Children of Blood and Bone: A West African-inspired YA Fantasy, Filled with Dark Magic

Front Cover
Pan Macmillan, Mar 8, 2018 - Young Adult Fiction - 352 pages

Tomi Adeyemi conjures a stunning world of dark magic and danger in her West African-inspired fantasy Children of Blood and Bone, the first in the #1 New York Times-bestselling Legacy of Orïsha series.

'A hugely enjoyable escapist story that makes you re-examine the world around you.' – Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of
The Deathless Girls

They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise . . .


Zélie remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. When different clans ruled – Burners igniting flames, Tiders beckoning waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoning forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, anyone with powers was targeted and killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has a chance to bring back magic to her people and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must learn to harness her powers and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where strange creatures prowl, and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to come to terms with the strength of her magic – and her growing feelings for an enemy . . .

'Three perspectives, complex world-building and superlative characterisation make this a must for fantasy fans.' – Imogen Russell Williams, Metro

The movie of Children of Blood and Bone is in development and soon to be a major motion picture from Paramount Pictures and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood of The Woman King.

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About the author (2018)

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 received a fellowship that allowed her to study West African mythology, religion, and culture in Salvador, Brazil. Her first novel is Children of Blood and Bone. When she’s not working on her novels or watching BTS music videos, she can be found blogging and teaching creative writing on her website.