Series Review: Raybearer

The Raybearer series by Jordan Ifueko is made of Raybearer, Redemptor, and the companion book The Maid and the Crocodile. It's a YA fantasy set in a secondary world inspired by Nigerian culture. I read The Maid and the Crocodile first, at the recommendation of my librarian friend. I liked the world and went back to read the other two, however I don't recommend this reading order, as The Maid and the Crocodile spoils all of the events from Raybearer and Redemptor.

Raybearer and Redemptor focus on Tarisai, a girl who can see peoples' pasts with a touch, but who was neglected by her mother and whose father was a magical creature most akin to a genie called an alagbato. Tarasai's mother wished Tarasai into existence in order to kill the crown prince. As prince, he chooses eleven children from around the empire to magically connect to him and help run the country when they become adults. Tarasai must fight the wish in her blood compelling her to kill the prince as they grow up together and she struggles to find her purpose. Redemptor continues Tarasai's adventures and focuses on the empire's annual sacrifice of children to angry spirits.
The Maid and the Crocodile focuses on Sade, a woman who can eat curses and sees manifestations of people's strong emotions. Sade becomes bound to the crocodile god, who plans revolution for the empire and must balance his demands with her new job curse eating for a fancy hotel. However, as he makes more demands, Sade realizes there's more to both of them than she thought.

These books are set in an interesting world with a unique magic system that I appreciated. I thought it was cool how magic often obligated people to each other, which I hadn't seen much of before. The Maid and the Crocodile also featured a disabled woman with vitiligo, and it read like pretty good representation as far as I can tell. While the characters' successes were predictable, the methods to get there were always interesting and kept me reading.

I don't have any major complaints, but I will say it's been a while since I read the books and they haven't stuck with me as much as I'd expected. There are moments that I can recall well, but nothing that burns in the back of my mind like my favorite books.
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This series is for you if you want Nigerian-inspired fantasy, unique magic systems, or fantasy politics. These books aren't for you if you aren't in the headspace to read about child neglect or sacrifice, if you want epic fantasy with big battles/lots of travel, or if you want adult main characters.


Have you read the books in the Raybearer world? What did you think? Let's discuss in the comments!