''Redemptor'' is a 2021

young adult In medicine and the social sciences, a young adult is generally a person in the years following adolescence, sometimes with some overlap. Definitions and opinions on what qualifies as a young adult vary, with works such as Erik Erikson's stages ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...

novel by Nigerian American writer Jordan Ifueko, published on August 17, 2021 by

Abrams Books Abrams, formerly Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (HNA), is an American publisher of art and illustrated books, children's books, and stationery. The enterprise is a subsidiary of the French publisher Média-Participations. Run by president and CEO Mar ...

. It is the sequel to '' Raybearer'' and the last book in the ''Raybearer'' duology.

Plot

Following the events of the previous book, Empress Tarisai forms her own council of eleven connected by the Ray and works as the High Lady Judge alongside Emperor Ekundayo while also trying to fulfill her promise of sacrificing herself to the Abiku by going to the Underworld to stop the death of 200 Redemptors as the Ojiji, spirits of dead Redemptor children begin to haunt her. Meanwhile, an activist called the Crocodile is turning the mind of peasants and miners away from the empire's noble class, which has thus far abused their authority under the empire. Tarisai must fight to rectify the past crimes of the empire while retaining her sanity.

Reception

The book received generally positive receptions from reviewers and readers. A review from ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus. The magazine's publisher, Kirkus Media, is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, no ...

'' called the novel “A strong and worthy successor that showcases the skill of a master worldbuilder.” A review from

NPR National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...

states that “Redemptor continues the breathtakingly beautiful tale of a young woman who is being torn apart by the responsibilities of being both empress and sacrifice”. Alex Brown in a review for '' Locus'' stated that “this is a series begging to be reread. Jordan Ifueko’s West African-influenced duology is one of the best YA fantasies I’ve read in a long time”. ''Buzzfeed'' named ''Redemptor'' one of the best books of August 2021, saying it was " mersive and gorgeously written."

Awards and Recognitions

Ignyte Awards The Ignyte Awards are an annual literary award for the best science fiction, fantasy, and horror works and achievements of the previous year. Established in 2020 by writers L. D. Lewis and Suzan Palumbo as an off-shoot of '' FIYAH Literary Mag ...

for Best Novel for Young Adult Fiction, shortlisted (2022) * Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book, finalist *

BSFA Award The BSFA Awards are literary awards presented annually since 1970 by the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) to honour works in the genre of science fiction. Nominees and winners are chosen based on a vote of BSFA members. More recently, m ...

for Best Book for Young Readers, nominee (2021) *

Andre Norton Award The Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction (formerly the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy) is an annual award presented by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) to the ...

, nominee (2022)

References

{{reflist Nigerian fantasy novels American fantasy novels American young adult novels 2021 fantasy novels 2021 Nigerian novels 2021 American novels American bildungsromans Literature by African-American women Abrams Books books