*

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi was my book club’s pick for this month, and if not for that I probably would have DNFed it. A YA fantasy set in Nigeria, COBAB alternates between the perspectives of Zélie, a divîner, and Amari and Inan, kosidán heirs to the Orïshan throne. The conflict between those with magic, the divîners, and the oppressive ruling class, the kodsidán, is a heavy allegory for systemic racism. While I loved the concept (especially the worldbuilding rooted in Igbo culture and mythology), I struggled with the execution. Young adults are definitely the target audience which at times made it difficult to enjoy as an adult, but with a repetitive plot at 550 pages, it’s a tough sell. While there were some in my book club who had similar criticisms, there were also members that really enjoyed it, which made for a lively discussion (imo, the best part of book club!) This isn’t a series I’ll be continuing but it’s a good reminder that every book isn’t for everyone! 📸: I’m holding up a hardback copy of Children of Blood and Bone with one hand. Trees and sky are visible in the background. via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/DB87fRNybdf/