Children of Blood and Bone is hailed as the new young adult fantasy phenomenon after Harry Potter and Hunger Games. A film adaptation is in the works and many people, including me, are impatiently waiting for the sequel.
The Facts
Word count: 165,920 words
Expected reading time: 11h (at 250 word per minute)
Author: Tomi Adeyemi is a Nigerian-American writer. This book is her debut novel.
Diversity: the story is set in a fictionalized Nigeria so the majority of characters are people of colour
Locations: a fantasy world based on real-life locations in Nigeria
In a nutshell: In Orïsha diviners – people with the potential to use magic – are oppressed after the king led a raid which destroyed all grown-up maji and magic. A new tax which tries to force diviners into indentured servitude brings Zélie to Lagos, which set events into motion that will lead to a long journey and a quest to bring magic back. The story is told from the three perspectives of the main characters in this story.
Memorable Quote: “I won’t let your ignorance silence my pain”
What you’ll get:
*action-packed fight scenes
*adorable giant lionesses
*badass female characters
*some YA romance
*world building based on Yoruba mythology
Verdict: An action-packed high fantasy novel inspired by Nigeria and Yoruba mythology which will surprise you with trope-defying plot twists.
Get Children of Blood and Bones on Amazon
Reader’s Perspective: I loved the world building and the setting. Also who wouldn’t want to have a cuddly giant lioness as a pet? Out of three characters I liked Amari best. While I was only a little interested in her story line at first, I enjoyed her progression to where she’s at the end of the book.
Writer’s Perspective: What I enjoyed most about the book whenever there is a plot twist coming up, I was thinking okay here’s this or that trope, but the book would surprise me by going in a completely different direction.
About the reviewer: Julia is a published writer of novels and short stories. Currently she’s on a quest to read more stories with and written by diverse people.
