Children of Blood and Bone

Whoop! Whoop! Whoop! Sound the alarms! Blow the horns! Throw the confetti! This next review will be about the very popular and endemic Children of Blood and Bone by Nigerian-American writer Tomi Adeyemi!

This book dominated the New York Times Bestseller List for weeks (actually it sill might be on there) and made quite a splash with her epic new fantasy involving Orisha, magic, African mythology, and some badass characters with some badass names.

           So. Let’s jump right in.

           This story revolves largely around the main heroine of the book: Zelie Adebola. Zelie is a suppressed and oppressed maji who remembers when Orisha once thrummed with magic and brilliance and justice and now brims with hatred, prejudice, inner strife, fear, and persecution.

Maji now live in a world where turning the tides, igniting flames, healing illnesses, and bringing others from the brink of life and death no longer exist after the destruction of the magi by the current monarchy and his family.

           There’s quite a lot of political intrigue here that concerns the King, his previous family, his current family, and how his fear of the unknown causes him to destroy a group of people capable of incredible things.

           In addition to our hotheaded protagonist, we also get the privilege of seeing chapters from the perspective of Inan, the crown prince, Amari, the crown princess, and Tzain, Zelie’s older brother and adamant protector. Each character has a distinct quality and their own agenda and it isn’t until towards the end of the book that all four of these characters coalesce into the long-favored YA group that traverses long distances and tiresome battles to overcome a great foe and save the world. Yay!

           Now, more about each character in a succinct matter: Zelie is reckless, temperamental, powerful, and our “key” character that holds the secret of the universe and the key to the world in the palm of her hand. Tzain starts out as a typical older brother type character that “must protect my little sis at all costs and falls for the other side female character” and then changes halfway through cause he’s done with everyone’s shit. Amari starts as the annoying side female character that should be lesbian but apparently isn’t, that seems weak and can’t fight and comes through in the end as the trump card, and Inan-well.

         I actually thought Inan was the most interesting of our main characters simply due to his complex position, his switching nature, and his Zuko reminiscent attitude of honor! Before love or friendship or anything else. In case this statement confuses you, don’t worry. All you have to do is binge watch Avatar the Last Airbender and all will be explained and right with the world. You skin will clear, your crops will be watered, and your pockets will be plentiful.

           But. Back to Children of Blood and Bone. Other than our sometimes stereotypical but mostly entertaining and likeable main characters, the plot was very, very YA. This is not inherently a criticism.

The book was rife with subversive side plots, romances galore, action, action, action, rebelling royal families, budding confusion, more action, some steamy romance scenes followed by more action, and then bam, we reach the cliffhanger-saturated end that leaves us confused and writhing and waiting for more.

           I really enjoyed Children of Blood and Bone. Although there was quite a steep learning curve resonant of Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy or Crooked Kingdom duology it paid off quite well in the long run to create a rich new environment with lush traditions, cultures, practices, people, and ideas. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this novel was its real world symbolism and application to today’s racism, prejudice, hate, and discrimination.

           Adeyemi writes about the problems many people face today but in a world set with magic and fictional creatures and pirates, but not so distinct that the parallels become indistinguishable.

           This is a book about igniting hope, uniting foes, and coming together to reach understanding and peace. Any YA novel that can preach about goodness and empathy is a book that I always find worth reading and recommending because any book that can change your thinking or get you thinking is a stunning achievement.

 Recommendation: If Adeyemi’s bio on the back about being a native San Diegan and being a BTS stan isn’t enough to get you to pick up a copy of Children of Blood and Bone than its deeply layered meanings, its interesting characters, its thick action packed pages, and its richly detailed fantasy elements will surely draw you in and keep you wanting more.

 Score: 8/10