Written by Jordan Ifueko
Published by Harry N. Abrams, August 2021
336 pages
Completed October 24, 2023
For the first time, an Empress Redemptor sits on Aritsar’s throne. To appease the sinister spirits of the dead, Tarisai must now anoint a council of her own, coming into her full power as a Raybearer. She must then descend into the Underworld, a sacrifice to end all future atrocities.
Tarisai is determined to survive. Or at least, that’s what she tells her increasingly distant circle of friends. Months into her shaky reign as empress, child spirits haunt her, demanding that she pay for past sins of the empire.
With the lives of her loved ones on the line, assassination attempts from unknown quarters, and a handsome new stranger she can’t quite trust . . . Tarisai fears the pressure may consume her. But in this finale to the Raybearer duology, Tarisai must learn whether to die for justice . . . or to live for it.
This was a great conclusion to the first story! I really enjoyed everything about Tarisai’s journey and her relationships with the various character. As with the previous book I do wish there had been more development of all of the council members. It would have made the book longer obviously, but we hardly got to know any of them besides a small core group. The way everything ends up being resolved is great.