The New York Times Book Review - Jennifer Hubert Swan
It's no surprise that this epic trilogy opener has already been optioned for film. Full of cinematic action sequences…and creatures worthy of Star Wars…it storms the boundaries of the imagination. Yet it also confronts the conscience. Adeyemi's brutally depicted war between the noble, lighter-skinned kosidans and the enslaved, darker-skinned majis poses thought-provoking questions about race, class and authority that hold up a warning mirror to our sharply divided society.
From the Publisher
New York Times Notable Children's Books of 2018
TIME Top 10 Best YA and Children's Books of 2018
NPR's Book Concierge 2018 Great Reads List
Bustle's Top 25 Best Young Adults Books of 2018
2018 Kirkus Prize Finalist
Paste Magazine’s 30 Best YA Novels of 2018
Newsweek’s 61 Best Books from 2018
Boston Globe’s Best Children's Books of 2018
Publishers Weekly Best YA Books of 2018
School Library Journal Best Books of 2018
Chicago Public Library Best Books of 2018
New York Public Library Top Ten Showstopper Favorite of 2018 (Notable 100 Books for Kids)
A TAYSHAS 2019 Reading List Pick
2019 YALSA Best Fiction Pick
“A magnificent, heartrending, earthshaking debut.” —New York Times-bestselling author Daniel José Older
"High stakes, a captivating fantasy landscape, and a brave heroine worth rooting for make Children of Blood and Bone unlike anything I've ever read." —Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Beautiful Creatures and author of The Lovely Reckless
"Powerful, captivating, and raw—Adeyemi is a talent to watch. Exceptional." —Kirkus, Starred Review
"Adeyemi’s devastating debut is a brutal, beautiful tale of revolution, faith, and star-crossed love." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"... Adeyemi keeps it fresh with an all-black cast of characters, a meaningful emphasis on fighting for justice, a complex heroine saving her own people, and a brand of magic made more powerful by the strength of heritage and ancestry. Perfect for fans of the expansive fantasy worlds of Leigh Bardugo, Daniel Jose´ Older, and Sabaa Tahir." —Booklist, Starred Review
"...A refreshing YA fantasy with an all–West African cast of characters that should be on every shelf." —School Library Journal, Starred Review
"This is an exceptional debut from the author and will have a huge audience desperately waiting for more. Children of Blood and Bone is perfect for fans of Nnedi Okorafor, Nancy Farmer, and Angie Thomas." —VOYA, Starred Review
"Nigerian culture and geography... give this fantasy a distinct flavor, further distinguished by the intensity of emotion." —Horn Book
“Meet Tomi Adeyemi—the new J.K. Rowling. (Yep, she’s that good).” —Entertainment Weekly
“Poses thought-provoking questions about race, class and authority that hold up a warning mirror to our sharply divided society.” –The New York Times
“A fast-paced, excellently crafted hero's journey…populated with compelling and nuanced black characters.” –NPR
“A debut novel that is nearly impossible to put down.”–USA Today
“Adeyemi’s writing is beautiful and immersive.” –Tor.com
“A miraculous achievement.” –The Guardian
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2018-02-05
Seventeen-year-old Zélie and companions journey to a mythic island seeking a chance to bring back magic to the land of Orïsha, in a fantasy world infused with the textures of West Africa.Dark-skinned Zélie is a divîner—someone with latent magical abilities indicated by the distinctive white hair that sets them apart from their countrymen. She saves Princess Amari, who is on the run from her father, King Saran, after stealing the scroll that can transform divîners into magic-wielding maji, and the two flee along with Zélie's brother. The scroll vanished 11 years ago during the king's maji genocide, and Prince Inan, Amari's brother, is sent in hot pursuit. When the trio learns that the impending solstice offers the only chance of restoring magic through a connection to Nana Baruku, the maternal creator deity, they race against time—and Inan—to obtain the final artifact needed for their ritual. Over the course of the book allegiances shift and characters grow, change, and confront traumas culminating in a cliffhanger ending that will leave readers anxiously awaiting the next installment. Well-drawn characters, an intense plot, and deft writing make this a strong story. That it is also a timely study on race, colorism, power, and injustice makes it great.Powerful, captivating, and raw—Adeyemi is a talent to watch. Exceptional. (Fantasy. 14-adult)
2019 Locus Awards - Nominee, Short-listed
2018 Kirkus Prize Finalists, Short-listed
2018 Buzzfeed Best Books of the Year, Long-listed
2018 NPR Best Book of the Year, Long-listed
2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year, Long-listed
2018 Washington Post Best Books of the Year, Long-listed
Locus Awards - Nominee, Short-listed
2018 Seattle Times Best Books of the Year, Long-listed
2018 Entertainment Weekly Best Books of the Year, Long-listed
2019 YALSA William C. Morris - finalist, Short-listed
2018 Hudson Booksellers Best of the Year, Long-listed
2018 Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, Long-listed
2018 Dragon Awards, Winner
2018 Goodreads Choice Awards, Long-listed
2018 Barnes and Noble Best New Books of the Year, Long-listed
2018 Boston Globe Best Books of the Year, Long-listed
2019 Audie Audiobook of the Year Winner, Winner
