Title: Children of Blood and Bone
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Before I even get into the details, I must start off by saying, I have not enjoyed reading a book as much as I did this one, in a long time. Once I started it, I could not stop until it was finished. Only bathroom breaks and necessary snacking were allowed. Nothing else got done that weekend. It was a joy to read and I was completely engaged and captivated by the story. The fact that this is the first novel for the author, Tomi Adeyemi, makes this novel an even greater accomplishment.
I would describe ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ as a coming of age story for the main characters of the novel, the female protagonist, Zelie and her love interest and sometimes antagonist, Inan. Zelie, her brother and her friend embark on a journey to bring magic back to the land of Orisha, which had been stamped out by their evil leader. The story is a first-person narrative, but it is told from multiple point of views. This is effective in giving the reader some insight into each character. We get to become hitchhikers on their journey of self-discovery. The ruffian girl becomes a warrior and sorceress and is tasked with saving her people; A hardened warrior becomes a champion and a comforter; A pampered Princess becomes a fighter, and a spoiled Prince discovers the type of King he wishes to become.
I found all the characters to be quite credible and well defined. We see how their thoughts change from that of a child to an adult, and their growth through their hardships.
My only issue lies with the main, male character, Inan. His character was a little less defined. With every hesitancy he experienced in his decision-making, and his flip flopping from one side to the next, my impatience with him grew. Is he hero, is he villain? The readers are never able to tell. This however is not necessarily a bad thing, as it can be seen as a true representation of human nature. Each day we are one decision away from becoming a hero or villain in someone’s story. There are also some among us who are constantly teetering on the edge of that proverbial line of good and evil, unable or unwilling to decide which side should ultimately win. This is Inan’s internal struggle throughout the novel. How can one side win, when he sees logic in both? I understand that this inconsistency is present in all of us, but it still makes it a little difficult for the reader to understand who the character is or will be in a given moment. But it does help to keep the story exciting.
Tomi Adeyemi’s story is one of self-discovery, magic, love, friendship and power. It maps out a girl’s journey to discovering and facing her own power, and how she will use it to save her world. This story stayed with me for days after I was done reading it, and when I got to the end, I felt myself wanting more. So you can imagine my excitement when I realized that there is much more to come from this beautiful and epic story. It is apparently the first book in an upcoming book series. I cannot wait to see how this story unfolds.
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