I have finally caught up with the rest of the world and read Children of Blood and Bone. Tomi Adeyemi’s debut is absolute gold.

I think the strongest part of this book is the world building. Adeyemi has created a world full of depth and texture. From language to city structure to clothing, the incredible details provided draws the reader into the story very quickly. I could picture it all in my head easily.

I think it’s safe to call Children of Blood and Bone an epic, with a journey that rivals more than a couple of classics I can think of. The plot itself is strong, although there did seem to be some padding that could have been trimmed. Some of the barriers Zélie had to overcome felt… redundant I guess? It was frustrating to read through when I couldn’t see the payoff for each time she was waylaid on her journey. But maybe it’ll become more relevant in book 2.

The writing reminded me a lot of Leigh Bardugo’s work, especially her Grisha trilogy - which I love. Especially the twist at the end! If Adeyemi continues to write at that level she has a fantastic career ahead of her. I look forward to seeing how the rest of this series pans out, and watching the movie currently in development. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2