Children of Blood and Bone Review

Back in May, a colleague said to me, "We're reading this book over the summer." Only it wasn't a question, but more of a statement.  And being not one to say no to a book, I reluctantly said, "Okay," only because I'm not that into fantasy books, and also because this was a lengthy one...




But I'm so glad I said yes!

First, it's important to note that author, Tomi Adeyemi, wrote this book after a series of tragic events involving police brutality and the unfortunate deaths of black men. She felt she had to do something, and this book was a result of that. I didn't realize this until after reading the epilogue, and it gives the story's plot a modern frame of reference.

This page turning, fantasy book about magic, gods and lionaires is full of adventure, conflict, loyalty, love and heartbreak. The story goes like this, and don't worry there are no spoilers here, and I'll keep this really simple. Zelie and Tzain are brother and sister from the mythical world, Orisha, that was once filled with magic. One night, their mother, and other maji, are brutally murdered and their village destroyed all ordered by a ruthless king. Magic disappears. Now years later, Zelie, the main character, who cannot forget the night her beloved mother was murdered, has a chance to bring magic back and give hope to her people.

But things aren't that simple, right? Turns out, the king's daughter, Amari, realizes her father is evil and destructive, and she wants to join alliances with Zelie and Tzain, who by the way, don't trust her at first. Add to that, Amari's brother, Inan...is he evil like his dad, the king, or is he someone who can be trusted to bring magic back to the people of Orisha?

Told from the four very different perspectives of Zelie, Tzain, Amari and Inan, this is one of the best books to read this summer. There were many instances in this book where I held my breath, and my heart was racing. There are many twists and turns in this book, even up to the very end. Pretty cool, too, that the movie for this book is also in production!