Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Fantasy is a genre that I am never sure if I enjoy or not. I am a fan of the likes of Harry Potter and Narnia, but I rarely advance on that. Yet, I had seen a lot of hype about ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ and last year it was Foyles Children’s Book of the Year.

So, again I am a little late to the party (story of my bookish life, it would appear) but I am glad I have picked this book up. It seemed like an ideal October read with its dark and mysterious cover. As I started it, I was a little put off by the length of the book – I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its length – as I often worry that it can cause a novel to lose momentum. However, this was not the case here; the narrative was broken down into individual chapters focusing on three of the central characters, Zelie, Amari and Inan, which kept up the pace of the tale. There is also so much action packed into the pages as the maji fight to have the rights they deserve and reinstate their place in society.

The novel tackles some excellent topics that are always part of the society we live in. The story addresses the fear of difference caused by lack of understanding – how easy it is for history to be moulded to suit those with power adn suppress those considered the enemy of the power. For me, it is always a clever book and talented author who can make readers think, not only about the book, but also about bigger issues.

I am intrigued where these stories continue to go. They are excellent for young adults and adults alike – especially as there are stong female lead characters in Zelie and Amari, who are keen to fight for what they believe in.

Fantasy fan or not, I would suggest giving ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ a read, because it is more than a fantastic YA novel.

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