Book Review: Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha #1) by Tomi Adeyemi

By Fontaine Alison | Five Points West Regional Branch Library

They killed my mother.

They took our magic.

They tried to bury us.

Now we rise.

Ok, four short sentences and I’m ready to read this book! And 525 pages (or 18 hours) later, I’m glad I did.

Children of Blood and Bone, first novel of Nigerian American Tomi Adeyemi, contains the usual elements of successful young adult books: action, drama, romance, and teen triumph. But Adeyemi’s book is not just a superficial quest story. Her story is set in a multilayered world with levels of meaning for readers and listeners of all ages. The audiobook won Audiobook of the Year in 2019.

The main character, Zélie, is a teenage girl whose parents were killed by the king from a rival clan. They were both maji, special people who possess magical powers. The king is determined to eradicate all magic from the realm and thus secure his power. He has subjugated Zelie’s people, forcing them to serve him. Zelie’s quest to save her people begins as she discovers her nascent magical powers and struggles to master them. A tale of cinematic adventure ensues as she gathers allies in her battle to overthrow the king.

I am a picky (even snobbish?) reader of fantasy. I’ll read most any mediocre mystery, but I hold my fantasy to the higher standards of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Harry Potter books and Naomi Novak’s Temeraire series are among my favorites. So I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I’m impressed with the cultural details that enrich the setting. While strictly fictional, the kingdom of Orïsha is clearly African, and Adeyemi weaves in traditions and beliefs based on her research of West African mythology and culture. Narrator Bhani Turpin’s lilting West African accent adds authenticity to the audiobook, The novel is also timely. Unlike many YA fantasies with characters of no specific race, Adeyemi’s characters are explicitly black, and their struggles reflect both historical and modern struggles faced by African Americans. In a 2018 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald Adeyemi explains: "Fantasy is such a wonderful lens because every obstacle in the book is tied to an obstacle that black people are facing as recent as today or as recent as 30 years ago."

The theme of good versus evil, both within the world and within oneself, is clear but not oversimplified. The three teen narrators each reflect a different perspective, resulting in a thought-provoking book that feels, well, more like realism than fantasy. Now I can’t wait to see the movie (no release date as yet). Take a look at the book trailer, and you may agree.



The second title in the Legacy of Orïsha series is Children of Virtue and Vengeance.