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a_chickletz's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoy finding books written by authors who express their heritage and or religion through characters, giving new views and reflection for readers to relate. So when this book came out it didn't really chart on my radar but Book of the Month offered it for a discounted price so I thew it in with my choices.
Keeper of the Night is a complicated book. There is so much going on inside of it but the biggest and painful aspect that does not get to be truly explored is the magic. The magic aspect and the various 'death' guardians in various countries are just there on the page, no depth, no real interconnecting. At one point we have a 'death system' in place that we abandon of Japan. Just like that, before we really get to understand or explain what just happened in London we forget all about it except for some time pieces the characters carry.
The Japanese death hierarchy is a lot more interesting and developed, but still, it is confusing paired alongside characters that carry over from the previous country and their rules.
I liked the characters but I felt rather tired of them after a time.
The ending was the best bet because I didn't expect what would happen, however I felt that the heroine / main character got out of a situation only from the author withholding it and or not really making the issue clear to the reader. (Basically, a cheated win on paper.)
I don't think I'll be reading the second book. I give credit the author has ideas that she likes to explore and a very interesting take on religious fantasy, I just don't think as a published writer the book came out the way she wanted... or how she hoped the readers would intend.
Keeper of the Night is a complicated book. There is so much going on inside of it but the biggest and painful aspect that does not get to be truly explored is the magic. The magic aspect and the various 'death' guardians in various countries are just there on the page, no depth, no real interconnecting. At one point we have a 'death system' in place that we abandon of Japan. Just like that, before we really get to understand or explain what just happened in London we forget all about it except for some time pieces the characters carry.
The Japanese death hierarchy is a lot more interesting and developed, but still, it is confusing paired alongside characters that carry over from the previous country and their rules.
I liked the characters but I felt rather tired of them after a time.
The ending was the best bet because I didn't expect what would happen, however I felt that the heroine / main character got out of a situation only from the author withholding it and or not really making the issue clear to the reader. (Basically, a cheated win on paper.)
I don't think I'll be reading the second book. I give credit the author has ideas that she likes to explore and a very interesting take on religious fantasy, I just don't think as a published writer the book came out the way she wanted... or how she hoped the readers would intend.
jenpaul13's review against another edition
4.0
A collector of souls and servant of Death seeks to find a place for herself in a world that sees her only as other in Kylie Lee Baker’s The Keeper of Night.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Ren Scarborough is half British Reaper and half Japanese Shinigami, though in her centuries collecting souls in London she’s never been treated as a true Reaper, suffering from being disowned by her father and bullied by her peers. Neven, her younger brother, is the only person who loves and appreciates her. After an attack by a fellow Reaper where Ren’s Shinigami abilities with light places her in a dangerous situation, she flees to Japan, earlier and much less prepared than she anticipated, in search of the acceptance she’s long for. Accompanied by Neven on this journey, Ren enters the Japanese underworld to serve the Goddess of Death but finds that she’s still considered a foreigner and must prove her worthiness. Tasked with a seemingly impossible task to kill three dangerous and nearly invincible Yokai, and aided by a rejected Shinigami turned fishing god Hiro, Ren’s determination to earn respect and a true place for herself in the world shows her just how far she’s willing to go to claim her destiny.
With intriguing lore, rich mythology, descriptive writing, and a dark atmosphere, this story moves swiftly forward through bouts of action, with graphic violence, and reflection, drawing readers in from the start. While building up the world of Reapers and Shinigami slowly throughout the narrative, there are quite a few questions and inconsistencies that come to mind that aren’t well addressed, including why there is no mixing of the two groups (aside from the narrative friction and valuable social commentary it provides) and just how the “magic” functions – one such aspect that drew me out was around the enhanced Reaper hearing when Ren and Neven were able to escape London in the first place though they were barely obscured; yes, this is part of a duology, but these are big things to leave un- or barely addressed in the first installment. Though some of her decisions were frustrating in the rashness of them (and were so trope-y to be overly predictable), it was enjoyable to read about this morally gray character willing to act selfishly toward her own aims with little to no care of what others think of it.
Overall, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Ren Scarborough is half British Reaper and half Japanese Shinigami, though in her centuries collecting souls in London she’s never been treated as a true Reaper, suffering from being disowned by her father and bullied by her peers. Neven, her younger brother, is the only person who loves and appreciates her. After an attack by a fellow Reaper where Ren’s Shinigami abilities with light places her in a dangerous situation, she flees to Japan, earlier and much less prepared than she anticipated, in search of the acceptance she’s long for. Accompanied by Neven on this journey, Ren enters the Japanese underworld to serve the Goddess of Death but finds that she’s still considered a foreigner and must prove her worthiness. Tasked with a seemingly impossible task to kill three dangerous and nearly invincible Yokai, and aided by a rejected Shinigami turned fishing god Hiro, Ren’s determination to earn respect and a true place for herself in the world shows her just how far she’s willing to go to claim her destiny.
With intriguing lore, rich mythology, descriptive writing, and a dark atmosphere, this story moves swiftly forward through bouts of action, with graphic violence, and reflection, drawing readers in from the start. While building up the world of Reapers and Shinigami slowly throughout the narrative, there are quite a few questions and inconsistencies that come to mind that aren’t well addressed, including why there is no mixing of the two groups (aside from the narrative friction and valuable social commentary it provides) and just how the “magic” functions – one such aspect that drew me out was around the enhanced Reaper hearing when Ren and Neven were able to escape London in the first place though they were barely obscured; yes, this is part of a duology, but these are big things to leave un- or barely addressed in the first installment. Though some of her decisions were frustrating in the rashness of them (and were so trope-y to be overly predictable), it was enjoyable to read about this morally gray character willing to act selfishly toward her own aims with little to no care of what others think of it.
Overall, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
sargar114's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
hellaeon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
adinadwd's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, that was crazy. A dark, YA novel that contains Japanese mythology was intriguing to me and I don't regret picking this for my BOTM. Very action packed plot with a main character who is deeply, deeply flawed. I had problems with Ren towards the end, but she's really just reaping what she sowed.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and was hooked the entire time. With that ending, I'm excited for the second book!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and was hooked the entire time. With that ending, I'm excited for the second book!
simplysope's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly I see why people took issue with this book. I won’t lie, I throughly enjoyed it for what is was - a story about a girl who doesn’t fit in anywhere and what she’s willing to do to belong.
The Japanese mythology is deep and beautiful and artfully described.
People refer to Ren as morally grey but I think that’s lazy. She’s desperate, not grey. If you know what it’s like to not belong, you won’t be shocked at what she does to find her belonging. Whether that belonging includes murder or ruthlessness.
I knew Hiro was untrustworthy but I actually found myself shocked at the depth of his wickedness? Honestly I think Ren’s desperation acted as a shield, bc why can’t the reader see him clearly either? Even though her brother Neven never trusted Hiro, it was clear that he also didn’t understand his sister or her plight.
All she wanted was to belong and instead of internalizing that, he focused on what she did to achieve such belonging. Foolish. That’s how Neven ended up where he did, lol.
If you enjoy stories for what they are - a journey with characters that are imperfect bc that’s what we are? I think you’ll enjoy it, but I won’t fault you if you hate it like some of the low ratings it received.
The Japanese mythology is deep and beautiful and artfully described.
People refer to Ren as morally grey but I think that’s lazy. She’s desperate, not grey. If you know what it’s like to not belong, you won’t be shocked at what she does to find her belonging. Whether that belonging includes murder or ruthlessness.
I knew Hiro was untrustworthy but I actually found myself shocked at the depth of his wickedness? Honestly I think Ren’s desperation acted as a shield, bc why can’t the reader see him clearly either? Even though her brother Neven never trusted Hiro, it was clear that he also didn’t understand his sister or her plight.
All she wanted was to belong and instead of internalizing that, he focused on what she did to achieve such belonging. Foolish. That’s how Neven ended up where he did, lol.
If you enjoy stories for what they are - a journey with characters that are imperfect bc that’s what we are? I think you’ll enjoy it, but I won’t fault you if you hate it like some of the low ratings it received.
fezzik's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
oldmanbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The book started out a bit slow as the author was world building, got going around the middle, and by the end my jaw was on the floor in shock. I have read a lot of books in my life but very few a brutal, dark, and downright shocking as this.
It’s basically a tragedy told out in novel form.
It’s basically a tragedy told out in novel form.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death