Title: Children of Blood and Bone
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Series/Standalone: Legacy of Orisha (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction
Pages: 525
Publisher: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2018
Format: Hardcover (Own It)
First Line: "I try not to think of her."
"They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise.
Zelie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orisha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zelie's Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the order of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zelie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zelie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zelie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orisha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zelie herself as she struggles to control her power and her growing feelings for an enemy."
My Rating: 5/5
I was totally prepared not to enjoy this book, after all the hype it received I was cautious about going into it just hoping that it hadn't been overhyped. For me, it totally lived up to the hype for me. The characters were loveable, and interesting to read about. I also enjoyed the setting and the world overall. I was super interested in how the magic worked and the past of the country. I can't wait to continue the series as they come out.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
This was a great first installment in this series. I really loved the characters in this book, and the settings. It was interesting to see how the past compared to the present Orisha and hopefully the future. The twists in this book also got me.
Overall the magic system was amazing. I wish I was a Tider.
Characters:
Zelie: I loved how strong she was and how she was willing to risk everything for those she loves. She is powerful and strong like her mother. Her struggles hurt my heart, and I was ready to cheer her on through everything. I really did believe in her relationship with Inan, and it was heartbreaking to see how it fell apart.
Amari: I think that she was strong in her own way. I agreed with how Zelie thought of her at the start of the story, but seeing how she was raised and the things she put up with, I think she might have been the strongest character in this story overall. And she was willing to sacrifice her way of life to help others.
Inan: I really thought that he was ready to commit to a new world where Maji and non-maji. Yet he continued to betray himself and the maji again and again. I'm also not sure if he will stay dead or if he will come back to continue the series.
Tzain: I hope that he and Amari will continue to have this sweet relationship they've been working on, but I'm worried that the loss of Baba will be too much.
Zu: Her loss hit me the hardest out of all the losses (other than Baba), because of how much she believed in the world she was creating. She didn't run from those who stood in her way, she protected those who stood behind her.
King: His fear was based on his past which I would be interested in hearing about his first family and what happened with the Maji clans and the royalty of the past.
Moments to Remember:
Pg. 395
"'You never give up on her,' I shout after him. 'Never. Not once. Even when she cost you everything, you're always by her side.'"
Pg. 513
"I am a princess. A queen.
I am the Lionaire."
Final Line: "Now let's rise."
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
