Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber

Title: Twin Crowns

Author: Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber

Genre: YA Fantasy

Series: Twin Crowns # 1

Publication: May 17, 2022 480 pages

Source: Libby, Audiobook

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Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she would steal her sister's place in the palace. Trained from birth to return to the place of her parents' murder and usurp the only survivor, she will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves. Or she would, if only a certain palace guard wasn't quite so distractingly attractive, and if her reckless magic didn't have a habit of causing trouble...

Princess Rose Valhart knows that with power comes responsibility. Marriage into a brutal kingdom awaits, and she will not let a small matter like waking up in the middle of the desert in the company of an extremely impertinent (and handsome) kidnapper get in the way of her royal duty. But life outside the palace walls is wilder and more beautiful than she ever imagined, and the witches she has long feared might turn out to be the family she never knew she was missing.

Two sisters separated at birth and raised into entirely different worlds are about to get to know each other's lives a whole lot better. But as coronation day looms closer and they each strive to claim their birthright, the sinister Kingsbreath, Willem Rathborne, becomes increasingly determined that neither will succeed. Who will ultimately rise to power and wear the crown?

MY THOUGHTS

Twin Crowns has been on my TBR for years. After a string of mediocre reads, I felt a book slump coming on and needed something quick and easy to pull me out of it. Twin Crowns absolutely delivered.

I went into it with little knowledge of the story and no real expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised by what I found.

As the title and cover suggest, Twin Crowns centers on twin sisters separated at birth: one raised as royalty, the other in a small village community. Without giving away too much, the book alternates between the perspectives of the two sisters, Wren and Rose. I immediately connected with Wren, while it took me at least half the book to warm up to Rose. Naturally, I found myself more engaged in Wren’s chapters, especially her budding relationship with Rose’s betrothed’s bodyguard. I do love a good bodyguard trope.

The girls’ voices were distinct, making it easy to differentiate between them and imagine their separate journeys. While I preferred Wren and Tor’s dynamic over Rose and Shen’s, I still enjoyed watching both relationships develop.

The overall plot isn’t groundbreaking, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it. Twin Crowns has the charm and heart of a YA fantasy from 10–15 years ago. It’s hard to describe exactly, but it has that nostalgic feel, simple, light, and immersive. So many YA books today feel like they’re written for an older audience, desperately trying to cram in every trending trope. It can feel overwhelming and forced.

But Twin Crowns was refreshing. It was exactly what I needed: fun, engaging, and unexpectedly delightful. I found myself hanging on to every page and smiling until the very end. I can’t wait to continue the series. If you haven’t read Twin Crowns yet, I highly recommend giving it a try.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Genre: Fiction

Series: N/A

Publication: June 13, 2017, 434 pages

Source: Audiobook, Library

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Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

MY THOUGHTS

While The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has been on multiple bestsellers lists and featured on readers' top picks over the past few years, I never understood the hype. To be honest, it’s not a book I would normally pick up. However, a friend recommended it, and I thought, What the heck? Might as well give it a try. I’m glad I did because I enjoyed it more than I anticipated.

The writing and storytelling were immaculate, but what I loved most was the structure of the story. The book is written in an interview format, interwoven with tabloid headlines. It spans Evelyn’s life before, during, and after stardom. As the title suggests, Evelyn recounts her Hollywood career as well as the men she married along the way; some for love, others for strategic career moves, and some out of convenience.

I love Evelyn. From the early chapters, when we meet her as a fourteen-year-old girl, I immediately knew the kind of woman she would become. She’s strong, independent, and relentless. Words like no, impossible, and can’t are not in her vocabulary. When she wants something, she takes it. I love her blunt, straightforward, and unapologetic nature.

Evelyn is known as a glamorous, beautiful star, worshipped by both men and women. But the road to who she became was not easy. Throughout the novel, we witness the sacrifices and obstacles she had to overcome.

Overall, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was a great read. The pacing and plot were perfect, and I loved the unexpected twist at the end—Evelyn left in true Evelyn fashion. I can’t wait to see this book adapted for the big screen. If you’re looking for a standalone novel and want a break from long series, I highly recommend giving this one a try.

A Fate of Wrath and Flame by K.A. Tucker

Title: A Fate of Wrath and Flame

Author: K.A. Tucker

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Fate and Flame # 1

Paperback 496 Pages 

Publication: May 20, 2021

Source: Audible

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Gifted thief Romeria steals jewels under a notorious New York City crime boss. But when an enigmatic woman secures her services at swordpoint, Romeria is wrenched from this world and transported into a realm of opposing thrones, warring elven societies, and elemental magic.

Waking up in the body of a treacherous elven princess, Romeria quickly realizes she's entangled in a deadly plot and must hide her identity at all costs - not least from the princess's betrothed, King Zander, who detests her. Romeria is forced to play the smitten princess as the unwilling pair work together to uncover the danger that surrounds them.

But with their enemies closing in - and as she fights her growing feelings for the king - it's time for Romeria to find out who she truly is.

MY THOUGHTS

I’ve had A Fate of Wrath and Flame on my radar for a long time. I actually started the audiobook multiple times, but the narrator always put me off, and I never got past the prologue. Determined to finish it, I finally made it to the end. However, to my surprise, what started as a strong story ended up fizzling out. In a single word: underwhelming.

A Fate of Wrath and Flame is a portal fantasy that follows Romeria, a thief from New York who is transported to another world and inhabits the body of her doppelgänger, an elven princess. Tasked with finding a critical artifact, Romeria faces additional challenges: the body she now occupies just murdered her betrothed’s parents. Not only does she need to complete her mission, but she must also keep her true identity hidden.

I haven’t read many fantasy novels where characters transition from the real world into a fantasy setting. I like the concept, but everything else felt too familiar, and I wasn’t impressed. In this new world, vampire faes, mortals, and elemental magic users coexist. Mortals, predictably, are at the bottom of the hierarchy, often serving as slaves or workers for the immortal, aristocratic fae.

Romeria is street-smart, practical, and has a caring heart; all qualities I appreciate in a female protagonist. However, there were moments where she felt immature. As for Zander, I didn’t care for him much. He seems like a competent king overall, but his relationship with Romeria felt too erratic; hot and cold far too quickly. Even knowing that the "Romeria" before and after are two different people, I couldn’t buy into Zander’s acceptance of her. Personally, I wouldn’t be able to overlook the fact that my partner had murdered my parents, regardless of the circumstances. Like Zander and others repeatedly noted throughout the book: when Romeria is around him, all common sense seems to fly out the window.

Overall, A Fate of Wrath and Flame was just okay. Nothing about it stood out, and I never felt connected to the characters. With that said, I won’t be continuing with the series.

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

Title:The Sun Down Motel

Author: Simone St. James
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Series: N/A
Audiobook
Publication: February 18, 2020 by Penguin Audio
Source: Personal Library
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Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn't right at the Sun Down, and before long she's determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden…

Damn, this book was good. Without a doubt better than any TV or movie running right now on Hulu or Netflix. In my continuous endeavor to read outside my genre I stumbled upon The Sun Down Motel on the internet and was immediately captivated by the synopsis. I’m all for creepy supernatural unsolved mystery thrillers.

The Sun Down Motel spans thirty-five years and two generations. The story is narrated by Viv Delany, a young adult working at The Sun Down Motel in 1982 and Carly Kirk, Viv’s niece in 2017. When Viv went missing in 1982 without a trace, it left an indelible mark on her family. Years later, her niece Carly looking for answers travels to Fell, New York hoping to learn more about the aunt she never met and her disappearance.

I’ve never been a fan of flashbacks/forwards, but St. James made it work flawlessly. I didn’t have any issue following the different timeline or narrator. Readers follow both protagonists in their search for truth. And the biggest enigma of all; What exactly happened to Viv Delany in November 1982? I loved that both narration was a self contained story as the novel began but as the story unfolded you couldn’t mistake the eerie similarity between the two women and how Carly’s path started to mirror her aunt’s. St. James sprinkled clues throughout the entire book from the past to present then eventually weaving both timeline together for an explosive and shocking ending that I didn’t see coming. It was satisfying and pure genius.

Without going into spoiler territory, The Sun Down Motel deals with triggering topics such as the sexual harassment/abuse, mistreatment and prejudice that constantly plague women. As a women myself, I’m well aware of the fears and concerns women have on a daily basis on just being out in the world alone. That any time and any place it can go left and become dangerous. This book shows us that. Despite the times, whether we’re in the early 80’s or late 2000s… not much has changed. The potential for danger is still there, lurking beneath the surface. St. James encapsulates those feeling perfectly.

As I mentioned before, there’s a supernatural element to the novel. However, it was subtle enough to not overwhelm the story nor categorize it as ‘paranormal fantasy’. It was a harmonious balance to the mystery. I had the pleasure of listening to this as an audio-book and the cast was fantastic. It delivered on the chill factor with goosebumps and spine-tinges. Caution if reading/listening a night.

All in all, The Sun Down Motel hit all the high notes and exceeded my expectations. One of my top reads so far this year. I highly, highly recommend checking out The Sun Down Motel, it won’t disappoint!

Shades of Wicked by Jeaniene Frost

Title: Shades of Wicked

Author: Jeaniene Frost
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Series: Night Rebel #1
Mass Market Paperback, 370 pages
Publication: October 30, 2018 by Avon
Source: Personal Library
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The Rule Breaker

Master vampire Ian is unrepentant, shameless…and every shade of wicked. He’s made one too many enemies in his two centuries of existence, including Dagon, a demon who now lays claim to his soul. Ian’s only chance to escape Dagon is to join forces with a Law Guardian, but he’s never been able to abide by the rules for long.

The Law Maker

Veritas’ normal role is police, judge and jury to reprobates like Ian. But she has her own ax to grind with Dagon, so if she can use Ian as bait…well, all’s fair in law and war. As they scour supernatural hotspots to perfect their trap, Veritas soon realizes Ian’s devil-may-care, roguish image hides something much more powerful. And Ian discovers that Veritas has shocking secrets of her own. As they’re drawn to each other with a passion as intense as their peril, either love or justice will prevail. But each will have devastating consequences…

It feels like it’s been awhile since I’ve read an Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance, especially the staples of the genre; in which I mean Jeaniene Frost. When I first got into the genre, Frost, Briggs and Andrews were my automatic go-to, always. I never finished The Night Huntress series, but I absolutely enjoyed the series and spin-offs. Which was what prompted me to pick up Shades of Wicked, the first novel in the Night Rebel series featuring none other than bad boy favorite, Master vampire Ian.

I always liked Ian and am glad he finally has his own series. In The Night Huntress world, I think other fans like myself never took Ian seriously, he certainly didn’t. But we’re treated to a whole different side to Ian, a side that is much deeper than I expected. One that endured pain, loss and heartbreak. I also knew that Ian was loyal to his friends/family but seeing it from his perspective just made me love his character even more. Veritas (such a lovely name), is Ian’s leading lady, one whom you’ve met previously in TNH series, the vampire law guardian. I thought she was absolutely perfect for Ian, she met his snark and fortitude blow for blow. Her unique background and lineage are somewhat enigmatic and complex but I am excited to learn more about it and her untapped powers.

As with all spin-off, you can bet your books that other beloved characters made a cameo in Shades of Wicked. I was so freakin’ happy! Makes me want to go back to reread and finish TNH series. I might just do that. Always a sucker for vampire novels! And no one does vampires like Frost. Shades of Wicked was a whirlwind that ended with a major cliffhanger. I can’t wait to see what happens next in Wicked Bites. If you haven’t read any of Frost books yet, start with the TNH series first! It’s a must read!

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Title: Serpent & Dove

Author: Shelby Mahurin
Genre: Paranormal, YA
Series: Serpent & Dove #1
Audiobook, Unabridged
Publication: September 3, 2019 by HarperAudio
Source: Personal Library
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Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou's most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.

And love makes fools of us all.

I’ve been waiting for a good witch/witch hunter story for ages! Serpent and Dove sounded like the perfect remedy. The synopsis had me right off the bat; a witch marrying a witch hunter? Hell yes, sign me up A.S.A.P! The story started off very promising with the hustle and bustle of the city life as readers are introduced to Lou and Reid our main characters. But suddenly the story took a hard left leaving me lost and confused. It wasn’t till the very end that the story started to get better but honestly, it wasn’t enough to redeem itself from the haphazard middle/execution.

I’m going to start off with what I enjoyed. I liked that the story was centered only on the witches and chasseurs (witch hunter). There were no monsters, vampires, or werewolves to crowd the storyline, just two distinct factions. Although the witches were divided into specific covens, depending on their abilities. In Serpent & Dove, we were introduced to the Dame Blanc and Dame Rouge was briefly mentioned (which will be seen in-depth in the sequel). I also liked that there were many laugh-out-moments. Reid’s reactions to Lou’s outgoing, wild nature was priceless.

Unfortunately, the flaws outweighed the good. With so many amazing reviews, I was expecting to be blown away, or at least get buffy vibes. I got neither. The writing, world building and characters all fell short and left me feeling underwhelmed for most of the book. The writing left much to be desired, it didn’t flow nor have that captivating spark seen in most debut novels. I felt the writing needed more time to develop and given more time I’m sure it would’ve been better. The world building was a hot mess, or lack of a world building. While Mahurin never stated the time period, it isn’t too farfetched to assume that the story took place during the 16th century (time of the witch trials) or latest 17th or 18th century which is when the word, chasseurs was coined…or at least around those time frames. The descriptions of the setting also supported this assumption. Then there was the dialogue…things turned messier. Lou and Reid's vernacular kept bouncing back and forth to 16-17th century and present day. I’m pretty sure they didn’t have words like F*ck or B*tch back then. I could be wrong. I don’t have an issue with curse words, it’s all gravy. But my point was it didn’t sound right. Mahurin should have picked and stayed in one lane because the combination of the setting and language timeline/style was ridiculous and took me out of the story on more occasions than I can count. 

And finally, we have the characters. I’m not a fan of Lou or Reid as you can guess by now. Perhaps Mahurin was going for an independent feminist in Lou but Lou wasn’t likeable, period. She’s vulgar in the worst ways, the kind of girls you see drunk and belligerent at the bars. Which many can imagine, low-class (ironic, since she's the coven princess) trashy and annoying. Reid wasn’t any better. He was all about rules, rules and more rules. He had a stick so far up his ass, I was surprised he was able to run at a drop of a hat at the mention of a witch nearby. Reid apparently had no clue Lou was a witch till the very end. ZERO. I find that unbelievable, especially when it was said countless of times that witch magic gave off an unpleasant odor. And Reid and Lou got personal so many times, I lost count. Give me a break, I didn’t buy any of it.

Serpent & Dove fell way below expectations. The cover, while beautiful and eye-catching did not match with what was inside the book. And if you haven’t read this novel yet, avoid it, especially the audiobook. The audiobook had one of the most annoying narrators I’ve ever listened to. With that said, do yourself a favor and skip Serpent & Dove, this isn’t the witch story you’ve been waiting for.

 

 

The Swallows by Lisa Lutz

 

Title: The Swallows
Author: Lisa Lutz
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary
Series: N/A
Hardcover, 399 pages
Publication: August 13, 2019 by Ballantine Books
Source: Personal, Audiobook
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It starts with this simple writing prompt from Alex Witt, Stonebridge Academy's new creative writing teacher. When the students' answers raise disturbing questions of their own, Ms. Witt knows there's more going on the school than the faculty wants to see. She soon learns about The Ten--the students at the top of the school's social hierarchy--as well as their connection to something called The Darkroom.

Ms. Witt can't remain a passive observer. She finds the few girls who've started to question the school's "boys will be boys" attitude and incites a resistance that quickly becomes a movement. But just as it gains momentum, she also attracts the attention of an unknown enemy who knows a little too much about her--including what brought her to Stonebridge in the first place.

Meanwhile, Gemma, a defiant senior, has been plotting her attack for years, waiting for the right moment. Shy loner Norman hates his role in the Darkroom, but can't find the courage to fight back until he makes an unlikely alliance. And then there's Finn Ford, an English teacher with a shady reputation who keeps one eye on his literary ambitions and one on Ms. Witt.

As the school's secrets begin to trickle out, a boys-versus-girls skirmish turns into an all-out war, with deeply personal--and potentially fatal--consequences for everyone involved. Lisa Lutz's blistering, timely tale shows us what can happen when silence wins out over decency for too long--and why the scariest threat of all might be the idea that sooner or later, girls will be girls.

I’ve been a longtime fan and lover of Lutz’s work. I was first introduced to her writing with The Spellman Files back in 2009 and have gone on to read more within the same series. Lutz has written many standalone novels since and while I own all of them, I sadly haven’t gotten around to reading any of it. I was determined to remedy that this year (I know, we’re at the end of the year) and picked up her latest novel, The Swallows. I was intrigued and am a sucker for stories that takes place at private/boarding schools.

The Swallows is a departure from Lutz previous work, The Spellmans Files. The Spellmans Files is what I’d called hilarious light-hearted mystery while the Swallows still a mystery at its core; is darker, cutthroat, and holds nothing back. I was absolutely riveted. With little time for reading these days, I opted for the audiobook version and was delighted to find out the book had multiple narrators. Which was perfect considering there were many POVs in the novel from faculties to students. Without going too much into spoiler territory, The Swallows follows Alex Witt, a new teacher at a New England Prep School. She’s one of those cool, doesn’t take shit kind-of-teachers. She’s straightforward and doesn’t tolerate bullying/injustice which is how she discovered that the prep school is more sinister than it looks.

What was discover was that behind the prestigious façade and crisp uniforms, a few male students were behind what is called the ‘dark web’, an online portal housing everyone’s dirty secrets and among other things that shouldn’t be going on, let alone in the dark. Witt's presence gave the female students the push to delve deeper into the 'dark web', so much so, that the girls were out for a change, a reckoning that eventually changed the foundation and hierarchy of the entire school and all those that reside there.

I enjoyed The Swallows much more than I anticipated. Thanks to the vague synopsis and no reviews read, I was able to go into the novel completely unaware of what it was about. I wasn’t expecting a war amongst the female and male students. Lutz tackled school taboos that most are too afraid of touching such as sexism amongst faculties and students those among their superiors and peers, school ethics, and teacher-student relationships.

I loved the change of power dynamics and seeing those deemed as victims take their power back. It's very current and mirrors our own reality with the whole METOO movement. The writing/storytelling was impeccable as always. But the ending. Just when I thought I saw all the twists and turns, Lutz hits readers with another double whammy! The ending literally had me clasping my mouth in utter shocked. I love those kinds of unexpected shocks.

All in all, The Swallows was another satisfying novel from Lutz. With this novel, Lutz has shown me she can write anything from comedy, suspense and everything in-between. If you haven't checked out her work yet, I highly recommend it! 

 



Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Title: Children of Blood and Bone
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Legacy of Orïsha # 1

Hardcover, 525 Pages
Publication: March 6, 2018 by Henry Holt BFYR

Source: Received audio-book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zelie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were targeted and killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now, Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers—and her growing feelings for the enemy.

Children of Blood and Bone is the most anticipated novel of 2018, and the only reason why you wouldn’t of heard about it is if you’ve been living under a rock. This book has been the talk of the blogosphere for months leading up to it’s publication earlier this March, so much so, that movie rights were acquired awhile back and last I heard that it’s actually in development; talk about fast! Children of Blood and Bone takes place in a re-imagined Africa, following three characters: Zélie, a young Divîner, Princess Amari and her brother Inan. The book alternates between their POV/narrative; enabling the readers to glimpse through their eyes and see what they were thinking. I normally prefer books with one POV, however, Adeyemi did a spectacular job in creating such a clear, distinct voice for each of her characters that I found myself enjoying all three narratives; although I found some of the characters vexing at time.

I had the pleasure of reviewing the audio-book version of Children of Blood and Bone, narrated by the talented Bahni Turpin. Turpin brought the characters and the world of Orïsha to life. I loved listening to her voice. Turpin enunciated everything very clearly and put so much emotion into her voice at all the pivotal scenes. I’m not gonna lie, there were many times I ended up tearing up in the middle of the day, while out in public because you can hear the genuine raw pain that Turpin brought forth while narrating Zélie’s chapters. While listening to the audio-book, I can vividly see as Zélie and Amari ran through the bazaar in Lagos, all the Divîners celebrating Sky Mother in their sanctuary and as Amari lead a siege on her father’s compound to rescue Zélie. It was like watching a movie in my mind. Another reason why I’m so glad I had the opportunity to listen to an audio-book version was being able to hear the correct pronunciation of the the words and the characters’ name. I am positive if I read this on my own, I would have pronounced a lot of things incorrectly. Reading a book and listening to an audio-book is a totally different experience, and if you have the chance to listen to Children of Blood and Bone; definitely do it! You’ll be glad for it! I know I was.

There were a ton of great characters in Children of Blood and Bone. Zélie never backed down from a challenge and had a fiery personality to match. But the biggest surprise and breakout star of the book in my opinion was Amari. When we first met Amari she was a timid and quiet princess, all she knew about her kingdom was minimal as she has never left the confines of the castle but with one bold choice, of defiance, her life changed. Gone was the scared princess and as the story progressed a true warrior emerged, a girl fit to be Queen. Amari like any teenager had doubts and insecurities but she pushed them down and stood up for what she believed was right. Amari was without a doubt my favorite character and it was wonderful to see her journey and character growth. Tzain and the a couple of Divîners also made quite an impression as well…like Zule, the thirteen-year-old healer that lead the group of Divîners. I can still see her in my mind, her final scene was truly devastating.

While there was a lot to love about Children of Blood and Bone, it is not without flaws. I did not like the character Inan, he was so hot and cold it drove me nuts. One moment he was all for killing every single Divîner because he truly believed that was the only way to protect Orïsha by riding the world of Magic. Then suddenly he falls for Zélie and wants to create a better Orïsha where regular folks and Divîners lived side by side. Then he gets brainwashed by his father and was back on his path of riding the world of Divîners and Magic. And there’s a secret that Inan carries which readers discovers early on, which makes this all more ridiculous in his hypocrisy! If and when you read this book, you'll know what I mean. I also wasn’t a fan of the magic system. Compared to everything else, I thought the magic system was the weakest, considering it’s a big part of the world building. There are many types of maji (when a Divîner comes into their power as an adult, at the age of thirteen); there’s the reaper like Zélie, who can see, hear and control spirits, burners, winders, connector (control the mind/dreamscape) and so forth. The idea, the magic system is pretty generic and can be seen countless of times in other fantasy series. The only difference is what it’s being called. Although I wished the magic system was better developed and more complex, it didn’t take away from the book. What makes Children of Blood and Bone great was the characters and Adeyemi delivered on that front.

All in all, Children of Blood and Bone was a wonderful debut that deserve all the hyped that it got.It is one of the best debut novel I’ve read in awhile and I can’t wait to read the rest of this series. As I said before, if you’re able to listen to the audio-book version, do so, you won’t regret it. It takes the reading/listening experience to an entire new level.

*A big thank you to Macmillan for providing me with an audio-book of Children of Blood and Bone.