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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
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
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
mxkanteven's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is… amazing.
That’s the best word to describe it. Deborah Falaye did a phenomenal job creating the world of Nagea, taking inspiration from Yoruba lore and real world colonial histories to weave together a challenging yet gratifying read.
The book doesn’t shy away from the atrocities of war, colonialism and subjugation. Nor does it sweep rage and anger under the rug in favour of a love & light message. It paints a vivid picture of the realities of being a child living and fighting in a world of systemic inequities and oppressions.
That’s the best word to describe it. Deborah Falaye did a phenomenal job creating the world of Nagea, taking inspiration from Yoruba lore and real world colonial histories to weave together a challenging yet gratifying read.
The book doesn’t shy away from the atrocities of war, colonialism and subjugation. Nor does it sweep rage and anger under the rug in favour of a love & light message. It paints a vivid picture of the realities of being a child living and fighting in a world of systemic inequities and oppressions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Physical abuse, Self harm, and War
Moderate: Physical abuse, Gun violence, Confinement, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, and Genocide
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
bookstarbri's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.5
Whatttt on earth did I just read? I'm scared. I am in FEAR. I feel like since page 1 of the book, I was descending further and further into darkness. I expected it to be dark, but didn't expect it to get as graphic as it did, especially so early on. See CWs because this book is not for everyone. Though this book is dark, it is a YA, so perhaps not quite as dark as it could've been had it been adult.
However, if you are able to get past all of those, this book is WORTH IT. I have never read anything like it my life. It is a stunning YA military, fantasy novel. Its main character, Sloan, is what's called a Scion, which is basically a being descended from gods who harbors magic. The people in charge, however, despise Scions and hunt them down. So when Sloan lands in the heart of the very people who want to kill her, she has figure out how to survive in such a perilous world, away from her friends and family.
Sloan is a wonderful character. Watching her do everything she has to do to survive was horrific and terrible and such a fascinating character arc. She loses a lot of herself in this book. She does a lot of horrible things. She makes a lot of bad decisions and, worse, she loses a lot of her humanity because of this terrible world. We do a lot of moving in this book and the person she was at the start of its 430ish pages is not at all who she is at the end, yet the core of her remains very much the same. The side characters were good too. I think I wish we could've gotten more from them. There was a lot of Sloan's inner monologue that I wish could've been condensed so we could have her interact more with the other characters. Because of the nature of the book, I pretty much consider all of the characters besides Sloan side characters, since none of them really stood out enough to be a main character along with Sloan.
The plot of this book is amazing. It did get a bit slow in the middle and, again, the inner monologues got to be a bit much and repetitive at times. However, there are a lot of twists and turns and BIG surprises. I guessed the big one at the end a few chapters earlier, but I hadn't guessed many of the other ones throughout. This is one of the darkest YA books I've ever read. But everything that happens happens for a reason and isn't simply to frivolously put the MC through hell. This book is amazing. It is brilliant. The writing is fantastic. I don't know where the sequel will go, but I am both terrified and ecstatic to read it.
Thank you to the author, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
However, if you are able to get past all of those, this book is WORTH IT. I have never read anything like it my life. It is a stunning YA military, fantasy novel. Its main character, Sloan, is what's called a Scion, which is basically a being descended from gods who harbors magic. The people in charge, however, despise Scions and hunt them down. So when Sloan lands in the heart of the very people who want to kill her, she has figure out how to survive in such a perilous world, away from her friends and family.
Sloan is a wonderful character. Watching her do everything she has to do to survive was horrific and terrible and such a fascinating character arc. She loses a lot of herself in this book. She does a lot of horrible things. She makes a lot of bad decisions and, worse, she loses a lot of her humanity because of this terrible world. We do a lot of moving in this book and the person she was at the start of its 430ish pages is not at all who she is at the end, yet the core of her remains very much the same. The side characters were good too. I think I wish we could've gotten more from them. There was a lot of Sloan's inner monologue that I wish could've been condensed so we could have her interact more with the other characters. Because of the nature of the book, I pretty much consider all of the characters besides Sloan side characters, since none of them really stood out enough to be a main character along with Sloan.
The plot of this book is amazing. It did get a bit slow in the middle and, again, the inner monologues got to be a bit much and repetitive at times. However, there are a lot of twists and turns and BIG surprises. I guessed the big one at the end a few chapters earlier, but I hadn't guessed many of the other ones throughout. This is one of the darkest YA books I've ever read. But everything that happens happens for a reason and isn't simply to frivolously put the MC through hell. This book is amazing. It is brilliant. The writing is fantastic. I don't know where the sequel will go, but I am both terrified and ecstatic to read it.
Thank you to the author, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Blood, Child abuse, Colonisation, Grief, Sexual assault, and War
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Rape, Self harm, and Torture
Minor: Trafficking
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