A review by lolajh
Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye

emotional inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Oh my LORD what a book. No way in hell would I ever classify this as young adult; this was so harrowing to read and if I read it as a kid I’d be even more distraught than I am right now.

Sloane is one of the best female characters I have read in such a long time. She is so perfectly accurate to her age and experience and trauma; a spirited, angry, hurt girl that I understand each and every decision made by her.
I initially hated the addition of the romance between her and Omari (don’t get me wrong I still hate them together) because of the crazy power imbalance, the fast switch up from enemies to lovers, and all this happening like a month after Teo died; but I am so glad it didn’t end well and that it was never going to (even if Omari didn’t betray her I really don’t believe it would work). Sloane realised she was manipulated by him and Theodus and fucking every person ever because of how young and vulnerable and powerful and eager for vengeance she is.


The pacing of the book is phenomenal and you can tell how thought-out it was from start to finish and that the author really knew exactly how it was going to end from the beginning 😫 Sloane so perfectly builds herself up (and down) throughout the book at a pace that is just so convincing god I love it. 

And the relationships with the side characters 😫 Izara
(Amiyah)
, Nazanin and Jericho were further examples of perfectly written kids taken advantage of in a war and having to grow up far quicker than they should and be exposed to things no one ever should have to.
Amiyah and Sloane’s relationship especially was my favourite out of all of them by far. Her backstory and the way they met and Amiyah looking after Sloane after she got whipped just had me so emotional I loved them so much, Amiyah’s death was absolutely heartbreaking. Her just giving in and stopping fighting while Sloane lost control 😭😭😭 stop hurting me


I have genuinely no clue how this series will progress but I am absolutely going to continue reading it.
All I ask is that Sloane and Omari please don’t get back together I hate that man he could never be redeemed and also that Sloane finds peace goddamn 😫😫 If she isn’t able to just grow old in Ilè-Orisha with a bunch of other women with no war I don’t want it
Expand filter menu Content Warnings