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A review by obscurepages
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
5.0
(You can also find this review on my blog!)
Children of Blood and Bone is consuming, enthralling, intense, and heartbreaking all at once.
The writing
Wow. That's what I can say about the writing style of the author. Tomi Adeyemi weaves a story full of pain, hope, despair and magic. Every chapter and every page makes me crave for more. At the same time, it also made me afraid of what's to come.
From the very first chapter until the end, it was intense and action-packed. Her writing style really managed to keep me at the edge of my seat! And honestly, if I didn't have any work, I would have devoured this book in just a couple days as I really enjoyed it!
I also love how the author did not abuse the use of detailed description and metaphors. The narration was just enough to make me visualize the different locations, feel the character's emotions, and go along the situations. And the metaphorical expressions throughout the book was just enough to make it poetic and poignant.
The characters
I loved the characters as well! The multiple first person point of views allowed me to peer into the characters' personalities—their emotions and thoughts—as the story went on.
I felt Zélie's pain, her drive, her hope, and despair. Reading the story through her perspective filled me with a lot of emotions. With every chapter I read in her perspective, it's almost as if her emotions become a tangible thing that affects me to the core. She might have been sidetracked by something in the middle of the story, but at the end she found her purpose once again.
I felt Amari's hopelessness and guilt, and her willpower to correct all the wrongs her father made. I loved that despite what she went through under the care of her father's hands, she was not tainted by the same hate and evilness that surrounds him, or the doubts and naivety that surrounds her brother. She is truly a pure soul in this book. (and I hope it stays that way for the rest of the series omg).
I felt Inan's doubts, hate, and fear. His character was the most frustrating out of them, for me. I understood his fear of himself and the hatred in the early parts of the book, but even when the truth about his father's evil deeds was already glaring at him, he stills wants to erase magic in Orïsha. He remains a good soldier eager to please his father, and that was really infuriating for me.
The plot
The plot of this book was amazing and really intense from start to finish. Just when I thought one problem was solved, another one comes and then plot twists sprout from one chapter to another, it was heart-stopping!
The plot kind of reminded me of Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch (aka one of my favorite books out there and an underrated series!) as well. Especially at the middle an near the end part, when Zélie is conflicted and having second thoughts about returning the power for all maji in Orïsha.
The attraction between Zélie and Inan was something I did not like to be honest. It felt rushed and confusing. (Also, I am not overly fond with the insta-love trope, so you can see why this irks me.)
The plot has also left me with some interesting questions. I hope I get the answer to them in the sequel. I'm really excited to continue this story!
The world-building
The world-building is probably my favorite thing in this book! It was amazing! The world-building of this story just reminded why Fantasy is my favorite genre of all. It was consuming and intriguing, and truly beautiful.
I loved the parts where they would talk about the mythology and the magic embedded in Orïsha, and after I finished the book, I honestly want to know more about it! I was actually expecting some sort of glossary at the end of the book, because their world was really intricate and beautiful. I want to find out more about those ten maji clans; their gods, their powers, everything. And because of it, I immediately took the the official quiz and found out that I am a Connector! Adeyemi is truly a genius for creating this incredible world.
(I do hope we get a glossary in the future haha!)
Quotes from the book
Children of Blood and Bone is consuming, enthralling, intense, and heartbreaking all at once.
The writing
Wow. That's what I can say about the writing style of the author. Tomi Adeyemi weaves a story full of pain, hope, despair and magic. Every chapter and every page makes me crave for more. At the same time, it also made me afraid of what's to come.
From the very first chapter until the end, it was intense and action-packed. Her writing style really managed to keep me at the edge of my seat! And honestly, if I didn't have any work, I would have devoured this book in just a couple days as I really enjoyed it!
I also love how the author did not abuse the use of detailed description and metaphors. The narration was just enough to make me visualize the different locations, feel the character's emotions, and go along the situations. And the metaphorical expressions throughout the book was just enough to make it poetic and poignant.
The characters
I loved the characters as well! The multiple first person point of views allowed me to peer into the characters' personalities—their emotions and thoughts—as the story went on.
I felt Zélie's pain, her drive, her hope, and despair. Reading the story through her perspective filled me with a lot of emotions. With every chapter I read in her perspective, it's almost as if her emotions become a tangible thing that affects me to the core. She might have been sidetracked by something in the middle of the story, but at the end she found her purpose once again.
I felt Amari's hopelessness and guilt, and her willpower to correct all the wrongs her father made. I loved that despite what she went through under the care of her father's hands, she was not tainted by the same hate and evilness that surrounds him, or the doubts and naivety that surrounds her brother. She is truly a pure soul in this book. (and I hope it stays that way for the rest of the series omg).
I felt Inan's doubts, hate, and fear. His character was the most frustrating out of them, for me. I understood his fear of himself and the hatred in the early parts of the book, but even when the truth about his father's evil deeds was already glaring at him, he stills wants to erase magic in Orïsha. He remains a good soldier eager to please his father, and that was really infuriating for me.
The plot
The plot of this book was amazing and really intense from start to finish. Just when I thought one problem was solved, another one comes and then plot twists sprout from one chapter to another, it was heart-stopping!
The plot kind of reminded me of Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch (aka one of my favorite books out there and an underrated series!) as well. Especially at the middle an near the end part, when Zélie is conflicted and having second thoughts about returning the power for all maji in Orïsha.
The attraction between Zélie and Inan was something I did not like to be honest. It felt rushed and confusing. (Also, I am not overly fond with the insta-love trope, so you can see why this irks me.)
The plot has also left me with some interesting questions. I hope I get the answer to them in the sequel. I'm really excited to continue this story!
The world-building
The world-building is probably my favorite thing in this book! It was amazing! The world-building of this story just reminded why Fantasy is my favorite genre of all. It was consuming and intriguing, and truly beautiful.
I loved the parts where they would talk about the mythology and the magic embedded in Orïsha, and after I finished the book, I honestly want to know more about it! I was actually expecting some sort of glossary at the end of the book, because their world was really intricate and beautiful. I want to find out more about those ten maji clans; their gods, their powers, everything. And because of it, I immediately took the the official quiz and found out that I am a Connector! Adeyemi is truly a genius for creating this incredible world.
(I do hope we get a glossary in the future haha!)
Quotes from the book
“I won’t let your ignorance silence my pain.”
“When your opponent has no honor, you must fight in different ways, smarter ways.”
“Your people, your guards – they’re nothing more than killers, rapists, and thieves. The only difference between them and criminals is the uniforms they wear.”
“As long as we don’t have magic, they will never treat us with respect. They need to know we can hit them back. If they burn our homes, we burn theirs, too.”
“As it fades, I see the truth – in plain sight, yet hidden all along. We are all children of blood and bone. All instruments of vengeance and virtue. This truth holds me close, rocking me like a child in a mother’s arms. It binds me in its love as death swallows me in its grasp.”