3 Stars

Thank you Netgalley and publisher, for this ARC.

I liked the story at the beginning, but towards the middle, I was getting bored and losing my place. I liked the magic concept and the world building, but not so much the main character, Demi. I felt like her character was under developed and there was not really any character growth toward the end that you usually see.

I am undecided at this point if i will pick up the second book.

More like a 2.5/5 for me, but rounded up, because I think mis-marketing was one of the biggest problems with this book. This is not an adult fantasy--it is very much YA, and I don't say that lightly. And it's a shame, because so often, women (and especially women of color) have to deal with being slotted into YA when their books are emphatically not (thanks, patriarchal gatekeeping); this is one of the rare cases where the reverse is true. Some of the things in it that would have been par for the course in a YA novel--the angst over a love triangle, the spoon-feeding of explanations that don't trust the reader to make every connection, and so on--are unfortunately not so well received in a book that claims to be adult.

So what makes me so confident this book is YA? Well, a few things. It's very coming-of-age focused, with a big emphasis on a girl who is learning about the complexities of revolution and justice, and trying to change the world...but also falling in love. There is SO much relationship drama surrounding a love triangle, it really detracted from the more powerful elements of the story. The main character also reads very young, despite being 18, and this struck me as a bit of mischaracterization: we are told that she is fierce and powerful and scrappy, having grown up constantly fearing for her life, and yet she constantly makes foolish and rash decisions that are at odds with her supposed street smarts. This isn't me saying every book character has to be smart, but when we're told that this is a mature character, I would expect more...well...maturity. And there's nothing graphic in a way that would push this over the line into adult content, either. Sure, there's violence, but it's no worse than in YA books like The Hunger Games. There's also some fade-to-black sexual content (very brief) and allusions to rape, but again, nothing explicit or graphic. And the writing itself veers in a more juvenile direction as well, with a preference for telling over showing, and telling the reader exactly what to think about the tricky ethical quandaries raised, rather than giving the reader freedom to think for themselves.

Now, don't misconstrue this, because the book wasn't all bad--the world was interesting and vividly drawn, I liked the various magical creatures encountered (including mami wata, some dragon-like creatures, and quirky wind spirits), and the exploration of themes of colonization and oppression (including the cost of revolution, and whether it is possible to adhere to your values while also fighting for freedom) was set up nicely. There were also some lovely descriptions on a sentence/paragraph level. But as a whole, the story felt disjointed--the start was strong, the middle bounced around aimlessly and a bit randomly, and the ending was just one twist after another (in the way that makes you go "wait...huh? so what was the point of all that?" rather than the way that steals your breath away)--and the YA slant, again, kept this story from reaching its full potential.

I'll be interested to see what Okosun writes in the future, but don't think I'll be continuing with this series. That said, it would likely be a good pick for high school students, especially those who want more Black Girl Magic, African-inspired fantasy, and themes of revolution.

Why must we have another love triangle where I'm fine with the FMC just being alone. For the first 60% of the story, I was deeply invested in everything and the characters but after a few (too many) twists and true identity reveals, things started moving at a blitz pace and I found myself getting lost in the sauce with the action and the characters true motivations. At this point, I'm shocked if the FMC believes any man again.

Although book 1 left me with many feels, I'm curious to see how the end of the duology plays out and if peace is even achievable. I'm hoping that the characters start to read as a little more "mature" since this is marketed as Adult Fantasy. Maybe there will be a time jump in book 2 where they've settled into their new roles and such. While this was not the 5 star read I was anticipating, I loved delving into Nigerian mythology and can't wait to see what lies ahead for our main characters. This read was a solid 3.75 for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC!

I have not finished Forged by Blood yet, but I have read over a quarter of Forged by Blood. I love the world-building and the uniqueness of this story. However, I find the FMC to be on the juvenile side. Also, there are a few scenes with awkward dialogue. Overall, I am enjoying this book and am looking forward to seeing where this story takes me.

This was a solid start to the series. It's fast paced and I found myself really invested in the MC's journey. I didn't necessarily love the ending, but I suppose it depends on where the next book takes it. I will definitely read the next installment.

While I appreciate the opportunity to read this book, I just could not get into it especially once I realized it’s going to be a series. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an advanced copy of this book!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this e-ARC. I am anticipating reading this soon and reviewing on my socials.

*Reviewed without spoilers*

It's a good coming-of-age romance story. The author does a good amount of world-building, which is fine, but I would have also enjoyed more character development. This book blends classic romance tropes with an action-packed story set in an Afro-centric setting. I enjoyed this book and plan to review it on my IG page in-depth.

Thank you, @NetGalley, for this eARC and the opportunity to review it!

I love seeing a new author show up with the refinedness' of someone who has been writing for a while. This book is action packed, well written and so much fun. I am so excited to eventually read book 2. The world is unique and well presented and all I want is to spend more time in this world.

Unfortunately, I decided to stop reading this one at about 80%. Although I was initially very excited by the world and connections to Nigerian mythology, I lost quite a bit of interest in the plot and characters. I think this is mostly due to some pacing issues, as the relationships and reveals throughout the story felt really rushed, which either left me feeling confused or underwhelmed. I did start this book before falling into a major reading slump, so I'm sure that has also contributed to my reading experience. I would definitely consider picking up more from this author, as I know this is just her debut!

I find the premise of this book extremely interesting, but unfortunately the prose didn't really work for me. I think that this is an example of a story that might have been better served by marketing it as a YA novel. I am interested to see what else the author writes.

An action packed adventure that made me feel like I was living in between the pages! I cannot wai to see what this author gives us next!

I loved this book and fell into it like i was watching a movie (being action packed also got me, lol). I felt homesick while reading it and it felt good reading somethings i'm culturally familiar with. Any book with west-African themes and mythology instantly grabs my attention, i want more POC and African books. Loved the creatures and magic system and prose. I will say i'm not a fan of love triangles as i like to know who's heart i'm following and don't like being torn, but it was okay, not a deal breaker at all. Also, Ehigbor's writing is beautiful and a breath of fresh air, i thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book.

Okosun has written an amazing fantasy novel that is still in my mind. I love the characters and that ending! I am so intrigued to see where this story goes and I highly recommend Forged by Blood. I will definitely be reading Okosun's books in the future.

Forged by Blood is about our young protagonist Demi whose only goal in life is to live a quiet simple life with her mother. The only problem is she and her mother are forbidden magic wielders. When Demi and her mother have an unfamiliar patron come to their home begging for help, Demi’s world suddenly shifts when her mother is murdered. Later in life, Demi is trained by another magic wielder, Will, along side her childhood friend Colin. During a risky attempt to save children being sold into slavery, Demi is discovered by Lord Ekwensi who offers her the deal of a lifetime; kidnap the prince, help Lord Ekwensi take a higher seat of power, and help her fellow people.

This book was a high fantasy whirlwind! To go from one scene to the next you really have to be paying attention to what’s going on. There is a large cast of characters and a ton of political intrigue. I loved the magic and the high stakes in this book. The plot twists were on another level too! My only feedback is the pacing. Some parts of the story really carried on to a point where I felt it was slightly unnecessary or just too drawn out. Overall I would give this a 3.5/3.25. It was fun but not revolutionary. Be warned if you’re not an avid fantasy reader!! This is not for the weak!!

Ehigbor Okosun's "Forged by Blood" weaves a spellbinding narrative, celebrating the richness of Nigerian mythology and folklore. Okosun's immersive writing transports readers into a world where mythology reflects cultural struggles against racism and classism.
The story goes in many different directions. Normally I recommend fast paced narratives for readers with short attention spans, but I think this went in too many directions for most readers to follow. You have to be prepared for a true epic quest. To me, the plot almost feels similar to an ancient Greek epic (with lots of side quests and events).
Its not bad for a fantasy debut, and I'm not disappointed that I read it. However, I understand why there been so much discussion over whether this book belongs in adult or YA. The tone and sometimes the voice feels a bit YA. Despite pacing, the novel excels in portraying a world rich in magic, history, and the cultural struggles.
This tale, blending myth and action, could captivate those seeking a fantasy immersed in Nigerian culture.

The book is lovely, but I don't think the authors fully knows what it's supposed to be and was overall trying to do too much. 9/10 would recommend to others.

DNF at 58%
Not gonna like I feel duped with the marketing of this book as to if it's an new adult or YA high fantasy.
I just lost interest at the time but plan on picking up where I left off again

Had a blast with the world-building, magic system, Nigerian mythology, and folklore in this novel. But gotta say, the narrative and story had a few weak spots.

There was awesome world-building, folklore and mythology vibes, cool magic system, characters with solid backstories, and tackling heavy themes like racism, colorism, colonization, dictatorship, and genocide – all top-notch.

Now, the story was a bit of a rollercoaster. Quest plot, but all over the place. Characters going on adventures without a clear goal, just a quest to complete. Felt like they were a bit too naive about dealing with power players. My main gripe was that these characters, with their intense backgrounds, fell for obvious traps and had a pretty innocent take on politics.

Also, not a fan of the "I'm too good to kill" trope, especially when the target is an autocratic, genocidal maniac who's done some seriously messed up stuff. Wanted some revenge action.

Overall, a solid debut fantasy novel. Excited for the next one in the series!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

CW: Racism, sexism, discrimination, and enslavement

This book is a masterpiece. It is complex, full of fantasy, and action. It is full of Nigerian cultural references. It will have you experiencing a myriad of emotions. In this Demi is a child later young adult fighting to right wrongs. This is the first of the two books. It contains the backstory and sets the stage for the second and final book.

The characters are relatable, fun and some are endearing while others will have you cheering for their demise. There is a bit of romance. This is a first person narrative and a quick engrossing read.