[Book Review] : Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Summary:

They killed my mother

They took our magic

They tried to bury us

NOW WE RISE

Zelie remembers when the soil of Orisha hummed with magic. When different clans ruled-Burners igniting flames, Tiders beckoning waves, and Zelies Reaper mother summoning forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, anyone with powers was targeted and killed, leaving Zelie without a mother and her people without hope. Only a few people remain with the power to use magic, and they must stay hidden.

Zelie is one such person. Now she has a chance to bring back magic to her people and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zelie must learn to harness her powers and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orisha, where strange creatures prowl, and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zelie herself as she struggles to come to terms with the strength of her magic-and her growing feelings for an enemy.

*Source : From the book

My Thought:

The hype was one of the reason why I picked this book. It's basically everywhere in Bookstagram and Booktube and I have to say that this book really live up the hype. I don't remember that I have read any book that inspired by West African story so this is intrigued me.

And what an emotional ride! Zelie's grieve for losing her mother keep haunting her in every decision and experience that she has. Now that I think about it, it was too much but it didn't really bother me when I read it.

Have been told from multiple perspectives and breaks in many chapters, it makes it easy to read and with the fast paced story, I should have been able to finish it in short time but life is calling. Being a Mom of a 2 years toddler means giving up finishing a book in one sitting. Although I finished it in too many sitting, I still could engage with the story. Not to mention with the fascinating world building, magic's history, one and after another action packed adventure that kept me turned the pages.

I love how Adeyemi weaves the interactions and engagement between characters and romance and not make them cliche or cheesy at the same time. And to say the least, you can read from main characters's perspectives, you can see their struggle in their own head but yet still there were some twists and turn of events that surprised you and you think that you know them already.

At the end, there is really nothing that I want to complain about this book. I really enjoyed it until the last word.

♥

Mima