Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Keeper of Night

Julie C. Dao called this 'a fantasy with teeth.' She didn't exaggerate. Part dark fantasy, part horror based on Japanese mythology, this book takes guts to read.

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just_cole's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Great story, disappointing tropes at the climax.

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atropea's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I just can't get past how I hated the main character from the start until the last word read.

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thesadhen's review against another edition

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adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

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adventurous dark sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

I have a lot of feelings about Ren and the story. As someone who is mixed race, I understand Ren to a certain point. Identity is difficult to navigate as is but when there is something as big as different cultures/races to navigate as well makes it like a billion times tougher. What irritated me so much about Ren was her selfishness and how focused she was on only being one aspect of her identity. You should never disown any aspect of yourself, all sides of your identity make you you and her adamantly denying her Reaper/white side was annoying. I've been there, told I'm not enough this or that because I'm mixed, constantly seen as other regardless of where I go, but I don't deny any sides of myself. Granted I wasn't bullied to the extent she was nor was I ever disowned by a parent so of course she harbored a lot more negative feelings towards one side of her heritage. But to constantly deny and hate on it when her brother was always there for her was annoying at best. Also didn't love how adamant Ren was that Japan was better/going to be better when it is just as bad with racism and xenophobia. Didn't love that she was more willing to take racism in hopes of being accepted there. Yes it's the motherland, and we all want to be accepted in the motherland, but at what point do we find self respect and accept they don't want us there either and find a place that will?
Also didn't really like the kind of random make out session in the middle of one of the quests. Really threw me out of the whole thing for that little bit.
I did really enjoy the world though, I'm a sucker for yokai, and I hope Ren will find what she is searching for in the next book because what she is searching for deserves much better. I will still be planning on reading the sequel just for the hope that things turn out positively and some reconciliation will be there.
I also love that this was written by a mixed race author so of course I'm biased to support. Overall liked the writing and story so I hope Ren is less agitating in the sequel.

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maralaene's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

I absolutely loved this world and the magic built into it. The concept of different types of soul collection and death magic across different cultures made for an amazing read. Plus I loved the idea of a mixed death-god race!

At times though, I will admit, Ren was not my favorite character. She felt naive and selfish - though she blatantly admitted this many times over.

My working theory is that whatever curse the Reapers placed on her with death was eating away at her compassion and essentially amplify the darkness. But who knows. Also - I don’t buy the love interest. Didn’t get it honestly.

But Neven - absolutely adored him. He truly loves unconditionally and I feel like that is something critical to the story that we don’t yet get to know.

And god I hope he hasn’t actually died. I’m sure the compassion he showed to the yokai will play a big role in the next book.

I can’t wait to keep reading and finish out the story.

✓ Dark Fantasy
✓ Japanese mythology
✓ Sibling bonds

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scrubsandbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

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thenovelbookshelf's review

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Ren Scarborough is half British Reaper and half Japanese Shinigami, for centuries she's been reaping the souls of London.

When she loses control of her Shinigami powers while being beaten and bullied for being a 'foreigner', she decides to flee everything that she has known, accompanied by her full reaper brother.

Ren must accept an impossible task to become accepted as a Shinigami by the Japanese Goddess of Death, along the way she must find out who she is and what she wants most.

A thrilling story that takes you on Ren's journey on Earth as well as the underworld. Beautiful and strong world building sets the scene for a fast paced fantasy filled with myths and legends of death around the world.

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