Bloed en beenderen

Have you ever reached the end of a book and yelled “NOOOOO!!!”? Because I just did. Children of Blood and Bone ends on a HUGE cliffhanger, and I'm even more upset about that than I would be normally - I got this book as an advanced reader's copy through Goodreads. So not only do I have to wait for the sequel to come out, THIS BOOK ISN'T EVEN OUT YET. screams internally

That massive frustration aside, I LOVED THIS BOOK. African-inspired fantasy novels are starting to crop up, along with other non-European based fantasy, and I'm loving it. (You can find Russian inspired fantasy that I've read previously here and here, and Jewish/Arab fantasy here.) Adeyemi is a Nigerian-American author, and this is her debut novel. It definitely shows some hallmarks of a debut novel - the dialogue is a bit stilted in places, and it's a little bit formulaic - but the world building is excellent.

Children of Blood and Bone is a story of oppression, and the sparks of a rebellion. I assume the rest of the trilogy will deal with the actual rebellion, but given the cliffhanger it ends on, I'm not actually sure of that. When Zélie, the main character, was very young, magic failed, and the king, who was afraid of maji, took the opportunity to kill every maji in his kingdom before they could find a way to regain their powers. Since then, every person who could have become a maji as they grew (they're marked by their white hair) has been treated as a second-class citizen. They're forced into slums, used as slave labor, kicked around by nobility and guards, made to pay higher taxes, and forbidden to breed with the other classes. They don't have magic - and they have no way to get it - but they're treated as trash by the king that hates them, and accordingly by the rest of his subjects.

At the beginning of the book, a magical artifact resurfaces that restores magic to any diviner (potential maji) that touches it. This, of course, is not okay with the king, and most of the book is about the race to use the magical artifact while being chased by the king's son and his guards who are trying to destroy it. The conflicted prince has secrets of his own, though, and as the book weaves through jungles, mountains, and seas, he wavers in his mission.

It's always difficult to review books without giving too much away about the plot, so I won't say much more about the events. I really enjoyed that they rode giant cats - leopanaires. Zélie and her allies ride a lion leopanaire, which is apparently somewhat unusual. Most of the guards ride leopards or cheetahs, while the royal family rides snow leopanaires. The magic is unique, the gods and religion are beautifully fleshed out, and overall I just really loved this world, and I'm very sad it will be so long before I can dive back into it.

You can find all my reviews at Goddess in the Stacks.

Tomi Adeyemi's #1 New York Times bestselling novel is about a quest to restore magic and working against a tyrannical ruler, as well as the effects of oppression and cruelty, the power empathy, and the strength of people working together. Although I thought it had a fantastic arc and the author did an excellent job with characterization and making her characters' feelings palpable, I did find large parts of the middle rather tedious.

Rating: 6.5/10 (Very torn between a 6 and a 7 because there are parts I loved but I also found parts of it dull between the strong beginning and ending sections)

Full Review on My Website

We are all children of blood and bone.All instruments of vengeance and virtue.I've had this book since March and I finally got around to reading it because I was halfway through [b:Siege and Storm 40794768 Siege and Storm (GrishaVerse, #2) Leigh Bardugo https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1531432398s/40794768.jpg 19699752] and dear god, it was annoying the hell out of me by being so slow with all the whiny characters (except Nicolas). Anyway, I picked up this book at B&N (special edition) even though I had already seen it at Amazon Books. Now, before buying a book from a new author, I always try to read at least the preview on Kindle, and a random page from in between the book. The special edition had an annotated chapter from the author, which really sold this book for me. I loved the small notes she had written on one of the cutest chapters in the book. Also, I have a thing for books with maps, especially if they turn out to be posters. Oh, and the book cover is so intimidating. I love the color scheme there.As for the plot, the starting was not slow like other fantasy novels. I though it would take time to set the backstory, but it took like one chapter, and we jump right into the action which none of the characters understand either. The characters were all so natural. So we had two pairs of siblings: Zelie and Tzain, whose family has suffered because of the King oppressing the Maji, and Amari and Inan, the children of said king, who, by the way, was like the worst father ever. He tops the bad father list. I wanted somebody to slap him in the face in the book. He was such an ass, not just to the people of his kingdom, but to his own children. Spoiler I understand your first family died and you killed your emotions with them, but why the hell are you making your son hurt his own sister, your daughter, with a freaking sword. What point are you trying to prove here? Amari and Inan both need serious psych treatments considering they had a shit father, and a useless mother. Where the hell was she when Amari was hurt? I really liked Inan's character. I was really banking on him to do the right thing by the end. He did what he thought was right, but till the end he sought his abusive father's approval even after realizing his methods were wrong. This is one of the things I liked in this book. It was mentioned by the author in the notes that all the characters have to make choices and think about where to draw the line when someone hurts you for reasons you can understand, and would've done the same in their shoes?Amari was a badass. She started off as a slow and gentle character, but by the end she really did become a lionnaire. Her last line to her father, “Do not worry, I will make a far better queen” was an amazing point in character development for her. Because near the end of the book I was thinking this myself, that Amari would make far less stupid decisions than Inan and should rule instead.Zelie and Tzain's relationship was so warm. They argued back and forth a lot like siblings, but when the time came, they were always there for each other. Something Amari and Inan should take notes of. Zel's powers as a reaper were well written. I liked the arena fight where she summoned souls. Oh, also have to mention the dreamscape here. It was one of the favorite parts of the book for me. You guys are enemies and you keep meeting each other in a dream?! Also, how Zel's presence had an effect on Inan's magic controlling abilities by calming him down. Does it get any sweeter than that? I'm a sucker for cute, love plots like that. Even if it all went to hell in the end. (Fingers crossed for part 2) Also, I was mad a bit at Inan near the end because he could have used his powers on the King to control him and get Zel out. Maybe? Poor guy endured too much trauma at the hands of his freaking father to be able to do anything against him.I usually don't like cliffhanger endings if the next book is not out yet, but I really liked this one. Zel gave everyone magic powers by performing the ritual so I'm hoping Inan will have less of a moral dilemma in the next part. The only other solution to destroying magic was to give everyone powers but I didn't think the author would go there. But would you look at that? Consider me shocked and satisfied. Cue everyone going berserk in the next part. I can't wait to find out what Amari and Tzain's powers are. Also, is Inan okay? Dear God, the cliffhanger I can handle but he got stabbed by a freaking sword, majacite sword? He better not be dead or in a coma (looking at you [b:Monsters of Men 20758105 Monsters of Men (Chaos Walking #3) Patrick Ness https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1423863391s/20758105.jpg 7160343]).List of things I liked:* Two pairs of siblings, each one being the opposite's love interest. So well written!* Dreamscape! I want more of it.* Amari, being considerate and a badass, depending on the situation* Inan's powers – being able to feel Zel's pain more prominently than anything else* Zelie and Inan together (I don't know what happened in the end. I'm in denial till it gets fixed in the next book)* Amari and Tzain being playful and teasing each other. More please!* Zel's hair getting tangled up the more she used magic :D* Roen was a nice addition near the end. I liked his small, easy going talks with Zel.* The God's being one of the central themes in this book. Never thought fantasy would take me there.* Love the way the characters curse, Skies! Sky Mother! Hahaha, thank you for appealing to my soul so much. I love this book far too much. It's like the way Newt curses in [b:Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay 29363501 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them The Original Screenplay J.K. Rowling https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481542648s/29363501.jpg 50435175], Merlin's beard :D

4.5. It took me a long time to read, not just because it's over 500 pages, but becauseI kept putting it down and then coming back, partly due to the intensity of the story. Adeyemi does not shy away from real violence, torture, and death to/against characters that you care about. Though none of it is gratuitous and it all makes sense within the story, it's tough and intentionally so, because this is a larger allegory around BLM/POC lives and the police state/structural racism/white patriarchy that doesn't value their very existence. That she takes on these major themes within a realy well written YA fantasy with Nigerian magic is a testament to her awesome ability. I didn't love the romance but again understand it in the plot. The audio is by my favorite narrator (and best in the game), Bahni Turpin, and I recommend it if you can devote the time to it.

This book was amazing. I listened to it on audio and the narrator, Bahni Turpin, did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life with her voice.

I believe this is my first African-based YA fantasy read and I loved it so much. The worldbuilding was so vibrant and rich, and I loved how the story really transports the reader to the world of Orisha. The different characters really take you for a ride since their differences and their growth throughout the story weren't always predictable. They were all flawed, which made them so likable. Even Inan.

The book also includes heavy themes such as prejudice and institutional racism, enslavement, and corrupt political systems. The pain and anguish the characters experience feel so raw and I commend Adeyemi for doing such a great job of weaving these themes, that people experience in real life to this day, throughout the story.

This was action-packed, magical, and intense. I can't wait to read the sequel!

Holy Skies!!!

I actually have no words for how amazing this book was. I loved every second of it and cannot wait to get hands on the next one.

My heart broke and sang with joy so many times.

It was just magical. The characters great. All of them. Even the bad guys were written so well.

Can't believe this a debut and I'm so excited for the sequel. If I could give it 100 stars I would!

Stories like this are the reason I love to read.

I feel as though I've felt a lifetime of emotions taking this journey with these characters. It's a journey I would gladly rejoin, full of love, fear, hope, guilt, anguish, and humor—-reality of humanity at its core.

Tomi is simply a brilliant writer. The multiple perspectives she writes from weaves an intricate and intimate picture of each character, which makes this story much deeper and heartfelt, and real. She tackles an extremely important theme I found throughout the story with such honesty and clarity—perspective, empathy, and understanding. From Inan's “curse” and his true inner feelings, to Amari's experiences shaping who she is and not her birthright, it encapsulates one big message: No matter who we are or where we come from, We Are All Children Of Blood and Bone.

I'll be a loyal reader of this series, and can't wait to see what Tomi Adeyemi writes in the future.

A truly fantastic fantasy book with a unique setting. Featuring an immersive world, believable characters and wonderously imaginative concepts, this is one of the best fantasy books I've read in a while. On top of these aforementioned positives, it features plenty of tense moments, cool action scenes and twists and turns for days! Definitely recommend for all!

Sure it's a YA fantasy book, so I went in expecting it to be a bit something...not sure what the word is that I'm looking for. But I still enjoyed it. I listened to the audio version, it was just fantasy enough to be what I needed to be listening to right now. I'll listen to the sequel, it's already in my queue, so that use mean I enjoyed it. ;)

Actual rating; 4,5 stars.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for my honest opinion.

I didn't know that this book would only have 6 chapters. I don't mean the actual book, but the e-arc I received.

I really loved the first part of the book. I've only read 6 chapters but man they were good. The book is even then already full of action and I couldn't put it down. The two characters that we are introduced to are strong and independed woman. Every book needs at least one of them! Oh, and I could also see a possible love interest. I did ship it already. Sorry, not sorry!

I feel bad for the note I'm giving this book because I understand why they author wrote it and it's so frigging important, that being said my rating is based solely on my enjoyment of the book and not on its value.

The first 50% of the book was 5 stars, between 51% and 80% it seemed to drag on and on and then for a while it got good again and started to drag on again. If the book had ended after the boat fight I would have been jazzed with it. Pacing was a serious issue for me in the second half of the book and there are large swats that I already can barely remember because I was sludging through. Honestly, I feel like this book should have been split 2 books.

CAWPILE SCORE
C-7
A-7
W-8
P-6
I-7
L-6
E-8
TOTAL-7/10

I enjoyed the book, after a few chapters I was hooked and wanted to keep going
CAWPILECharacters.The Characters were good, I really could feel like the characters were siblings both sets of siblings. Sometimes I was a bit annoyed at how flip floppy Inan was, but it did feel true to his character. AtmosphereVery immersive and intriguing. I felt like maybe too many "new" words were thrown in the beginning, but it makes it feel as if we really are just dropping into their livesWritingWriting was good. Voice was well utilized. Some of the descriptions were very well done. the Sea-Salt soul. and the dreamscapePlotthe Plot started good. do x then x then Y happens. but sometimes it felt a little too convenient for them. we need the sunstone, and we just reached the next city on our way. oh here it is. need a boat oh here is this guy you met at the Maji festival, he somehow got away easy. The coincedences felt a little too on the nose. IntrigueWhat is going on with the Magic? did she just give Magic to everybody. What really happened to the Kings 1st family. The intrigue of bringing magic back was excitingLogicSometimes the logic felt inconsistent to me. We only have X days to get across the continent sail to an island and then perform this ritual. oh but we have a day to party. I was kidnapped, that doesn't prevent us from accomplishing it at all. After Inan joins them, it feels like the Guards/King have a rubberband effect. can't go too far with being pulled into them.Enjoymentsmall critique, but using the word Cancer is always a turn off for me, unless its an earth world analogue. it just takes me right out. call it disease or plague or decay. Not Cancer.I did really enjoy the book as a whole though. Loved the powersets and way magic was reintroduced to us
I will be talking about it on Libromancy 05/02/2021 https://libromancy.podbean.com/

I suspect that I'm not the only one who nurtured childhood fantasies of being suddenly wrested from my ordinary experience to have magical adventures. Hence the popularity of “chosen one” narratives, particularly in the young adult genre. Tomi Adeyemi builds on the legacy of the Percy Jacksons and Pevensie siblings that came before, but for her debut novel, Children of Blood and Bone, she grounds it thoroughly outside of the “white people in Western countries” place it has lived for so long. She creates as her world Orisha, loosely based on Nigeria and the magic in her tales comes from the mythology of the region. There used to be magicians in this world, the maji, divided into ten clans with a special connection to gods and goddesses and their representative elements. But then a cruel, autocratic king cracked down and slaughtered the maji. The adults, anyways. The children were left behind.

The loss of her mother in the raid that ended magic haunts teenage Zelie even years later. She takes after her mother in that she's a Diviner, born with the distinctive white hair that marks her as a potential maji and therefore subjected to discrimination. Her brother Tzain, though, is “normal” like their father, who's never recovered from the loss of his wife. Their lives are forever changed when one day Zelie heads to the capital city to go to the market, and runs into Amari, the country's princess, fleeing her father and the palace with a powerfully important scroll. That scroll, along with other artifacts, has the power to bring magic back to Orisha. Zelie, Amari, and Tzain find themselves on the run from the King and his son, Amari's brother Inan, who discovers much to his dismay that he's not as dissimilar from the Diviners he hates as he'd like. An unexpected connection between Zelie and Inan could be what saves them all...or what dooms them.

This is not my usual type of book: I don't read YA particularly often, and it focuses heavily on plot over characterization and prose. Nevertheless, that plot moved forward so relentlessly that it was impossible to resist getting swept up in it, even when it veered toward the ridiculous. From nearly the second we meet them, our characters are under threat, and no sooner does one danger pass than another arises. Even as the story zooms, Adeyemi does some quality world-building, introducing the reader to a deeply earth-rooted system of magic in a way that gave enough detail to be intriguing without gratuitous information-dumping. It's refreshing to read a story that doesn't rely on the same familiar Christian and/or Eurocentric myths for inspiration.

That being said, while the details of the story are fresh, many of the beats are eye-rollingly familiar: enemies to friends, hate to love, capture and rescue. There are serious, serious deficiencies in character development...no one feels like more than a set of keywords and relationships that the readers are clearly supposed to get deeply invested in are so thinly sketched that the “payoff” barely registers. Prose quality that might elevate the more rote elements is absent...the writing isn't at all bad, but neither is it ever more than serviceable. The book doesn't feel like it's meant to be taken in and of itself, but rather as a springboard: for a movie, for sequels. While it's compelling and compulsively readable while it's in your hands, it loses a lot when it's over and you have time to think about it If you're into this genre and these kinds of stories, you'll probably very much enjoy this book. If you're looking for something to keep you entertained on the airplane, this is a solid choice. If this isn't the kind of story you're predisposed to like, though, this is skippable.