by Presley Hughes, reporter
New York Times best seller The Children of Blood and Bone, written by Tomi Adeyemi and released in March of 2018, tells a story about a world filled with magic, loss and unlikely triumphs. The main characters come from a lineage of Maji, magic wielders whose powers were given to them by “the old gods.”
One day, the Maji randomly lost their ability to perform their magical gifts. At which time, the tyrannical and cruel King Saran Olúborí took over the kingdom. The king slaughtered and enslaved millions of adult Maji in hopes that their magic would never return. After eleven years of enslavement, known as “the Raid,” one Maji girl begins her search for answers.
Zélie Adebola, alongside her brother, Tzain, and their new found accomplice and daughter of the tyrant king, Princess Amari, go on a long and tedious journey, trying to find the only existing way to bring back the magic that was once beloved by the kingdom of Orïsha and its residents.
Bringing new and exciting visuals to the fiction/fantasy book scene, Adeyemi makes all of the characters in the book “dark-skinned warriors” with a cause for the greater good of their communities and society as a whole. The book holds a strong view on the imprisonment and slavery of the African American people throughout history, whilst showcasing the strength and perseverance they can hold, even under the worst circumstances.
Adeyemi writes “We are all children of blood and bone. All instruments of vengeance and virtue. This truth holds me close, rocking me like a child in a mother’s arms. It binds me in its love as death swallows me in its grasp.” This quote shows the love and connections shared between the characters of the book, including those in families and those bound by friendships.
Adeyemi effortlessly showcases the tenacity, determination and growth of her “ebony-skinned” heroes by engaging her characters in multiple emotional and physical distresses. I give this book a five out of five star rating. For those looking for an enticing read about a minority group taking back their freedom, this book is a perfect read.
