Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi Book Review

Title: Children of Anguish and Anarchy (Legacy of Orïsha, Book 3)
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2024
Date of Publication: June 25, 2024
Pages: 353
ISBN-10: 1250171016
ISBN-13: 978-1250171016
Audiobook Read by: Cynthia Erivo

Our Rating of This Book

Summary of Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Anguish and Anarchy is the third book in the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy.

In Children of Anguish and Anarchy, Zélie thought her struggles had ended after overthrowing the monarchy and restoring magic. However, she soon finds herself imprisoned on a foreign ship, captured by warriors known as the Skulls.

Their leader, a man named King Baldyr, seeks to exploit Zélie abilities. To counter his plans, Zélie, along with Amari and Tzain, set out to find new allies in unfamiliar territories. As King Baldyr’s forces approach Orïsha, Zélie and her alliances are forced to protect her people from annihilation.

Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi

Main Plot & Characters

Zélie, Amari, Tzain and Inan: All four of them return in this book.
King Baldyr: The ruthless leader of the Skulls, intent on harnessing Zélie’s power for his own ambitions.
Mae’e: A girl from New Gaīa described as the girl with the “diamond eyes”. She first appears in Zélie’s visions.

Writing Style

Tomi Adeyemi once again gives us a fast-paced narrative. There is very little quiet time but a lot of action.

For the first time, we hear Tzain’s point of view and that was a wonderful surprise. The story also continues from the perspectives of Zélie, Princess Amari, and Prince Inan.

The way the book opens up keeps you as a reader holding your breath. The author’s descriptions of the captivity, the twisted majacite crown on Zélie temple, the stench on the ship, the fighting techniques of the Skull, etc., really gives room for your imagination as a reader to run wild! By chapter 5, it may occur to you that it’s ok to breath.

Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi - Reading

Favorite Quotes

“Every time I think I can’t lose anything else, I lose everything.”—Zélie
“I have no one left.”—Tzain
“You are the strongest force I know.”—Inan
“I see the day I first saw her in Lagos’ market place. The moment our parts first crossed, never had I seen anything more horrible, more beautiful, more wild.”—Inan
“We are going home. We just need to break a few skulls”—Inan
“Not to the same degree. Everyone else feels like being caught in the rain. You’re the whole Tsunami”—Inan
“I teach you to be warriors in the garden, so that you would never have to gardeners in the war””—Mama Agba’s words to Zélie
”An entire empire can crumble in one Night.”—Words of King Saran

“But we do not weep for those we have lost, we do not weep for the horrors we have faced. We weep because we are warriors. We weep because, against all odds, we have prevailed. In our sacred lands, we find the truth — the power no king can erase, a power carved through the valleys of our hearts, a force no enemy can bind in chains. We weep because our magic is eternal. We weep because our gods reign. We weep because we feel the ancestors who watch from above, waiting for the day until we rise to meet our dead.”— Zélie

Impact of Children of Anguish and Anarchy

As the concluding volume of the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy, this book introduced us to even more worlds and more magic. For fans who have followed Children of Blood and Bone and Children of Virtue and Vengeance, this book, being the third, naturally sparked a lot of conversation about the direction it took and how the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy concludes.

What are your thoughts on this book? Have you had a chance to read it? Let us know in the comments!

Authors

Nathaniel Adebayo

Nathaniel is a Media Content Specialist at Verayea, where he specializes in curating content and gathering data for the company’s extensive book library. He is also dedicated to writing insightful reviews, offering thoughtful perspectives on a range of media. His work ensures that Verayea’s library is comprehensive, well-organized, and informative, providing valuable resources for its audience.
Ufuoma Akpotaire

Ufuoma Akpotaire is a passionate book, movie and music reviewer with a love for travel and culture. She combines her enthusiasm for storytelling with her experience exploring new places and stories. Through her reviews, she celebrates creativity and inspires readers to appreciate the connections between books, movies, music, travel, and global cultures.