Scan barcode
corsetedfeminist's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My goodness, this book is incredible.
I love Zelie and Amari. They’re both so brave and sassy, while remaining very distinctive characters, with their own flaws and traits.
The magic system is deceptively simple in the beginning of the book, slowly gaining complexity and depth as the worldbuilding progresses in the story.
All of the characters, even those we only see briefly, are vivid and endearing, such that even the death of someone we only met in the same chapter is heartrending.
By now you all know that my great weakness is truly morally grey characters and generally complex characters, and this book has them in spades. Inan both tugged at my heartstrings and made me angry, and his decisions made sense even when he made the wrong ones.
I also appreciated that there is no detectable Western influence, including in the morality and the plot. It is West African through and through, without getting distracted by any white people.
I will be happily be continuing the series, probably within the week.
I love Zelie and Amari. They’re both so brave and sassy, while remaining very distinctive characters, with their own flaws and traits.
The magic system is deceptively simple in the beginning of the book, slowly gaining complexity and depth as the worldbuilding progresses in the story.
All of the characters, even those we only see briefly, are vivid and endearing, such that even the death of someone we only met in the same chapter is heartrending.
By now you all know that my great weakness is truly morally grey characters and generally complex characters, and this book has them in spades. Inan both tugged at my heartstrings and made me angry, and his decisions made sense even when he made the wrong ones.
I also appreciated that there is no detectable Western influence, including in the morality and the plot. It is West African through and through, without getting distracted by any white people.
I will be happily be continuing the series, probably within the week.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Racism, Torture, Violence, Murder, and War
pagecalico's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really liked this book! I loved the adventurous rush i felt when reading it! It felt a bit slow at first but after 150 pages i loved every scene!
Im glad that Inan is dead lol. He didn’t deserve to have redemption arc especially after he betrayed Zelie even after finding out about his powers. He just didnt GET IT.
Also, I really didnt like the idea of Zelie and Inan being together. Like I get its meant to be enemies to lovers but he burnt down Zelie’s village for God’s sake. It’s more oppresser x oppressed and just felt forced. Hell I prefer Zelie and Roen together more.
Also I really liked that the author didnt go the whole ‘we dont need a revolution and we can resolve systemic issues with peace and liberal debates’ route and reaffirmed the importance of liberation of the oppressed through fighting back and revolution, because i was really starting to get pissed off atZelie for reiterating the same BS the kosidans were spewing about ‘magic being dangerous
I wish the author would tone down the amounts of similes but i cant wait to read the next book!!
Also, I really didnt like the idea of Zelie and Inan being together. Like I get its meant to be enemies to lovers but he burnt down Zelie’s village for God’s sake. It’s more oppresser x oppressed and just felt forced. Hell I prefer Zelie and Roen together more.
Also I really liked that the author didnt go the whole ‘we dont need a revolution and we can resolve systemic issues with peace and liberal debates’ route and reaffirmed the importance of liberation of the oppressed through fighting back and revolution, because i was really starting to get pissed off at
I wish the author would tone down the amounts of similes but i cant wait to read the next book!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Grief, and War
Moderate: Sexual content
pheyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Wow, wow, WOW! This is the best fantasy book I’ve read in years. I clapped when it ended and shed tears at the authors note. This was not an easy read. The lore and world building was a lot to learn about. The brutality and description of marginalization hurt, because ofc it mirrors so much of real life. However it somehow manages to keep an element of fun discovery, adventure, and romance. The characters are so well written and their dynamics with each other are nuanced. The climax was INCREDIBLE! I love when a story sets up a path with such fierce obstacles and makes you feel the fear and hopelessness. And getting to read how these characters navigate against all odds is a treasure. Can’t say too much more while keeping this spoiler free. But yes overall this book was a journey that is engaging from the first page, it’s intense, the world is so interesting reminds me of ATLA, the characters are amazing and that climax whew! 5 stars for Children of Blood and Bone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Torture
sauvageloup's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An engaging fantasy read with good writing and pacing.
pros:
- what set it apart the most I think was the Nigerian cultural influences, and how Yoruba and the gods made the magic and the worldbuilding different and interesting. There was hints of a larger world which was interesting, but it made a great change to be set in fantasy Africa.
- the writing was solid, imaginative and emotional and the dialogue was good. I didnt enormously connect to the characters, but I did like them and appreciated their complexities and back stories.
- I did like the romance between Tzain and Amari, that felt more natural, and I liked Amari's character and how she develops.
- I also liked that magic was shown through hair (as well as the usual eyes), which I think emphasised the importance of hair in Black peoples culture and how they have been the subject of racism and oppression because of it.
- Adeyemi draws attention to the parallels between the oppressive tyrant in the book and the police brutality in real life and I did feel that resonance in the book.
cons:
- throughout, I felt it very strongly had the YA revolution, fantasy, romance tropes going on. maybe it was fresher at the time, but the romance felt shoved in there for extra drama (esp between Zelie and Inan, Amari and Tzain's felt more natural), and I did roll my eyes a little at some of the plot points (getting a "quest" for a magic stone and scroll, the bad guy flicking back and forth in alliances, Zelie randomly losing her magic for maximum effect, magic being lost to the realm, having to do a ritual on one special day, dead parents fuelling all motivation, etc.). other things were tropes, like everyone being badass with a weapon and them riding giant beasts, but those were more fun.
- also, character motivations felt weird. why did Inan fluctuate so much in his loyalties? I couldnt rly understand that. Zelie too made some odd decisions which seemed to just serve the plot.
- the last line also confused me, not sure if it was meant to or not? clearly magic wasnt lost but why was it so shocking that Amari had magic.
overall, a bit mixed, maybe just because it was written nearly 10 years ago now so didnt feel as fresh. still want to read the 2nd one.
pros:
- what set it apart the most I think was the Nigerian cultural influences, and how Yoruba and the gods made the magic and the worldbuilding different and interesting. There was hints of a larger world which was interesting, but it made a great change to be set in fantasy Africa.
- the writing was solid, imaginative and emotional and the dialogue was good. I didnt enormously connect to the characters, but I did like them and appreciated their complexities and back stories.
- I did like the romance between Tzain and Amari, that felt more natural, and I liked Amari's character and how she develops.
- I also liked that magic was shown through hair (as well as the usual eyes), which I think emphasised the importance of hair in Black peoples culture and how they have been the subject of racism and oppression because of it.
- Adeyemi draws attention to the parallels between the oppressive tyrant in the book and the police brutality in real life and I did feel that resonance in the book.
cons:
- throughout, I felt it very strongly had the YA revolution, fantasy, romance tropes going on. maybe it was fresher at the time, but
- also, character motivations felt weird. why did Inan fluctuate so much in his loyalties? I couldnt rly understand that. Zelie too made some odd decisions which seemed to just serve the plot.
- the last line also confused me, not sure if it was meant to or not? clearly magic wasnt lost but why was it so shocking that Amari had magic.
overall, a bit mixed, maybe just because it was written nearly 10 years ago now so didnt feel as fresh. still want to read the 2nd one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
itszainab's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Rereading to prepare for Anguish & Anarchy (Book 3) and I remember why I love this book so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and War
zluvsreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Holy fucking shit!!!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Cursing
lsol8tion's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I wanna take a deep dive into tomi adeyemi's mind to experience her process of how she created this immersive world, society caste system, and magic system. To incorporate youruba mythology into each of them , & so amazingly too??? WOW.
Reading Zelie's POV chapters & seeing her internal war holding such a huge responisbility of restoring magic in Orisha was so engrossing but also frustrating at times when she makes bad decisions, such asher falling for Inan . However, I think her decisions are aslo reflective of how young she is. She's only 17 & being tasked by the gods to restore magic is an INSANE responsibility.
AND LEMME GET INAN REAL QUICK. I understand he felt a familial pressure to put "duty before self" and "protect" Orisha as its future king but he shoulda known his daddy was NAWT gon spare him when he found out about his Connector powers. Your dad is Saran, the brutal king who regularly had you & your sister fight & injure each other with real weapons & KILLS maji without a second thought. Once Saran ordered Inan to kill Amari if he found her whike Zelie was in captivity, then Inan shoulda realized that his father is mercilies & doesn't give a fuck about family. Inan shoulda tkaen the chance to run with Tzain, & Amari when they fled the fortress after saving Zelie. BUT WHAT DID INAN DO? STAYED BY HIS FATHER'S SIDE LIKE A BITCH, CONTINUOUSLY DEFEND THE OPPRESSIVE SYSTEM HIS FATHER CREATED, & TEAR THE SCROLL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE USED TO BRING MAGIC BACK. I don't feel bad that Inan was killed by his father because there were so many instance that Saran showed his ruthlessness & Inan thought he would be the only exception. GOOD RIDDANCE HOE
Now Amari's a girl who STANDS ON BUSINESS. She sawher father kill Binta & immediately sprung into action. She had the balls to go against her father's wishes (something bitch-ass Inan couldn't do). However, she's also a princess who's unlearning her biases and imdoctrination. I hope she continues her deconstructing journey & untimately find a way end maji oprression in a way that doesn't include her famiky staying in power. Honestly I don't think the maji of Orisha will feel comfortable with another person from the same royal line who was responsible for the Raids. ALSO SHE GOT POWERS NOW??
I hope we see more Tzain development in book 2. I would love to read flashbacks of him and Zelie's childhood from his perspective. He's Zelie's brother and protector, and Amari's potential boo thang, but what else?
That cliffhanger was DIABOLICAL OMG??? I can't wait to read more!
Reading Zelie's POV chapters & seeing her internal war holding such a huge responisbility of restoring magic in Orisha was so engrossing but also frustrating at times when she makes bad decisions, such as
AND LEMME GET INAN REAL QUICK. I understand he felt a familial pressure to put "duty before self" and "protect" Orisha as its future king but he shoulda known
Now Amari's a girl who STANDS ON BUSINESS. She saw
I hope we see more Tzain development in book 2. I would love to read flashbacks of him and Zelie's childhood from his perspective. He's Zelie's brother and protector, and Amari's potential boo thang, but what else?
That cliffhanger was DIABOLICAL OMG??? I can't wait to read more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, War, and Injury/Injury detail
twinzplus3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
sebra1999's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and War
zari_safari's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and War
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment