved reading about Ren’s search to find the ancient sword and the characters she worked with along the way. The book was fast-paced and filled with betrayal, tenuous alliances, and questionable loyalty. The setting was beautiful, and I found the ending to be satisfying as well. A solid, refreshing fantasy duology.
Thanks to NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.