"We are all children of blood and bone. All instruments of vengeance and virtue."
*Insert standing ovation here.
Wow. This was incredible! I'm always cautious going into a hyped book because you never know what you're going to get. I've arrived at the point in my reading experience where I'm feeling a bit "been there, done that" with YA fantasy. Not to say I don't enjoy it, but up until now, it's been a hot minute since I've found a truly unique setting and cast that's blown me away. I'm a white female who is tired of only reading about other white males and females who are beautiful beyond all compare, yet have the poorest self esteem, even in the midst of a love triangle, or worse, being the object of every single person's affection. I'm not saying that this is the only YA fantasy to feature people of color, but they still makes up only a small percentage of the mainstream fiction being pushed by major publishers today. What a refreshing, energizing, and exciting time it is to see a masterpiece like Children Of Blood And Bone getting the recognition it so richly deserves! I truly believe these own voices belonging to POC are paving the way for the floodgates to open to a new wave of diverse mainstream fiction.
So.... How much can I say about this book? Obviously I don't want to spoil a single portion for any reader, so maybe I'll stick to the writing and emotion more than specific plot points. One of my favorite things in the world is to buddy read books with Leigh Kramer; whether we enjoy the book or not, there's always stimulating conversation and deep thought added to the experience that I wouldn't come across on my own. Both of us had been dying to pick this up and knew it had to be our next partner read and I'm not sure we'll find another book that hit us equally well! Maybe the sequel? Anyway, what started as a careful study of the setting and characters quickly turned into a full blown "manic turning of pages marathon". I'm also glad I held off on writing this review until having my final discussions with Leigh, because she brought to light a few points I hadn't even thought of up until that moment.
The atmosphere is so rich here that you can practically taste it. No matter where our characters traveled to, I had a sensory experience. I could smell the moisture in the jungle air, I could taste the ash on my tongue when villages were burned, and I could hear the crunching of leaves underfoot right before an ambush was to occur. The writing was of such high quality in every aspect; the characters were unique and developed, the action scenes were tense and heart pounding, and the emotional moments were deeply felt by all. The best way I know how to sum up just what this book meant to me is this: Children Of Blood And Bone felt like a story so great that I was unworthy of reading it, but the author writes in such a genuine and inclusive manner that it's like she grabbed me around the shoulder and said "Come on in, you're welcome in my world". It's difficult to put into words just how important this book is. Sure, you can write it off and say "It's just YA fantasy", but it was so much more than that. This was an allegory of the lifetime of struggles, pain, and oppression that POC have experienced in exchange for simply breathing, something my privilege hasn't allowed me to experience. I'm just so grateful that Tomi Adeyemi was able to put pen to paper and share this struggle in a way that people of any race could learn about.
If you haven't read this one yet and choose to do so, be sure to read the author's note and acknowledgements afterward; I dare you not to cry. To say I'm eagerly anticipating the sequel would be the largest understatement of the year, but there it is. Also, I'm in love with Roen but I guess Leigh can marry him since I'm not on the market.