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Raybearer
by Jordan Ifueko
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Nothing is more important than loyalty. But what if you've sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy? 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.…
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"Raybearer fascinated me right from the beginning through its lyrical prose. Jordan Ifueko has a beautiful way with words and it was an absolute pleasure to read this book. Raybearer is about 16 year old Tarisai, hidden away from the world by her mysterious mother, The Lady. All her life Tarisai is trained and tested by tutors, preparing her for her life mission, which is to join the crown prince council of 12 members representing the 12 realms. When she discovers that her purpose is to kill the one person in the world she has sworn to love and protect, Tarisai embarks on a journey to find out the truth about herself. I was absolutely intrigued by the complex structure of Ifueko’s world-building and the enchanting mythical creation story of her world. Her characters and their relationships are deep and complex and very relatable. She included themes of belonging, and built in snippets of some wonderful West African customs like the griots, who are traditional storytellers. And she also included a theme close to my heart, which is the erasure of old traditions and cultures through new powerful ones. The ending of the book was breathtaking and I can hardly wait to finally read the sequel."
"This is Jordan Ifueko’s debut novel, but it reads like the work of a seasoned world-builder. Tarisai, raised in isolation by a mother she knows only as The Lady, goes to the capital city to compete with children from all over the country for a chance at being one of the crown prince’s magically bonded councilors. But The Lady has put a curse on Tarisai: She must gain the prince’s love, then kill him. (Fantasy can fall flat when the Big Bad is evil for pure evil’s sake – luckily, The Lady has a backstory that will punch you right in the feels.) Ifueko has created a rich, fresh, fully rounded world and a cast of characters to match; you’ll be on tenterhooks as Tarisai figures out how to balance destiny and compulsion, but her prince and her palace companions command equal attention."