Zelie, a seventeen-year-old girl, is not like everyone in Orisha. She was born as a diviner, meaning she would have power only some were gifted with- magic. When she came of age, she would be able to join her mother and become a great Maji. Tragically, when she was six, King Saran of Orisha committed the Raid. Magic disappeared and he slaughtered every Maji and hung them for the world to see. He let the children survive, but it would never be the same. The diviners were discriminated against, forced into slavery, and countless other laws that made life for them and their families impossible. Zelie and her older brother, Tzain (who was not Maji), were living life on the low. It was all going well until Zelie bumped into someone that would change their lives forever. Amari, the princess of Orisha, stole a sacred scroll that could bring back just a bit of magic at the touch of a diviner, from the palace. She made a split-second decision that would throw her into something much bigger than she ever dreamed. After one of the only elder Maji's left that escaped the Raid touched the scroll, she had a vision that the three of them, Tzain, Zelie, and Amari, must go on a journey to save magic. However, Prince Inan, Amari’s brother, was tasked to capture the fugitives and prevent them from achieving their goal. Throughout the journey, feelings would be felt that shouldn’t, death will flash before their eyes more than once, and will make it harder and harder to push through. Still, an entire race was persecuted, and whether they were ready or not, it was time for justice to strike.
This book was more than just entertaining. There were so many lessons and concepts introduced that allowed you to get a better grasp of others' experiences and why they were/are important. This book discussed mass persecution and discrimination over a huge race and religion, which is something that has happened and is happening in real life. This book helped me broaden my perspective and helped enforce an important concept brought up throughout the book. Besides the attention brought to human rights being violated, this book helped me realize that it’s so important to listen to other people and hear them out so I can truly understand their side of the story and where they’re coming from. Besides all the lessons and experiences spoken about, the book had an amazing plot. There were so many twists and difficult decisions occurring, you couldn’t get bored of it. You ask so many questions and anticipate answers while you’re being affected emotionally as well. You will fall in love with some characters and be on the fence with others. It will come to your attention that the antagonists may not be as bad as you thought, but then again, they may be worse. There is overall so much development and the results are not what you’d expect. The story is not cliche (even if it seems like it would be), so you really will enjoy reading it. Overall, Children of Blood and Bone will take you through an adrenaline rushing, heartbreaking, plot twisting, justice seeking spiral that you will not regret reading!
Reviewed by Charlotte W., Grade 8
