Retribution: Chronicles of Reaper Book II
J.R. Lightfoot
Independently Published (2025)
ISBN: 979-8349253201
Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Reader Views (07/2025)
Retribution: Chronicles of Reaper Book II, by award-winning J.R. Lightfoot, is the intense, emotional, and satisfying dark fantasy follow-up to Reaper, a powerful fantasy novel of good versus evil and spiritual warfare between God’s warriors and Lucifer’s demons.
In Retribution, protagonist Jaml is deep in punishing training and prayer, his only refuge; his sole focus on recovering. Jaml teams with another Reaper to find a prince who’s gone astray, unaware of the growing malevolence that lies ahead and that they will have to fight. Rulers out for revenge, and a dark angel stand to light the fuse for a war none of them can fathom. Jaml is left trying to defend mankind, which has become a different kind of monster. It comes down to him having to make an impossible decision, which is to obey divinity and conquer evil, or protect humanity to the best of his abilities. All of this leads to his biggest threat and worthy enemy, The Dark Reaper.
The author has cleverly put a twist on the fantasy genre by incorporating biblical Christian concepts and imagery. Lucifer’s army seems undefeatable, which leaves readers wondering if God’s soldiers, even with superhuman abilities, will lose. The lycans and demons in this richly detailed novel hunger after flesh and terror, but are they any match for Jaml’s Sword of Darkness?
Readers shouldn’t underestimate this good-versus-evil novel. It’s full of war, yes, but also faith and themes of redemption and purpose. The monk characters are intriguing and embody powers of their own, and it’s refreshing that Lightfoot creates fresh, original characters to tell this story. I love that Jaml is a character you can relate to. He has weaknesses and wrestles with what he should do, which decision is right, and if he can make existence better for everyone. That’s a lot for a character to carry, and there are no easy answers. That’s another thing I appreciate about the novel. Everything isn’t tidied up with a nice ribbon. We are left wrestling with the questions and answers, the same as Jaml.
We’re brought into the story right away, thanks to the author’s personable style and impressive world-building. The story has complex ideas, but Lightfoot dramatizes them so that we can understand them at their core. It’s bad against good, and who wins in the end?
Even if you may not be familiar with the first book, you will quickly catch up with this second one. Jaml is a complicated character with layers as multi-dimensional as the world he’s been created to play out this epic tragedy of biblical proportions in. You will be entertained as well as intrigued as the worlds of past and present collide. There are horror elements, but I wouldn’t classify this as strictly horror. At its essence, it’s a dark fantasy with an appealing hero who steps into darkness in order to fight for the light. But does he even know what the light is anymore? Don’t let the battles fool you. Some are gray instead of black and white.
The plot is compelling, the pace feels pitch-perfect, and there is a good balance of exposition and dialogue. This excerpt is a good example of the vivid imagery you’ll find:
Two Reapers crest the next hill of many on their way to Burls when they spot smoke in the distance. They pay no mind at first as their conversation is more interesting than some fire. They continue on their way, casually leading their horses down the path. Jaml is the first to smell it.
“Death.” His one word is more than enough to spark attention.
Prepare yourself for a tough, emotional journey in the darkly inspiring fantasy novel, Retribution: Chronicles of Reaper Book II, by J.R. Lightfoot.
Thank you for an outstanding review.