What happened in Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko - Recaptains

The basics

Title: Raybearer

Author: Jordan Ifueko

Series: Raybearer #1

- Raybearer (2020)
- Redemptor (2021)

Add it: Goodreads

Goodreads Summary:

Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself?

Read a full summary of Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko below. If you can’t remember what happened in Raybearer and you need a refresher, then you’re in the right place.

what happened in Raybearer?

• Tarisai has been raised by her mother (The Lady), or more accurately by people who work for her mother.
• Tarisai is also the daughter of a ehru. The Lady tricked the ehru into getting her pregnant so she could have a super powerful kid.
• When Tarisai comes of age, she is sent off to join the Council of Eleven. This means she’ll be bonded with the Crown Prince, Dayo, and they’ll be able to feel each others’ feels and stuff. They’ll also grow old together and hopefully be good friends.
• This all sounds great, except Tarisai is commanded to kill the Crown Prince once he starts to trust her. This will be difficult since he can’t be killed by normal means.
• Tarisai manages to join the Council and makes a bunch of good friends at the palace as they go through their training.
• Tarisai saves Dayo from a fire in the palace.
• Years later, Ye Eun and Woo Inn show up and speak to Tarisai. They’re working for The Lady.
• Dayo and his Council head to the Breach at Ebujo. Demons rise out of it and it’s super creepy. They have to get rid of them.
• Sanjeet says everyone expects Dayo to choose Tarisai as his Raybearer when the time comes. This is accurate.
• A festival is held. Sanjeet gets a token – a shell. He and Tarisai kiss and it’s cute.
• Tarisai dances with Dayo and it’s clear their relationship is VERY platonic.
• The Lady shows up and reminds Tarisai of her duty. Tarisai, who is bound to obey the Lady, stabs Dayo in the stomach.
• Sanjeet comes to the rescue. He immediately demands that Tarisai explain herself. She tells him what went on. The two of them then head out into the Bush.
• The Bush is a bad place because of all the magic there. It can be really difficult to keep your head. As expected, Tarisai and Sanjeet get separated and the tricksters mess with them. One of them pretends to be Sanjeet’s brother.
• The pair follow the tutsu to Tarisai’s father. He tells them the history of the Lady, how she is the biological sister of the Emperor (Dayo’s father). She was in his Council and showed him her powers, but the Emperor hated it. These powers meant that the Lady had the Ray too, but the Emperor wanted to be the only one. He banished her.
• They figure out that Tarisai is a Raybearer too.
• Kirah and Woo In arrive on a giant cat. Woo In talks about his time in the underworld. He is now angry with The Lady because she lied to him, and was using him.
• Tarisai is summoned to court for her First Ruling Ceremony.
• Tarisai demands to see her mother. Her mother is a cow to her and says she’s disappointed. Tarisai finds comfort in Sanjeet, because he’s lovely.
• Kirah really likes Woo In, btw.
• Tarisai studies for her first test at the court ruling. She has to pass judgement. She does so. A woman called Keeya says that the Unity Edict has caused issues between her and her husband Tarisai rules in her favour.
• The Lady is killed by Woo In (kind of accidentally), and Dayo becomes Emperor.
• Woo In takes Tarisai away to talk to a rock. The rock turns out to be the Storyteller from the legends. Tarisai discovers that Woo In and the others are cursed.
• Tarisai watches some scenes unfold in Woo In’s mind – the scenes involve her mother and her manipulation.
• Tarisai tells the Council that no more children should be sent to the Underworld, and that she will go instead. She’s sure she will survive. Tarisai becomes Empress Redemptor and starts to prep for her journey. She talks to her mother one last time.

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