Reviews with content warning for Sexual harassment - Children of Blood and Bone

This is a book that I've been putting off since getting it. There was so much hype that I was scared and that I would not enjoy it. I'm so happy that I finally got myself to sit down and read. It is such a good book that I ended up binge reading it in one sitting.

The plot and characters are really well done that they end up blending together to support the progression of both plot and character growth. This also means that is there a bit going on but it doesn't feel overwhelming or chaotic, but instead very balanced.
By the end of this book I am glad that I already have the sequel. The main story thread for this book is neatly tied and leads directly into what looks to be the main issue for the next book.

If you have been wary of this book because of the hype, I recommend you give it a go. YA fantasy lovers are going to enjoy this magical world and all the lore it gives us. It has an amazing balance of character and plot driven moments that it feels like there is something for everyone.

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stacy_27_'s review

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adventurous emotional hopeful sad 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

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madibee's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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durrareadsstuff's review

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective fast-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

4.75

Such an amazing book! The world-building was done so well, I'd say it was quite complex and yet easy to understand at the same time. So many themes were covered in the book, mainly oppression, racism, grief but also friendship, understanding, honestly, I learned so much from reading this. The characters were so well developed. At first I kind of hated them, but then as they grew, I found myself rooting for them (well, most of them anyway) and it's just so brilliant.

I have never found a character to be so relatable like Amari. Reading her povs, I mean, I don't know if I should laugh or cry.

I mean, she was practically useless on that ship. And the way she kept telling herself to freaking move and do something but remained frozen and how she kind of made everything worse, I FELT THAT. But it was so much watching her grow, seeing her embrace the "lionaire" that was inside her all along. It kind of made me have hope in myself. So, I owe this book one.

I think the character development is my favourite thing in the book. I mean, the characters have come so far. Like how Zélie went from someone who constantly doubted herself to becoming someone so strong she was a force to behold.

And Inan? *sigh* I was really rooting for you man, and I'm sorry to say this, but I'm kind of relieved thar you died. Cause to tell you the truth, you were freaking stupid. And after you've come so far! Such a shame. I originally wanted to give this a 5 star, but Inan angered me so much I just can't. But you know, it was refreshing that the enemies-to-lovers crashed and the love interest died cause he was being an idiot anyways. Okay fine, I might give this a 5 star later. All that aside, I can see how Inan represents someone who grew with a horrible parentage, someone who was taught, from a very yound age to hate and be scared of the maji, and it was so nice to watch him fall in love with Zélie, and to discover his own powers which made him re-evaluate his upbringings. But sadly, the fear crept up on him again, and yeah, it was pretty devastating that he was killed by the one person he worked so hard to appease.

Besides that, the writing style is so genius! I mean, I'm not and english or literature major, but the way she describes abstract things like feelings using physical symbolism(?) It takes my breath away every single time.

Now chaos surrounds me, pulsing through every breath and heartbeat. It sings as blood splatters through the air, screams as boats explode into oblivion.

Reading this was like watching a movie, and for a very long book, I can say for certain that I never got bored. Loved it ❤️

Bonuses - multi-pov and the chapters are super short!

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ailsaod's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book is definitely overhyped. It is by no means a bad story but the only thing distinguishing it from the rest of the pack is its setting. I did appreciate the setting and it was certainly the best part but the plot was very basic and the characters were not great at all.

I was not perticularly fond of any of the characters but this was not helped at all by the whole situation of having two sets of a brother and a sister who both fall for the other set of siblings was just not what I wanted when I was already reading a different not great book that used the same trope at the same time. Amari and Tzain weren't too bad a couple, although given their competition that is not hard to say. Zelie and Inan have an enemies to lovers situation and I think I'm beginning to realise that just isn't my thing? Like what was Zelie seeing in Inan? I can sympathise with Inan to a (very small) extent because his whole world repeatedly gets overturned in the course of the book but he is a complete mess and from the scene early in the book where Zelie and Inan first make eye contact and have an instantaneous magical 'connection' I was watching the progression of their relationship wishing they would stop! Also speaking of Inan, he is like Kylo Ren's baby cousin in terms of picking a side in the main conflict like mate, just decide if you are evil or not already! When he is convincing himself to do his father's, the king, bidding he repeats some phrase that's something like "duty before self" and tells himself it is for the country's good but given the number of random civilians that he/his soldiers casually murder I would like to know how on earth he finds this a compelling reason.

This book is primarily an allegory for the treatment of black people and I think it did well in this (though I cannot speak of the authenticity) but I also would say that the situation in Orisha is a little more complex as there is a power dynamic between those that have powers and those that do not. The argument that Diviners are too dangerous has some weight in Orisha but the same does not hold in the real world. That being said, a perfect metaphor would no longer be a metaphor.

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oliverreeds's review

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adventurous dark tense fast-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? Yes

4.75

everything i wrote was deleted. i spent 15 minutes on this review. the short and skinny since i won’t be rewriting it: the characters are waffle-y

looking at you, inan and you zeili

i also just realized i’ve done ever spoiler up until this point wrong. the romances should have been gay looking at YOU zeili and amari bc the straight romances have. no. chemistry. at. all.
and lastly i was confused on a plot point which could have been my fault

the raid was only like ten years ago and that’s when magic went away when king whoever interrupted a ritual but this ritual only occurs every hundred years and it’s coming up agajn after only ten… maybe i misread though

anyways good book but should have been gayer

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toribrake17's review

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adventurous emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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