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baylee_janae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-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? It's complicated
3.25
roastytoasty's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
_readwithash's review against another edition
2.0
Boy oh boy I wanted to love this book. The concept is incredible and the journey should have been.
Instead, we're given a character who we're told is strong, independent, and very very capable, but that is never depicted in the actual plot. Instead, Demi is simply repeatedly told where to go, and what to do, and she just does it. And falls in love along the way.
Ultimately, that combined with a plot that wasn't as engaging as it could have been, kept me from enjoying anything about this book.
Instead, we're given a character who we're told is strong, independent, and very very capable, but that is never depicted in the actual plot. Instead, Demi is simply repeatedly told where to go, and what to do, and she just does it. And falls in love along the way.
Ultimately, that combined with a plot that wasn't as engaging as it could have been, kept me from enjoying anything about this book.
willrefuge's review against another edition
2.0
5 / 10 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2023/08/06/forged-by-blood-by-ehigbor-okosun-review/
In general, I find the less notes I take on a book, the more I enjoy it. Which makes sense. If I’m enthralled in a read, I’m not going to take the time to yank myself from a narrative to jot something down—whether it’s a comment or criticism or even a stellar quote. This became pertinent for Forged by Blood early on, as you’ll learn.
In the Kingdom of Benin, the Oluso are feared and hated, for the magic in their blood. When the Age took power generations past, they consolidated power by decrying their magical cousins, seeking nothing more than their genocide or expulsion from the kingdom.
Dèmi just wants to survive; she and her mother, magic users both, eke out a living by healing those desperate enough to beg for their help. When a young boy comes to them (brought by his caretaker), the two heal him, but his caretaker betrays them—and in the melee that follows Dèmi’s mother is killed. But not before Dèmi befriends the boy, Jonas, whom she blames the entire event on.
A decade passes, finding Dèmi still chasing a better life for her people. In doing so, she runs across the path of ambitious noble Ekwensi, who proposes a trade—kidnap a prince, and secure his aid in saving the lives of all her people. It’s an offer Dèmi can hardly refuse.
But there’s a wrinkle. The stolen Prince is Jonas, and the task is slightly more complicated than she might’ve thought, leading the two—plus her friend (and intended), Colin—on a heart-pounding adventure to deliver the stolen prince to Ekwensi before they are captured.
And while Dèmi still hates Jonas for getting her mother killed, there is an unmistakable attraction between the two. One that—in addition to aggravating herself and her intended, plus their relationship—may even compromise the entire mission.
—
Let’s start with the tale. And it’s a good one—adventure, magic, a mythos that might be different to those you normally see in fantasy. An epic quest, a burgeoning love, a people on the brink of genocide, a land where magic is hated and feared. All of these elements combine to form a plot that is truly epic, and impossible to predict. The setting is equally fantastic: the Kingdom of Benin (while I’m somewhat familiar with it historically) is packed with magic and the supernatural. It’s nothing like the comparably dull histories I’ve read—wild and vibrant and packed with adventure. If Forged by Blood were based on the overarching plot alone, not to mention the setting, I’d recommend it 100%, hands down.
But it’s not.
Let’s start with the love-triangle. Mostly, I don’t understand why there’s a love-triangle. Colin, supposedly Dèmi’s intended, sleeps with every girl in sight, so much so that it’s a joke between the two when they’re first introduced. As friends, I might add. The whole “intended” thing only appears after they’ve met Jonas in the present day. Then the womanizing begins to sound… a little different. Colin is also kind of a jerk (I mean, Dèmi is too—but we won’t get into that). Jonas might as well be a saint. She blames Jonas for her mother’s death (like, actually blames him which is ridiculous—but we won’t get into that either) (okay maybe just a little: it’s obvious from her memories that Jonas had nothing to do with it—he’s unconscious and on the brink of death for most of it. After that he defends both of them and helps her escape, while his minders betray them. And yet Dèmi blames him over everyone else—and no it’s not transference or self-hatred, it’s him—even with overwhelming evidence against. But anyhow~), but that’s the only thing she has against him. If not for that, there wouldn’t even be a love-triangle at all. Not that I see why there’s one anyway.
I saw some notes from other reviewers that there was too much talking during chase scenes, or “time is short” scenarios—and that’s certainly true. There are several instances of “time is short” or “we have only seconds” where they proceed to discuss matters for 5-10 minutes. Even though I was warned of it beforehand… I think I would’ve noticed anyway. It’s blatant, and routine. Happens way too much; screws with the pacing.
And lastly.
How many similes is too many? The answer: pretty much until you begin to notice they’re there. A good story is built from many different parts. Metaphors, similes, and the like are just another building block, to be used like any other. The only point at which they become an issue is if they’re ridiculous, ill-formed, or overused. I really started paying attention to these in the middle of the first chapter, when I’d seen about a dozen—some simple, some complex, others florid. I went back to count and found 23 in the first chapter alone, with the next three chapters yielding a total of 47 more. See, that is too many. Whenever you see them constantly: on every page, in every other paragraph. Use your comparisons like you would anything else—in moderation. Now, they peter off later on (you’ll find 3-5, maybe even 10 in later chapters, but in the early ones they’re just constant. I’ll even include every single one from the first chapter on my blog, should you be terribly curious.
TL;DR
Forged by Blood is an epic debut by a talented author, but is also obviously a debut. Set in a fantastical Benin, it possesses a deep magical mythos and lore, and the ensuing adventure within is vibrant and interesting. The story itself is decent, though some of the later twists make less than complete sense. The love-triangle… really shouldn’t be a love-triangle. Colin is a short-sighted womanizer that sleeps with every girl in sight, while Jonas might as well be a saint and has undeniable chemistry with Dèmi that the former does not. I’m not saying either is the right match for our heroine—just that one sure as hell isn’t. The characters—especially Dèmi—are inconsistent at best, not well thought-out at least. And finally, we answer the age old question: how many similes is too many.
While Forged by Blood does quite a lot right, it does almost as much wrong. Even though this was a shaky debut to say the least, I’ll definitely be looking out for future works by the author. Just maybe not the second half of the duology.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2023/08/06/forged-by-blood-by-ehigbor-okosun-review/
In general, I find the less notes I take on a book, the more I enjoy it. Which makes sense. If I’m enthralled in a read, I’m not going to take the time to yank myself from a narrative to jot something down—whether it’s a comment or criticism or even a stellar quote. This became pertinent for Forged by Blood early on, as you’ll learn.
In the Kingdom of Benin, the Oluso are feared and hated, for the magic in their blood. When the Age took power generations past, they consolidated power by decrying their magical cousins, seeking nothing more than their genocide or expulsion from the kingdom.
Dèmi just wants to survive; she and her mother, magic users both, eke out a living by healing those desperate enough to beg for their help. When a young boy comes to them (brought by his caretaker), the two heal him, but his caretaker betrays them—and in the melee that follows Dèmi’s mother is killed. But not before Dèmi befriends the boy, Jonas, whom she blames the entire event on.
A decade passes, finding Dèmi still chasing a better life for her people. In doing so, she runs across the path of ambitious noble Ekwensi, who proposes a trade—kidnap a prince, and secure his aid in saving the lives of all her people. It’s an offer Dèmi can hardly refuse.
But there’s a wrinkle. The stolen Prince is Jonas, and the task is slightly more complicated than she might’ve thought, leading the two—plus her friend (and intended), Colin—on a heart-pounding adventure to deliver the stolen prince to Ekwensi before they are captured.
And while Dèmi still hates Jonas for getting her mother killed, there is an unmistakable attraction between the two. One that—in addition to aggravating herself and her intended, plus their relationship—may even compromise the entire mission.
—
Let’s start with the tale. And it’s a good one—adventure, magic, a mythos that might be different to those you normally see in fantasy. An epic quest, a burgeoning love, a people on the brink of genocide, a land where magic is hated and feared. All of these elements combine to form a plot that is truly epic, and impossible to predict. The setting is equally fantastic: the Kingdom of Benin (while I’m somewhat familiar with it historically) is packed with magic and the supernatural. It’s nothing like the comparably dull histories I’ve read—wild and vibrant and packed with adventure. If Forged by Blood were based on the overarching plot alone, not to mention the setting, I’d recommend it 100%, hands down.
But it’s not.
Let’s start with the love-triangle. Mostly, I don’t understand why there’s a love-triangle. Colin, supposedly Dèmi’s intended, sleeps with every girl in sight, so much so that it’s a joke between the two when they’re first introduced. As friends, I might add. The whole “intended” thing only appears after they’ve met Jonas in the present day. Then the womanizing begins to sound… a little different. Colin is also kind of a jerk (I mean, Dèmi is too—but we won’t get into that). Jonas might as well be a saint. She blames Jonas for her mother’s death (like, actually blames him which is ridiculous—but we won’t get into that either) (okay maybe just a little: it’s obvious from her memories that Jonas had nothing to do with it—he’s unconscious and on the brink of death for most of it. After that he defends both of them and helps her escape, while his minders betray them. And yet Dèmi blames him over everyone else—and no it’s not transference or self-hatred, it’s him—even with overwhelming evidence against. But anyhow~), but that’s the only thing she has against him. If not for that, there wouldn’t even be a love-triangle at all. Not that I see why there’s one anyway.
I saw some notes from other reviewers that there was too much talking during chase scenes, or “time is short” scenarios—and that’s certainly true. There are several instances of “time is short” or “we have only seconds” where they proceed to discuss matters for 5-10 minutes. Even though I was warned of it beforehand… I think I would’ve noticed anyway. It’s blatant, and routine. Happens way too much; screws with the pacing.
And lastly.
How many similes is too many? The answer: pretty much until you begin to notice they’re there. A good story is built from many different parts. Metaphors, similes, and the like are just another building block, to be used like any other. The only point at which they become an issue is if they’re ridiculous, ill-formed, or overused. I really started paying attention to these in the middle of the first chapter, when I’d seen about a dozen—some simple, some complex, others florid. I went back to count and found 23 in the first chapter alone, with the next three chapters yielding a total of 47 more. See, that is too many. Whenever you see them constantly: on every page, in every other paragraph. Use your comparisons like you would anything else—in moderation. Now, they peter off later on (you’ll find 3-5, maybe even 10 in later chapters, but in the early ones they’re just constant. I’ll even include every single one from the first chapter on my blog, should you be terribly curious.
TL;DR
Forged by Blood is an epic debut by a talented author, but is also obviously a debut. Set in a fantastical Benin, it possesses a deep magical mythos and lore, and the ensuing adventure within is vibrant and interesting. The story itself is decent, though some of the later twists make less than complete sense. The love-triangle… really shouldn’t be a love-triangle. Colin is a short-sighted womanizer that sleeps with every girl in sight, while Jonas might as well be a saint and has undeniable chemistry with Dèmi that the former does not. I’m not saying either is the right match for our heroine—just that one sure as hell isn’t. The characters—especially Dèmi—are inconsistent at best, not well thought-out at least. And finally, we answer the age old question: how many similes is too many.
While Forged by Blood does quite a lot right, it does almost as much wrong. Even though this was a shaky debut to say the least, I’ll definitely be looking out for future works by the author. Just maybe not the second half of the duology.
brittany23's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
chimamas's review
adventurous
dark
inspiring
tense
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
4.25
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I wanted to give this a chance, but sadly, I was bored most of the time.
I really liked the writing style, setting and atmosphere, but the plot and pacing were all over the place and the magic system didn't work for me. Same with the characters. The beginning was intriguing, but the direction in which it all developed was disappointing.
I really liked the writing style, setting and atmosphere, but the plot and pacing were all over the place and the magic system didn't work for me. Same with the characters. The beginning was intriguing, but the direction in which it all developed was disappointing.
theunderfold's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.75
marlene061313's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
books_tea_and_fantasy's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 ⭐️
Characters: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Writing: 5
Plot: 4
Intrigue: 2
Logic: 5
Enjoyment: 2
❌ DNF at 47% (p. 190)
❌ Series DNF
❌ Unhaul
Characters: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Writing: 5
Plot: 4
Intrigue: 2
Logic: 5
Enjoyment: 2
❌ DNF at 47% (p. 190)
❌ Series DNF
❌ Unhaul