Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha, 1)

I completely expected to love this book. Then, after a few chapters, I wanted to like this book, but, ultimately, my reaction is kinda... Somewhere between "meh" and annoyance. The characters were a bit flat. They started out promising but were never lived up to their own promise. In fact they declined, steadily mostly because they mostly stayed the same and had the same inner dialogue the ENTIRE book. Even the character that seems to "change" the most is so wishy-washy in his "change" that I found myself rolling my eyes more than anything. And the magic seems mostly arbitrary and flimsy and used to the plot's convenience to be rendered wholly uninteresting and arguably annoying. The pacing is weird. Is this supposed to be action-packed or cerebral? It tried to be both, but I found myself skimming through action scenes and mentally tuning out most of the time. I'm so bummed because the premise was so interesting and intriguing. But for me, this was wholly disappointing.

After hearing Tomi's interview on NPR I ordered the book immediately, My 11-year-old daughter grabbed it upon arrival. "Mom - this is the exact book my librarian recommended to me just yesterday!" (So, I get mom points for being "in the know.") She started reading it before bed. At two in the morning I woke to lights on. She hadn't stopped reading! We talked this morning about it and her favorite word to use was "WOW." She is in love with the heroine (a young girl) who fights for her beliefs without fear. When I told my kiddo that she might want to think about how this story is somewhat of an analogy to race relations in America her eyes went wide (and I got another "wow). "Mom, that's true! Ok - now I have to go finish it this morning....."Thank you Tomi for bringing a story to my family that has so many levels: strong female characters, a worthy struggle, and a clear method of analogy to discuss the difficulties of race in our country.

I'm befuddled by all the positive reviews. Did these people actually read the book? Adeyemi has created a world with great potential, but she fumbles so badly I found myself dragging through most of the book. If I hadn't had to read it for work, I would have given up. The "strong female characters" are not strong AT ALL; they're just violent. I'm all for violence when it serves a greater purpose, but here it is gratuitous and even at times confusing. Adeyemi is killing off little kids and describing graphic torture of a mother and of the main character, among others. The naval battle/gladiator part is equally odd--it doesn't even really make sense, and since it is already abundantly clear how horrifically the magi suffer at the hands of their oppressors, it doesn't move the story along at all. In the end, a father kills his son due to pure bigotry, then the daughter/brother kills her father because she recognizes that her father is purely evil. (So purely, in fact, that her brother comes off as an idiot for ever being loyal to him, much less staying loyal when he's trying to kill his love interest.) The whole thing is so forced it's almost funny! Meanwhile, though several women do wield some form of power in this book, many others are quite pathetic, e.g. Zelie's mother, who we only see tortured and victimized until the last chapter, the Queen, and even Kaea, who though high up in the military is merciless and full of hatred (like many in this book). As for male characters, they are pretty lame--there's the vicious, hateful king Saran, his son, Inan, who is a blind follower until he falls for a magi, at which point he promises to betray his horrid father, after which he backtracks and ends up destroying the girl he's been ogling and smooching. Tzain, the heroine's brother, is better, but he seems angry and powerless through much of the book, and as a character he never really comes alive. Lastly, what is with the pseudo African tribal elements? An attempt to copy The Black Panther, maybe? There were tons of chants in some sort of dialect, but since we never get more information, it wasn't at all clear where that language came from. (I think it might actually have been a real language, perhaps? But it came off like a cheesy fake magic "tongue.") Bottom line: Children of Blood and Bone seemed to involve Adeyemi listing the things she thinks young adult readers would like (violence, fantasy, revenge plots, sex), then dropping them haphazardly into a narrative that might have been compelling in the hands of a more skilled creator but, alas, Just. So. Wasn't.

Such a good book! I'm an adult. Like, grown. I am also a fan of Harry Potter and Tahereh Mafi, which I read as a child through college, and last year, respectively. To be fair, I buy books 'for my niece' and read them quickly before I give them to her as gifts so we can discuss them together - an activity I enjoy immensely. As a black woman who loves the fantasy genre, Adeyemi is my new hero for creating a world that draws its richness and depth from West Africa. We have a class of oppressed people who have gifts that the oppressors are afraid of - a theme so relevant to life today as a Diasporan in America. I remember reading an article that spoke of implicit bias and the belief that some people have that black people are magical and have almost super-human strength, and that those were seen as reasons to justify fear of black bodies. Adeyemi throws that on its head, and I can't wait to read (and see!) what happens next in Orïsha, and I can't wait to hear what my niece thinks of the book! #blackgirlmagic

I really haven't been this drawn into a fantasy world for a long time. When I started reading Children of Bone and Blood, I found it almost impossible to put down. I really got invested in the setting - a fantasy West Africa where magic has disappeared, the children of former maji are treated as second class citizens and three teenagers are tasked with a mission from the Gods to bring back magic. The African setting gave the novel a very different feel from other young adult fantasies that I've read and present a cast that were entirely persons of colour.I also felt that the story's message was pretty poignant. It presented a world where an entire group of people have been down-trodden for years - stripped of their right to defend themselves and treated like second-class citizens in their own country - which is certainly something that resonates with the politics of today. However, it also does a great job of showing that this isn't so clear cut. The maji and the kosidán are both guilty of terrible crimes in this story and the novel makes clear that there will never be an easy peace between the two races. While there are good and bad people in the novel, there are also a lot of shades of grey and terrible situations that move their hands.In terms of structure, the novel flows well and I certainly never got bored despite its length. Adeyemi's writing is very evocative and easy to read. However, it should be noted that the print edition has a very small font. If you have any visual impairment, I'd suggest buying an eBook of this novel. While I did love every minute of reading it, there were a few small things that frustrated me. The main one was the ending, as the novel broke off on a very abrupt cliffhanger which left a lot hanging for the sequel. The story also felt a lot like Avatar: The Last Airbender. If you've watched this excellent cartoon, you will recognise a number of characters and plot points that were lifted directly from this series.In terms of character, I also had a few issues. On the whole, I loved the core cast. They were all very complicated characters who learned and developed through their experiences as the novel progressed. Zélie learned to not see the world in black and white, Amari found her courage and Inan was forced to choose between his duty to the throne or the people he would one day rule. However, the characters were all wildly indecisive. I appreciate that they were in a difficult situation, but Inan in particular would flip back and forth between wanting to destroy magic and protect it at a drop of a hat.There were also a couple of romances in the story that felt really shoehorned in. After taking half the book to trust Amari, Zélie forgave and developed feelings for Inan within a couple of chapters. The relationship between Amari and Tzain also felt forced. They exchanged smiles a couple of times and then seemed to become a couple out of nowhere. Neither of these relationships felt very natural and I felt they could probably have been saved for a later story.Anyhow, on the whole this is a really promising start to the series and, despite my issues, I would definitely recommend it. I am really excited to see what adventures the sequel will hold.

AMAZING.Why did it have to end there?! This is serious Book Hangover material. BE WARNED. Sometimes I think publishing a series one book at a time should be outlawed.What a read. What a cast! What a great story. This is one of the best books I've read in years - I think the series is going to be incredible. It is such a beautiful celebration of African culture, love, family and the unerring belief in doing the right thing. It is also a novel filled with unexpected twists and turns. I never knew how each chapter was going to end, never mind the whole story.We meet Zélie when she is competing in a fighting competition. She's bold, stubborn and has a vein of anger running beneath her veins, along with the crushed remnants of her maji heritage. Crushed, because magic was wiped out years ago, during a brutal massacre called The Raid. Zélie's mother was murdered during this same massacre, and now she fights so she will never have to suffer that same fate.The first chapter had me hooked, and I was perfectly happy to read a novel focused on this fighting competiton. But that's not the story Adeyemi wanted to tell. Within a few chapters, Zélie has left that world completely behind her, after running into Amari, a princess who has escaped the palace with a relic which has the ability to bring back magic.The tale which ensues is thrilling. Adeyemi writes her characters with so much depth, so many emotions bubbling to the surface, that the reader can't help but become embroiled in the narrative. It certainly helpes that the novel is written from the perspective of our 4 main characters: Zélie, her brother Tzain, Amari and her brother Inan. Each character is clearly defined, different from the others and motivated by their own, detailed backstories.There is a strong thread of family running through the entire novel, which resonates with me as I'm one of four siblings. There is nothing more important than family for keeping you grounded, telling you when you've messed up, and lifing you up when you've done something well. Children of Blood and Bone is a true celebration of family, and it was a truly enjoyable read.I cannot wait to find out what happens next.P.S. This novel has been optioned for film release - if you're someone like me who loves to read the book first, get in there quick!

Children of Blood and Bone is the first book of a planned series: Legacy of Orïsha. It is an epic fantasy inspired by West African culture with all the elements you'd expect: A princess in trouble, a next-in-line prince struggling to reconcile what he's taught from what is right or wrong, a domineering king, a people oppressed, and magic in all its glory. However, this book turns it all into something unique and powerful.The POV shifts between three main characters: Zélie, Amari, Inan. The plot is fast-paced and intense with only a few areas of let up, so be prepared for a roller-coaster of a read. The story covers oppression, genocide, racial control, and many other ills that ail the real world. Having said that, it doesn't read like an allegory but as true fantasy.The characters come to life, and while they have moments of immaturity, this only makes them more real based on the ages they're supposed to be. I would expect older teens to swing between childishness and adult maturity. In a way, this aspect lends the tale an element of coming-of-age as well as the other points mentioned. From page one, the characterisation and scene-setting pulled me right in.While the ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger, the storyline does round up a lot of loose threads. However, this is not a stand-alone novel. This is the first ever book I've bought just because of its trailer. That led me to Amazon's look inside feature, and from there, I never had a choice! I can't wait for book 2 to be released in 2019. I can't recommend it highly enough.

4.5/5 StarsI was so nervous to start this book because of all the hype surrounding it, but I can definitely see why it's so popular. I was intrigued from the very first page as Tomi Adeyemi has a way of creating atmosphere and setting, without chucking in a load of unnecessary words. So I would describe her writing as powerful and straight to the point. The opening was a perfect way to introduce us to Zelie's world, it was exciting and a meaningful glimpse at the resilience that Zelie displays throughout the book. It is also quite incredible how the hierarchy in Orisha is so clearly established in just the first chapter, you know exactly what it means to be a diviner/ 'maggot' in Orisha.The early chapters that followed were just as good as the first, however I started to find myself becoming less interested as the characters began traveling. It didn't really carry the same energy of the earlier chapters. Also by this point, we were reading quite a few chapters from Prince Inan's perspective and I found them to be quite repetitive. If I'm honest, I was really worried that the book was going to be a disappointment and this is what prevented it from getting a full 5 stars.Things really started to pick up again when Zelie, her brother Tzain and Princess Amari had a run in with a mysterious stranger, who provides some very important information/help for their quest. And then came one of the stand out moments of the novel, the story of how the Gods came to be. It was truly magical to read about their origins and it really helped reignite my excitement for this book. Adeyemi described the Gods and their story so beautifully that it wasn't hard for you to vividly picture every aspect.I liked Zelie and I enjoyed witnessing her growth, but I do think she was unnecessarily mean to Amari at times, even though Amari proved herself time and time again. I loved how their relationship developed, as there was definitely an aura of girl power surrounding them towards the end. Out of all the characters, Amari was the one who stole the show for me. It was nothing short of a miracle, how she progressed from a timid mouse to a roaring Lionaire and with the other characters being so intense all the time, she was like a breath of fresh air.Tzain was a much needed character to me as he really allowed us to see a softer, more likeable side to Zelie, as he only wished to protect his little sister and she longed not to disappoint her big brother. Prince Inan was a very complex individual indeed, he changed his mind more times than I can count. Even with chapters from his perspective I was constantly questioning why on earth is he doing this or that. I guess given how he's been brought up it's understandable that he'd be so conflicted about what's wrong or right. Consequently Inan was very unpredictable and therefore very interesting, and I can't wait to find out why he's different. I really enjoyed his relationship with Zelie and their moments together were my favourite to read, especially in the dreamscape!!!! I'm really intrigued to see what lies ahead for him due to his actions at the end of the book.I'm really grateful to the author for having characters that weren't stupid!! By this I mean characters that actually thought before they did things, this helped the plot flow really nicely and clearly. This is one of those books that gets better and better as you keep on reading. There were so many exciting characters and surprises that popped up towards the end of the book. It ended on quite a big shocker so I'm more than eager to read the next installment!!!

Children of blood and bone is a Young Adult Fantasy novel and I was lucky enough to be be able to read the first 6 chapters though Netgalley and OMG I am in love with this! Seriously, if you can get your hands on this book, do not hesitate! I repeat, Do Not Hesitate!The book is set in a world, Orïsha, where magic was manipulated by gifted beings called the Maji. However, one night the magic disappeared and a vengeful king took the throne, killing the Maji, and punishing their children. But all of a sudden there is a shift and it seems that magic wasn't all gone...Children of Blood and Bone is beautifully written, the world is seems well crafted so far, and I thoroughly enjoyed to see the situations from different perspectives, so you see the world from a Maggot's perspective (a descendant of the Maji), as well as from the perspective of the Princess and her brother. These POV's definitely work very well and add substance to the story, as well as tackling prejudice in different ways. I also must say that Zelie is a total bass a**! I enjoyed her fighting sequences so much, I am in love!The writing is also good. I generally prefer more contemporary fantasy; books that are set in a different world I find them quite confusing and hard to relate with, however I had no problem with this one so far as the writing flows really well. The characters are also spot on and you know in who's head you are thinking.