A review by starrysteph
Forged by Blood by Ehigbor Okosun

dark 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

Forged by Blood is a fantasy book inspired by Nigerian mythology. We follow Demi, a young woman who must hide her magic from the violent occupiers of her land. When her mother is murdered, she seeks revenge and stumbles into a mysterious opportunity from a Lord, and she sets out on a deadly mission alongside her childhood best friend and a figure from her past that she never thought she’d see again.

Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed by this one. I was ready for a fresh epic fantasy, but it was recycled tropes & scenes that I’ve read a hundred times before. I swear there were moments that felt like they were copied from other books almost word for word. I had a strange sense of deja vu while reading. 

The characters and storytelling both felt young and immature. I believe this was originally intended to be young adult, but was aged up? The world-building didn’t quite make sense (too many holes in logic & the magic system was not developed well) and the choices and flatness of the characters baffled me a bit. 

Both young men who were the love-triangle-interests were disappointing & toxic in different ways (and don’t get me started on the fated mate trope, especially when a young Black girl is paired with the white oppressor). 

I was also disappointed by some of the framing around the oppressed group rising up against their genocidal rulers. 

CW: death of parent, murder, colonization, genocide, slavery, racism, grief, sexual harassment, child abuse, child death, confinement, sexism, torture, xenophobia, war, pregnancy

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(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)