Children of Blood and Bone

Tomi Adeyemi's "Children of Blood and Bone" is a gripping young adult fantasy set in the vibrant, West African-inspired land of Orïsha. The story follows Zélie Adebola, a young maji whose people were stripped of their magic and brutally oppressed by a tyrannical king. After witnessing the death of her mother and countless others, Zélie embarks on a dangerous quest to restore magic to Orïsha, facing immense peril, prejudice, and powerful adversaries. This book is ideal for readers aged 12-18, offering a rich world-building, complex characters, and profound explorations of social justice, racism, and the courage to fight for what is right. Parents should be aware of themes of violence, discrimination, and character death, which are handled with depth and impact.

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 killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.