Jordan Ifueko’s Raybearer is a full, robust reading experience. Excellent world-building and satisfying character arcs. I loved many of the themes, including a “found family,” the difference between uniform/unified, an individual’s purpose, and the notion of justice.
A synopsis:
Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn–but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself?
I love how Raybearer examines the importance of each person’s story. There is a lot to soak in and digest here.
The reason it’s not *quite* a 5-star read for me is that some elements – especially in establishing the history of this world, including the magic (and monsters) in it, as well as aspects of the government and leadership – felt a little clunky to me. I had some difficulty piecing it all together, owing also to some disjointedness in the pacing of the story.
Those were just a few road bumps, though. The further I invested in the book, the more rewarding it was. Looking forward to the sequel.
BOOK:30 