5 ⭐ CW: Violence, death, death of a parent, death of a child, grief, torture, colorism

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi is book one of the Legacy of Orïsha series. This was a reread for me, and I loved it just as much as I did the first time around back in 2018. I finally got my hands on the last book in the series, so I figured it was a good time to reread the first two books. This series holds a special place in my heart, because although I've always been a reader, this was the first book about Black I read that wasn't a historical fiction or about slavery. Thank you Tomi Adeyemi for bringing this into my life. 

We follow Zélié Adebola, a diviner living with the horrors and trauma of losing her mother due to the monarchy's hate and oppression of maji. When Princess Amari runs into her in the market and asks for help, Zélié is dragged into something much bigger than herself. It's up to her to bring magic back to the maji and end the monarchy's tyranny with the help of her brother Tzain, and Amari. 

Zélié struggles with the expectations thrust upon her while also trying to figure out her own magic. She also struggles with Amari's brother, Prince Inan. I forgot how annoying Inan was in this book. He was so much internalized hate, and can't see past his need for his father's approval, no matter how monstrous the king shows himself to be. This story is so full of pain and grief that mirrors the very real pain and grief of seeing young Black people murdered by police in America. There is also so much rage at injustice, but so much hope at fighting back. 

I also love the magic system of powers associated with Yoruba gods. Zélie is a Reaper meaning she has power over life and death from Oya. There are healers, winders, grounders and welders, burners, cancers, tamers (of animals), tiders, and connectors. I'm looking forward to (re)learning more about the different types of maji in book two.