Children of Blood and Bone

Reviewed by: Brooke Faulkner - McArthur Library, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 18, 2018

Review

This lushly imagined West African-inspired epic fantasy series opener tells the story of a young woman, Zelie, and her brother Tzain, who live hand to mouth with their father since their mother, a maji, was murdered years before when the ruler of Orisha, King Saran, ordered all adult maji killed in an effort to ensure the continued dominance of the ruling class by eradicating magic. Though Zelie, whose white hair marks her as a maji, has the potential to work magic, it is only when a series of seeming coincidences throw her together with the fleeing Princess Amari, who carries with her a stolen scroll, that she learns there may be a way to bring magic back to her people. As Zelie, Tzain and Amari embark on this quest, they are urgently pursued by Amari's brother Inan and the soldiers he commands, who are intent on stopping them. Multilayered characters grapple with issues of agency and power, loyalty and shame as the novel is narrated in the first person alternately by Zelie, Amari and Inan. Vivid descriptions of the setting and the concepts of the magi balance nicely with well-paced battle and action sequences and heart wrenching violence will leave readers aching for the main trio of characters — all of which will leave readers anxiously awaiting the second volume.

Overall Book Score: excellent