I struggled with how to write this review. Let's be straightforward: I listened to the audiobook. I wish they had used different narrators for each character's point of view. The narrator they have is amazing! Sometimes it was hard for me to keep people separate though.

Children of Blood and Bone has been much loved by most of the people I know who have read it. Its setting is based on a tweaked version of current Nigeria, including locations and mythology. It's very readable - taking several YA tropes and integrating them into the author's world just barely post-magic. The population struggles with a new divide: between those who had magic and do not have it any more (called 'maggots' by the others - magi when they have magic) and folks who never had magic. Normally, it would be pretty easy to hide magic, right? But in this universe, those born with magic have white hair! So you'd have to try to hide that but it doesn't stay covered for very long compared to traditional hair dye. It's details like this that make this book endearing. Zelie's opening chapter is kind of amazing - in her fighting school, giving us plenty of background for the world.

It's passages like the end of chapter forty-four and all of chapter forty-five that make the book relevant. Zelie (our main character) finally acknowledges what she's been through to the king's son Inan. Here's a little taste from Zelie's perspective:

"I am always afraid!"

I don't know what shocks me more - the power in my voice or the words themselves.

Afraid.

I am always afraid.

It's a truth I locked away years ago, a fact I fought had to overcome. Because when it hits, I'm paralyzed.

... [portion omitted]

It doesn't matter how strong I get, how much power my magic wields. They will always hate me in this world.

... [portion omitted]

"They built this world for you, built it to love you. They never cursed at you in the streets, never broke down the doors of your home."

The ending of the book was also pretty powerful, but I can't really talk about it without giving it away. Overall it's those scenes that took this book from "okay" to "really liking it".

Here's what I wish:

• I wish the book was shorter. It felt unnecessarily long. However, I have this issue with most books. Cut the fat. It'll be shorter and help those powerful moments stand out even more!
• I wish we knew how the magic worked. The answer seems to sort of be "it just does". I didn't feel the characters had any idea of how or why the magic worked, why they were chosen, their connection to the universe, etc.