I found Children of Blood and Bone when it published in 2018 and Tomi was on Jimmy Fallon. I’m a huge fan of Jimmy’s because he’s from my town, so when he selected CoBaB as his book club pick, I had to have it! Recently, I did a reread in anticipation of the release of the conclusion.

Immediately, this book presents the broken land of Orïsha, torn apart by the prejudiced laws of the monarchy against the magical maji—despite the maji having lost their power. 

Zélie is rightfully hurt and angry at the monarchy because when magic disappeared they enacted a slaughter against the defenseless former magic-wielders, killing her mother in front of her—and countless others. 

Zélie’s brother, Tzain, and her father are magicless kosidán, so Zélie seems to find herself in a different position from Tzain, who also witnessed their mother’s murder, but does not face the day-to-day prejudice that Zélie does as a divîner with white hair that sets her apart from kosidán. Tzain seems like the perfect son, and Zélie is often the hot-headed mess-up. But Zélie is also the hero of this story. 

Zélie reluctantly allies herself with the princess Amari, and soon after Tzain joins them. Meanwhile, Amari’s brother, Prince Inan, is hot on their trail with the army. 

In the end, there is heartache, blooming romance, hidden magic, enemies-to-lovers, and action, action, action! I gave this five stars when I first read it, and five stars again now!

P.S. This time around I listened to the audiobook and loved Bahni Turpin!