Children of Blood and Bone

Tomi Adeyemi

Age 12 +

2018 Winner

AudioFile Best Audiobook Young Adult

08 March 2018
9781509871360
352 pages

Synopsis

Tomi Adeyemi conjures a stunning world of dark magic and danger in her West African-inspired fantasy Children of Blood and Bone, the first in the #1 New York Times-bestselling Legacy of Orïsha series.

'A hugely enjoyable escapist story that makes you re-examine the world around you.' – Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of
The Deathless Girls

They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise . . .


Zélie remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. When different clans ruled – Burners igniting flames, Tiders beckoning waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoning forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, anyone with powers was targeted and killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has a chance to bring back magic to her people and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must learn to harness her powers and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where strange creatures prowl, and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to come to terms with the strength of her magic – and her growing feelings for an enemy . . .

'Three perspectives, complex world-building and superlative characterisation make this a must for fantasy fans.' – Imogen Russell Williams, Metro

The movie of Children of Blood and Bone is in development and soon to be a major motion picture from Paramount Pictures and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood of The Woman King.

Black Girl Magic indeed! Full of cinematic action sequences (the most memorable of them set underwater and employing an army of the dead) and creatures worthy of Star Wars (horse-sized 'lionaires' have saber teeth and horns), it storms the boundaries of imagination.
Infused with rich mythology of west Africa, Adeyemi’s lush world-building and consummate plotting breathes new life into a YA fantasy epic. Themes of oppression and racism resonate all too strongly in today’s political climate. The cliffhanger ending may leave some readers reeling but, rest assured, this is first in a trilogy.
Epic fantasy YA debut of magic and war.