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_shannara_'s review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
4.0
orianasan's review against another edition
5.0
This blew me away in so many aspects, incredible YA book!!! This is the type of book that is going to hook kids into reading and that makes my heart sing! And reading the author’s note at the end just solidified my love for it even more. Already picked up the second one from the library!
whodatro's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
curhondonce's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I enjoyed learning about the lore of this world and ohms myself looking up more information about the gods and goddesses. I have always been a fan of stories with strong female leads and Zélie & Amari are amazing! I am so excited to continue the journey of their story.
literaryleftie's review against another edition
4.0
At first I really enjoyed this book and then I spent some time thinking I might either DNF or put the audio on the fastest speed and just listen to finish. I am happy with my decision to keep listening because there were far more ups than downs in my listening experience with this book. Lots of world-building, but it happened as the story went on so it made it easier to hold in my brain than it normally would have been.
diararose's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
buud_w0rm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Genocide, Slavery, and Death
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
megs_renee's review against another edition
5.0
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - give me just a second to collect my feels.
Okay - on to the review.
*spoiler free*
Children of Blood and Bone is a fantasy novel set in the fictional land of Orïsha. It is inspired by west African mythology. The basic plotline is a battle between good vs evil to either restore magic or eradicate magic for good. But there’s SO MUCH more depth. Between the world building, the characters, and the plot... everything was gorgeously done. I fell in love with every character. I felt a rollercoaster of emotions. I could live in Tomi’s writing; It’s stunning. When I read a book, I want to feel something. I want to feel like I’ve melted into the fantasy world. Tomi beyond achieves this.
Children of Blood and Bone is one of the best debut fantasy novels I have ever read. I flew through the pages, despite the size. I never wanted it to end, but I finished it in two days. I could not put it down. (Work may have been a little neglected as a result.) It is told from the perspective of three different characters, which I really enjoyed.
The ideas are new. I often fear, when starting a new YA fantasy, that it will fall into the same old tropes and be easy to predict. It does not struggle with this at all. When I first read the description, I was intrigued. But, I was also a bit apprehensive because I’ve never read anything regarding West African mythology. Tomi beautifully introduces the mythology without confusing the reader. I really enjoyed her fantasy world and the African mythology weaved together.
Read this. You’ll love it. This is one of the few times that I can confidently say a book lives up to the hype.
Okay - on to the review.
*spoiler free*
Children of Blood and Bone is a fantasy novel set in the fictional land of Orïsha. It is inspired by west African mythology. The basic plotline is a battle between good vs evil to either restore magic or eradicate magic for good. But there’s SO MUCH more depth. Between the world building, the characters, and the plot... everything was gorgeously done. I fell in love with every character. I felt a rollercoaster of emotions. I could live in Tomi’s writing; It’s stunning. When I read a book, I want to feel something. I want to feel like I’ve melted into the fantasy world. Tomi beyond achieves this.
Children of Blood and Bone is one of the best debut fantasy novels I have ever read. I flew through the pages, despite the size. I never wanted it to end, but I finished it in two days. I could not put it down. (Work may have been a little neglected as a result.) It is told from the perspective of three different characters, which I really enjoyed.
The ideas are new. I often fear, when starting a new YA fantasy, that it will fall into the same old tropes and be easy to predict. It does not struggle with this at all. When I first read the description, I was intrigued. But, I was also a bit apprehensive because I’ve never read anything regarding West African mythology. Tomi beautifully introduces the mythology without confusing the reader. I really enjoyed her fantasy world and the African mythology weaved together.
Read this. You’ll love it. This is one of the few times that I can confidently say a book lives up to the hype.
lsol8tion's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.75
I wanna take a deep dive into tomi adeyemi's mind to experience her process of how she created this immersive world, society caste system, and magic system. To incorporate youruba mythology into each of them , & so amazingly too??? WOW.
Reading Zelie's POV chapters & seeing her internal war holding such a huge responisbility of restoring magic in Orisha was so engrossing but also frustrating at times when she makes bad decisions, such asher falling for Inan . However, I think her decisions are aslo reflective of how young she is. She's only 17 & being tasked by the gods to restore magic is an INSANE responsibility.
AND LEMME GET INAN REAL QUICK. I understand he felt a familial pressure to put "duty before self" and "protect" Orisha as its future king but he shoulda known his daddy was NAWT gon spare him when he found out about his Connector powers. Your dad is Saran, the brutal king who regularly had you & your sister fight & injure each other with real weapons & KILLS maji without a second thought. Once Saran ordered Inan to kill Amari if he found her whike Zelie was in captivity, then Inan shoulda realized that his father is mercilies & doesn't give a fuck about family. Inan shoulda tkaen the chance to run with Tzain, & Amari when they fled the fortress after saving Zelie. BUT WHAT DID INAN DO? STAYED BY HIS FATHER'S SIDE LIKE A BITCH, CONTINUOUSLY DEFEND THE OPPRESSIVE SYSTEM HIS FATHER CREATED, & TEAR THE SCROLL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE USED TO BRING MAGIC BACK. I don't feel bad that Inan was killed by his father because there were so many instance that Saran showed his ruthlessness & Inan thought he would be the only exception. GOOD RIDDANCE HOE
Now Amari's a girl who STANDS ON BUSINESS. She sawher father kill Binta & immediately sprung into action. She had the balls to go against her father's wishes (something bitch-ass Inan couldn't do). However, she's also a princess who's unlearning her biases and imdoctrination. I hope she continues her deconstructing journey & untimately find a way end maji oprression in a way that doesn't include her famiky staying in power. Honestly I don't think the maji of Orisha will feel comfortable with another person from the same royal line who was responsible for the Raids. ALSO SHE GOT POWERS NOW??
I hope we see more Tzain development in book 2. I would love to read flashbacks of him and Zelie's childhood from his perspective. He's Zelie's brother and protector, and Amari's potential boo thang, but what else?
That cliffhanger was DIABOLICAL OMG??? I can't wait to read more!
Reading Zelie's POV chapters & seeing her internal war holding such a huge responisbility of restoring magic in Orisha was so engrossing but also frustrating at times when she makes bad decisions, such as
AND LEMME GET INAN REAL QUICK. I understand he felt a familial pressure to put "duty before self" and "protect" Orisha as its future king but he shoulda known
Now Amari's a girl who STANDS ON BUSINESS. She saw
I hope we see more Tzain development in book 2. I would love to read flashbacks of him and Zelie's childhood from his perspective. He's Zelie's brother and protector, and Amari's potential boo thang, but what else?
That cliffhanger was DIABOLICAL OMG??? I can't wait to read more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail