Title: Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha #1)
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Rating: ★★★★★

There is so much hype surrounding this book that I almost put off reading it for fear of being disappointed. I’m so thankful that this is one of those instances when the praises are well deserved. Children of Blood and Bone was a thrilling fantasy full of adventure, expert writing, and a cast of superb characters. If you’re nervous about picking this up because of all the hype, don’t be. It’s well worth every ounce of hype and praise it has received.

It was very easy to be drawn into the story from the beginning due to a combination of Tomi Adeyemi’s excellent writing and the compelling characters she has created. The world-building and magic system in the book were perfectly crafted; detailed and developed, yet without pages of information being dumped on the reader. Her writing was fantastically vivid and I could easily imagine the world she was describing. 

For me, the greatest aspect of the book were the characters. I was captivated by each of their stories and struggles, and loved following along on their journey. The story is told through the points of views of three of the four main characters.

Zélie – She’s arguably the main protagonist. I absolutely loved her character; she is brave and strong, yet caring and passionate. I really look forward to see where her story takes her as the series continues.

Amari – The princess who joins Zélie and her brother, Tzain, in their mission to bring magic back to the world of Orïsha. I was back and forth about her character: at some times I liked her, at others I felt meh. 

Inan – As the crown prince of Orïsha (and brother to Amari) he’s basically the anti-hero of the story. His entire story arc and characterization was very similar to Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender, and so it will come to no surprise to absolutely anyone at all that I loved him. He struggles throughout the book between what he believes is right and what it right for Orïsha. Tomi did me dirty with that ending, though, and I’m hoping she fixes it in Book 2. 

There was actually quite a bit of this story that was reminiscent of Avatar, so if anyone is as obsessed with that children’s cartoon show as I am, I think you will really enjoy this book. After finishing this, I could see why it is so highly rated and recommended by everyone in the bookish community. Children of Blood and Bone is 500 pages of ruthless action, political intrigue, engaging characters, and an unforgettable story. There’s no doubt that the second book will be one of my most anticipated for next year.