Children Of Blood And Bone

Plot The plot is a fairly simple one: take the magical items to the magical place. That's not a bad thing because it opens up space for the book to explore characterization and worldbuilding. The problem is when the pacing is so slow that the plot drags and, worse, actually stops. Twice (one of which was entirely gratuitous). The characters are running against the clock, but I never got any sense of urgency. If they had the time to take a break, why should I worry? The romantic subplot is another problem. The main couple is so forced that they literally have insta-love. They exchanged glances and then couldn't stop thinking about each other. They made no sense together and had nothing in common. Zélie has more chemistry with Amari than she ever did with Inan. Characters These characters are very raw and intense. All of them have been through so much and you can feel how it affected them, how it changed them, how it weighs on their choices. It's very easy to get lost in the POV characters and in their thoughts and feelings. However, sometimes they tend to feel inconsistent and out-of-character. Their actions don't fit their previous development, but rather the plot. Setting The worldbuilding is the best thing about this novel. It is perfectly woven into everything else. I liked the magic system, but I found it too vague and I didn't know what the characters could and could not do with their powers. On the other hand, Orïsha is not just a set where the story happens, but a country with a rich society and history. I must say, though, that I don't know enough about West African mythology to have an opinion on how the worldbuilding represents it. Themes Children of Blood and Bone is a book with some complex themes that I, as a white girl, feel out of my depth tackling. It explores racism, colorism, and oppression, and I'm sure there is a reviewer of color much more qualified than me to talk about it. Final Notes In a nutshell, this is Avatar: The Last Airbender with West African mythology. We have Zélie (Katara, the headstrong younger sister with magic powers), Tzain (Sokka, the warrior-type older brother who comes up with all the plans) and Amari (who carries magical objects that can save the world and have been lost for years, making her sort of Aang). Together, they travel across Orïsha while being chased by Inan (Zuko, the crown prince obsessed with dutty that really just wants his father's love). The plot is basic, the pacing is terrible, and the romance is atrocious. It's an okay book, but I'm invested enough in the worldbuilding to read the sequel.

Uma história poderosa que merece ser lida e relida! Ansiosa por Children of Virtue and Vengeance!!