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A review by thenovelmaura
Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
3.0
I really wanted to love this book! The premise and influence of Yoruba-Nigerian mythology made this a highly-anticipated read for me. The magic system was intriguing and I do enjoy a YA novel that doesn't shy away from brutal themes (check the content warnings before picking this one up). However, there's a fine line between using brutality to get your point across and using it for shock value, and Falaye sometimes veers into the latter. I also expected more from the world-building than we ended up getting. While I don't regret reading this one, I don't have a strong urge to pick up the sequel.
Graphic: Death, Murder, War, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Rape