Children of Blood and Bone is a YA fantasy that has it all: adventure, a fierce protagonist, forbidden magic, the beginnings of an enemies-to-lovers romance, female friendship, stunning world building, and some truly epic mounts. Zélie and Amari, the former from an oppressed community of divîners and the latter a princess and daughter of the oppressor, are opposites on a common mission to upend the brutality of the ruling class and bring magic back to the land of Orïsha. Drawing from Yoruba mythology, Adeyemi spins an absorbing tale that takes us on a vengeful, righteous quest with the enemy on our heroes’ heels.
While bringing an inspired world with a magical system and sprawling landscape to life is a huge undertaking, Adeyemi manages to develop it within a compelling story, without hampering its momentum. The characters are similarly realized. They are complex, flawed, and evolving individuals well designed for and relatable to young readers.
In 2018, we were still grasping for non-Western fantasy and the genre’s bestsellers were (and are) dominated by white authors. Watching a Yoruba writer’s YA fantasy go viral was a profound and uplifting experience. Whatever happens with the film and ongoing discourse, this book holds a special place in my heart and remains an all-time fantasy favorite.