''Raybearer'' is a 2020

young adult A young adult is generally a person in the years following adolescence. Definitions and opinions on what qualifies as a young adult vary, with works such as Erik Erikson's stages of human development significantly influencing the definition of ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...

novel by

Nigerian American Nigerian Americans ( ig, Ṇ́dị́ Naìjíríyà n'Emerịkà; ha, Yan Najeriyar asalin Amurka; yo, Àwọn ọmọ Nàìjíríà Amẹ́ríkà) are an ethnic group of Americans who are of Nigerian ancestry. The number of Nigerian immigran ...

writer

Jordan Ifueko Jordan Ifueko (born August 16, 1993) is a Nigerian American writer of fantasy and young adult fiction. She is best known for her novel '' Raybearer'', which became a ''New York Times'' bestseller, and its sequel, ''Redemptor.'' She also writes sh ...

, published by Amulet Books. It is the first book in the ''Raybearer Series,'' In her

debut novel A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to p ...

, Ifueko creates a fantasy set in a world that draws from her Nigerian heritage and incorporates a twenty-first-century twist for her young adult audience. ''Raybearer'' is a

New York Times Bestseller ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. John Bear, ''The #1 New York Times Best Seller: intriguing facts about the 484 books that have been #1 New York Times ...

and has been lauded by media reviews. The book'','' published August 18, 2020 by

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, was influenced by Ifueko's knowledge of West African culture, and experiences as an American child of immigrants in California. A sequel, ''

Redemptor ''Redemptor'' is a 2021 young adult fantasy novel by Nigerian American writer Jordan Ifueko. It is the sequel to '' Raybearer'' and the last book in the Raybearer duology, it was published on 17 August 2021 by Abrams Books. Plot Set after t ...

'', was published August 17, 2021.

Synopsis

''Raybearer'' follows a young girl, Tarisai, who is bound by a magical wish made by her mother, who is absent and distant in Tarisai's early life. Tarisai has the ability to see the stories of other people's lives with a single touch, while her story unfolds and is yet to be seen. A part of her life is revealed to her when she discovers that her mother, known as The Lady, is human, while her father is an "alagbato," a magical being, and she was only conceived to fulfill her mother's evil wish to kill the Crown Prince. This all becomes convoluted when The Lady sends her to the city of Oluwan, the capital of the Aritsar Empire, and is welcomed into a group of other children who will train and compete to become one of the Crown Prince's closest confidants. In this newfound community, Tarisai learns and uncovers the secret histories of their world. This group of children will be trained to compete for a spot in the Crown Prince's Council of 11. If Tarisai is picked, she will be joined with the other members of a council through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. Tarisai does not want to be her mother's pawn, but she is compelled to obey her mother's wish. This novel is a test of Tarisai's strength to make her own path, or to succumb to that of her mother.

Television adaptation

In September 2021, it was announced that

Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...

will be adapting the novel into a television series, under a new overall deal with Gina Atwater. The project will be produced by Suger23 and Macro Television Studios with Atwater as writer, director and producer.

Reception

''Raybearer'' is a

and was named one of the best books of the year by

People Magazine ''People'' is an American weekly magazine that specializes in celebrity news and human-interest stories. It is published by Dotdash Meredith, a subsidiary of IAC (company), IAC. With a readership of 46.6 million adults in 2009, ''People ...

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Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

School Library Journal ''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with ...

, and

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of B ...

. The book has received many positive reviews.

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...

called the book "dazzling." Buzzfeed said it was "one of the most exceptional YA fantasies of all time." People Magazine said it was a "brilliantly conceived fantasy." Seventeen Magazine called it a "bold new world," and PopSugar lauded Ifueko's "exquisitely detailed world."

Awards and recognitions

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 of America (SFWA) to the ...

Nominee (2020) *

Kitschies The Kitschies are British literary prizes presented annually for "the year's most progressive, intelligent and entertaining works that contain elements of the speculative or fantastic" published in the United Kingdom. Awards and criteria The Ki ...

Golden Tentacle (Debut) Shortlist (2020) *

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Best Books in December 2020 * Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2020) * Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Debut Novel (2020) * BookNest Award Nominee for Best Debut Novel (2020) *

Association for Library Service to Children The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is a division of the American Library Association, and it is the world's largest organization dedicated to library service to children. Its members are concerned with creating a better future ...

's Notable Children's Books (2021) * American Library Association's (ALA) Top Ten

Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults The American Library Association's Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults, formerly Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults, is a recommendation list of audiobooks presented yearly by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) division. The Y ...

(2021) * ALA Top Ten

Best Fiction ''Best Fiction'' is the third greatest hits album by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro, and the final greatest hits release from Avex Trax, her record company since 1995. The release follows her two previous greatest hits albums, '' 181920'' ( ...

(2021) *

Ignyte Award 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 Suzan may refer to: * Suzan, Iran (disam ...

for Best Novel for Young Adult Fiction finalist (2021) *

Audie Award The Audie Awards (, rhymes with "gaudy"; abbreviated from ''audiobook''), or simply the Audies, are awards for achievement in spoken word, particularly audiobook narration and audiodrama performance, published in the United States of America. They ...

for Fantasy finalist (2021) *

Waterstones Children's Book Prize The Waterstones Children's Book Prize is an annual award given to a work of children's literature published during the previous year. First awarded in 2005, the purpose of the prize is "to uncover hidden talent in children's writing" and is there ...

for Older Readers Longlist (2021) * Lodestar Award Nominee (2021)

Sequel

A sequel titled ''

'' was published in August 2021. Buzzfeed named ''Redemptor'' one of the best books of August 2021, saying it was " mersive and gorgeously written."

Synopsis

Television adaptation

Reception

Awards and recognitions

Sequel

References

See also