Honestly, Children of Blood and Bone is so striking, so scary, so original and compelling that this is the book that inspired me to blog again.

I love fantasy, but if you follow my work, you know I read for character, not plot. If a book has a complex, intriguing protagonist, I can read about her watching paint dry just to hear the thoughts in her head.

I have to admit, I started to fall in love with Zelie when I saw the book cover.

I’ve joked on Reel Girl about how, in this world, to some degree, we must judge a book by its cover because representation matters. When I saw Zelie’s intense stare, the anger and clarity and in her eyes and her white hair defying gravity, I couldn’t look away. I had to know more. Zelie did not disappoint.

Zelie is a diviner, one of a race in Orisha, a mythical West African land, who can control magic. She and her people are oppressed by a wicked king who fears their power. Zelie must learn how to control her rage in order to access her skill to use magic effectively and not dangerously. Zelie is deeply flawed, and her weaknesses are often triggered by her relationships. The relationships are what make COBAB so original. Author Tomi Adeyemi has created a whole cast of compelling characters. Tzain is Zelie’s loyal, brave brother, always trying to protect her but keeping her safe means keeping her small. Amiri is a princess, the daughter of King Saran, who is motivated to rebel against her father after he kills her best friend, Binta. Watching the alliance grow between Amiri and Zelie, for me, is a driving force of the book. There is also love, between Tzain and Amiri but also between Zelie and Amir’s brother, Prince Inan. From the moment we meet Inan, his fierce passion, his desire to do the right thing, his conflict over loyalties to his father, to the kingdom, and to his own moral compass, force choices that no one wants to make.

Recently, I did a deeper dive into learning about Adeyemi and her own story is pretty compelling. She’s a Harvard grad and she sold this series for a 7 figure deal when she was 23. She was inspired by the Hunger Games, not only because she loved the book but she was furious about the public’s negative reaction to casting Rue as Black. She also wanted to write, through fantasy, about police brutality and genocide.

The movie comes out January 2027, it’s directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love and Basketball, The Woman King) and the cast includes Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba! How will we wait over a year!?!?! I guess we have some reading to do : )

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