Overall I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the plot. The world building was pretty good. I found it a little confusing however because while I understand it is fantasy and therefore things and names are made up, many of the words for things in the magic world were similar and also had to pronounce, making it confusing what was what. Nothing really stuck. This was a good YA although I still enjoyed it as an adult. The end was a little rushed but also left open for more which is good and make you want to read the second book.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is a DNF; I will not be finishing it. I thought this would read older that it did, and I’m becoming really picky in my fantasy reads, so I have no further interest in reading. I’m only giving this a review and star rating because this makes me and I don’t want to hurt my feedback ratio.

5 / 10 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2023/08/06/forged-by-blood-by-ehigbor-okosun-review/

Let’s start with the tale. And it’s a good one—adventure, magic, a mythos that might be different to those you normally see in fantasy. An epic quest, a burgeoning love, a people on the brink of genocide, a land where magic is hated and feared. All of these elements combine to form a plot that is truly epic, and impossible to predict. The setting is equally fantastic: the Kingdom of Benin (while I’m somewhat familiar with it historically) is packed with magic and the supernatural. It’s nothing like the comparably dull histories I’ve read—wild and vibrant and packed with adventure. If Forged by Blood were based on the overarching plot alone, not to mention the setting, I’d recommend it 100%, hands down.

But it’s not.

Let’s start with the love-triangle. Mostly, I don’t understand why there’s a love-triangle. Colin, supposedly Dèmi’s intended, sleeps with every girl in sight, so much so that it’s a joke between the two when they’re first introduced. As friends, I might add. The whole “intended” thing only appears after they’ve met Jonas in the present day. Then the womanizing begins to sound… a little different. Colin is also kind of a jerk (I mean, Dèmi is too—but we won’t get into that). Jonas might as well be a saint. She blames Jonas for her mother’s death (like, actually blames <i>him</i> which is ridiculous—but we won’t get into that either) (okay maybe just a little: it’s obvious from her memories that Jonas had nothing to do with it—he’s unconscious and on the brink of death for most of it. After that he defends both of them and helps her escape, while his minders betray them. And yet Dèmi blames <i>him</i> over everyone else—and no it’s not transference or self-hatred, it’s him—even with overwhelming evidence against. But anyhow~), but that’s the only thing she has against him. If not for that, there wouldn’t even <i>be</i> a love-triangle at all. Not that I see why there’s one anyway.

I saw some notes from other reviewers that there was too much talking during chase scenes, or “time is short” scenarios—and that’s certainly true. There are several instances of “time is short” or “we have only seconds” where they proceed to discuss matters for 5-10 minutes. Even though I was warned of it beforehand… I think I would’ve noticed anyway. It’s blatant, and routine. Happens way too much; screws with the pacing.

And lastly.

How many similes is too many? The answer: pretty much until you begin to notice they’re there. A good story is built from many different parts. Metaphors, similes, and the like are just another building block, to be used like any other. The only point at which they become an issue is if they’re ridiculous, ill-formed, or overused. I really started paying attention to these in the middle of the first chapter, when I’d seen about a dozen—some simple, some complex, others florid. I went back to count and found 23 in the first chapter alone, with the next three chapters yielding a total of 47 more. See, <i>that</i> is too many. Whenever you see them constantly: on every page, in every other paragraph. Use your comparisons like you would anything else—in moderation. Now, they peter off later on (you’ll find 3-5, maybe even 10 in later chapters, but in the early ones they’re just constant. I’ll even include every single one from the first chapter on my blog, should you be terribly curious.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced digital review copy.

Great start to the series. I can't wait for the next installment.

I wanted ti love this book. It had the makings to be something great but it fell a bit short for me. I didn't feel connected to the characters like I was hoping. The setting and background story were great though. I liked the concept quite a lot.

However, I did have trouble getting into Démi's pov and tell the dialogue at the beginningwas much too mature for a 10 year old. It took me out of the story a bit. I know it was the set up for her revenge but it just seemed a little unrealistic. I really could not like her because of this.

The romance also didn't flow for me and I just wasn't rooting for them. I think this was a great start for the author though and look forward to seeing them progress. Thank you so much to netgalley andthe publisher for the chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC of this novel. All opinions are my own :)
A coming of age fantasy full of rich culture that is woven tightly through the magical system. Demi is a young adult who is given a mission to kidnap the prince, who she happens to have a dark history with. She is faced to make tough decisions as she finds out more about her destiny through both her past and her present.
This book dug its claws into me and did not let me go until I was finished. It will keep you reading through the end with twists and turns. Some tropes included in this book are Fated Mates, Forced Proximity, and Enemies to Lovers. An amazing debut novel for Ehigbor Okosun and I am excited to see where she goes from here.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of Forged by Blood.

I just finished this book minutes ago and wanted to give my immediate thoughts:

This books reads extremely YA. It's been labeled adult (and being featured in Fairyloot's August Adult box subscription), but the characters are all teenagers. The themes are heavy, but the overall plot still feels very young.

The main character, Dèmi, is compelling character with a formidable drive behind her story arc. She's extremely talented (to the point of me wondering *how* she's gotten so good at magic, despite it being outlawed, but anyway) and smart, and someone you want to root for. I enjoyed her journey as a character.

Jonas was a great addition to Dèmi's character arc. He's supportive and trusting of Dèmi's decisions, which is always nice to see in a MMC.



Things I liked about this book:

-Enemies x Lovers is always a win for me
-The world building is interesting and definitely unique
-Dèmi and Jonas <3

Things that could've been done better:

-Pacing. This story is so *gogogo* every page that I didn't feel like I had the chance to really absorb the rich world the author was attempting to build.
-There was SO much telling (vs showing). I understand to a point, with all the folklore that was included, but half this book was backstory that was being explained in text walls to the reader. Information overload.
-Colin was such a third wheel.

this was a solid foundation to this duology! a nice balance of action, plot twists, and dashes of romance. the pacing did seem wonky at times to me, but nothing too jarring. the term “mate” did deter me a bit while reading, but it wasn’t too prominent as the romance was kind of a back burner thing. all of the characters seemed memorable to me and i love Demi as a MC, reminds me a lot of a younger Ikenna from the Blood Trials.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.

When we first meet Dèmi, she's a young child. Her mother is a powerful healer, and a sick boy has been brought to their home. This is a fraught situation: Dèmi and her mother are Oluso, humans with magical abilities shunned by the general population, and the boy is Eingardian, part of a light-skinned ruling caste that has invaded from the north. When the situation escalates and Demi's mother is murdered, Dèmi flees her village. We encounter her next as a young woman who, through unexpected events, is tasked with kidnapping a nobleman who turns out to be, of course, the sick boy from years past.

Ultimately, the book was most interesting to me because Dèmi is the protagonist instead of Jonas, the nobleborn boy. This would not have been the case until very recently, and we've all read those books before. It's important to see more stories about and not just with strong women and people of color-- representation matters, and it matters a lot-- and it's also crucial because we haven't read Demi's story countless times like we have Jonas's.

It's a solid introduction and set-up, but my enjoyment waned as the book progressed in large part because I felt like I had been bamboozled into reading a long middle grade book marketed as young adult or adult fantasy.

I don't care about the age of the protagonist or even the inclusion or exclusion of violence or sex. It's more about if the plot flows, if the plot extends below the surface into actual themes, if exposition is integrated thoughtfully instead of being plopped on the reader, if the villain is more than just mindlessly evil or violent, the maturity of the internal voice of the narrator/protagonist, and so on. This is most obvious in how we see Dèmi as an 8-year old, with a voice appropriate to an 8-year old, and how that voice hardly changed when we meet Demi again as a young woman.

I'll mention a few more issues that I think is independent of how the book is classified. The pacing is all over the place. There's a love triangle, but there are also soulmates, which reduces any romantic tension to null.

The story also has an odd cadence where elements worthy of page-time are cut curiously short or only mentioned in passing. I'll share two examples. After Dèmi escapes her village, there's mention of the fae-like Aziza and then the scene fades to black. We next encounter Demi living in another human community. Another 30% in, we learn that she stayed with the Aziza for months after her mother's death-- surely another formative experience-- that's only given a paragraph in summary. Similarly, much later, there's a misunderstanding between Jonas and Dèmi that is resolved in just a few sentences with no further consequences. If it's so quickly described and doesn't materially impact the plot or character enough to warrant more text, it probably shouldn't be in there. Similarly, there are some cloyingly detailed descriptions ("A moment later, I wrestle scalding, too-sweet custard down my throat as it tangles in my teeth and clings to my tongue") that make me wish for a heavier hand in editing.

As Ranganathan says, every reader their book, and this will undoubtedly be someone's new favorite on top of being an important addition to the conversation on whose story matters. Honestly, I wish I had encountered this book and more like it when I was younger.

3.5 ⭐️
I genuinely really enjoyed myself with this one! I liked the concept of magic in this world and Demi’s character.

We’ve got some enemies to lovers featured here, which I always root for.
I love Nana and Baba and Jonas.
There is a LOT that happened in this book, especially at the end.

I loved the progression of things with Jonas and Demi. I’m obsessed with Jonas tbh.

Overall the book felt a little too backloaded for my liking. I’m all for a big reveal at the end but it just felt like SO many things were happening in the last 20% of the book. It was hard to keep up and I found myself getting a little confused with the world building.

Overall I’d recommend to people looking for a fun, fantasy packed, ya, enemies to lovers, love triangle, found family, magic, chosen one/she saves the world type thing for your next read!

[3.75 rounded to 4] FORGED BY BLOOD by Ehigbor Okosun is a Nigerian mythology-inspired fantasy that incorporates themes of racism, colonialism, and power. The official synopsis provides a thorough overview of what to expect in this novel: vengeance, secrets, and rebellion. Dèmi seeks retribution for her mother's murder, biding her time until the moment is right. What she didn't initially bargain for in her personal quest is to play a role in giving her people, the Oluso, a voice.

Nigerian mythology is not something with which I'm familiar. Thus, I don't feel that I have the knowledge base to comment on that aspect of the story. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading about the various mythical and fantastical elements included in FORGED BY BLOOD. What I found the most interesting was the history of the Oluso and the various powers that manifest among them.

The thematic elements are obviously incorporated, but in such a way that they flow well with the story rather than reading like a push of every agenda imaginable. Racism is a very dominant theme. The Oluso, who are Black, are the oppressed group and the Eingardians, who are White, are the oppressors. The Eingardians' major goal is to wipe out the Oluso and fully seize power in the region. To make their point to the people, the Eingardian rulers continuously facilitate the fear of magic, held by the Oluso, to justify racism, genocide, and imprisonment.

The Eingardians are also the colonizers, which, along with racism, results in destruction of Oluso culture and identity. This includes the loss of ancenstral lands and the erasure of languages and historical knowledge of things such as medicine and nature. That is, except for when it benefits the Eingardians and their own methods prove fruitless. The demonization of the Oluso and the relative deification of the Eingardians even permeates the Oluso community. There are examples of colorism and attempts to try to "fit in" with the Eingardians by lightening skin or ironing hair.

FORGED BY BLOOD is easy and straight forward to read. At times, though, I found the writing style a bit too plain and matter-of-fact for my preferences. Additionally, it reads as more of a Young Adult novel despite its Adult marketing in the U.S. Dèmi, the female main character, is 17 and what transpires feels more like a coming-of-age story that transitions into one that challenges authority. Some events also came together a little too easily. There were several instances where something became difficult, but conveniently another kind of ability presented itself for utilization. However, I appreciated the nuance of Jonas's character, who is the Aje prince of the Eingardians. It's not possible to share more details without including spoilers. But suffice it to say that allyship can also come from outside one's culture.

Overall, FORGED BY BLOOD is a pertinent statement about racism and colonialism wrapped in an approachable fantasy format. Those who enjoy Nnedi Okorafor's The Nsibidi Scripts series, which includes Akata Witch, will no doubt appreciate Okosun's debut novel.

[Review will be published on July 27 at https://aliteraryescape.com/2023/07/27/arc-review-forged-by-blood-by-ehigbor-okosun/]

Forged by Blood: Tainted Blood Duology Book 1 by Ehigbor Okosun is an epic fantasy that takes readers on a journey filled with rebellion, redemption, and intriguing magical elements. Set in a world plagued by a tyrannical regime and political invasion, the story follows Dèmi as she strives to survive amidst the challenges posed by the nonmagical Ajes, the oppressive King's brutal genocide, and her own formidable blood magic.

The novel excels in crafting a rich and immersive world, bringing to life the ancestral homeland of Ife with its diverse characters and intricate political landscape. Dèmi's quest for vengeance after her mother's tragic death adds a compelling layer of depth to her character, driving the plot forward with gripping intensity.

The dynamic relationships between Dèmi, the Aje prince Jonas, and her childhood friend Colin are skillfully explored, blending forbidden romance with conflicting loyalties. As they embark on a joint mission to challenge the system designed to silence the Oluso, the stakes are raised, and the narrative becomes increasingly riveting.

Ehigbor Okosun's writing showcases an enthusiastic and emerging voice, delivering a captivating tale that delves into themes of race, class, love, trust, and betrayal. Overall, Forged by Blood shines as a five-star read, offering an epic fantasy experience that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the Tainted Blood Duology.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

I'm a sucker for fantasy novels, especially those with Yoruba and other African elements after reading Children of Blood and Bone and the Gilded Ones...so I was super happy to receive this arc. Demi is an Oluso, one with magic in their blood in a government where that basically means death now if anyone figures it out. After misplacing her trust as a child and getting her mother killed, there is a time flash forward to Demi as an adult and now tasked with kidnapping the prince to help free her people from enslavement and colonialism and death. This book kept me hooked throughout it with all of the action and the folklore and oh my GOD THE TWISTS. I truly did not see the last 25% of the book coming.

There are some major tropes including love triangle, fated mates, and betrayals, along with some pretty well-done plot elements BUT I still loved this and can't wait for the next one in the duology.

4 Stars

A magical fantasy with a powerful fmc.

The first 50% of this was wonderfully paced and I was loving it. Things got a bit convoluted in the middle 50-80%, with too many new characters and almost needless plot twists/new information/monologues. Where it got kind of confusing.

The ending was actually pretty epic, and had me hooked.

Overall I enjoyed this book and am excited to read the sequel!

Dèmi has lived most of her life on the run. Ever since her mother died before her eyes, trying to protect Dèmi from those who wished to cause her harm, she has known little more than fear. In a kingdom where people like her, those with magic, are hunted down, captured, and killed, she has little reason to hope. But when someone pulls her into a plan, she dares to begin to believe again. The entire plan hinges on capturing the prince of the kingdom, and with her magic, Dèmi is confident that she will succeed. But when she learns that the prince is none other than the boy she trusted and who got her mother killed years ago, her whole worldview shifts.

I received an advanced reading copy of Forged by Blood in exchange for an honest review.

Forged by Blood is a fantasy novel by Ehigbor Okosun. It’s a novel that is technically adult, but it very much has crossover potential into young adult, especially considering the ages of the protagonists. Dèmi is in her late teens in this book, from what I could tell, and I believe a few of the other characters are too.

Quick mention of some content warnings, before I go into the review. This book contains mentions or descriptions of racism, rape, slavery, abuse, suicide, and violence. Please be aware of these before picking the book up.

Forged by Blood throws the reader into a world where magic is very real, and very feared. I love when authors give us such a rich history in the setting of the world they create, and Okosun definitely delivered with it! This kingdom is one of many cultures and traditions, but they all share one common history, and it’s one where magic users used their magic to hurt people and thus became incredibly feared. But also, once they did that, they also lost their magic and their minds. And this is such a great detail! It really limits what the magical protagonists can do, when you know they can’t kill with magic, and if/when they do (of course I won’t say if they do in this book, that would be a major spoiler), it’s something that is not done lightly. Even moments when characters consider it, there is so much weight to it, because the reader knows exactly what they’re risking, should they go through with it. Honestly, this limitation on their magic was one of my favorite parts of this book.

One of my other favorite parts of this book was Colin. Colin is a secondary character, who joins Dèmi on her adventures. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say this, since I feel like the summary of the book above would let most fantasy-readers know what inevitably happens between Dèmi and the prince (it’s an enemies-to-lovers thing), but Colin is her friend who sticks by her and who is also in love with her (love triangle). I know the story is focused more on Dèmi and the prince, but I found that Colin had a much more interesting arc, especially with some great twists at the end, and I’m definitely interested to see more of him in the sequel. I’m probably in the minority here, but I just really loved those twists, and I might have to go back and read his scenes, just to see them from my new understanding of him and what he’s been through.

Oh yeah, there’s going to be a sequel! But before I talk about that, I should probably also mention the plot, huh? The plot was incredibly fast-paced. It was amazing just how much happened inside these 400ish pages. I know 400 pages sound like a lot, but trust me, when you have this much story happening in there, I am actually amazed looking back. For readers who love to have so much stuff happening, and a plot that never slows down, this would be a fantastic read! And when it ends, it does a good job of closing off enough plot points so that, if you wanted to, you could just stop reading there without having to pick up the sequel. I, however, will definitely have to pick up the second book once it comes out!

Forged by Blood is a great read for those who enjoy fast-paced plots; tropes such as enemies-to-lovers, love triangles, and fated mates (yup, that’s in here too!); and magic with interesting rules.

Forged by Blood will be released on August 8. You can pre-order your copy from Harper Voyager here.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and now that I’ve read it I can say that it fulfilled my expectations. I caught myself reading deep into the night. Not once while reading this book did I remember that it was a debut novel, simply because it did not read like one. There was a twist at every turn. I found that while I wasn’t reading the book I was thinking about the book, if I wasn’t thinking about the book, I was talking about the book. I can not wait for the second. Much more for this book to get released into the world! This fantasy YA novel is based in Nigerian mythology blended with wonderful world building, well developed characters, a love triangle to die for, and a unique magic system. As for notes to the future readers, this book touches on colonialism, racism, and slavery, but it was all well handled. If you like stories that intricate stories that weave through generations of powerful people, you’ll love this.

4.8 / 5.0 This story is a rich and beautiful tapestry. Magic and love and freedom and hate. I did not know what I was getting into but after the first chapter I was absolutely willing to continue. The world is so rich and masterfully built with tradition and politics woven together brilliantly.

The FMC is flawed but focused on her tasks. She and those surrounding her are written with such depth that when they choose a course of action the reader can see how it is within their characters to do so. There are many secrets being kept too, and the story ends with a sigh and a pause, intermission to the entire production, that has the reader anticipating the next book while being completely satisfied with this one.

I loved it and will definitely read the next one. Because of the violence and political intrigue, I would classify this as an Older Young Adult or New Adult fantasy. It also echos many of the themes and struggles of modern society, giving voice to the changes needed if true equality is ever going to exist.

Please read this book, it is worth your time and attention.

Until Next Time
MC

I reviewed an advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion on NetGalley.

This book was PACKED with action, which I love in a story. I felt like I was sprinting through it at times. I liked our main character, who was a total badass. I’m not a huge fan of the love triangle trope but I did enjoy Okosun’s version of it! I’m excited to see where book 2 goes. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-arc.

It is always so refreshing to read fantasy that develops on non-Eurocentric mythologies and traditions! The writing style is a little uneven for me, but in a way I find is common among YA fantasy and mostly sticks out to me when I’ve been reading a lot of high fantasy. It’s is a stunning debut though from Ehigbor and I believe she will be a strong voice in the genre for years to come.

This was a very interesting and unique fantasy with heavy influence from Nigerian mythology. I loved how this book incorporated mythology with a coming of age adventure and a love triangle. The author is a wonderful storyteller and did a fantastic job weaving this tale.