Title: Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha, Book 1)
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2018
Date of Publication: March 6, 2018
Pages: 544
ISBN-10: 1250170974
ISBN-13: 978-1250170972
Summary of Children of Blood and Bone
Children of Blood and Bone follows Zélie Adebola, who lives in a world where magic has been wiped out by a ruthless leader named King Saran.
Zélie is from a lineage of people known as the Maji. They were once very powerful but when those in power began to abuse their magic, the gods stripped them of their gifts. But as generations went by, those who were left without magic began to fear those who had the magic i.e. the Maji. One night magic disappeared leaving the Maji unable to defend themselves, and that’s when King Saran struck!
He hunted them down, leaving only the children who could not do magic until they turned 13. Those children are called the diviners. When Zélie unexpectedly gains the chance to restore magic, she goes on a journey with her brother, Tzain, and an unlikely ally, Princess Amari.
As they race against time, they must evade the crown prince, Inan, who is determined to stop them.
“Duty before self. Kingdom before king.”—King Saran to his son Prince Inan
Main Plot & Characters
At the beginning of the book, Zélie Adebola is a diviner—born with dormant magic in her blood but not yet a full Maji. Years ago, when she was just a child, King Saran, fearing the power of magic, ordered its complete eradication.
In a brutal purge, all Maji were slaughtered, including Zélie’s mother, a powerful Reaper with the ability to command spirits and the afterlife. Though Zélie carries her mother’s bloodline, magic has vanished from Orïsha, leaving her powerless in a kingdom that once feared her kind.
To survive, Zélie and her brother, Tzain, help their father fish, selling their catch at the market to scrape by. But on one fateful day, their quiet routine is upended when Zélie goes to a different location to sell some fish. A commotion breaks out in the marketplace. In the chaos, Zélie collides with a desperate stranger pleading for help. She doesn’t yet realize this is Princess Amari, daughter of the very king who destroyed magic.
Amari has fled the palace after witnessing a horrific execution—one that shattered her faith in her father’s rule. The king has found a magical artifact capable of reigniting lost powers in any diviner who touches it. When Amari’s loyal servant, a diviner, accidentally activates the artifact and regains her magic, the king strikes her down without mercy. Horrified, Amari steals the relic and runs, determined to right the wrongs her father has inflicted on the Maji.
As Zélie helps Amari escape, she crosses paths with Prince Inan, the king’s son, tasked with hunting them down. But when their fates briefly collide, an unexpected connection sparks between them—one neither can explain nor ignore.
In Orïsha, diviners and Maji are marked by their striking silver hair, a trait impossible to hide, as any attempt to dye it fades instantly. Zélie, with her silver-white hair and piercing gray eyes, carries the mark of magic—a lost legacy waiting to be reclaimed.
Key Characters:
- Zélie Adebola – A young diviner fighting to restore magic and free her people.
- Tzain Adebola – Zélie’s protective older brother, always by her side despite the dangers they face.
- Amari – A runaway princess who defies her father’s cruelty in a quest for justice.
- Inan – The crown prince who is torn between loyalty to his father and a secret connection to magic.
- King Saran – The ruthless ruler of Orïsha who wants to keep magic buried forever.
Key Themes of Children of Blood and Bone
The novel focuses on oppression and how individuals can be resilient, and come together to fight for justice. It highlights the importance of heritage while questioning the price of power. The characters find themselves in positions where they challenge the system that seeks to control them.
Writing Style
Tomi Adeyemi tells the story through multiple points of view. We listen to Zélie’s point of view as well as that of Amari, and Inan’s. This allows you as a reader to get to know each character’s thoughts and struggles. One thing that comes off very clearly is that the characters are very likeable.
The pacing of the book is fast yet the author does a great job with the world-building. Readers will easily get a good sense of what is going on.
Some of the descriptions used in the book including the descriptions of foods and cultural element really add to the authenticity of the writing. For example, small yet significant details like the mention of Nigerian traditional foods such as Jollof rice, moi moi pies, meat pies, and plantains, outfits such as Gele and Dashiki’s, use of Yoruba names and the cities mentioned etc., help ground the story in a cultural setting.
Memorable Quotes
- “Over generations, love of the Maji turned into fear. Fear turned into hate. Hate turned into violence. A desire to wipe the Maji away.”— Mama Agba
- “The guards in this palace do not escort, they take.”— Princess Amari
- “You must protect those who cannot defend themselves. That is the way of the staff.”— Mama Agba
Final Thoughts on Children of Blood and Bone
Children of Blood and Bone is one of the most talked about books in this genre and has been praised for its West African-inspired setting. It became a bestseller and sparked discussions about representation in fantasy literature.
It is currently being adapted into a movie, which is scheduled for release in 2027.
What are your thoughts on this book? Have you had a chance to read it? Let us know in the comments!
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