Book Review: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi is the perfect read for October given its fantasy genre and Afro-futurism aesthetic. It’s the first installment in a projected trilogy series within the Children of Blood and Bone universe.
In the novel, the mythical setting of Orïsha takes inspiration from West African culture and society. So, with such a rich culture as its backbone, Orïsha is extensive and fully fleshed out in a way that is on par with great fantasy settings that precede it, enticing readers the way an effective fantasy setting should. In summary, Children of Blood and Bone follows the unsuspecting journey of siblings Zélie and Tzain and princess Amari as they seek to restore the magic that was stolen by the monarch to Orïsha before magic disappears forever. Along their journey, the three learn aspects of their lost culture, history, and past as well as important revelations about their present selves and what their future on this journey of restoring magic entails. Given the protagonist’s distinct differences, any reader can relate to at least one of the main character's struggles, conflicts or lessons; not to mention, as a bonus, all the characters are unmistakably Black.
As mentioned briefly, Children of Blood and Bone joins a rich collection of fantasy novels that are additionally a part of the Afro-futurism sub-genre. In his review of Adeyemi’s novel for The Atlantic, Vann R. Newkirk discusses the history of Afrofuturism and where Children of Blood and Bone fits into the well-established, niche genre. He states, “Afrofuturism’s core is the recognition that reimagining oppressive pasts and envisioning far-off futures are closely linked revolutionary acts [and] meditations on the nature of power that can revive the creative potential of speculative fiction.” Throughout the novel, Ademeyi emphasizes the connection between past, present, and future by illustrating that the best way to create futures free from oppression is through acts of seemingly unattainable revolution which must be acted upon now. Notably, these acts of resistance take bravery as well as a belief that a better future is not only possible but essential for oppressed people’s survival and humanity; all of which is demonstrated by our protagonists.
Correspondingly, Newkirk’s statement encapsulates the literary universe of Orïsha within the novel, because, upon introduction to the reader, Orïsha is in a colonized state occupied by darker-skinned individuals severely oppressed by the monarch. Adeyemi mirrors the reality of oppressive institutions and hierarchies on Black people, especially towards those within the Black community who have dark skin. Comparatively, the monarch family, who rule Orïsha, are made up of fairer-skinned individuals and refer to impoverished, dark skin people throughout the country as “maggots.” Though a fictional novel, the social commentary throughout highlights the interconnection between the harsh realities of Blackness, persecution, suffering, the struggle for our humanity, and the importance of our survival.
Moreover, the genre of speculative fiction is one that seeks to re-imagine current history, reality, and observed phenomena, in a super-natural or futuristic context, in a way that challenges our limited imagination of true freedom as well as oppression. Children of Blood and Bone explores many real concepts of liberation for Black people. For example, the notion of reinstituting magic back to Orïsha to restore power to the oppressed mirrors the concept of the need to reallocate resources, particularly funds, back into under-privileged communities who have had their labor systematically and historically exploited.
However, the novel does well to recognize that ultimately the problem lies with the system of oppression itself rather than just the symptoms. In an interview with TIME, Ademyemi discusses the second installment of the series titled, Children of Virtue and Vengeance and her intention with providing readers proper representation and social commentary. When asked about the takeaway between the ending of the first novel and the beginning of the second she states, “It’s about learning that these are [oppressive] institutions that are very hard to completely overthrow—but that doesn’t mean you can’t make great change.” Although the book was published in 2018, the sentiment of examining oppression at the root is more relevant than ever given the now mainstream discussion of abolishing the fascist systems corrupting our own communities.
Despite being faced with immense pressure and much self-doubt, Zélie, Tzain, and Amari still seek to do the work to liberate their community from systemic injustice when it seemed to be virtually impossible. All of which is a great lesson, specifically for young readers. Although Zélie initially battled imposter syndrome while coming to terms with her destiny to lead the charge, she conquered her insecurities for the sake of saving those she loved and to fulfill her destiny. Notably, the combined, interconnected powers of love, tradition, faith, and her ancestors helped Zélie achieve her goal.
Overall, Adeyemi perfectly and fully sets the tone for the level of quality to be expected for future novels to come. Tomi Adeyemi is a 27-year-old New York Times bestselling author and she has proven to be a force to be reckoned with as she is making her presence in the literary sphere and beyond felt, being recently listed on the 100 most influential people of 2020 by TIME magazine. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Children of Blood and Bone because the novel is both aware of itself and the world outside of it. The novel was enriching in its storytelling and had enough social commentary to reflect our current reality and inspire critical thought.
All in all, I would rate Children of Blood and Bone a 4.7 out of 5. I would absolutely recommend this novel to fans and non-fans of fantasy alike, especially for Black readers. The novel was green-lighted to be adapted into a movie series in 2017; therefore, simultaneously allowing for more representation in mainstream media for Black actors and providing Black kids with the rightful representation they deserve to see.
Ebony Purks is a 22-year-old recent college graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in English. She is a freelance writer and blogger and runs a personal blog called Black Girl’s Digest where she writes analyses covering anything from pop culture to current events. Additionally, in her spare time Ebony enjoys binging her favorite shows on Netflix, watching YouTube, practicing yoga, and reading on occasion. Some of her favorite books include “Bad Feminist” by Roxanne Gay and “Letter to My Daughter” by Maya Angelou. Overall, Ebony is a passionate young writer who encourages self-expression, for herself and others, and is always eager to learn something new. You can find her on Instagram @ebpurks
This article was edited by EIC Kailah Figueroa
Copyedited by Tah Ai Jia