"Children of Blood and Bone" Book Analysis Essay

Tomi Adeyemi’s brilliantly written novel, Children of Blood and Bone, exhilarated me. Children of Blood and Bone is a West-African inspired fantasy set in the mythical African kingdom of Orïsha. This must-read novel is an action-packed, suspenseful adventure to restore magic to the world and complete a ritual before the approaching solstice is over and magic is lost forever. The story is told in first person from alternating perspectives of the three main characters: Zélie, Amari, and Inan. I thoroughly enjoyed the inner monologues, each character's point of view being so different from one another; This allowed me to empathize with each, especially Inan. Adeyemi’s inclusion of multiple viewpoints allowed me to relate to each character in separate ways which kept me engaged. In addition, the author, Adeyemi, does a flawless job of flowing the story. I have never read a plot so well paced, it never felt rushed nor did it feel too slow. The chapters are short, which works well with me since I get bored easily, however this story kept me interested. Everything seems to occur at such a perfectly woven pace. Furthermore, Adeyemi’s inclusivity of the inspiration of the book makes it modern and fresh. Adeyemi felt compelled to write this story for two reasons. First, she was impacted by the current scenes taking place: police shootings of black Americans. Subsequently, Adeyemi makes connections in her novel to racial and systematic issues taking place in the world. Secondly, she experienced the lack of black artists in fantasy books and decided to change this; And most certainly did. Although Children of Blood and Bone was Tomi Adeyemi’s debut book published in 2018, it landed number 1 on The New York Times Young Adult Hardcover Bestseller List. Adeyemi not only gained massive recognition for her phenomenal story but also touched the hearts of many. After learning about the author’s inspiration, her phenomenal story gained even more meaning and pulled at even more heartstrings.

The themes presented in Children of Blood and Bone are very present throughout the whole novel and are blended beautifully with the fantasy. A recurring theme that stands out to me is the theme of prejudice driving fear and violence. Behind the fantastic storyline, Adeyemi presents an ugly truth: oppression is real. Racial oppression is currently happening in the world we are all living in, constantly affecting real people with real feelings. The author’s diction forces the reader to pause and consider systemic racism and injustice in prison systems. Thanks to Adeyemi, this story has opened my eyes to the society around us. I interpret this as an awakening call for humanity. Although the book is appealing, there are some apparent flaws. One flaw that grabs my attention is the repetition. It felt progressively more repetitive as the book advanced. The repetition made me suspect the author was not entirely sure what she wanted with the story. Meanwhile, I gained a special connection to the character, Inan. Inan is Amari’s brother and heir to the throne of Orïsha. Inan quickly became my favorite character in the novel due his differentiation. This character's complexities and dynamics make his perspective the most compelling and interesting of all. I felt engrossed when reading about what he himself thought about his ulterior decisions and motives, which changes quite so often throughout the book. At times, he felt more like two alternating people rather than one. Lastly, I loved being able to understand genuine Yoruba references the author makes within the novel. An eighth grade history project gave me insight into the Yorubian language and Western Africa itself, specifically Nigeria. This allowed me to connect to Adeyemi’s allusions such as the Orïsha cities: Lagos, Ilorin, and Sokoto. This was just one of many of the author’s clever, small inclusions that make the story more entertaining as a whole. 

In summary, Children of Blood and Bone is a beautifully written piece of literary art that engulfs readers in and does not let them out. The twists and turns make this unpredictable novel gratifying. I highly recommend for young adults to give this book a read. Adeyemi lets young adult readers relate to the characters and see themselves within the pages. This story is so different from any novel I have read which makes me enjoy it even more. In fact, I wish there were more books like this.