Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami, Ren Scarborough has been collecting souls in the London streets for centuries. Expected to obey the harsh hierarchy of the Reapers who despise her, Ren conceals her emotions and avoids her tormentors as best she can.
When her failure to control her Shinigami abilities drives Ren out of London, she flees to Japan to seek the acceptance she’s never gotten from her fellow Reapers. Accompanied by her younger brother, the only being on earth to care for her, Ren enters the Japanese underworld to serve the Goddess of Death… only to learn that here, too, she must prove herself worthy. Determined to earn respect, Ren accepts an impossible task—find and eliminate three dangerous Yokai demons—and learns how far she’ll go to claim her place at Death’s side.
Goodreads | Amazon
Rating: 2 Stars
My Review: I was really excited for this one. I loved the first few chapters and dived in wholeheartedly. But as I really got into the story and what was happening. I found that there were major plot holes within. So many things started being complete inconsistent with what we were told about the Reaper's history and powers then a few chapters past what we were told would completely change. It just ended up being a mess of things basically being lies and I started wondering if the main character was an unreliable narrator or something. I think this could have been much better executed if these inconsistencies would have been caught. Overall, I did want to know more about the reapers but with all the issues I just couldn't really love this one.
From School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up-A Reaper of London, a servant of death, Ren's duty is gathering human souls; she's aware of her place, below the High Reapers. Since Ren is both Japanese and British, she looks different than other British Reapers. She is a Shinigami (Japanese Reaper) who can control light. Her own father, though part of the High Council, fails to recognize her. Unable to control her light, she scorches the eyes of the High Reapers who mockingly call her "Half-Breed." Her only solace is her kind half-brother Neven, who risks his life to journey with Ren to Japan. Baker has created a chillingly dark fantasy set in London and Japan during the 1800s, with elements of Japanese and European myths. Adding thrills, action, and a bit of scare, Baker makes good use of metaphors and similes with captivating language and depiction of scenery. The characters are equally interesting; the High Council is reminiscent of the Volturi and the London Reapers similar to the vampires from the Twilight saga. Ren is an undeniable heroine; though she is an outcast, forced to suppress her true emotions and seen as inferior in darkness, on the flip side, she is light-a formidable warrior ready to sacrifice her life for Neven. Ren risks it all to forge a rightful place where she is respected and accepted. VERDICT A triumphant debut, this thrilling fantasy tackles death, clad with a heroine unafraid to wrench a soul from the depths of a being and venture to the darkest of underworlds. A must for those in search of a place to call their own.-Suraya Jairam, Queens P.L., Hollis, NYα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review
"Sharp and seductive…a fantasy with teeth." —Julie C. Dao, author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
"The Keeper of Night is an absolutely thrilling tale of one girl's search for identity and a sense of belonging. With its rich worldbuilding, high-stakes and well-drawn characters, Kylie Lee Baker has created a must-read tale." —June Hur, author of The Silence of Bones
"A triumphant debut, this thrilling fantasy tackles death, clad with a heroine unafraid to wrench a soul from the depths of a being and venture to the darkest of underworlds. A must for those in search of a place to call their own." —SLJ, starred review
"Dark, gruesome—and absolutely captivating." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Baker’s debut is atmospheric... A cliff-hanger ending will have readers anxiously awaiting the final title in this duology." —Booklist
"Baker’s vivid prose seamlessly blends Japanese mythology with a Victorian setting... An action-filled plot ensures that this debut rarely lags, and the relationship between Ren and Neven additionally infuses the duology opener with a core of warmth." —Publishers Weekly
"With themes of belonging, identity, family, and love, The Keeper of Night is a wickedly delightful read that perfectly blends a rich historical setting with magic and mystery." —The Nerd Daily
"With thought-provoking themes, masterful plotting, and compelling characters, The Keeper of Night is an intriguing and consuming YA fantasy." —YA Books Central
"The Keeper of Night is an absolutely thrilling tale of one girl's search for identity and a sense of belonging. With its rich worldbuilding, high-stakes and well-drawn characters, Kylie Lee Baker has created a must-read tale." —June Hur, author of The Silence of Bones
"A triumphant debut, this thrilling fantasy tackles death, clad with a heroine unafraid to wrench a soul from the depths of a being and venture to the darkest of underworlds. A must for those in search of a place to call their own." —SLJ, starred review
"Dark, gruesome—and absolutely captivating." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Baker’s debut is atmospheric... A cliff-hanger ending will have readers anxiously awaiting the final title in this duology." —Booklist
"Baker’s vivid prose seamlessly blends Japanese mythology with a Victorian setting... An action-filled plot ensures that this debut rarely lags, and the relationship between Ren and Neven additionally infuses the duology opener with a core of warmth." —Publishers Weekly
"With themes of belonging, identity, family, and love, The Keeper of Night is a wickedly delightful read that perfectly blends a rich historical setting with magic and mystery." —The Nerd Daily
"With thought-provoking themes, masterful plotting, and compelling characters, The Keeper of Night is an intriguing and consuming YA fantasy." —YA Books Central
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FTC Guidelines: In accordance with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. If am compensated for any reviews on this site I will state that post has been sponsored.
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