Blurb

In a world shaped by ancient bonds and secret schemes, Tarisai longs for true belonging after a lonely childhood with her distant, enigmatic mother. Sent to the capital to compete for a place on the Crown Prince’s Council of Eleven, Tarisai believes she’s finally found the family she’s always craved. But a dark command threatens everything: she’s magically bound to carry out a deadly task against the very prince she’s meant to protect—unless she can forge her own path.

The sequel sees Tarisai grappling with the lasting consequences of her choices and the fragile balance of power across the empire she’s come to cherish. As new loyalties emerge and old betrayals resurface, Tarisai must decide whether to break the cycle of violence or risk losing all she’s fought to hold dear. Brimming with rich cultural lore and heartfelt friendships, the Raybearer duology is a powerful exploration of self-determination, loyalty, and the resilience it takes to reshape destiny.

Review

The first time I came across Raybearer was on a bookish site where its snippet was promoted. Before then, my interest was already piqued. I was all about reading fantasy and was enamoured by stories that depicted strong Black girls and women in a genre that often had people of other backgrounds at the forefront since back then there were only a few such titles available. I remember reading the snippet and thinking, “I am going to love this story.” Now that it’s 2025, I’ve discovered even more brilliant works by Black authors, and it’s been so exciting to see the industry become more inclusive—though there’s still plenty of room for growth.

There was something about Tarisai that grabbed me right from the start. The way she wrestles with what the world expects from her versus what she wants for herself made me root for her so hard. I liked how fierce she was in staying true to her own values, no matter how difficult things became.

When I finished Raybearer, I thankfully didn’t have to wait for Redemptor. I dove straight into it, but then life got in the way. Still, my mind kept wandering back to the story, and I knew I had to finish what I started. Redemptor digs deeper into Tarisai’s personal struggles—and at times, I thought she was a bit too noble for her own good. By the end, though, I found it a good wrap-up that reminded me just how far she’d come since the first page of Raybearer.

I really enjoyed her friendships in the Council. Their found-family dynamic felt so genuine: they bicker, they make mistakes, but they always have each other’s backs. Tarisai’s friendship with Kirah was especially sweet, and while I didn’t always warm up to Sanjeet, I could see why they clicked. I’m the kind of reader who’s here for that good found-family vibe, so watching them grow into this tight-knit group was a highlight.

The second book does slow down in places, mainly because there’s a lot more political manoeuvring and buildup to a big ceremony. But I think it was done on purpose—to highlight how broken the empire really was, and how out of touch the people at the top can be.

To be honest, the mother-daughter dynamic in these books was the part that really stuck with me. I won’t say too much about The Lady or her motivations, because that might give too much away. Let’s just say their relationship is complicated, and some people in the real world never grow out of certain ways, so I appreciated how the story didn’t sugar-coat that reality.

Overall, there’s depth in this duology without it feeling forced, and the characters feel real rather than just set pieces in a pretty world. If you love strong heroines, real camaraderie, and a fantasy setting that’s immersive but not overwhelming, you’ll probably enjoy these books. They’re a solid escape that’ll have you cheering for a main character who refuses to settle.

A fun fact: I met Jordan Ifueko at the Ake Festival, where she signed my copies of Raybearer and Redemptor, then gave me The Maid and the Crocodile. Meeting her was such a cool experience, and she was every bit as warm and kind as I’d hoped.

I’ll definitely be reading The Maid and the Crocodile soon, and I’ll always be on the lookout for whatever Jordan Ifueko writes next. I have a feeling she’s going to keep giving us amazing stories that linger even after we turn the last page.

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