The Empress of Time

by Kylie Lee Baker

Overview

“Sharp and seductive…a fantasy with teeth.” —Julie C. Dao, author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns on The Keeper of Night

In this riveting sequel to The Keeper of Night, a half Reaper, half Shinigami soul collector must defend her title as Japan’s Death Goddess from those who would see her—and all of Japan—destroyed.

Death is her dynasty.

Ren Scarborough is no longer the girl who was chased out of England—she is the Goddess of Death ruling Japan’s underworld. But Reapers have recently been spotted in Japan, and it’s only a matter of time before Ivy, now Britain’s Death Goddess, comes to claim her revenge.

Ren’s last hope is to appeal to the god of storms and seas, who can turn the tides to send Ivy’s ship away from Japan’s shores. But he’ll only help Ren if she finds a sword lost thousands of years ago—an impossible demand.

Together with the moon god Tsukuyomi, Ren ventures across the country in a race against time. As her journey thrusts her in the middle of scheming gods and dangerous Yokai demons, Ren will have to learn who she can truly trust—and the fate of Japan hangs in the balance.

Read the entire Keeper of Night duology!
The Keeper of Night
The Empress of Time

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781335915856
Publisher:	Inkyard Press
Publication date:	10/04/2022
Series:	The Keeper of Night duology , #2
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	44,970
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Kylie Lee Baker is the author of The Keeper of Night. She grew up in Boston and has since lived in Atlanta, Salamanca, and Seoul. Her writing is informed by her heritage (Japanese, Chinese, and 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 a master of library and information science degree from Simmons University.

Editorial Reviews

2022-09-28
Ren Scarborough, Japan’s Goddess of Death, must safeguard her throne and her country from the Reapers of her past.

It’s the early 1900s in Tokyo, and Ren—half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami—has now been Japan’s Death Goddess for a decade. But since she killed Hiro, her fiance, and her brother was lost to the deep darkness, her life has seemed lonely and worthless. Even her Shinigami whisper that she is not their legitimate leader because of her foreign roots. When Tsukuyomi, god of the moon and Hiro’s brother, appears at her door to warn her of the presence of English Reapers in Japan, Ren discovers that Ivy Cromwell, who bullied her in the past, has become the British Goddess of Death and is arriving in a few days to hunt her down. Without being able to rely on the Shinigami to back her, Ren seeks the help of gods who despise her in order to defend her throne and save Japan. This fast-moving, fantastical sequel is full of darkness, gore, anger, and fear, tempered by glimpses of love and forgiveness. Ren grapples with whom to trust, whom to kill, identity and trying to belong, and kindness versus weakness. The book immerses readers in Japanese culture and the captivating world of Shinto gods and goddesses and their complex relationships. Baker’s descriptions and immersive worldbuilding are beautifully detailed and enchanting.

A dark, compelling sequel. (author’s note) (Historical fantasy. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews

"This fast-moving, fantastical sequel is full of darkness, gore, anger, and fear, tempered by glimpses of love and forgiveness... Baker’s descriptions and immersive worldbuilding are beautifully detailed and enchanting." —Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Keeper of Night

"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

"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

From the Publisher