The land of Orisha is a medieval kingdom in a fantasy setting containing magic granted to Maji by the gods. The Maji’s magic was a power that could be feared as some could make fire from their hands or reanimate the dead or control the animals. They used their power righteously as their gods guided them to help the kingdoms and all people. Until one day, all maji’s magic disappears and King Saren’s soldiers sweep the kingdom killing all the adult maji, leaving the children alive as they don't develop magic until the age of 15. 10 years later, Zèlie a 17 year old maji who lives in a small village named Ibeji, with Mama Agba who took in Zèlie, her father and with other maji and diviners in after the massacre.
One day, Zèlie is forced to go to the kingdom to sell fish as if she doesn’t make enough money she won't be able to pay the raised taxes and will be sold to the stocks. At the kingdom's market guards are in a frantic search for a thief, Zèlies frightened their looking for her, when she bumps into the person the kingdom is looking for Amari, a 17 year old girl, who asks Zèlie for help. In a panic to escape, Zèlie flee’s with Amari to the gate where she intervenes with Inan, the prince, the son of Saren. She escapes Inan and leaves the kingdom with a makeshift molotov. Amari later presents the object she stole, a scroll taken directly from the kingdom; she tells Zèlie it can bring the magic back if a Maji touches the scroll. And so Zèlie lays her hand on the scroll and she feels the ashè inside of her reawaken.
What is explained is only the beginning of the book in very very loose terms.. Children of blood and bone includes many extreme topics that include discrimination, prejudice, oppression, self understanding and self worth. The pacing of the story is presented in a hero’s journey where Zèlie,Tazin (her brother) and Amari travel from destination to destination with the end goal of bring magic back to all Maji in which will give them the power to end their subjugation and fight against the kingdom. The main protagonists Zèlie, Amari and Inan switch between their perspectives between different chapters. Each character has their own dilemmas and character growth.
Zèlie is a strong, confident and vengeful character. I would define her as a chaotic good character. Her conflicts include prejudice, Ptsd and self doubt; However she exerts so much confidence and strength throughout the story these internal conflicts are very subtle untill the end. Her main conflicts would be spiritual and physical as she is the maji and main fighter of the group. Her past has left her with a burning hate towards the king and his supporters. Her older brother Tazin has been with her for her entire life and has protected and supported her. Tazin is a true neutral character who is a leader and a diviner which is a maji without magic.
Amari is almost a 180 from Zèlie, as she is the princess of Orisha, daughter of Saren and sister of Inan. She is protective, righteous, perceptive and a lawful good character. Being a princess she had never left the palace being spoiled, never needing to worry about her next meal. Being the daughter of Saren he was forced to pick up the sword and learn to fight by the ideals of her father. Through this lifestyle she must be on the side of the king you’d think, however, because of her best friend, her mother figure, Binta a maid who took care of her and also a Maji in which paired with her characteristics she wasn't as affected by the poison of prejudice from the adults. Her journey is finding herself as a person and as a newer version of a princess, one that will do the right thing to protect her people that includes the maji and diviners.
Lastly, is Inan is a prince who is good and righteous in his heart. However, he is misguided, poisoned by the ideals of his father which blinds the good within him. Inan is a lawful neutral character who is determined to please his father and to be a good king when his time comes. His internal conflict involves self understanding and acceptance. He is incredibly skilled in the sword just like Amari and is close with the generals unlike Amari. His main conflicts stem between his sister, moral conflicts and a secret Zèlie learns about him.
Children of Blood and Bone Is an amazing read. I highly recommend the pacing is great and the action doesn’t die down. However the main reason this book is so good is because of the trauma these 17 year olds face living in a tyrannical kingdom and them fighting to make a better life for everyone starting by ending the people's oppression.
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“They don’t hate you, my child. They hate what you were meant to become.”Highlighted by 2,917 Kindle readers- He wants to believe that playing by the monarchy’s rules will keep us safe, but nothing can protect us when those rules are rooted in hate.Highlighted by 2,808 Kindle readers
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| Children of Blood and Bone | Children of Virtue and Vengeance | Children of Anguish and Anarchy | |
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| Read them all! | Magic and danger abound in the first book of Tomi Adeyemi's groundbreaking West African-inspired fantasy series. | The fight continues as Zélie struggles to unite a divided kingdom in the stunning follow-up to Children of Blood and Bone. | Tomi Adeyemi’s #1 New York Times bestselling Legacy of Orïsha series comes to an earthshaking conclusion. |
“Tomi Adeyemi has changed the YA landscape forever.” —Refinery29
Featured on Time's 100 Most Influential People and Forbes's 30 Under 30 lists, Tomi Adeyemi is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and a trailblazing winner of Hugo and Nebula Awards. She took the YA book world by storm with her debut novel, Children of Blood and Bone, the first book in the Legacy of Orïsha series. Adeyemi's groundbreaking series has spent more than 150 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.
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A great read, page turner, & action packed
On March 8th I purchased this book and I when I started reading it I could NOT put it down. A lot of the words I wasn’t familiar with but I of course researched to know what it was. The author created this fantasy book but to me it tells our stories from a magical perspective. It’s about origins, family, home, pain, happiness, battles, and finding the path that’s not desirable but necessary to recover what was once stolen from our people. This narrative is no stranger to my people. Great book & I will be purchasing the next one!!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
On March 8th I purchased this book and I when I started reading it I could NOT put it down. A lot of the words I wasn’t familiar with but I of course researched to know what it was. The author created this fantasy book but to me it tells our stories from a magical perspective. It’s about origins, family, home, pain, happiness, battles, and finding the path that’s not desirable but necessary to recover what was once stolen from our people. This narrative is no stranger to my people. Great book & I will be purchasing the next one!!
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Sarah DeVries
THIS BOOK IS BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT
Reviewed in Canada on March 25, 2018
