Children of Blood and Bone out now from Henry Holt Company; 544 pages
Content Warning: Violence, death, genocide, torture
About the Author: “Named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, Tomi Adeyemi is a Hugo- and Nebula Award–winning writer, actress, and model based in New York, New York. After graduating from Harvard University with an honors degree in English literature, she wrote the groundbreaking, instant #1 New York Times-bestselling Legacy of Orïsha series, which includes Children of Blood and Bone, Children of Virtue and Vengeance, and Children of Anguish and Anarchy. Tomi’s trilogy is being developed into a feature film and has sold over 3 million copies around the world. When she is not writing, Tomi enjoys teaching a writing masterclass” (Bio from author’s website).
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After King Saran ordered the genocide of Orïsha’s maji people, magic disappeared. Only those who were too young to inherit their power were spared. Zélie Adebola lost her mother to this massacre, and others like her, the white-haired divîners, have lived under the ruthless hand of the monarchy in the years since. However, when fate brings Zélie, her brother, and the runaway princess together, it sparks the trio’s quest to bring magic back to the people, to revive the powers that have lain dormant for eleven years. Despite the pursuit of a crown prince determined to destroy magic and Zélie’s own difficulties with her newly awoken magical abilities, she begins a rebellion against the evils in the kingdom, one that could reignite hope in Orïsha.
Whether it was the panthers, lions, and snow leopard-like big cats that people ride, the cities built from the lost magic of its citizens, or the rich West African mythology of the gods, Adeyemi crafts a world that enchants you from the start. Among the maji, there’s an impressive array of abilities, like power over elements, death, light, health, or others’ minds. If you enjoyed the animated show Avatar: The Last Airbender, the magic system of this novel is sure to be compelling. Using this fantastical realm, Adeyemi focuses on relevant themes, such as class and oppression, to reinforce the idea that we ultimately have the power to fight against social injustice. The novel also showcases strong bonds between characters, both platonic and familial, which I particularly enjoyed. A highlight of my read was the lovely sisterhood that developed between Zélie and the brave princess, Amari, even after their rocky beginning. That said, the hurried, almost instant romance between Zélie and the prince, Inan, was hard to accept. Even though we get Inan’s point of view in the novel, which I thought was intriguing for someone who’s opposing the heroine, his ever-shifting character motivations were hard to keep track of, and their relationship fell flat. I also thought, at times, that the writing could’ve benefited from further development. There were some clichés and unnecessary instances of telling rather than showing throughout. Still, aside from my issues with the novel, it was a worthwhile read, and I’m excited to see where Adeyemi takes this trilogy.
Danielle Hartshorn, Pine Reads Review Writer and Editor