Year of the Reaper

 By: Makiia Lucier    

Location: FIC  LUC

Genre: Fantasy. Young Adult, Mystery

Ugh, I really love it when a book has a gorgeous cover and a story fit to match.

Year of the Reaper is a YA standalone that was inspired by/the aftermath of the Black Plague, Princess Joan, and the resilience of the human spirit. 

A very quick and exciting read with great characters, a bit of mystery, and a fast pace.
That and the cover I got is matte black and metallic gold with black sprayed edges. 10/10 would frame on my gallery wall.  KELSEY

The past never forgets . . .

Before an ambush by enemy soldiers, Lord Cassia was an engineer’s apprentice on a mission entrusted by the king. But when plague sweeps over the land, leaving countless dead and devastating the kingdom, even Cas’ title cannot save him from a rotting prison cell and a merciless sickness. Three years later, Cas wants only to return to his home in the mountains and forget the horrors of the past. But home is not what he remembers. His castle has become a refuge for the royal court. And they have brought their enemies with them.

When an assassin targets those closest to the queen, Cas is drawn into a search for a killer… one that leads him to form an unexpected bond with a brilliant young historian named Lena. Cas and Lena soon realize that who is behind the attacks is far less important than why. They must look to the past, following the trail of a terrible secret—one that could threaten the kingdom’s newfound peace and plunge it back into war.

Review Jessica

i thought this was a COVID inspired book as a main chuck of the story is about an illness. but to find out its actually based on the black plague and a particular instance that happened because of it (wont mention what because of spoilers) had me enjoying this so much more.

but what first drew me in is the writing - it had me glued me to the page. the prose is so easy to feel present with and its written in third person, which i personally prefer. i also enjoyed that the MC is a boy. so often its young women who are the protagonists in YA fantasy, so it was refreshing to follow cas and his growth and life. hes extremely mature and level-headed, so he was easy to like.

i also have to give credit where its due. i love that this is a standalone. the art of creating a complete story in just one book seems to be a rare thing these days in YA fantasy, so i appreciate what the author has accomplished with this. yes, the ending is a bit rushed and there are some things that are left unexplained, but it feels pretty wrapped-up as a whole, so thats what matters to me.

this is the perfect book to pick up if you are looking for a historical kingdom story that is a little more adult, but still love the YA fantasy tropes, and want something that feels relevant to today (but in a fun way).