Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier: A Book Review
Genre: Fantasy
Lucier writes an epic story involving two newly combined kingdoms and a dark secret that threatens to tear them apart. Focusing on two side characters rather than the actual main characters, Lucier keeps the reader separate from the major dealings, but close enough that the reader is able to see the line. Its weird saying that the story focuses on side characters as typically the characters focused on in the story are the main ones. Year of the Reaper is different. Personally, I would say that the main characters are Queen Jehan and Ventillas because of the unseen thread that links the two to the plot. The characters that are focused on in the story, Cas and Lena, could vary or even not exist – someone else could do their roles in the story. For example: the Harry Potter series needs a Harry Potter; Romeo and Juliet needs a Romeo and Juliet; The Mortal Instruments needs a Jace and Clary; etc. HOWEVER: the Harry Potter series wouldn’t change very much if Harry had 1 friend instead of 2; Romeo and Juliet would end the same if Juliet didn’t have a nurse; Mortal Instruments wouldn’t come to a screeching halt if Alec died. The stories don’t rely on the side characters – the side characters help move it forward. This is what Cas and Lena do. They allow the reader to immerse themselves into the story and find out the end with them – creating a closer bond than if the two were the actual main characters. By Lucier doing this too though, Lucier also creates a massive amount of tension between the reader and the characters of Queen Jehan and Ventillas – an effect that adds so much to the story.
All in all – everything was more than perfectly done. I did not see any twist coming.
I do have one complaint though. I hope that Lucier plans to write a follow up for Cas and Lena. I would love to see if the two end up together and their interactions as they move forward from the events in Year of the Reaper.
Who would most enjoy the work and who should stay clear (if necessary):
Fantasy lovers, especially those that enjoy worlds with a royal dynamic
Those that enjoy a good mystery with no clues or thoughts, but a ton foreshadowing
Fans of good writing or unconventional writing
Other books like the one reviewed:
House of Dragons by Jessica Cluess
The Darkening by Sunya Mara
Gilded by Marissa Meyer
Dreans Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross
How I Magically Messed Up My Life if Four Freakin’ Days by Megan O’Russell
| Plot: | 10 / 10 |
| Characters: | 11 / 10 |
| Writing: | 11 / 10 |
| Editor: | 10 / 10 |
| Total | 42 / 40 |
Title: Year of the Reaper
Author: Makiia Lucier
Edition: First Hardcover
Published: 2021
Publisher: Clarion Books (HarperCollins)
ISBN: 9780358272090
If you want to get it: Amazon; Barnes&Noble
Rosey Reviews 