CHILDREN OF VIRTUE AND VENGEANCE

Author(s): Tomi Adeyemi

Stand-alone or Series: Legacy of Orïsha #2

Rating: 5/5 stars

SPOILERS BELOW

You two. Even when you crash, you intertwine.

After rereading Children of Blood and Bone, I could not wait to start the sequel. I just need to know what happens! I did hear that the second book is not as good, so I’m pretty nervous, but I’m hoping it’ll be worth it!

It was! Which I’m so glad, because I didn’t want this to be a disappointing read.

To be honest there are flaws in this book, a lot of them. But my overall experience was a pleasant one, and so I ended up giving it five stars. I felt a lot of things during these four hundred pages, and at the end I still wanted more. Even though things happened that I hated, it wasn’t because they’re not good—it’s because it hurt that my favourite character turned semi-evil, and that each side is trying to defeat the other by any means necessary, etc.

Let’s start with Amari. When I first read Children of Blood and Bone I didn’t like her until the end. During my reread, I found I liked her a lot. So when she kept making ridiculous mistakes throughout the book? It was heartbreaking. And that final decision? I was so disappointed. I don’t know how they can forgive her, especially Tzain. They finally got together for real (!!!) and she ruins it for the throne. I lowkey wanted her to be the sacrifice so she can have a redemption-ish. But I’m excited to see if she’ll redeem herself in the second book and win the favour of others again!

Zélie was grieving for most of the book. I know some people might hate that she doesn’t rise to the action and fight, but I found this change refreshing. It shows a hero that is scared and that doesn’t want to be a hero. Someone who just wants to survive and protect those she loves. I couldn’t be annoyed at her for that. I’m glad she found happiness with Roën and the strength to finally end Inan (even if it didn’t happen. Again. I swear this boy just doesn’t want to die).

Though I will call out the hypocrisy of the Iyika. They hate that they’ve been oppressed and are fighting against that, and they’re tired of the death and people the monarchy took from them, but they have no problem annihilating hundreds of people in the blink of an eye? I know it’s a war, and I know the military is, for lack of a better word, trash, but what about the village? How could Jahi and Imani just do that? And why did no one give them trouble for being the actual people who sent the death to the village? Do they not have brains to think and push back against Amari? They did perfectly fine being against her in the first half of the book. I just found the village incident to be useless. The dead even came back (which I was so happy to see!!).

Let’s talk about Inan, who’s alive?? I thought he was dead but oops, turns out not. I still am not sure exactly how he was saved. I think Ojore saves him? I don’t know. Anyways, Inan is such a weak link. He only does the right thing when it’s easy, as Zélie said. Even though his heart is in the right place, he’s not strong enough to follow through. And he’s so fickle, omg. As soon as there’s some pushback from doing the right thing, he does a full 180 and turns into a monster, no better than his dad. As well, the notion that Orïsha is the throne is such bullshit. A kingdom is not its king, a country is not its government, it’s the people that give it life, that keep it going. When you do something, you should do it for the citizens. I was rooting for Zélie at the end to end him, even though he was trying hard to rectify his mistake. But honestly, too little too late. He should’ve figured shit out before all the people died because of him.

Also, our reigning antagonist, Amari and Inan’s mother. Who would’ve thought? She’s so ughhh I hate her a lot. I wish we knew why she hates her daughter so much since it just felt like there’s no reason and simply there to add plot. And she orchestrated the maji attacking the palace all those years ago? Damn. I don’t know what part she’ll play in the future, but I hope we see little of her. I don’t like her.

Finally, THAT ENDING. What will happen?? We know nothing of the third book, not even an estimate of release, so I’m just suffering right now. My theory is that someone from Roën’s homeland has abducted them for some reason or other, I’m not sure. I kind of think they’ll arrive and be treated well, but also the situation doesn’t warrant that since they’re in chains. Ohh, what if Roën’s dad is like the king or something and he wants his son back? But he does mention that he was on the streets. What about the ones who tortured him and marked his arm? IT COULD BE SO MANY THINGS.

Overall I enjoyed this book because I was taken on an emotional roller coaster. The book was fast paced and lush with action-packed scenes, heartfelt emotions, and dimensional characters. No one is purely good or bad, and it shows in this book.

Thank you for reading and see you next time ❤