This review post is all about Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
CATEGORIES: BOOK BLOG POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, FANTASY
ABOUT THE BOOK
TITLE: children of blood and bone
series: legacy of orïsha
AUTHOR: tomi adeyemi
GENRES: young adult fantasy
PUBLISHER: macmillan publishing group
PUBLISHING DATE: march 6th, 2018
FORMat: paperback
page count: 531 pages
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X-MEN, BUT WITH MAGIC AND SET IN AFRICA
GOODREADS summary
They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise.
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.
CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE BOOK REVIEW
My Thoughts
When I first grabbed Children of Blood and Bone on Audible years ago, I had no idea it would become such a phenomenon.
The moment I heard it was being adapted into a major motion picture, I literally screamed. Then I saw the cast announcement and screamed even louder. You simply have to check out this star-studded cast.
In these chaotic times, this was exactly the news I needed.
With all the buzz surrounding the adaptation, I figured more people would want to know what makes this book so special. So I dove back in for a re-read, and let me tell you all about it.
THE PLOT
From page one, I was hooked. We meet Zélie, a young girl sparring with her village rival under the watchful eye of the fierce Mama Agba, who teaches her students the art of staff fighting.
Even in this opening scene—a simple training session—I found myself holding my breath, desperate to see if Zélie would emerge victorious.
But this seemingly simple world quickly darkens when guards storm the village, terrorizing its people and demanding impossible taxes.
This is Orïsha, where King Saran rules with merciless authority over the divîners—those with dormant magical abilities.
Years ago, he orchestrated “The Raid,” a devastating massacre that stripped magic from the land and left countless maji defenseless.
“They don't hate you, my child. They hate what you were meant to become.”
The parallels to X-Men and America’s civil rights struggle are impossible to ignore.
King Saran, consumed by his fear of magic’s potential return, maintains his iron grip by keeping the divîners impoverished, terrified, and often enslaved in brutal labor camps known as “the stocks”.
THE MYTHOLOGY
What makes this story truly masterful is how naturally the magic system unfolds. Rather than overwhelming us with information, the author reveals each piece of the puzzle exactly when we need it.
We learn of the gods and goddesses who blessed the different maji clans with their powers.
The mythology is spellbinding, particularly during a mesmerizing scene that unveils the maji’s history.
The descriptions of Sky Mother and the goddess Oya left me absolutely enchanted. Most importantly, we discover both how magic was stolen—and how it might be reclaimed.
The quest to restore magic falls to Zélie and her brother Tzain, who form an unlikely alliance with King Saran’s own children, Princess Amari and Prince Inan. Together, they must unite the scattered maji clans and reawaken their dormant powers.
This story never lets you catch your breath. Danger lurks around every corner, beloved characters meet tragic ends, and betrayals cut deep.
I found myself getting teary eyed throughout several chapters, a rarity for me in the YA fantasy genre.
But beyond its surface as an epic quest to restore magic to Orïsha, this tale speaks to anyone who has ever felt their own power stripped away. It reminds us that our inner magic isn’t truly gone—it’s just waiting to be awakened.
*Trigger Warning: Themes of racism, colorism, genocide, forced labor, child abuse, violence, and sexual harassment are touched on in this novel so be cautious if you are sensitive to these subjects.
“No matter what the world said, my magic was beautiful. Even without powers, the gods had blessed me with a gift.”
THE CHARACTERS of children of blood and bone
ZÉLIE
Zélie gives me Aries energy – a big temper, a big mouth, and an even bigger heart. He desire to save her Baba (her father) and save the maji people fuels her quest to restore magic.
I simply love how ornery she is with just about everyone, even her brother Tzain. She often speaks before she thinks, or to be even more accurate, she snaps before she thinks. But, her heart is always in the right place.
I love her physical appearance. Her dark skin, her white hair, and her silver eyes create striking imagery. I’m imagining a dark-skinned Storm (X-men) and it’s giving me life.
“Fool yourself all you want, little prince, but don’t feign innocence with me. I won’t let your father get away with what he’s done. I won’t let your ignorance silence my pain.”
TZAIN
Meet Zélie’s older brother, the voice of reason (or so he thinks). Tzain, a kosidan, someone without magical abilities, blends in with his dark skin and black hair – a stark contrast to his sister’s distinctive looks.
While his protective instincts come from love, his “play it safe” approach isn’t always what’s best. I found myself warming to him only when his carefully controlled demeanor finally cracked, revealing the passion underneath in later chapters.
PRINCESS AMARI
If there’s one character who stole my heart completely, it’s Princess Amari. Why? Because her struggle feels relatable – a soul trapped in a cage of expectations, never allowed to truly spread her wings.
This timid princess lived by the rules until tragedy struck, taking her beloved friend. That loss transformed her.
Living under the shadow of a harsh mother and cruel father, she chose defiance over compliance, proving that revolution doesn’t always roar – sometimes it whispers.
Her character arc soars above the rest. I think out of all the characters in the book, Princess Amari’s character arc was the most transformative. She’s underestimated by everyone, but at the thought of losing more people she loved, it awakened the lion within her.
“Father’s old warnings of magic blood inside my head, tales of battle and fire, darkness and disease. Magic is the source of all evil, he would hiss. It will tear Orïsha apart.”
PRINCE INAN
He’s a complex figure, desperately seeking his tyrannical father’s approval until his encounters with the maji, particularly the alluring Zélie, force him to question everything.
My duty has always been to my kingdom, but it must be for a better Orïsha. A new Orïsha. A land in which a prince and a maji could coexist. A land where even Zélie and I could be a “we””
KING SaRAN
Every villain has an origin story, and Saran’s stems from deep psychological wounds that twisted into something dark. He’s crafted a world where empathy equals weakness, poisoning his relationships with his people, the maji, and even his own children.
While we understand his motivations, his character begs for more layers – something to make this broken man more than just a study in black and white thinking.
THE WRITING STYLe
The writing of “Children of Blood of Bone” was a masterclass how to introduce a unique magic system in a way that doesn’t overwhelm the reader.
Another thing I noticed were the short punchy chapters. Love them. Maybe it’s just me but I feel a sense of satisfaction when I finish a chapter. Not only were the chapters short, but they often ended on a cliffhanger which made you want to keep turning.
The Dual POV chapters features Zélie, Princess Amari, and Prince Inan.
While some perspectives feel more essential than others, each voice adds its own color to this rich tapestry of a story.
My only quibble? The dreamscape sequences tend to drag, pulling the brake on an otherwise racing plot.
But let’s talk about those goddesses and their magic – absolutely spectacular. The descriptions paint such vivid pictures that I could see every magical moment unfold in my mind’s eye.
When this hits the big screen (and I can’t wait until it does), the filmmakers will have plenty of gorgeous source material to work with.
CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE AGE RATING:
Although marketed as YA fantasy, the mature themes such as violence, racism, and genocide in makes it suitable only for readers 14 years old and up.
CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE MOVIE
Now as of writing this review here’s run down of everything I know about it so far.
The director will be Gina Prince-Bythewood, she has directed movies such as Love and Basketball (2000), The Secret Life of Bees (2008), and The Woman King (2022), among others.
THE CAST OF CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE
- Thuso Mbedu: Plays Zelie
- Amandla Stenberg: Plays Princess Amari
- Damson Idris: Plays Prince Inan
- Tosin Cole: Plays Tzain
- Viola Davis: Plays Mama Agba
- Cynthia Erivo: Plays Admiral Kaea
- Idris Elba: Plays Lekan
- Lashana Lynch: Plays Jumoke
- Chiwetel Ejiofor: Plays King Saran
The release date of Children of Blood and Bone is supposed to be Jan, 15th 2027.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi is an unforgettable journey. This book barely gives you a moment to breathe as it sweeps you into a whirlwind of excitement, keeping you on the edge of your seat with every chapter.
The stakes are set high from the start—it’s a life-or-death situation. Zelie’s people’s fate hangs in the balance, along with the fate of magic itself. The plot is fast-paced and fun, making every moment count.
The world-building and magic system are truly unique, unlike anything I’ve encountered before or since. I can’t wait to see how it translates to the big screen.
The cherry on top for me was Tomi Adeyemi’s author’s note, where she shines a light on the tragic loss of innocent black lives at the hands of police in the United States.
While I usually read to escape the harshness of reality, this book left me feeling hopeful and inspired, rather than hopeless, ending on a note that resonates with optimism.
If you haven’t read this gem yet, do yourself a favor and click the links below to dive into its pages.
And if you have, comment below and let’s get a conversation going—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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