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bookswithlee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Grief, Child death, and Abandonment
azrah786's review against another edition
dark
4.25
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I received a proof copy from Harper360YA in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, gun violence, blood, gore, injury, death, child death, death of parent, grief, murder, torture, war, genocide, rape/sexual assault, fire, emotional abuse, racism, cultural appropriation
--
This book is intense, it is dark and it is one hell of an addictive debut.
Blood Scion is a story inspired by Yoruba-Nigerian mythology following a child soldier, Sloane as she is forcibly conscripted into the army of a colonist regime known as the Lucis. They have occupied the continent Nagea after slaughtering many of its native people and have a particular animosity towards those known as Scions, descendants from the Orisha gods who have been gifted some of their magic.
Sloane, who is a Scion herself, manages to hide her identity and slip under their radar when she is drafted and is determined to uncover records on her mother’s disappearance, which she is sure the Lucis, are behind. It also provides her with the opportunity to bring the Lucis down from within but as she fights to survive, each day comes with the threat of her losing more and more of her humanity.
**I received a proof copy from Harper360YA in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, gun violence, blood, gore, injury, death, child death, death of parent, grief, murder, torture, war, genocide, rape/sexual assault, fire, emotional abuse, racism, cultural appropriation
--
This book is intense, it is dark and it is one hell of an addictive debut.
Blood Scion is a story inspired by Yoruba-Nigerian mythology following a child soldier, Sloane as she is forcibly conscripted into the army of a colonist regime known as the Lucis. They have occupied the continent Nagea after slaughtering many of its native people and have a particular animosity towards those known as Scions, descendants from the Orisha gods who have been gifted some of their magic.
Sloane, who is a Scion herself, manages to hide her identity and slip under their radar when she is drafted and is determined to uncover records on her mother’s disappearance, which she is sure the Lucis, are behind. It also provides her with the opportunity to bring the Lucis down from within but as she fights to survive, each day comes with the threat of her losing more and more of her humanity.
"When I was a child, Momma always taught me to fight for those too weak to raise their fists. Scream for those too afraid to find their voice. And stand for those too tired to rise on their feet."
Falaye’s writing immediately draws you into to a world and a story that reads like the perfect blend of An Ember in the Ashes and The Hunger Games - both big favourites of mine and if you loved any or both of those series you'll really enjoy this book too - but also brings something totally new to the YA genre. Not only are we introduced to elements of Yoruba-Nigerian culture and lore (which I really hope is further expanded on in the sequel along with the magic) but we are pulled along on a storyline that meticulously explores the brutal realities of war, colonialism and the cost of survival.
Sloane is a fierce and strong-willed protagonist and like pretty much everyone in this book doesn’t make the most moral of decisions throughout the story, but you can’t help but root for her.
My favourite aspect of the book has got to be the relationships and alliances that form between the various characters. Not only were the supporting characters fleshed out really well but by using that air of mistrust and reluctance that floated around Sloane and her fellow recruits, Falaye carefully shaped some really interesting dynamics between them all that really invests you with their stories too.
"Sometimes, you have to walk in the dark before you can see the light."
The only real issue I had with the book was the age of the characters or more so how often we were reminded of Sloane being 15 years old. The themes within this book and just how deeply they were being explored are definitely more characteristic of the adult fantasy genre and I’m not trying to say that they can’t be used in YA. It’s just that the way the characters were written made them feel older that being reminded of the ages on page threw me off at times - it felt as though it was constantly being pointed out as a way to box the book in as YA more than anything else.
All that aside I really enjoyed this one and though I’ll admit I did see some of the reveals coming, the ending was such a gripping set up for book 2 and I can’t wait!
If you like morally grey characters, twisty storylines with intriguing magic and high stakes then this book is for you.
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, War, Genocide, Sexual assault, Racism, Violence, Gun violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, Rape, Child death, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Cultural appropriation
2treads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child death, Violence, Blood, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Torture
chelcie_alexandra's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Death, Death of parent, and Child abuse
gem114's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Damn. There's a warning at the beginning of this book that while the story itself is fiction the experiences of the characters are based on the real experiences of child soldiers, and Falaye doesn't hold back. This book is dark. Many of the scenes are hard to read because the content is brutal. Still, Falaye does an amazing job packaging these hard truths in a way that pushes readers to grapple with them and keep reading rather than turning away.
This book reminded me a lot of Children of Blood and Bone since that's the only other book I've read that is based in the same mythology, but Falaye does a better job at developing complex, morally gray characters. Sloane is a great main character. She's a strong young woman with badass ancestral magic taking on an oppressive monarchy while struggling to balance her own humanity with her survival instincts.
The whole book is a roller coaster, but the last 50 pages or so are absolutely wild. So much happens. Almost too much. Definitely too much given the number of questions I still have and the fact that the next book isn't out yet. This is me impatiently waiting for a sequel.
This book reminded me a lot of Children of Blood and Bone since that's the only other book I've read that is based in the same mythology, but Falaye does a better job at developing complex, morally gray characters. Sloane is a great main character. She's a strong young woman with badass ancestral magic taking on an oppressive monarchy while struggling to balance her own humanity with her survival instincts.
The whole book is a roller coaster, but the last 50 pages or so are absolutely wild. So much happens. Almost too much. Definitely too much given the number of questions I still have and the fact that the next book isn't out yet. This is me impatiently waiting for a sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Racism, Physical abuse, Murder, Blood, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, War, Death of parent, Colonisation, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Gun violence, and Child abuse
Minor: Cultural appropriation and Terminal illness
lettuce_read's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual assault, Gore, Death of parent, Violence, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
antonique_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Gore, War, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Blood
readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Thanks to Harper360 for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Buddy read with Charvi.
I was really excited for this book and ready to love it so I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't. This is a YA military fantasy about fifteen-year-old Sloane, who trains with her enemies, the Lucis, to find out the truth about what happened to her mother. Despite being YA, this book is actually darker than some adult novels I've read, so please check the content warnings before you pick it up.
This book had so much potential and there were some great moments between Izara and Sloane, but I had some issues were with the plot, pacing and writing style. The writing style feels very repetitive at the beginning of the story, with the main character telling us the same information multiple times in the first few chapters. The narrative style also made it hard to connect with the characters initially, as it felt like there was distance between us and them.
I think the book could have done with a big structural overhaul, as there were a few plot holes and things that didn't match up with what we'd previously been told. The pacing and use of time in the book also felt off, as there were times when a week would pass and it felt like no time at all, but at other times, hours felt like days. The whole book is set within the span of a month, but it feels more like six months from the way things are described.
The novel's world building is good and I really liked the inclusion of Yoruba culture and mythology. Izara was definitely my favourite character; I enjoyed seeing her grow and develop as a person. Her friendship with Sloane was one of my favourite aspects of the book soit's an understatement to say I was upset about what happened to her later in the story .
The book shows us, in detail, the destructive impact war has on childhood and is highly critical of colonialism. I think the narrative could have benefited from with even more nuance and depth in these discussions. (I also think, due to the nature of this story, romance was unnecessary and the overtones of coloniser/colonised romance were a big no for me.)
Content warnings for murder, torture, death, death of a parent, death/murder of children, blood, violence, fire and injuries from fire, sexual assault, attempted rape, war, genocide, colonialism and colonial violence, cultural appropriation.
Buddy read with Charvi.
I was really excited for this book and ready to love it so I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't. This is a YA military fantasy about fifteen-year-old Sloane, who trains with her enemies, the Lucis, to find out the truth about what happened to her mother. Despite being YA, this book is actually darker than some adult novels I've read, so please check the content warnings before you pick it up.
This book had so much potential and there were some great moments between Izara and Sloane, but I had some issues were with the plot, pacing and writing style. The writing style feels very repetitive at the beginning of the story, with the main character telling us the same information multiple times in the first few chapters. The narrative style also made it hard to connect with the characters initially, as it felt like there was distance between us and them.
I think the book could have done with a big structural overhaul, as there were a few plot holes and things that didn't match up with what we'd previously been told. The pacing and use of time in the book also felt off, as there were times when a week would pass and it felt like no time at all, but at other times, hours felt like days. The whole book is set within the span of a month, but it feels more like six months from the way things are described.
The novel's world building is good and I really liked the inclusion of Yoruba culture and mythology. Izara was definitely my favourite character; I enjoyed seeing her grow and develop as a person. Her friendship with Sloane was one of my favourite aspects of the book so
The book shows us, in detail, the destructive impact war has on childhood and is highly critical of colonialism. I think the narrative could have benefited from with even more nuance and depth in these discussions. (I also think, due to the nature of this story, romance was unnecessary and the overtones of coloniser/colonised romance were a big no for me.)
Content warnings for murder, torture, death, death of a parent, death/murder of children, blood, violence, fire and injuries from fire, sexual assault, attempted rape, war, genocide, colonialism and colonial violence, cultural appropriation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Cultural appropriation and Rape
Minor: Body horror
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this to review! The cover to this book is absolutely striking. You know from the beginning you're likely getting an action packed science fiction epic, and that's exactly what this book delivers.
Falaye sets the tone of this story right from the beginning. We get to see Sloane's powers in the first opening scene, and you know that something dangerous is going to follow it. This is definitely a military driven story, and we see how this affects Sloane from beginning to end. Thoughout, Falaye integrates the African mythology with the technology of those in power, making for an overall hard-hitting story.
While sometimes pacing can be difficult for stories like this, I'd argue the pacing is pretty spot on in this book. It makes the story itself more accessibly, and it makes it difficult to put the book down. In addition to the pacing, Falaye fleshes out each of the main characters well. They more than one dimensional, adding to the intense nature of the story.
All in all, if you're looking for something like Skyhunter by Marie Lu, this is a great read-a-like. I'd definitely be interested in reading the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Genocide, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Self harm, and Rape
Minor: Death of parent and Trafficking
amivireads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
Thank you Harper Collins and Edelweiss for an arc of Blood Scion; here is my honest review.
Blood Scion has become my new favorite fantasy book! The characters are complex, and even when I didn't agree with their decisions, I understood why they made them.
Slone is a great main character that is put through a lot but still holds onto her humanity as she is put through horrifying things.
There's a lot of twists with this story that I didn't see coming, and the ending left us off on a cliffhanger. Usually I can guess what's going to happen next, but I really have no idea where the story goes from here. This truly shows me how great of a writer Deborah Falaye is. I need book 2 now!
Blood Scion has become my new favorite fantasy book! The characters are complex, and even when I didn't agree with their decisions, I understood why they made them.
Slone is a great main character that is put through a lot but still holds onto her humanity as she is put through horrifying things.
There's a lot of twists with this story that I didn't see coming, and the ending left us off on a cliffhanger. Usually I can guess what's going to happen next, but I really have no idea where the story goes from here. This truly shows me how great of a writer Deborah Falaye is. I need book 2 now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Colonisation, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Rape, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Torture
Minor: Death of parent