I was so invested very quickly in this lush, spell-binding and completely original fantasy. I can't wait to read more!

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko is set in a world where people can be born with Hallows, a special skill, where the ruler has a council of eleven, and where ehru, djinn exist.

I've read the first 105 pages, and it was a really enjoyable YA fantasy.  Tarisai is a young girl, whose mother is called The Lady, and who only appears occasionally, and then will leave again without explanation.  Tarisiai is brought up in a palace, with none of the servants touching her as they don't want her to steal their memories. This is her Hallow.

When she turns 11, her mother comes to her with 2 guardians, and also shows her a picture of a boy that she wants her to kill.

I really enjoyed the part of the book that I've read, and I look forward to reading the rest of it in the future!

If you've enjoyed Children of Blood and Bone, then you should get a copy of this! 

 Raybearer  was published on 17th August 2020, and is available on  Amazon ,  Waterstones , and from  your local bookshop .

You can follow Jordan Ifueko on her  website ,  Twitter  and  Instagram .

I was given this extract in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Bonnier Books UK.

I read this extract last night and just lost myself in Tarasai’s story. Beautifully written and showing a lot of promise, this left me wanting more.

Solid start story/plot wise and if you enjoy this sampler 100% give the whole book a go.

Unfortunately the writing style is not for me and it kept me from being fully immersed. I might give the book another try in the future as I do really want to like this.

This book is going to be massive. I had the same feeling reading children of blood and bone last year. Shame I can’t read the whole book, I won’t fully know until then but a great start!!

Holy moly I need this book in my life already! I had the opportunity to read the first few chapters of this in March and loved it, now reading this promotional chapter of Part One of the story and I'm already predicting that this is going to be one of my five-star reads and probable favourites of the entire year!

Darkly delicious, full of magical, mythological stories and a female lead who is determined to chart her own path - what more could a fantasy loving girl need?! It's so hard to believe that this is a debut novel as it is highly polished with exquisite world-building and storytelling. I'm a huge fan of language, description and vocabulary and Ifueko seems to have hit this heavenly balance by mixing traditional African terms with old folktales whilst continuing to drive the story forwards at a welcome pace.

I am counting down the days until this beauty comes into the world so I can finish the rest of it and find out what happens to Tarisai, Dayo, Kirah and Sanjeet!

I don't usually read samplers, but I wanted to check out whether to preorder this book, so I thought I'd give this a go. It's a fascinating opening -- definitely enough to make me keen on preordering the book. It kind of surprised me how quickly stuff happened: some books would have lingered over that opening and the mysteriousness of the narrator's origins, and The Lady, but this one gives you a bit of kindling to fan the flames.

I didn't read too much, because I hate getting into a book only to get cut off, but I will probably pick this up when it comes out.

eARC Sampler provided by NetGalley , thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK. All opinions are my own.

There is 1010 pages in this sampler. I can tell this is going to be a popular YA fantasy pick of the year.

It's lush, dark , dangerous and different. It's like a wild animal pacing - I kept waiting for more and more strikes. It was poetic without being over the top, which I loved. The characters were interesting and it was different and imaginative.

It is however impossible to judge a book on less than a quarter of it, I will have to wait to read the full edition but I can say it was stunning debut launch sampler.

I really look forward to reading this book and I am so grateful to have gotten the sampler!

What a gripping start to a book. I have no preorder the finished book because I need to keep reading. Lucky it’s only a few day until it comes out. I think this book is one to go into blind because it is so beautifully written and captivating. I highly highly recommend picking a copy up especially if your a fan of Katherine ardens writing. 100% going to be a 5 out of 5 star.

What an amazing sampler!
I'm never much of a samplers lady, but this one got me hooked from page one.
Very excited to read on and see where this story leads us!

A good beginning of a new story. I am looking forward to the book's release. The cover art is beautiful.

Great sample! I'm very much looking forward to the book's release. The writing style feels fresh but at the same time immersive because there is something recognisable about it. The cover art is stunning.

A very strong opening to a novel that has me excited to continue reading and wishing I could already have a full copy in hand. I will definitely be picking up a copy upon release.

The story follows a young girl named Tarisai, the child of a mysterious and distant women known only as The Lady. She has grown up alone, knowing only her tutors while remaining isolated from her peers. She is sent to contend for a spot on the council of the Crown Prince of Aritsar - a council bound by a force called the Ray; a bond deeper than blood. The Council could provide Tarisai the warmth and love of a family she never had, but she is also compelled to obey her mother's wish: to kill the Crown Prince.

Ifueko's prose is stunning, vivid and engaging from the very first page and kept me gripped throughout the promotional sample. The world-building, particularly the setting of Aritsar and the magical-fantasy weaved around West African folklore is intriguing. From the very beginning you are drawn into an elaborate setting, with explanations of the world, its magic and its creatures delivered seamlessly without feeling like an information-dump with heavy-handed exposition. I am definitely excited to learn more about the intricacies of the world Ifueko has built as the story progresses.

Tarisai herself has a very distinct voice as the main character that I can already find myself connecting to and her primary dilemma has been set up incredibly well for the remainder of the book. She yearns for some kind of connection with others, having been denied love and warmth her whole life. Now, having finally been given the perfect opportunity to do so, she finds herself torn. I have found myself unable to wait to find out what happens next; to read and follow Tarisai as she finds the strength to carve her own path in light of her dilemma.

Overall, I definitely recommend anyone interested in young adult fantasy, particular those looking to diversify their reading habits, to pick up a copy of Raybearer when the novel is release. I for one will definitely be doing so!