Series: The Keeper of Night #1
Author: Kylie Lee Baker
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Released: October 12, 2021
Received: NetGalley
Warnings: Ableism, racism, cannibalism (mentioned), drowning, bullying

Have you heard of The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker? From the moment I saw that cover, I knew it was a book I needed to make time for. Spoiler – it’s worth it!

Ren Scarborough is half Japanese Shinigami and half British Reaper. Yes, it is exactly as complicated as it sounds, if not more so. It’s her job to wander the streets of London and collect the souls of the dead.

Unfortunately, Ren is despised by her fellow Reapers. Perhaps this is the reason why she was so willing to take a risk, as Ren is about to enter the underworld and serve the Goddess of Death.

“The world will fall silent and the Reaper will knock three times on your bedroom door.”

Oh my goodness! The Keeper of Night is every bit the striking and intense read I had hoped it would be. Ren’s journey is a powerful one, with plenty of highs and lows to keep readers interested. Okay, her very nature is enough to keep readers interested – everything else is just icing on the cake as far as I’m concerned.

Also, the vibes of The Keeper of Night are pretty brilliant, if I may say so. Kylie Lee Baker’s world and writing immediately pull the reader in, and it quickly becomes impossible not to root for Ren. No matter where you look, the odds are stacked against her. And yet, she keeps going. Gotta love it.

It’s probably worth mentioning that there are some more graphic elements to this tale – but I’m sure many people expect that. We’re talking about death in multiple forms, not to mention the inclusion of yōkai. It’s enough to keep most readers up at night!

I still can’t get over how much I love the core concept of this novel: a woman with mixed heritage, with both sides of her family dealing with death. It’s fascinating, and I already am counting down days for the sequel.

Thanks to Inkyard Press and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.