Reaper of Souls

February 1, 2021
Arrah is back and saving the world in this sequel to Kingdom of Souls (2019). With the magic of multiple chieftains' kas coursing through her, Arrah is now the only person with the strength to release the Demon King, which means she must stay away from him lest this event trigger cataclysmic events. As Arrah attempts to make her way in a world still reeling from the actions of her deceased mother and sister, she's tormented by thoughts from the Demon King that infiltrate her mind. Added to this are surfacing memories of Dimma, the Unnamed orisha, that frighten Arrah because she does not know where they are coming from. Chapters shift in perspective between Arrah, her love interest, Rudjek, and Dimma's memories. The stakes are high with the fate of many hanging in the balance: Arrah, Rudjek, and their friends and allies faced incredible challenges in the previous book and also in this installment, but perhaps most terrifying of all is what Arrah must face within herself. This story, with its remarkably well-spun plot twists, will satisfy readers who crave realness in their fantasies and is a satisfying, fast-paced, and almost brutal sequel that sets the stage for the third book. Most human characters are Black; some people from the North (like Rudjek's mother) have light skin. Intense, raw, real, and sure to please. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)

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February 15, 2021
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* A tangled web of relationships defines this sequel to Kingdom of Souls (2019), as Arrah, Rudjek, and their comrades work to salvage what remains of the tribal lands that have been all but decimated by the Demon King and Efiya, Arrah's sister. In an effort to retaliate, Arrah has traded her years for power, giving her the magic of the five fallen tribal chieftains. Arrah's story is told alongside that of Rudjek, her lover and newly minted crown prince of the Almighty Kingdom, and Dimma, the Unnamed Goddess and soul mate of the Demon King, whose soul has been reincarnated within her. At first glance, readers will root for Arrah's triumph over the Demon King, but Barron complicates matters with Dimma's installments, adding depth to Arrah's once-steadfast resolve. While the first title might add context, readers need not shy away from starting with book two, as the romance, magic, and strategic diplomacy come at a pace that offers no time to look back. Slight incongruity of time lines can muddy the otherwise gripping narrative, and the unresolved ending ensures readers will hang on for the next installment. Hand this to lovers of kingdom fantasy and convoluted romance. It's sure to please.

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March 12, 2021

Gr 9 Up-This sequel drops readers back into the action as the cast contends with the fallout of the final battle in Kingdom of Souls, where Arrah triumphed over her power-hungry mother and half-demon sister but lost them both in the process. Now Arrah is back in the Kingdom, rife with powerful new magic-but she is mourning the witchdoctor tribes who were obliterated by the Demon King, and increasingly reluctant to take up the mantle of Ka-Priestess that her infamous mother left behind. Her impossible love, Prince Rudjek, is attempting to balance his feelings for Arrah with his duty to the crown, particularly to his manipulative vizier father whose fervor to ban all magic forces the couple apart. When she finds out there are survivors in the tribal lands, Arrah embarks on a quest while Rudjek makes a far worse discovery-the demon troops they thought they destroyed are simply biding their time in other worlds, and that time is quickly running out. Barron's vivid prose will enthrall; descriptions of Arrah communicating with the chieftains inside her to wield her ancestral magic are arresting. Absorbing fight scenes have a cinematic, and graphic, edge, pulling no punches when it comes to casualties. The narrative's perspective shifts among Arrah, Rudjek, and a mysterious storyteller known as the Unnamed Orisha whose emergence leads to a complicated love triangle. Most characters, including Arrah and Rudjek, are Black; Rudjek is described as having lighter brown skin. VERDICT A breakneck sequel that keeps pace with the first. Purchase the series for fans of rich YA fantasy with ample moral dilemmas, and a touch of forbidden romance.-Ashleigh Williams, School Library Journal

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