Children of Blood and Bone
Legacy of Orïsha, Book #1
By Tomi Adeyemi
Read by Bahni Turpin
ISBN 9781250170972
Author Website: tomiadeyemi.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro
Synopsis:
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha 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 orders of a ruthless king, maji were targeted and killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now, Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers—and her growing feelings for the enemy.
Review:
Since a couple of months ago, I have been hearing good things about Children of Blood and Bone by debut author Tomi Adeyemi, and I have also seen ads of the cover in several places, which made me want to read it even more. The cover specially caught my attention, as a graphic designer, it screams “read me”. But whether it is the cover, the theme, the events surrounding us lately, Children of Blood and Bone is a book you should be reading.
I had the oppotunity to listen to Children of Blood and Bone as an audiobook with the talented and beautiful voice of Bahni Turpin. The pace of the reading was really great, just like her articulation of words. When it comes to a book that has a lot of background story to explain through words in another language, it is always good to listen at how they are pronounced to have a better understanding of it. The way Bahni Turpin portrays every characters’ emotions is different than when you read it. Hearing it is certainly a different experience, it gives an extra emphasis and emotional perspective to the words that every chapter has you on the edge of your sit.
“We are all children of Blood and Bone”
The way I see it Children of Blood and Bone has two heroines: Zélie and Amari. At the start of the story, Zélie is a girl trying to do her best at training while hiding her abilities from the world. She still remembers the night her mother was taken away and how her life changed after that. Zélie is trying really hard to be a good daughter and help her family as best as she can, but she can’t deny or forget the magic that sleeps within her. As the story develops, Zélie grows as a person and as a powerful reaper with the help of her brother, friends, and Amari.
Princess Amari starts off as a damsel in distress, a girl who fears her father, is pressured by her mother, and has a, somewhat, estranged relationship with her brother. The reader catches a glimpse of Amari and her mother’s relationship, who seems to care more about her son than her daughter whom she makes feel ashamed of the color of her skin and features. Amari would feel all alone in the palace if it weren’t for her friend, one of the palace’s servants. But this all changes when her father kills her friends and Amari escapes, finding Zélie in the process. Once Amari starts traveling with Zélie and her brother Tzain, Amari begins to overcome her fears and grow as a strong warrior. Amari begins to see the world from a different perspective realizing who she can be if she believes in herself. Zélie judges Amari at first because of who she is and her family, she pours her rage at Amari, but slowly learns about Amari’s past and scars, and Zélie’s view of her begins to change.
Among the other characters we have Tzain, Zélie older brother, who embarks in the journey to bring back magic and Inan, the prince of Orïsha, who is tasked with bringing back Amari and a powerful scroll she took. Both brothers share a caring for their respective sisters, but their reasons to follow them are different, just like their view of one another. I do have to confess that out of these two, I feel more for Inan. Once the reader gets to know his background story and emotions, you can’t help but try to understand him. As the narrator reads Inan’s parts, you can hear Inan’s emotions and how his character develops throughout the story, how he fears that the magic that runs through him will bring him shame, his feelings towards Amari and Zélie.
I really enjoyed listening to Children of Blood and Bone, I can’t wait for the book that follows. The events within those last chapter were too much to live us waiting for the sequel. I have so many questions and a few character pairings that I need to know more about. Consider me a fan of Inan. Children of Blood and Bone is a wonderful story set in not your typical modern city, it is filled with detail, magic, battle scenes, love, animal companions and has amazing characters. If you have not heard or read about Children of Blood and Bone than you better find a copy and start reading, I highly recommend it as a 2018 must-read-book.
Bonus
Reviewer’s note:
Since this book is already in talks of becoming a movie, my dream cast includes Letitia Wright as Zélie our fearless heroine, and Michael B. Jordan as prince Inan. Maybe it’s because I recently watched them in another movie, but these were who I imagined when listening about the characters.
