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The Keeper of Night (The Keeper of Night duology, 1) Hardcover – October 12, 2021

by Kylie Lee Baker (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 360 ratings
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“Sharp and seductive…a fantasy with teeth.” —Julie C. Dao, author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns

A girl of two worlds, accepted by none… A half Reaper, half Shinigami soul collector seeks her destiny in this haunting and compulsively readable dark fantasy duology set in 1890s Japan.

Death is her destiny.

Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami, Ren Scarborough has been collecting souls in the London streets for centuries. Expected to obey the harsh hierarchy of the Reapers who despise her, Ren conceals her emotions and avoids her tormentors as best she can.

When her failure to control her Shinigami abilities drives Ren out of London, she flees to Japan to seek the acceptance she’s never gotten from her fellow Reapers. Accompanied by her younger brother, the only being on earth to care for her, Ren enters the Japanese underworld to serve the Goddess of Death…only to learn that here, too, she must prove herself worthy. Determined to earn respect, Ren accepts an impossible task—find and eliminate three dangerous Yokai demons—and learns how far she’ll go to claim her place at Death’s side.

Don't miss the must-read sequel coming in 2022!
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 2
    The Keeper of Night
  2. Print length
    400 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Inkyard Press
  5. Publication date
    October 12, 2021
  6. Grade level
    7 - 9
  7. Reading age
    13 - 17 years
  8. Dimensions
    5.87 x 1.24 x 8.48 inches
  9. ISBN-10
    1335405666
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1335405661
  11. See all details
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From the Publisher

Death is her Destiny

"Dark, gruesome—and absolutely captivating." Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Julie C. Dao says it is a fantasy with teeth.

June Hur calls the book a must read.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-A Reaper of London, a servant of death, Ren's duty is gathering human souls; she's aware of her place, below the High Reapers. Since Ren is both Japanese and British, she looks different than other British Reapers. She is a Shinigami (Japanese Reaper) who can control light. Her own father, though part of the High Council, fails to recognize her. Unable to control her light, she scorches the eyes of the High Reapers who mockingly call her "Half-Breed." Her only solace is her kind half-brother Neven, who risks his life to journey with Ren to Japan. Baker has created a chillingly dark fantasy set in London and Japan during the 1800s, with elements of Japanese and European myths. Adding thrills, action, and a bit of scare, Baker makes good use of metaphors and similes with captivating language and depiction of scenery. The characters are equally interesting; the High Council is reminiscent of the Volturi and the London Reapers similar to the vampires from the Twilight saga. Ren is an undeniable heroine; though she is an outcast, forced to suppress her true emotions and seen as inferior in darkness, on the flip side, she is light-a formidable warrior ready to sacrifice her life for Neven. Ren risks it all to forge a rightful place where she is respected and accepted. VERDICT A triumphant debut, this thrilling fantasy tackles death, clad with a heroine unafraid to wrench a soul from the depths of a being and venture to the darkest of underworlds. A must for those in search of a place to call their own.-Suraya Jairam, Queens P.L., Hollis, NYα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

"Sharp and seductive…a fantasy with teeth." —Julie C. Dao, author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns

"The Keeper of Night is an absolutely thrilling tale of one girl's search for identity and a sense of belonging. With its rich worldbuilding, high-stakes and well-drawn characters, Kylie Lee Baker has created a must-read tale." —June Hur, author of The Silence of Bones

"A triumphant debut, this thrilling fantasy tackles death, clad with a heroine unafraid to wrench a soul from the depths of a being and venture to the darkest of underworlds. A must for those in search of a place to call their own." —SLJ, starred review

"Dark, gruesome—and absolutely captivating." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Baker’s debut is atmospheric... A cliff-hanger ending will have readers anxiously awaiting the final title in this duology." —Booklist

"Baker’s vivid prose seamlessly blends Japanese mythology with a Victorian setting... An action-filled plot ensures that this debut rarely lags, and the relationship between Ren and Neven additionally infuses the duology opener with a core of warmth." —Publishers Weekly

"With themes of belonging, identity, family, and love, The Keeper of Night is a wickedly delightful read that perfectly blends a rich historical setting with magic and mystery." —The Nerd Daily

"With thought-provoking themes, masterful plotting, and compelling characters, The Keeper of Night is an intriguing and consuming YA fantasy." —YA Books Central

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Inkyard Press; Original edition (October 12, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1335405666
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1335405661
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 - 17 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.87 x 1.24 x 8.48 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 360 ratings

About the author

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Kylie Lee Baker

Kylie Lee Baker

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Kylie Lee Baker grew up in Boston and has since lived in Atlanta, Salamanca, and Seoul. Her work is informed by her heritage (Japanese, Chinese, & Irish) as well as her experiences living abroad as both a student and teacher. She has a BA in creative writing and Spanish from Emory University and is pursuing a master of library and information science degree at Simmons University. In her free time, she plays the cello, watches horror movies, and bakes too many cookies. The Keeper of Night is her debut novel.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
360 global ratings
My Mythos Loving Heart Approves 😍
4 Stars
My Mythos Loving Heart Approves 😍
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️& 1/4 ⭐️’swow. I have never read a book quite like this. Pair Japanese mythos + a teenage girl exploring what it means to belong + familial bonds with a dash of dark passion.The first 1/3 of the book was a bit of a slog for me but when I reached chapter 13, I read the rest in one night! & I will be picking up the second book (it’s a duology) because the ending…leaves you hanging.QUOTE FROM BOOK: “It was so much easier to be angry than to be cracked open.”
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Top reviews from the United States

ScribbleWorth
5.0 out of 5 stars I Eagerly Wait for the Sequel
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
Once I started to consume this story, I was hooked until I had finished it. The prose is masterful and vivid, helping me feel as if I'm at home in these worlds that I've never visited. I was amazed at how well I sympathized with a character that has many characteristics I struggle to understand. I was not ready for the story to be over when it was over.

This book honestly destroyed me. My advice is that if you get towards the end and want to back out, don't. Keep going. It's going to hurt in a way that stories do when you become attached to those within the narrative. I predicted multiple endings up until the last chapter, and all my predictions were wrong.

My only criticism is that at one point towards the end I felt the turn of events gave me whiplash and my suspension of disbelief wavered for a moment. The actions and decisions felt rushed and I wasn't satisfied with the motivation. However, I suspect this was intentional on the part of the author and I was still satisfied with the story as a whole. It's worth your time and your money to check this out.
14 people found this helpful
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Sara
4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read with only minor hiccups
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
As someone who is biracial, I loved how the author illustrate the back-and-forward the main character Ren feels about her identity along with the desperation to find acceptance. Its the highlight of the story!

I take one star off because some of the decisions Ren make near the end made felt off. Especially considering she has been alive for 100 years and should of had the experience to know better.

Overall I have no problem recommending this book to teenagers.
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Sallyann
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2022
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Loved this!
Dealers and yokai, grabs you from the get go, Wren/Ren and Never with Hiro traveling and struggling to find the acceptance they want. Has a great twist at the end,a really enjoyable read.
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Shelby Petro
3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty enjoyable, but some lulls here and there
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
There were a lot of aspects of this book I liked (mainly the concept), but there were times were the book’s plot felt very slow. When there were lulls in the plot progression it was hard to remain invested in the book, but when it picked up (when they finally got to Japan) it was a lot more engaging and easier to read. I thoroughly enjoyed how Japanese folklore was woven into the book. Overall, not my favorite book, but I did like it. I will be reading book two.
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Will
4.0 out of 5 stars Really Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2022
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I have never read a book like this one, but I have to say that it kept me going. I do have some questions, that I am praying are answered in the second one. I'm hoping a certain character comes back because they were most, I saw myself in that character most. The story was surprisingly dark, but not in a bad way. I've read stories with darkness in them, and I almost felt guilty for reading them. This is not like that. The way it's written, I was extremely attached to the main character. The questions she kept asking herself were questions I ask myself. I read it over a couple of days, and it makes you think. You envision yourself in the characters shoes and wonder what you would do. I can't describe the inner things it made me question. But in the best way. I Loved it; I am super excited to read the next one. As well as her other works. I am already thinking about how I'm going to re-read it before I read the second one. Thank you. I also subscribed to her website. As a first book, I can't wait to see where she goes from here.
3 people found this helpful
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Briana Spruill
5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting and tragic! I loved this book
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2022
Verified Purchase
I didn’t have a lot of thoughts about this book at first. I thought the subject matter was unique and the characters were well developed. Now I want to read about more Japanese folklore because of the mentions of it in this book.

If you’re in a reading slump this will throw you for a loop and get you excited about reading again. I don’t want to give anything away but I was surprised and shocked by the end and I hope this author is working on a sequel!
One person found this helpful
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Olivia F.
5.0 out of 5 stars consuming YA fantasy
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2021
THE KEEPER OF NIGHT is an atmospheric and thought-provoking YA fantasy. Ren is half-Reaper/half-Shinigami, raised in England where, as a lower Reaper, she harvests the souls of those who are to die. She is bullied by the other Reapers and deeply thirsts for belonging and acceptance. She looks too much like a Shinigami to find this acceptance in England. The only person who cares for Ren is her half-brother, Neven, who is set to become a High Reaper, following their father's stead. With years of neglect and severe bullying, Ren's magic accidentally reacts and hurts some of those who are higher in the Reaper hierarchy than she - an offense punishable by centuries of solitary imprisonment or death, even though their natural abilities allow them to heal quickly.

Ren takes the chance to flee, accompanied by Neven, heading to Japan, the country of Shinigami, where Ren hopes to find acceptance. Once she arrives and bargains with the goddess of death for a place in Yomi, the underworld, Ren is set to accomplish the impossible, destroying 3 supernatural Yokai that threaten the peace. With her brother and a Shinigami who has been rejected by his own countrymen for his disability, Ren is determined to earn her place and belong in Yomi.

What I loved: This was a really powerful story of the quest for belonging, self-acceptance, feeling like an outsider, and bullying. Ren is a compelling character who has striven for so long towards a goal that feels within her grasp that she will accomplish the impossible to make it happen. Her story brings the feeling of being biracial and the cruelty of others forward with the psychological and emotional consequences. Although there is much about the character that gives her multi-dimensionality, the plot moves relatively quickly, as there is much to be done along her path. She first must flee the home she has known, then travel to Japan, and complete a seemingly impossible task of hunting down 3 Yokai.

In addition to Ren herself, the Yokai are also intriguing and complex characters. Although we do not get to spend much time with them, I found them fascinating with mythology and histories that build the characters (and this world). The world-building is really top-notch and so fascinating throughout. I also appreciated the twists that I did not see coming - the ending parts left me reeling with so many surprises. I also appreciated the plotting that leads to these surprises without making them obvious - so the clues are there, but the pieces do not fall into place until the end - an excellent read! Additionally although major plots are wrapped up, there are new ones at the end that will definitely leave the reader very eager for the sequel!

The thought-provoking themes around family, sacrifice, love, revenge, bullying, and racial issues really make this a deeper read. In addition to those I discussed briefly above, I found the themes around love, both familial and romantic to be really intriguing. The ways in which it is defined, how it presents differently in individuals, and the claims of love vs actual love. Falling in love and being in love are also separate things, and the actions around consuming love raise questions.

Final verdict: With thought-provoking themes, masterful plotting, and compelling characters, THE KEEPER OF NIGHT is an intriguing and consuming YA fantasy that I would highly recommend for fans of THE INFINITY COURTS, BRING ME THEIR HEARTS, and TO KILL A KINGDOM.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Lisa
3.0 out of 5 stars Came damaged
Reviewed in the Netherlands on December 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
The book unfortunately came damaged, I was able to peel most of the paper off but it left an unpleasant layer of sticky residue that I can't seem to get off.
It's a bummer, but otherwise the book is alright.
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Lisa
3.0 out of 5 stars Came damaged
Reviewed in the Netherlands on December 30, 2021
The book unfortunately came damaged, I was able to peel most of the paper off but it left an unpleasant layer of sticky residue that I can't seem to get off.
It's a bummer, but otherwise the book is alright.
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Andrey Agra de Andrade
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2021
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Great reading
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