From Powells.com
Staff recommendations, guest essays, and curated reading lists.
Hot new releases and under-the-radar gems for adults and kids.
Staff Pick
Every part of this book, from the writing down to the end papers, is so detailed and imaginative that I know I'll have to read it a couple more times to fully appreciate its beauty. Fast-paced scenes, a unique magic system, and the complicated family dynamics that spur a lot of emotion kept me turning page after page. This is such a well-rounded debut, anything that comes after is sure to stun. Recommended By Brianna B., Powells.com
Everything changes when magic disappears from Orisha, but fate sets its restoration in motion: a runaway princess, her magic-hating brother, and a girl with a powerful heritage team up to restore magic to their world. Richly imagined and filled with complex characters, Children of Blood and Bone is a stunner. Recommended By Mary Jo S., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Tomi Adeyemi conjures a stunning world of dark magic and danger in her West African-inspired fantasy debut, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sabaa Tahir.
They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise.
Zelie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orisha 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 killed, leaving Zelie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zelie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zelie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orisha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zelie herself as she struggles to control her powers--and her growing feelings for an enemy.
"The next big thing in literature and film." Ebony
"One of the biggest young adult fiction debut book deals of the year. Aside from a compelling plot and a strong-willed heroine as the protagonist, the book deals with larger themes, like race and power, that are being discussed in real time." Teen Vogue
"A remarkable achievement." Campus Lately
"Tomi Adeyemi is about to take both the literature and film world by storm." Jet
Review
"Powerful, captivating, and raw — Adeyemi is a talent to watch. Exceptional." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
Review
"Adeyemi’s devastating debut is a brutal, beautiful tale of revolution, faith, and star-crossed love." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
Review
"...an all-black cast of characters, a meaningful emphasis on fighting for justice, a complex heroine saving her own people, and a brand of magic made more powerful by the strength of heritage and ancestry." Booklist (Starred Review)
Review
"A magnificent, heartrending, earthshaking debut." New York Times-bestselling author Daniel José Older
About the Author
Tomi Adeyemi is a Nigerian-American writer and creative writing coach based in San Diego, California. After graduating Harvard University with an honors degree in English literature, she studied West African mythology and culture in Salvador, Brazil. She is the author of Children of Blood and Bone.
Powell's Staff on PowellsBooks.Blog
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