Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
I’ve finally admitted defeat with this book, it’s only taken me three attempts. Earlier this year I decided to give the audiobook version a try as I thought maybe the pace I was able to physically read it at was the problem. While I did make it much further in, I just wasn’t interested in the plot. The pace was extremely impacted by how many situations are told from both Zélie and Amari’s perspectives.
I do really love the magic system and lore of this book and if I had the patience to push through, I’d probably really enjoy it. But life’s too short to force yourself to finish a book that you’ve already tried to read on three separate occasions. I will be checking out the film when that finally gets made/released. Has there been any more news on this?
Synopsis: They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise.
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.
Of Blood & Roses by Georgiana Kent
This is one of those books that I have no memory of reading. I remember picking it up but if I didn’t have a review posted, I’d remember absolutely nothing about it. Based on my review, this book was weird. An exact quote from my review is: “I’m talking doing it on your twin brother’s grave with the guy that killed him. Also a 1100 year old vampire, the same guy as the grave fondler, says the word ‘menses’ and that makes me feel sick.” No man should ever say the word ‘menses’ especially in the context of needing a woman to be menstruating in order to create an heir. Like how does that even work? Does that not go against basic biology?
I got over halfway through this book and pretty much nothing happened. I’d usually push myself to finish a book with less than 300 pages, even if I’m not enjoying it. But Of Blood & Roses was a little too ridiculous for my liking.
Synopsis: In exchange for protection, Emperor Amias de Marc has two requests of the people of a willing supply of blood sacrifices, and a wife…
Every hundred years, the vampire Emperor opens the gates to his Eternal Palace to select a human bride. In ‘The Picking’, unmarried maidens turning twenty in the winter are requested to attend, and, from them, the one to make the flowers bloom becomes his betrothed. Refusal means certain death.
Lamia Fontaine is a girl hell-bent on revenge. And her target is the Emperor. Lucky for her, she’s part of The Picking, and has an invitation to attend the Palace. Now, all she needs is a chance to get close enough to strike…
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