Cas has finally come home, three years after his capture and imprisonment by the enemy. But home no longer looks the same. Everywhere has been ravaged by the Plague that devastated the world, leaving no one untouched by its horrors. The war is over as well, and the king has married the daughter of his enemy—and they are celebrating the name day of their son when Cas arrives to his home city and disrupts an assassination attempt. Honored by his king and returned to his noble status, Cas finds himself neck-deep in a conspiracy to attack the queen and her newborn child…a conspiracy with roots that could threaten the very foundations of the fragile peace.

“Oh, I do think [you’re mad],” she assured him, and Cas smiled. “But this past year…I wonder if we’ve all gone mad, just a little bit.”

Ever read one of those books where the first few pages hit you across the face, but in a good way?

This is the book.

This felt very much like a young adult version of The Curse of Chalion meets a Certain fairy-tale retelling by way of 2020, in that a young man recently escaped from the prison of his enemy returns home after being thought for dead, immediately foils an attempted assassination against his king’s newborn son, and stumbles into a mystery that threatens the peace between his kingdom and that of his enemy. Oh, and the young man can see the dead.

The seeing the dead part was underutilized IMO, but I didn’t mind. It was such a light touch, so well done, to show how Cas was literally haunted. It’s not easy to write a character like Cas, and I loved how he was portrayed and written, and how his motivations were shown instead of told. You never quite get into his head, but you are in his head through his actions. He’s a very quiet character, and recovering from an awful lot, and highly intelligent, and…literally haunted. PTSD is a bitch, even in a world where literally everyone is suffering from some version of it. Throughout it all, however, he has retained his soul.

The writing is superb, the world-building was incredible (the food, the descriptions of the cities), the relationships of the people who were beside themselves over the return of their beloved lordling (COOK!!!!!), and the way the slow recovery from a decades’ long war and even worse plague were handled was just *chef’s kiss*

Holy shit, and Cas and Lena’s relationship, and, quite literally, the relationships of everyone with each other.

“Loss is a part of life, my lord Cassiapeus, and grief is constant. It is unbearable at first. Then you find you can indeed bear it. Over and over again. As many times as necessary.”

I was in tears for something like 80% of the book. How heartbreaking, and heartwarming and just. I dunno. It’s so, so good, even if the murder mystery aspect of it was fairly simple. But even though the “twist” is easy to find (I can’t say the fairy tale because it would reveal the twist, but I will say that it’s not one of the Big Three—not Cinderella, or Little Red Riding Hood or Beauty & the Beast—but that it is a very popular one that is hard to do well), the way Lucier wrote it made my heart catch as all of the implications were so emotionally engaged.

This is a world that has pivoted from dealing with one mass tragedy (a decades’ long war) into another (a brutal plague), where the slow-burn hurts of the previous tragedy were overshadowed by the up-ending trauma of the recent one. In the midst of the mystery are people coming to terms with and recovering from both tragedies, and the way the scars have engrained themselves into society (and the backlash reactions) and what people do to survive were very well done.

My only (very minor) gripes are the marketing, the title and the cover.

I don’t think this should be YA.

It has an adult feel to it, although I can see why it was marketed as YA instead of Adult, and not just because the characters are young. Also, the title and the cover and the blurb made me feel like I was stepping into a war-like book, when it’s not warlike—it’s violent and brutal and filled with death, but this is about the aftermath of war and death and plague, and what comes next. So the cover—as hilarious as it is, when I figured out what it’s supposed to depict—felt a little mismarketed.

Anywho, my one last minor gripe is that I NEED AN EPILOGUE!

Preferably set five years into the future, on that day. IYKYK.

Overall, however, this is just an incredible book, and I am so honored to have been granted an advance copy.

“We are not promised a long life, Cassia. Just a life. Take what happiness you can. Hold tight to it.”

Trigger Warning: dismemberment, torture/imprisonment, attempted murder, death by fire, graphic death, starvation of a child, plague/pandemic, war

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review

Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier is a brutal YA fantasy mystery that's worth every crazy second. It reeled me right in trying to work my way through the central mystery as well as jumping feet first into the world the cast of characters inhabit. I will admit though that reading a book set after a plague is odd, but honestly right now seeing anything fictional plague related has been weirdly jarring more than ever before. Anyway, I don't want to say a whole lot more because I don't want to spoil the twists and turns, but if you like your YA fantasy on the bloody side you're going to have to look into this standalone novel. I really ought to read the more from this author soon.

When I started the book, I thought "oh I think I know A Big Thing™!" and felt so proud of myself. Reader, I did not. Well- I did, but it was hardly the Big Thing™, because the author had so, so much more in store for us! I love me a plague book, so I was eager to pick this up. I loved that it took place mostly after the plague (with some remnants here and there, which made it wholly believable), but of course (as we all well know) things don't just perk back up after illness sweeps the land.

Now, the survivors are left to clean up the mess, in every way you can imagine. I really enjoyed Cas's character, he was likable and sympathetic. He's clearly missed a lot during the past three years, and he sees that the world has moved on in his absence. Now, there is a killer afoot, and a big ol' mystery to solve- and lots of people to protect. The problem is, one can never be sure who they can trust.

I really want to keep this vague and brief, since the mysteries and secrets of the characters are, in my opinion, the best parts of the story. Frankly, the book was just downright entertaining, and I was excited to keep reading it, and deeply invested in the outcome. And, I genuinely enjoyed the characters and going on this journey with them.

Bottom Line: Great characters and a lot of exciting secrets and mysteries made this one a win!

This was such a unique and beautifully written stand alone fantasy perfect for those who love books that involve quests, mysteries, thrills, a dash of romance, and self discovery.
This book follows a male protagonist and it was honestly so refreshing reading from a POV from a male in a fantasy because far too often the MCs of fantasies are female characters… his growth and development was very unique and seeing him overcome his hardships made me a bit emotional. The portrayal of PTSD was very well done I felt like I was in his shoes and he’s also just a wholesome character that you cannot help but root for every step of the way
The writing style was beautiful and gripping, we are thrown in the midst of a deadly plague and we see firsthand the devastation and loss it brought to he people and the kingdom
Our main character Cas was thrown into a brutal prison after being ambushed by enemy soldiers. In addition, once the plague hit, Cas was not safe. He endured being treated horribly and succumbing to sickness whilst also bearing witness to devastating loss and death.
Three years later, Cas begins his journey back home where he can finally move on from all the horrible tragedies he endured, but on his way he meets a fiery girl named Lena who is more than anyone bargained for.
Once home, Cas realizes that the enemy is living in the castle. However, when a mysterious assassin starts targeting those closest to the queen, Lena and Cas team up to unravel the mystery and catch the killer before they lose those they love. The mystery aspect of this story was brilliant and I loved putting my detective hat on and the twists and turns along the way were fantastic, Overall, this was a gripping and beautifully written story that I highly recommend.

This was such a refreshing and gripping read. A standalone YA novel with a haunted male protagonist that I quite literally tore through. Cas has been away from his family home for over three years, in the midst of a terrible plague and war. He returns, after having his horse stolen by a young woman, during seemingly more peaceful times to find King Rayan and his new bride staying in his home. There is deception aplenty and a wonderful mystery for Cas and Lena to solve.
Cas's PTSD is dealt with fantastically. He's a wonderful character with depth, his experiences have created a character who seems so much older than his 18 years. I wish more had been made of his ability to see the dead. This seemed a bit underdeveloped in my opinion. The rest of the characters are all brilliantly rendered and leap of the page. I devoured this book in two days. It's a brilliant novel and I almost wish it had been longer.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an e-arc of this novel.

Cassia wants nothing more than to return home to his castle and family in the mountains. Though he used to be an engineer’s apprentice, many things have changed since the Plague hit. It ripped through the kingdom, tearing its people apart and stealing innumerable lives. Once Cas finally arrives home, he realizes it is not the same place he left behind. The King, Queen, and the whole royal court have escaped there and brought a myriad of troubles with them. On the day of the newborn Prince’s naming ceremony, an assassin targets the Queen, spurring Cas into a mission to discover who could be behind such an attack. Along with a dazzling and optimistic historian named Lena, Cas uncovers a shocking mystery, one that is sure to rock his kingdom to the very core.

Makiia Lucier’s stand-alone novel, Year of the Reaper, is everything a YA fantasy should be. The book was full of interesting worldbuilding, relatable characters, and complex relationships. On top of all of that, the mystery is so gripping and fast-paced that I could barely put the book down. The main character, Cas, is one that I instantly connected with. He has so many traits that readers should get to see in characters: he is fiercely loyal to those he loves, and he deals with extremely prevalent issues such as grief and trauma. Throughout the novel, readers watch as Cas learns to experience joy and life, even after years riddled with sorrow and pain. Cas’ relationship with his brother Ventillas was one of the best parts of the book. It added an element of love that made the novel even more compelling and genuine. Readers of Year of the Reaper will undoubtedly enjoy Lucier’s mysterious, dark fantasy novel because it’s a captivating story, and its compelling characters make it a wonderful addition to any bookshelf.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

[This book contains graphic depictions of violence, assassination attempts, murder, descriptions of corpses, serious illness/epidemic, prison labor, xenophobic violence, and references to medical torture.]

I loved Makiia Lucier’s Tower of Winds duology, so I was thrilled when I found out she had another historical fantasy (standalone, this time) coming out this year. I’ll admit I was a bit hesitant to read YEAR OF THE REAPER considering our current pandemic, but fortunately, the plague in REAPER is much closer to the bubonic plague than it is to COVID-19. It’s also largely over, in the sense that the cast doesn’t have to deal with any active/ongoing outbreaks in the present.

It’s also not over, and that’s one of the things I love most about the book. The plague (and the war before it) had huge, sweeping affects in the world of REAPER. On a national level, the king retreated to a mountain stronghold to avoid the worst of the plague, and on the personal level, many characters lost some, if not all, of their family. Cas himself is a survivor of the plague—and can now see ghosts. There are bridges without toll collectors and castles without owners, and the world is filled with the survivors and their grief.

Despite the losses that haunt virtually every corner of REAPER, the world and characters are rich and well developed. I have a tremendous weakness for “coming home” stories, and Cas’s was especially moving. Lucier is very good at writing quiet moments that nonetheless rip your heart out. Lena was also a great character, and I appreciated her cleverness and her determination to live up to her grandfather’s legacy as a royal historian. It was thanks to her that many significant advancements in the plot could be made, and I was incredibly fond of her. Cas and Lena’s friendship—and then romance—was rather sweet. I appreciated how they grew to respect and trust one another even as they started to doubt the people around them.

As for the mystery itself, genre-savvy readers will have a fair chance at guessing the main twist, even if some of the finer details end up being a (gut-wrenching) surprise. Cas and Lena’s investigation into the mysterious assassin and their motivations are incredibly enjoyable to read. Lucier does a great job with the pacing and the many plots that have to be juggled. She deftly interweaves politics with personal feelings and motivations, which makes for an incredibly engaging read.

Recommendation: Get it now, especially if you love historical fantasy. YEAR OF THE REAPER is a fantastic novel about loss and grief and the decisions survivors have to make and then live with. I finished REAPER in one sitting, cried twice, and hope to get the chance to reread it soon.

Thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for this advanced reader's copy to review! This is a well done stand alone fantasy novel that is a quick read with memorable characters. I would have liked it if the author explored some things a little more, such as the twist, and why Cas could see and talk to ghosts, however, overall I really enjoyed this book and found myself not able to put the book down once I got into it. Don't be fooled by the cover either, as it doesn't seem to fit with the feel of the book, imo. Great for those getting into teen fantasy without wanting to read something that's 500 pages long.

What a ride. This is more of an adventure, mystery-type fantasy than it is one with intense worldbuilding. Which 100% makes sense for a standalone, and kept me really engaged, but I would consider this more of a historical fiction with light fantasy elements, maybe. Cas is returning to his home after three years being kidnapped and tortured by a rival kingdom. He has also had the plague that is sweeping the lands, and somehow survived. His nearness to death, however, seems to have left him with a little souvenir: he can now see the spirits of the dead. On his journey home, he encounters a woman who steals his horse, who turns out to be the king's sister Lena. Upon his return to the town, before even getting to his house, he comes upon a naming ceremony for the new prince, which is interrupted when an archer takes aim at the nurse holding the prince, sending them both plunging into the nearby lake. Cas rescues them both, and is thanked profusely while also being heartily welcomed home. The ensuing adventure is the search for the person who might have wanted to harm the young prince, with a touch of romance between Cas and Lena on the way.

This was so much fun, and that's not something I expected to say about a book centered around a society coping after a massive plague. There's definitely some more tough-to-read moments in here, specifically in relation to the plague and to violence, but it was so propulsive and engaging. I think the mystery might be easy to discern for people who read mysteries often, but the journey to get there created plenty of intrigue and anguish, and that's really my bar. I really liked the inclusion of Cas's spirit seeing, as I think it added a really interesting element and created some interesting plot development opportunities. I loved the relationship between Cas and his older brother, it was really sweet but also very realistic to older sibling/younger sibling dynamics.

I do think the cover and title were maybe a bit off in portraying what the tone and feel of this book was going to be, though obviously I still had a great time with it.

CW: past torture, death, violence/gore, pandemic/illness, amputation, medical experimentation (including a forced hysterectomy)

With Cas returning home after being imprisoned and presumed dead for so many years, this description gave me The Count of Monte Cristo vibes. I also liked that it’s a standalone.

This book sneaked up and put a bear hug on me. With characters I loved and others I loved to hate and the mystery of who was behind the attacks, I wanted to plow through it in one sitting. After three years of prison beatings and torture, surviving the plague, and witnessing so much death, Cas has a dark side to him. He’s not the person who disappeared three years ago, and his struggle to control that part of him is a challenge. I immediately liked Lena. She’s disguised as a royal messenger and steals Cas’s horse the first time they meet. She loves books and isn’t a fan of the rule requiring her to be in the company of male escorts/chaperones most of the time. I’m always a fan of rebellious characters.

The mystery of the assassin is full of red herrings and plot twists that lead Cas and Lena on a perplexing journey. It kept me guessing, but by the big reveal (and it’s a good one), I’d guessed the culprit. There’s a paranormal element I didn’t expect, but it adds a nice angle to the story. The supporting cast is also strong, but Bittor is a standout for me with his humorous lines and big heart.

Although the story is complete without it, I’d hoped for an epilogue set five years in the future, but I won’t go into detail about that date – no spoilers. With compelling characters, a gripping mystery, paranormal flair, and a sprinkling of humor, Year of the Reaper enthralled me from beginning to end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Even though it’s a historical fantasy, this novel is really of the moment, as it deals with people struggling in the aftermath of an outbreak of the plague that caused mass deaths. It’s all about coping with the trauma of what happened and laying the ghosts of the past to rest in order to move forward.

For most of the characters, the ghosts are metaphorical, but for the main character, Cas, they are quite literal. A nobleman held in brutal conditions for years after being captured by enemy soldiers, Cas managed to survive becoming ill with the plague as a prisoner, although he somehow developed an ability to communicate with the dead. Determined to ignore his new “gift,” Cas returns home hoping to find peace. Mostly what he finds are changes, however. Many are due to the plague, but one rather unwelcome change is that his new queen is the princess of the country where Cas was imprisoned, a marriage made to seal the peace treaty ending their decades-long war. When a murderer begins to target people connected to the queen, which includes Cas’s beloved brother, Cas becomes caught up in the hunt for the killer.

The mystery of the killer’s identity and motives was interesting, although I guessed the big twist before the reveal, but what kept me reading was Cas’s journey. At one point, Cas observes, “I am sick to death of death,” and rightfully so, given everything he’s experienced both as a captive and as a survivor of the plague. (The author doesn’t shy away from showing horrors to the reader, either; this is a book where a character gets his hand chopped off at the dinner table.) Cas is damaged but strong, and he eventually heals enough to forge a new life, which includes a gentle romance with the king’s sister. Given the state of the world right now, following a character through recovery after a pandemic felt rather cathartic to me.

I did think the story could have been developed more in a few areas. For example, Cas’s unusual ability to see the dead seemed like it should have had some important purpose or maybe serve to complicate the storyline somehow. Instead, the ghosts mostly just move the plot along by providing information to Cas. Also, after all the mayhem, the way the murderer was ultimately stopped felt a little anticlimactic, since it was mostly by accident. I wanted more of an accounting for their crimes, which are unjustified even if they are triggered by the killer’s own macabre ordeal during the outbreak.

All in all, though, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to readers of YA fantasy who aren’t squeamish or put off by the idea of reading about a pandemic.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

This was my first Makiia Lucier book but it is absolutely not going to be my last. *Year of the Reaper* is a delight, a solid addition to the fantasy genre with a tightly plotted storyline, complex characters, and the kind of world building that looks effortless. It's also a standalone with a solid feeling conclusion, something I feel is often missing from fantasy.

Our main character was such an interesting choice, and once I got over the fact that the main character shares a name with my spouse (Cas) I really think he made the story what it is. While I think Lena would have been a more traditional choice, Lucier's decision made *Year of the Reaper* a super unique YA fantasy.

I really loved the way the characters grew in this book. I think Cas in particular had a quite definable arc and you could track his growth. By the last page he felt like a different character than the one we met in chapter one, and it was enjoyable to notice.

I mentioned early that this book was tightly plotted, and I truly believe it is. Watching the events of this book unfold felt a bit like putting together a puzzle. New pieces were revealed randomly and you didn't get a full idea of exactly what was going on until it was staring you right in the face. The foreshadowing was spectacular, looking back there were so many hints to the big twist but I still did not figure out what it was until the characters themselves were finding out.

The world building was really cool. I loved the historical bits that were weaved in, and the plague itself seemed pretty heavily inspired by the Bubonic Plague which I actually liked as a lot of fantasy plague books try to make up their own and end up with a hodge podge of the worst things the author could think to happen. I do believe we could have explored the kingdom in and of itself a bit more, I think it could have been a bit more detailed, but overall it wasn't confusing or discordant, it just felt a smidge underdeveloped.

Side characters can make or break a book in my opinion, but I think the side characters of *Year of the Reaper* added to the story. Lena in particular was a driving force in some of the discoveries Cas makes along the way, and watching Cas reconnect with this older brother was sometimes honestly heartbreaking. I loved the interconnect web of characters that often clash with each other just by nature of their personalites.

If you like books with unique protagonists, puzzles for plot points, and genuinely shocking twists, I highly recommend you pick up *Year of the Reaper.*

I received an ARC of Year of the Reaper from Clarion Books in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t know what to expect from Year of the Reaper. I had never read anything by Makiia Lucier before, but I am always eager to find out what an unfamiliar author has to offer, and it was difficult to resist the lure of that hypnotic cover. I was delighted to discover that it is an exceptionally excellent book, so excellent that it ranks among the best books I read this year.

Year of the Reaper has the supreme misfortune of being published a week before Steven Erikson’s new Malazan novel, The God Is Not Willing, releases in the US—and while that is also an exceptionally excellent book, it is coming from a titan in the fantasy community, and I hope it doesn’t overshadow Year of the Reaper. This standalone YA fantasy is a satisfying mystery and an intimate character study wrapped in a fully-realized world; I was startled by how much I loved it, and I can’t wait to read everything Lucier writes. Don’t miss this gem of a novel.

Year of the Reaper concerns Lord Cassiapeus, or “Cas,” who is returning home in the wake of a devastating plague after three years of imprisonment in a foreign kingdom. Peace has finally settled after a princess from the kingdom which imprisoned Cas married the king of his own. But his home is not as he left it—the king and queen are staying with Cas’ brother Ventillas, and on the day of his arrival, Cas saves the queen’s newborn child from an attempted assassination.

You’ll be able to guess the identity of the assassin fairly quickly thanks to clues smartly laid down by Lucier, but this is a story where “why” is much more interesting than “who.” I was deeply satisfied by the progression of and resolution to the mystery plotline; it captures the nuances of relationships and trauma, and the stakes strike an elegant balance between the micro/personal and the macro/political. Characters do things in this book that have ramifications for entire kingdoms, but there are no mustache-twirling villains or heroes charging gloriously into battle. These are people motivated by love, lust, fear, greed, loyalty, and heartbreak—they are not fighting to save or destroy the world, they are fighting to find their place in it.

The heart of this book, though, belongs to Cas; he is one of the most refreshing fantasy characters I’ve read in ages, and Year of the Reaper is first and foremost the story of how he reckons with the trauma of his imprisonment and reacclimates to a home which no longer feels like home. The scope of the story is relatively small, but it feels big because Lucier so effectively invests you in Cas and the characters around him. The cast is surprisingly robust for a standalone fantasy, and the rate at which you will be introduced to new characters can feel overwhelming at times—on the other hand, no character feels extraneous or underdeveloped. The roles they play in the story may not be large, but they provide the world with a sense of density and texture.

I don’t want to spoil the specifics, but there are three scenes in this book which will stay with me for a long time: one in which a character destroys a representation of their own legacy, one in which a character’s sexuality is slowly and subtly revealed (without ever being explicitly stated in the text), and one in which a character gets a haircut. All three scenes exhibit remarkable grace and tenderness, with an attentiveness to the intricacies of character few authors can muster. You may be familiar with Howard Hawks’ definition of a good movie—three great scenes, no bad ones. Turns out it works for books, too, and Year of the Reaper embodies those criteria.

I don’t have any major criticisms. The ending feels just a tad rushed and a touch too saccharine for my taste, but that’s an inconsequence nitpick in light of how dang good this book is. Lucier’s prose is crisp and clean, evocative without becoming overly lush, and her storytelling is firing on all cylinders here. This is one of those rare novels that reminds you how good books can be; I want to run up to random people on the street, shove it into their hands, and say, “Read this.”

Seriously. Read it.

Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy a good stand alone novel and this was a perfect read.

For three years, Cas was imprisoned and left to die from the plague. Only, he somehow survived. When he finally returns home, it is to an entirely new situation. King Rayan is living in his home with his new wife, Queen Jehan. The two married to create peace between the Oliverans and Brisans. Cas makes a grand entrance when he saves the Queen's newborn son from drowning in the water after an arrow was shot and killed the baby's nurse. Once the King and town realize who Cas is, he is welcomed back with open arms and made to feel at home again. But Cas feels anything but at home with three years of his life missing and royalty living in his quarters. When another person close to the queen killed, Case suspects that someone is unhappy with the marriage between Queen Jehan and King Rayan. With the help of a young and stubborn historian, Lena, Cas finds himself in search of the killer. The more he searches, the less it matters who the assassin is killing and more about why they are killing.

I loved Cas as a character. He has a strong sense of right and wrong. He is also fiercely loyal to his brother, even when he doesn't deserve it. Cas is honest with King Rayan and earns his trust. The King comes to rely on Cas for information and to do what is in the best interest of the kingdom. The paranormal element of the book comes from the fact that Cas has the ability to see the spirits of the dead who have not moved on. It was an interesting aspect of the story, and I loved the premise of it. I just wish it felt more necessary to the plot. It wasn't like Cas needed the ghosts to help him track down the killer. The ghosts were remnants of a past that was destroyed by the plague. They told their own stories. Even the final spirit he saw, didn't necessarily help Cas with understanding and finding the assassin. I think there was a missed opportunity to do more with Cas' ability.

Lena was an amazing female character. She was smart, kind, compassionate, and fierce in her love and passion for history. I loved the good natured humor of her relationship with Cas and how understanding she was of his past and the things that haunted him.

I thought the pacing of the story was well done and there weren't any points that dragged on. I did not expect who the assassin was, and when I found, it made the story that much more likeable. It was a really well done story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Clarion for providing me an e-ARC to review!

While the title and the cover are definitely intriguing, I don't think they really reflect the contents of this book. It's leans more adventure than dark fantasy, and there's not really much (any) reaping happening!

I liked our main character Cas, but just wished we got to go a bit deeper with his character, which is kind of similar to my thoughts about the rest of the book. It didn't quite get dark, and the mystery had stakes that then felt like they were forgotten about by the end of the book. I also wish that we had been able to see more of Cas learning to trust and open up to Lena, but instead it feels like we're told rather than shown his reservations and they grew very close very quickly. I did like where their relationship went at the end of the book though! There's also a supernatural element that was interesting but never really properly explained, especially as there doesn't seem to be any other people with special abilities like Cas'. There was a good twist near the end, and I really enjoyed the post-plague setting, but this definitely feels like a dark-ish adventure for younger YA readers and could have given a bit more with a higher age-range.

I really enjoyed reading Year of the Reaper! It is a strong standalone YA fantasy with a historical feel, drawing inspiration from the Black Plague and medieval Spain. It is a story about how to move on and heal after great collective tragedy, which I found very comforting in the current climate. But it's also a murder mystery with atmospheric settings, action scenes, sibling relationships, and a little bit of love. Cas, the main character, leads us seamlessly through all these adventures right to a completely satisfying conclusion. This was my first read from author Makiia Lucier, but it certainly won't be my last. I'm excited to delve into her previous titles, and to keep an eye out for her next release!

Buy, Borrow, or Bypass: If any of the story elements I listed above appeal to you, then you have to read Year of the Reaper. Though I don't tend to reread standalones as much as I might reread series, I enjoyed this one enough that I can picture myself revisiting this story in the future. I will be adding a finished copy to my shelves, but I have to decide whether I will be buying the US or UK hardcover. I might end up with a copy of each since both covers are so unique and beautiful! :)

Many thanks to Clarion Books for sending me an eARC through Netgalley to read and review prior to the publishing date, and thank you Makiia Lucier for writing such a wonderful story.

Content Warnings:
- Implied torture
- Gore
- Illness
- Amputation
- Human experimentation

Year of the Reaper was a retelling of the Goose Girl combined with the infamous Black Plague. We start off with meeting Princess Jehan on her journey to marry the King of Oliveras, Rayan. After the prologue and meeting her, we shift to the POV of Lord Cassia. I don't read many books where males are the main character, so it was intriguing. In addition, the story is told entirely from a third-person limited point of view. Cassia was an interesting character since he could see SOME ghosts, but not others. I wish Lucier would have expanded more on this power versus only including when it was necessary, so it would be more believable (I know, seeing ghosts isn't REAL most of the time, but still). However, the rest of the story's elements were well-written. We find Cas on his journey back to his home, Palmerin Keep, after three years of being gone. He had been gone for three after he was captured and forced to labor for an enemy kingdom. To add to this, he nearly died from the plague that swept the lands at the time.

But he survives and finds his home the refuge of the royal court. He finds a web of lies and secrets after an assassination attempt on the queen and newborn prince. The king's sister and royal historian, Lena, helps him in his attempts to solve who was the assassin. It becomes obvious rather quickly who did it, but the why leaves them stumped. The only way they will figure it out is if they talk to the woman who was once closest to the queen when she was still a princess (THIS TWIST WAS AMAZING. I didn't see it coming at all and was like . . . WAIT WHAT?!?!?). The newfound peace created by Rayan and Jehan's marriage is threatened and Cas (with Lena's help) must figure it out before the war between Brisa and Oliveras is renewed. This plot kept be in its thrall and I binged this book in one day.

DO NOT JUDGE THIS BOOK BY ITS COVER. It is a beautiful cover, yes, but it has NOTHING to do with the story (besides the mace held by the statue on the cover). Honestly, the title doesn't really either (unless Lucier was liking the plague to a reaper and in that case, it does KIND OF make sense).

Year of the Reaper was also an interesting read for me because I haven't read a fantasy book in a LONG time that didn't have some sort of magic in it. I actually enjoyed it though, since the mystery more than made up for it. I think this book would have been better classified as paranormal and/or mystery for this reason. The worldbuilding was pretty good - I couldn't actually get a feel for the layout of the countries/ cities, and the history for WHY Brisa and Oliveras were at war was not mentioned, nor the start of the plague. However, the mentions of literature, customs, weapons, and clothing were incorporated well.

My biggest problem: there was no real conflict in the story. Yes, there was an assassination attempt on the queen. Yes, there was a plague going on in the world. However, the assassination attempt felt very much like it was on the sidelines and the plague . . . the characters weren't even trying to fix it. They just ignored/avoided it. The other issue I had was with the side characters being flat, even Lena, the love interest (I would NEVER call this a "romantic" standalone as the synopsis promised, just FYI. Far from it, in fact).

Overall though, I enjoyed the story and found it very interesting.

Wow! Just, wow! Lucier plunges you into a world in the aftermath of a plague and takes you on an exciting adventure full of emotion and intrigue. It's a complex tale set in a very grounded setting that feels almost like reading a historical novel, but with a slight supernatural twist.
We join Cas on his way home after being held prisoner for three years in the neighboring country. A country that his kingdom had been at war with for over 50 years, but with whom hostilities have ceased after their princess and his king wed. Cas managed to escape in the aftermath of a horrible plague that decimated both kingdoms and is slowly working his way back to a home he thought he'd never see, but what he can definitely see after surviving the plague are ghosts. This is the very slight supernatural angle that does play a tiny part in helping the story along, but I honestly wouldn't consider it big enough to classify this as a fantasy.
I don't want to go into the plot because I really enjoyed how Lucier hits the plot points and presents the different twists and elements of the story and I don't want to accidentally ruin it for somebody. The big bad is glaringly obvious if you pay attention to the story, but the way that crumbs of knowledge are dropped one by one into the story keeps things interesting. I particularly enjoyed how different aspects of not only the main character Cas but those around him are slowly revealed. It's one of those stories in which the thought of what could happen next keeps you turning pages in anticipation.

Many very happy thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for the early read!

Year of the Reaper is an excellent, stand alone, YA Fantasy that has writing so immersive you feel like you'd been dropped into the story line and experiencing everything. Lord Cassia is our MC as he is returning home from breaking out imprisonment and surviving the plague - with one quick... he can see and speak to spirits. His return home after being presumed dead kicks off a sequence of events where the crown is targeted, and everyone must figure out who wants the Queen dead - and why. Because even though she is from an enemy country, the union brought the two lands peace - so everyone should be happy, right?

I have a hard time putting this book into words. There is so much pain, heartbreak, and love written into this storyline and plot. It was an honest to god joy to read and I couldn't tear myself away. There is also the slowest of all slow burn romances, because the romance was not at all the focal point. This is a true fantasy novel, worthy of everyone's time. I don't think you'll regret it.

There were some twists that I foresaw and expected, but the final one took me unawares. I remember looking at my husband and saying, "someone has a secret, but I can't figure out what it is!". I did leave this book with some questions, so I wouldn't say it fully wraps up. But I could maybe a future book coming, even if it currently is billed as a stand alone. I would very much dive back into this world if given the opportunity.

**Thank you to Clarion Books and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review **

I think a complex, standalone, YA fantasy is a super rare thing in this day and age and Lucier should be rewarded for it. It's not a book for everyone, it took me a minute to get into, but I thought it was a really good, solid book.