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Children of Blood and Bone

A West African-inspired YA Fantasy, Filled with Dark Magic
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( 247,305 ratings, 33,720 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi is a gripping young adult fantasy novel set in the mystical land of Orïsha. It follows Zélie, a young girl who embarks on a perilous journey to restore magic to her people, the Maji, after it was stolen by a ruthless king. As she battles to reclaim her heritage alongside unexpected allies, Zélie learns about love, loss, and courage in a world filled with danger and adventure.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy rich, imaginative worlds filled with magic and adventure. Set against the backdrop of a West African-inspired fantasy landscape, the story combines fierce battles, compelling characters, and an exploration of deep themes like oppression and resistance. You'll likely find yourself captivated by the protagonist's journey of reclaiming her heritage and fighting to restore magic to her world.

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Magic can burn, turn tides, light the darkness and bring back the dead. But magic is gone. And only one girl can bring it back.

Magic can burn, turn tides, light the darkness and bring back the dead. But magic is gone. And only one girl can bring it back.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"I read @tomi_adeyemi's brilliant novel Children of Blood and Bone while I was on vacation. It was an exhilarating read on many levels—a thrilling page-turner that's also deeply moving and incisive." - John Green, author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

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

NOW WE RISE.

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie's Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

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

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

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl, and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers—and her growing feelings for an enemy.

As seen on Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show Book Club

LONGLISTED FOR THE SILVER INKY AWARD 2019

PRAISE FOR CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE

"Storms the boundaries of imagination" - The New York Times

"A brutal, beautiful tale of revolution, faith, and star-crossed love" - Publisher's Weekly

"Epic fantasy YA debut of magic and war" - Guardian

"A luxe tale of magic, adventure, and forbidden love... Fans of Leigh Bardugo and Game of Thrones will gobble this up" - BuzzFeed

"Adeyemi's lush world-building and consummate plotting breathes new life into a YA fantasy epic" - Observer

"A masterful debut." - Melinda Salisbury, author of The Sin Eater's Daughter

"Epic" - Marie Lu, author of Legend

"A phenomenon" - Entertainment Weekly

"A fantasy that promises to be enthralling and to totally ensnare you within its world, plot, and characters" - BookRiot

"Poised to be this year's big fantasy breakout... [an] epic story of family, love and magic" - Stylist

"A timely study on race, colorism, and power and injustice" - Kirkus

"Epic in scale and size... it's a whirlwind read" - The Bookseller

Series: Legacy of Orisha

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  • Children of Blood and Bone
    "I read @tomi_adeyemi's brilliant novel Children of Blood and Bone while I was on vacation. It was an exhilarating read on many levels—a thrilling page-turner that's also deeply moving and incisive." - John Green, author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE They killed my...
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi is hailed for its rich world-building and infusion of West African mythology, offering a fresh take on the YA fantasy genre. Critics praise its cinematic action and memorable creatures, drawing comparisons to "Star Wars" and resonating strongly with contemporary themes of oppression and racism. The novel's vibrant portrayal of a Nigeria-inspired kingdom, multi-dimensional characters, and thrilling plotline ensures an engaging experience for fantasy enthusiasts, with many regarding it as a standout debut in the genre.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781509871353

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 08 March 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books

Audience: Children, Teenage

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 36.0mm

Width: 132.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 394g

Pages: 544

About the Author

Tomi Adeyemi is a Nigerian-American writer and creative-writing coach based in San Diego, California. After graduating from Harvard University with an honours degree in English Literature, she studied West African mythology and culture in Salvador, Brazil. When not writing novels or watching Scandal, Tomi teaches and blogs about creative writing at tomiadeyemi.com, named one of the 101 best websites for writers by Writer's Digest.

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