A review by silverwings
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

This is the incredible start to Zélie’s story as she is pulled into an arduous journey seemingly bound by fate. Despite what sounds like the typical start of a hero’s journey, this was so much more - each of the POV characters, even some of the side characters, have a poignant role to play in the narrative. 
I found the characters to be immediately compelling, more so after the first quarter. The theme of seeking justice in the face of immense violence and oppression is woven throughout - as an older reader, it is clear it is meant to be an allegory to modern violence and brutality by authoritarian groups. I felt strongly about this story and its characters: I was inspired by Zélie and her internal conflicts; Amari and her growth as more than a shy, compassionate-yet-powerless princess; Tzain as the brother enduring for his sister; and even
Inan, who sacrifices everything despite awful truths about himself and blindly hopes to achieve peace for Orïsha and his father’s approval.

In short, this was a fantastic, heart-wrenching, and beautiful story.
Its small flaws (some rapid pacing and some minor character arcs left unexplored) can be overlooked since it is just the first part of the tale. I will definitely recommend it and reread it in the future, so 5 stars from me. The audiobook has a great narrator, Bahni Turpin, and she kept me in the minds of each character with her range and emotional narration. I was hooked by the first few chapters and listened to it everyday! 
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