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A review by the_wistful_word_witch
Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
3.0
I feel like screaming and sobbing after finishing this book. Tomi Adeyemi has left me in absolute tatters and my head hurts. I loved the first two books, even though they also ripped my heart out in different ways, but I am seriously conflicted about this last book.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
While I appreciate the writing, new characters, and world-building, there is still so much from the first two books that was left utterly unresolved: Roën... 🥺, the bond Zélie created with the other Elders after Mama Agba's sacrifice and what it could do, the tîtáns/cênters' creation, Nehanda just suddenly doing a 180 in her feelings about the maji, Zélie and Co. bringing harmony to Orïsha finally...). But since this is the finale, there are just things I'll never know now and I don't like that. Plus, Adeyemi kills off a lot of characters in this book, including major ones I didn't understand. 😭
This entire third book feels like it should have all been introduced in a new series that would have been so much richer. There's hardly any connection to the first two books. Plus, this new plot line with Baldyr literally came out of nowhere. There were no hints or mentions in either of the other two books that would give clues that THIS was what was coming after the cliffhanger in the second book.
I'm definitely a child of anguish at least because that's the only real impression this last book in the series has left me with - it's all battle, strife, and blood. There wasn't even the relief of the sweeter moments like in the other two books. It felt like I was fighting in the last battle myself, and my grief at all the loss is substantial. I cried so much and literally needed a hug when I finished it. I don't like feeling so adrift at the end of a series...
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
While I appreciate the writing, new characters, and world-building, there is still so much from the first two books that was left utterly unresolved: Roën... 🥺, the bond Zélie created with the other Elders after Mama Agba's sacrifice and what it could do, the tîtáns/cênters' creation, Nehanda just suddenly doing a 180 in her feelings about the maji, Zélie and Co. bringing harmony to Orïsha finally...). But since this is the finale, there are just things I'll never know now and I don't like that. Plus, Adeyemi kills off a lot of characters in this book, including major ones I didn't understand. 😭
This entire third book feels like it should have all been introduced in a new series that would have been so much richer. There's hardly any connection to the first two books. Plus, this new plot line with Baldyr literally came out of nowhere. There were no hints or mentions in either of the other two books that would give clues that THIS was what was coming after the cliffhanger in the second book.
I'm definitely a child of anguish at least because that's the only real impression this last book in the series has left me with - it's all battle, strife, and blood. There wasn't even the relief of the sweeter moments like in the other two books. It felt like I was fighting in the last battle myself, and my grief at all the loss is substantial. I cried so much and literally needed a hug when I finished it. I don't like feeling so adrift at the end of a series...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism