DECEMBER 2021 - AudioFile
Narrator Rebecca Yeo brings this YA fantasy to life with deft characterizations. Ren is a near-immortal being who collects the souls of the dead and walks among the living and the magical creatures of the world as she travels from England to Japan in search of her mother. The story includes characters from all around the globe, and Yeo delivers their accents and occasionally speaks in their languages with ease. In this way, she makes the novel feel real despite its fantasy premise. When the characters meet gods and demons, Yeo whispers and growls in all the right places. Yeo's narration is so good that listeners may be willing to overlook some aspects of the problematic plot. A.R.F. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
"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
School Library Journal
★ 11/01/2021
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 stepbrother 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, NY
DECEMBER 2021 - AudioFile
Narrator Rebecca Yeo brings this YA fantasy to life with deft characterizations. Ren is a near-immortal being who collects the souls of the dead and walks among the living and the magical creatures of the world as she travels from England to Japan in search of her mother. The story includes characters from all around the globe, and Yeo delivers their accents and occasionally speaks in their languages with ease. In this way, she makes the novel feel real despite its fantasy premise. When the characters meet gods and demons, Yeo whispers and growls in all the right places. Yeo's narration is so good that listeners may be willing to overlook some aspects of the problematic plot. A.R.F. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2021-09-01
A young Reaper in the late 19th century must prove her worth by slaying dangerous Japanese spirits.
Ren Scarborough was born half British and half Japanese Reaper (the latter called Shinigami) but has been living and collecting souls in London, England, for as long as she can remember. Her black hair and eyes make her stand out, leading other British Reapers to bully and abuse her. One day, her Shinigami powers—she can control light—rage out of control, forcing her to flee to Japan accompanied by the only individual who ever cared about her: Neven, her younger half brother. Seeking acceptance and a home, Ren and Neven descend into Yomi, the Japanese underworld. She is met there with resistance due to her foreign looks and must prove her worth. Aided by a handsome, exiled Shinigami who has a club foot, Ren must complete a near-impossible task by killing three murderous Yokai, or spirits, to earn her right to be accepted as a Shinigami. This dark historical fantasy seamlessly weaves Japanese folklore and magic into its storyline. Perfectly paced, it is filled with action, horrific death, mysterious motives, and raw emotions. Ren is complex and morally gray as she fights her way through a world of death and monsters. The story also touches on racism, ableism, self-acceptance, and finding one’s place in the world. The descriptive writing builds a highly immersive world for this duology opener.
Dark, gruesome—and absolutely captivating. (Historical fantasy. 13-18)
