Children of Blood and Bone: A guide to Tomi Adeyemi's Legacy of Orïsha series
It began with Children of Blood and Bone and it ends with Children of Anguish and Anarchy. As the film adaptation of the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy nears, here's everything you need to know about the bestselling books series behind the Children of Blood and Bone film.
Tomi Adeyemi's bestselling YA fantasy trilogy, Legacy of Orïsha, has taken the world by storm. With a major big-screen adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone set for release in January 2027, here's everything you need to know about the must-read books behind the films.
What is the Children of Blood and Bone series about?
Set in the mythical African kingdom of Orïsha – a land long oppressed by its monarchy – the series charts Zélie’s quest to restore magic to the land’s ancient clans and overthrow their oppressive rulers. In Orïsha the maji – those that have magic powers – have been treated as second class citizens for years following the massacre; a kingdom-wide genocide which wiped out magic, carried out by the king's army. Those that still do have magic hide their powers, for fear of a return from King Saran’s troops. After a chance encounter leads Zélie to discover that magic is not dead – only dormant – and that she is the only one who can bring it back, she embarks on a journey to reawaken the ancient magic of the clans.
The books: A guide to the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy
Children of Blood and Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi
Book One
Zélie Adebola once lived in a world alive with magical forces, where those who called themselves maji wielded unique powers. But after the king's brutal crackdown, magic was wiped out, leaving her people in despair. Now, Zélie must embark on a daring quest to restore her homeland’s lost abilities, joining forces with Amari, a rogue princess and Inan, a dangerous prince. As Zélie uncovers the full potential of her own powers, she must navigate both the monarchy’s ruthless forces and her growing feelings for an enemy she cannot afford to trust. Children of Blood and Bone is a coming-of-age, high-stakes fantasy that weaves together African culture, mythology, and a richly imagined world teeming with danger.
Children of Virtue and Vengeance
by Tomi Adeyemi
Book Two – *spoilers for book one ahead*
Zélie and Amari have battled the impossible to restore magic in the land of Orïsha. But the ritual was more powerful than they imagined, reigniting the powers of not only the maji but also some nobles with magic ancestry. With civil war looming on the horizon, Zélie finds herself at a breaking point: she must find a way to bring the kingdom together or watch as Orïsha tears itself apart.
Children of Anguish and Anarchy
by Tomi Adeyemi
Book Three – *spoilers for books one and two ahead*
Locked in a cage and trapped on a foreign ship by warriors, thousands of miles from her people and her homeland, Zélie is forced to confront her enemies once more. Facing King Baldur, the man who has destroyed everything in his path in search of her, Zélie, Amari, and Tzain set off in search of new allies to their cause to help the maji rise once and for all. With Baldur and the Skulls closing in, will Zélie save her people? Children of Anguish and Anarchy is the stunning conclusion to Tomi Adeyemi's Legacy of Orïsha trilogy.
Everything you need to know the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy
Do you need to read the books in order?
Yes, you’ll get more out of the books if you read them in order: Children of Blood and Bone, followed by Children of Virtue and Vengeance, and then final book Children of Anguish and Anarchy.
Is Children of Blood and Bone being turned into a film?
Yes, the film adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone is set for release in the UK on 21 January 2027, with an all-star cast including Cynthia Erivo as Admiral Kaea, Viola Davis as Mama Agba, Idris Elba as Lekan, Chiwetel Ejiofor as King Saran, Regina King as Queen Nehanda. Watch the official trailer for the Children of Blood and Bone film below.
What inspired the Children of Blood and Bone book series?
The series has a West African-inspired setting and author Tomi Adeyemi has described it as 'an allegory for the modern black experience.' In an interview with Refinery29 she said 'Every obstacle in this book is based off something in the real world, because that’s the other thing about fantasy. This is something that Black people are dealing with today, or as recently as thirty years ago. It’s this big fantasy, but it’s meant to be this glaring mirror.'
Who is Tomi Adeyemi?
Tomi Adeyemi is a Nigerian-American writer and was just twenty-four when Children of Blood and Bone was published. After graduating from Harvard University with an honors degree in English literature, she studied West African mythology, religion, and culture in Salvador, Brazil. In 2020, she was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in Media.
