Date of Completion: 8/10/2021
Wow. Just wow!
Jordan Ifueko did not play around with this sequel!
You don’t get to choose why people love you. But what you do with the love you receive . . . that’s a choice you make every day.
At best, I expected ‘Redemptor’ to be just as good as the previous book in this series. I certainly did not expect it to be such a strong step up! Jordan Ifueko not only maintained all the features she did well in the previous book but was able to improve on these features in a way that was beyond belief. As a result, the tale that unfolds in this book is even more captivating and engaging than its predecessor.
In this book, the stakes are higher. The twists are more frequent and unexpected, right from the beginning. There also seems to be a lot more action taking place, making the pace of this story faster than that of the previous book. These moments of action are skilfully broken up by an infusion of political elements and personal reflections to give a well-paced, gripping story from start to finish.
The elevation of Jordan’s writing in this book is also really impressive. Her words flow more vividly and are more enchanting than before. With every sentence, more details and complexity are added to the characters and world introduced in the first book. While parts of the world-building are still established through bursts of information, I did not mind as much this time given the depth and clarity this information provides.
The more I learn, the more I think the only decent way to use power is to share it with others.
Despite my praises, Jordan’s writing was not the highlight of this book to me. That position would have to go to the main character Tarisai. I loved her so much more in this story, especially her growth and inner strength. No longer the little girl who craves love and family more than anything, Tarisai now explores what it means to take up her own unique space in the world and I WAS HERE FOR IT!
Then, there is Sanjeet! Honestly, every time I heard “sunshine girl” I melted like ice in front of a warm fire.
We actually do not get much of Jeet in this book as his connection with Tarisai is forced to take a back seat. Personally, I thought this was a great move as it allowed Jeet and Tarisai to learn more about themselves and become stronger characters. I also liked that Jeet’s absence prevented unnecessary anguish and drama which would have decreased my enjoyment of the story.
The remaining characters, including Dayo and Kirah, were also given minimal roles in the story – and this felt right. It certainly prevented the focus of the story from getting messy and disjointed as the focus remained on Tarisai and her journey. That being said, I think it would be interesting to have a few books centred on some of the other characters like Kirah and Princess Min Ja.
Once again, Tarisai’s journey is the gateway to various themes which are cleverly explored. Themes that had been introduced in the previous book are explored in greater depth through the evolving perspectives of the characters. A few new themes such as mental health and dealing with change are also presented as the characters face new challenges and obstacles. These were equally fascinating to consider and contributed greatly to the appeal of the story.
In essence, ‘Redemptor’ is an amazing sequel that utterly outshines its precursor. Everything from the writing to the characters has all been stepped up flawlessly. With such a great accomplishment, I can not wait to see what Jordan Ifueko brings out next!
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