Behold the Saviour Empress in Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko
From 12A prepare Tarisai for her greatest challenge.
Criticisms
While I loved this conclusion of the Raybearer storyline, Redemptor was not a flawless book. Ifueko noted that she wrote Raybearer over 12 years but churned out Redemptor in just nine months. I still love Redemptor, and it is a good book, but I genuinely wish that Ifueko had a little more time to work on this one.
My biggest criticism is that there were some scenes that felt cluttered. Since there is almost always a council of 11 accompanying the Raybearer, and with two of them in the book, crowded scenes felt even denser, particularly when the action picked up or there were speaking roles involved. When some of the talk shifted to Ray channels, or when servants were introduced, some of the bigger scenes felt a little overwhelming at times.
I can imagine it was difficult for Ifueko to write these scenes and keep track of everything. She did a good job, all things considered, but it still felt a little bit off at times.
Another issue I had with the book was that some things were inconsistent across the books. The most notable of this was the way the ray protects its bearers from piercing damage. Back in Raybearer, there were two important scenes that demonstrated the damage barrier the Ray creates around its bearer, and how this barrier interacts with weapons. This process changed in Redemptor, and it was a little jarring for me, especially since has implications on how a Raybearer’s body works. I’m not sure if this change was a mistake or a deliberate change but it was odd.
Lastly, I honestly wish that this series wasn’t just a duology. I really wanted to see more of the world, and given how the story ends, I also want to see what the new generation of Raybearers will be like and what challenges they will face with this new world order. If Ifueko decides to return to this world in the future, I will be grabbing those books. If not, I genuinely hope that her fans make something more out of this world.
Conclusion
I think Redemptor was a good end for this duology. Not only do we understand the political systems and even the underworld-overworld relationship a bit better, but we also get a lot of closure on the fates of characters and even consequences of events leading in from Raybearer.
I also appreciate its pro-mental health and self-care themes, amid all the darkness and chaos of the world. I am proud of Ifueko for pumping out this sequel in just a few months, and while I am bummed about some of the inconsistencies, and the fact that we didn’t see more of the Arit empire, I still enjoyed this book and I’m happy to have been introduced to this world last year. It is truly a gift that keeps on giving, with the richness of its lore, and characters who explore their ideas of justice, personal satisfaction, love, and grief.
If you have any teens in your life, the Raybearer duology would make a perfect gift for this Christmas. It is truly wonderful.
Interested in these books? Scan the code below to read excerpts from both Raybearer and Redemptor! You can also find a link to her short stories, which are free!