Forged by Blood by Ehigbor Okosun is a captivating epic fantasy that takes readers on a thrilling journey through a world plagued by tyranny, political intrigue, and magical power. Set in the richly imagined realm of Ife, the story follows Dèmi, a young woman grappling with her identity and fighting for survival in the face of oppression and genocide.

The world-building in Forged by Blood is masterfully crafted, immersing readers in a society torn apart by racial and magical divides. The nonmagical Ajes' occupation of Ife and the brutal genocide of the Oluso, the darker-skinned magic wielders, create a tense and gripping backdrop for the story. Okosun skillfully weaves themes of race, class, and power dynamics into the narrative, making it not only a fantastical adventure but also a thought-provoking exploration of real-world issues.

Dèmi's journey is the heart of the novel, and she is a compelling and multi-faceted protagonist. Her desire to survive and protect her people is evident, and her growth throughout the story is both believable and empowering. As she navigates the treacherous path of vengeance, Dèmi's character evolves, and readers are drawn into her struggle to control her formidable blood magic while maintaining her humanity.

The dynamics between the characters are a highlight of the book, particularly the complex relationship between Dèmi, Jonas, and Colin. The forbidden attraction that develops between Dèmi and Jonas adds a layer of tension and emotion to the narrative, as their bond becomes inseparable from their shared mission. The moral dilemmas they face and the trust they must place in each other add depth to their individual arcs and the overall plot.

The pacing of the story is generally well-handled, with moments of intense action interspersed with introspective moments that allow readers to connect with the characters on a deeper level. The plot twists and turns keep the reader engaged, as the trio faces unexpected challenges and betrayals along their journey.

As an emerging voice in the genre, Ehigbor Okosun demonstrates a talent for storytelling, weaving together a tale of rebellion, redemption, and self-discovery. However, there are instances where certain plot elements could have been further explored, and additional depth could have been given to some secondary characters.

In conclusion, Forged by Blood is an enthralling and thought-provoking epic fantasy that delivers a powerful message about resilience, identity, and the bonds that form in the face of adversity. With its rich world-building, well-developed characters, and themes that mirror real-world complexities, this book is sure to resonate with fans of fantasy and social commentary alike. Ehigbor Okosun proves to be an exciting new voice in the genre, and I eagerly anticipate more from this promising author.

First of all, I am so happy to read more diverse fantasies that center mythology and lore that isn't Eurocentric. This debut is another stunning addition to that effort and I'm glad to see it! Forged by Blood unapologetically weaves African (or in this case more specifically, Nigerian) folk tales. It does not shy away from discussing colonialism, racism, xenophobia, child abuse, and more, all while telling a story filled with magic and powerful women.

However I have mixed feelings on the execution of this book, as it's pacing and tone weren't exactly my favorite. There is SO MUCH happening constantly, I feel like we never got a chance to breathe and just let characters develop. Demi is a FMC I was both rooting for and frustrated by. Her decision-making skills had me worried. And finally, two of the main tropes that really took me out of this book was the love triangle AND fated mates.

So in this case, my rating reflects more of a "It's not you, it's me" scenario. I highly recommend picking up this book regardless and experiencing the magic for yourself!

4 stars This was well written and brought African mythology to the forefront. The Magic system is well written and has drawn a Ka that it needs for the story to work. The only thing that needed improvement was how we the readers get pulled from one plot to another without an explanation for a good chunk of the book. Everything looks like it is being set up to be resolved in the sequel.

2.5 ⭐️

This is not terrible in terms of a debut writer. Ehigbor Okosun can write and has a great imagination. She has lots of potential.

Unfortunately this book just did not work for me to the point where I considered DNFing it. There were some parts that were so cringey. But there were aspects I did like.

What I liked: the world building. It was interesting and not an info dump. I can appreciate that. She weaved it into the story. I also really liked the magical system and thought it was interesting though there were times I was confused. This book would benefit greatly with an index/glossary Bea sue there were so many terms and I honestly had a hard time remembering them all and their meanings.

What I didn’t like: the main character did annoy me at times because her decisions just didn’t make sense, but I can understand why she made certain decisions.

The love triangle.. I’m already not a huge fan of these tbh. I can handle love triangles if they’re done really well and I’m this case, it’s a negative. Not to mention the one trope I usually don’t really mind, but just did not work in this book. I needed more context as to why this is a thing in this world.

The pacing and inconsistencies. There were times that I was just bored and wanted to skim through and then there were times I wish we could slow it down.. the ending just seemed so rushed.

I’m hoping the next book will tackle all the questions that arose towards the last 25%.

Do I recommend this book? Maybe. Someone out there will like this. It’s a fresh fantasy with violence and war, magic and romance, enemies and betrayals. I just don’t think this book is for me. There were certain scenes I did enjoy though so there’s something for everyone.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Net Galley and Harper Collins for the advanced reader copy. This is a 3.75 rounded up to 4. I rounded it up because I'm old and not the target audience.

Demí is a magic user. After healing a colonialist's kid(Jonah), her mother is killed. Demí is betrayed by a new friend, and she is forced to take a life debt to live. Fast forward 9 years, Demí is forced to kidnap her betrayer and go on a quest to save her people and her family.

This reads like an entertaining YA. If you like love triangles, fated mates, inventive African worlds, interesting revenge plotlines, and magic, you might enjoy this book. It was a fun read, and I can't wait for book two.

It does cover colonialism, racism, xenophobia, slavery, child abuse, rand marginalization. Please check content warnings.

Rating 3.5 (rounded up to 4)

“𝑲𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒖𝒑; 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎.”

𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨:
When I was asked to review this book, I was so excited because I love fantasy books. I recently have been specifically loving Fantasy books based around African folk tales or, in this instance, Nigerian Folktales, and this book definitely came out swinging! The book started very strong, at 5% in; I just knew that it would be my new obsession; however, it just didn't seem to follow through completely.

The world-building was great, and I was sucked into the political and social aspects of everything. However, toward the middle of the book, I got lost; there was so much going on it was hard to keep up. I mean, this book is ACTION PACKED, to say the least, but it also felt like there wasn't much room or time to process events because there was always something going on. I’d also say that I was not the biggest fan of the FMC as she was just very naïve, which made her hard to like at times because her decisions just did not make sense to me ( idk sometimes violence IS the answer🤷🏽‍♀️). Despite all of that, I still could not seem to put the book down. Something just kept me wanting to read and see where the story goes, so overall, I’d say it was a pretty good time for me, and I am interested to see where the second book in the duology goes from here.

Thank you, @harpercollins, for reaching out about this book & @netgalley for providing the Ebook.

𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕊𝕪𝕟𝕠𝕡𝕤𝕚𝕤:
Demi is a magic-wielding Oluso who has to avoid suspicion of the nonmagical Ajes who occupy her ancestral homeland and the King’s brutal genocide of her people. All Demi wants to do is survive, but when Dèmi’s misplaced trust costs her mother’s life, survival gives way to vengeance. She bides her time until the devious Lord Ekwensi grants her the perfect opportunity—kidnap the Aje prince, Jonas, and bargain with his life to save the remaining Oluso. But what happens when shared secrets and a mated bond gets in the way of Demi’s plans?


Release date: August 8th, 2023

Forged by Blood is author Ehigbor Okosun’s debut YA Fantasy book based on Nigerian Mythology. It is everything one could want in a fantasy book, a Badass FMC, Love triangle, One bed trope, Enemies to Lovers, Fated Mates, unique magic system, and more.
While many other fantasy books have these themes and tropes, the culture in this book makes it stand out. It’s beautiful, inspiring, and had me wanting more. There’s commentary on racism, societal norms, difference between right and wrong, social class, injustice, revenge and more. While this book is only around 400 pages, it packs a punch without being too much.
I loved every second of it and finished it in one sitting. I would highly recommend it to fans of Shadow of the Gods, Legendborn, and Children of Blood and Bone. I think this book is going to be a hit once it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free and give my honest feedback and review.

The worldbuilding was compelling and I enjoyed the plot. The characters were also fun. There were a few points where I predicted what was going to happen way before it did.

Thank you, NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the E-Arc!
A fantastic start to a duology! This story is based on Nigerian mythology and is full of political intrigue and magic. I can see tons of people loving this series, as it is packed with many popular tropes and a fantastic magic system. The book is full of emotion and a bit of pain as you experience the discrimination and isolation that Demi feels; the world-building and systems of magic are amazing. I do think this leans more toward young adults but overall, I really enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this and thought it was a great debut novel. It was such a unique storyline based on Nigerian mythology. The main character, Dèmi was such a strong character to read about and never shied away from a challenge or her magic. I think though Dèmi, Jonas, and Collin all read a bit young and I feel like this felt more on the older end of YA vs adult. They were definitely more reckless in their decisions and their thought processes than what I would expect of an adult book.

I thought the world building was well done, but I will say there were points where I was confused. I feel like the author did a really good job of slowly building the world so it wasn’t too overwhelming for me when I got a bit lost at times. This was definitely action packed from the beginning but somehow the end felt like almost too much happened. I’m also not much a fan of fated mates, but I think it was done well for a trope I don’t really vibe with. Overall, I really loved this book and I cannot wait for the second book of this duology to see what happens next.

I really enjoyed the character development of Demi. The beginning started off great! It pulled me in and I was looking forward to each page. There was a little bit between 25%- 50% of the book when I started to struggle to stay awake while readying but once I hit the 55% mark it picked back up. I loved the intense fight scenes and twists towards the end of the book. I would read another book by this author! I know their books will only get better!

Great debut novel! I love the world building in the story and also the character development was top tier. I will for sure plan to read more of this author.

Forged by Blood
Forged by Blood is a debut inspired by Nigerian mythology. The world-building and magic were both done very well and were some of my favorite parts of the story.

We first follow Demi as a child. Magic is outlawed, and her people are imprisoned or killed if found using magic. Demi and her mummy use their magic to heal others in their village. While healing another child, Jonas, they are found out and Demi’s mummy is killed.

After that, we go forward nine years. Demi and her friend, Colin, are recruited to kidnap the prince. Their quest to kidnap the prince and deliver him takes up most of the book. I enjoyed this section quite a bit. The magical forest was very unique and interesting.

Overall, there were parts of this that I loved and parts that I didn’t like at all. There is a love triangle, but it’s obvious who Demi will choose. There is also a fated mates trope. I hate when books use the word mates, but that’s a me thing. I actually like the chemistry between the couple.

I think this a strong debut and though there were things I didn’t love, I look forward to reading the conclusion to this duology.

Thank you so much for this ARC NetGalley I enjoyed this story so much, it is on the more mature side for a YA book and I love that, by can't say I'm a big fan of the tropes in the book, but besides that this was a great story and I can't wait to read the final published draft of it.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this eARC!

Forged by Blood jumps right into the story, as Demi and her mother are helping to magically cure a boy - even though it's not allowed. While they make a deal to save the boy's life, they're betrayed and ultimately Demi's mother is killed. We jump forward nine years to Demi trying to help her magical people in a world where they are discriminated against. This story is full of magic, and the world is bright and vividly described to you.

Okosun created a beautiful world for this story, and you can tell she had so many amazing ideas in how to best build it up. I think, however, that the world Okosun created was a bit too big for this book. I was overwhelmed with so many descriptions of magical rules and creatures, that I got lost in what was happening with the plot. I think Okosun had ideas to create a much larger world for a story much larger than this one, and I have great hopes for her future works.

My largest issue with this book, however, was based on expectations. This was advertised to me as an adult book, but it is clearly written for a YA audience. Demi is 17 for the majority of this book, and it shows. I read YA fairly often, so I was not upset the book was YA. I was upset because I had the expectation that this premise would be written as an adult story. I think if someone goes into this with the expectation that it is a YA book, they'll enjoy it better than I did.

This all being said, I absolutely will be reading future books by Okosun, and I would recommend this book.

A well-written YA fantasy! I couldn't even tell that this is the author's debut. Such a great story that I think many people will enjoy. A great read for people that are fans of Children of Blood and Bone.

What an amazing book! Once it got going, it was really hard to put it down. The writing was super engaging, absolutely loved the characters, and really enjoyed the plot as well. I wish that there was some sort of dictionary or something in the back that would remind me who all of the people were and the different powers and the different places, because the world building was very intense and could be hard to remember at times. Absolutely looking forward to book too! 4.5 stars rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Démi is a magic wielder in this Nigerian inspired world. Unfortunately for her and her mother, the magic wielders have undergone a harsh genocide by the hand of the king a few years earlier. When her mother is killed for helping a young man, Démi escapes and vows to avenge her people.

The good: I loved the worldbuilding and this universe. The elemental magic was very cool. The story dragged you right in and you could feel the pain that Démi went through very palpably. Jonas was also a fun character and I enjoyed seeing his back and forth with Démi and Colin. The author is clearly well versed in the real world culture and mythology. I liked how unique this voice is in a market that is full of European based fantasies.

The meh: The book stopped pulling me in around the midway point and I felt I didn't care so much what happened next. The stakes didn't feel high enough to make me want to find out what was going to happen. Démi, though seemed age and trauma appropriately focused on revenge, was getting very repetitive and blaming the wrong people for what happened to her mother. She was also leading Colin on a lot, which seems like an odd thing to do to someone who you consider family. The romance felt forced and it was obvious that Démi and Jonas would get together from the start of the novel. There seemed to be an element of fated mates but that was contradicted by saying there was choice involved. Speaking of contradictions, the first half of the book we learn that taking a life will lead to losing magic or death/disability, but then Démi is actually sort of promoted for it in the end? Odd. This also felt much more YA than adult fantasy which I've read it's being marketed as, so I'm not sure what to make of that. I think this book suffered from too many tropes shoved into one, too many ideas and contradictions, bland characters, and a forced romance.

The verdict: You may like this book if you enjoy sort love triangles, mythology, Africa inspired worlds, elemental magic, a spirit world, magic persecution, and revenge plots.

A StoryGraph review will be posted on 7/13.

As soon as I started reading this, I had to double check whether it was supposed to be a YA fantasy or not, because the first few chapters are narrated by the 8 year old main character, and after that, the timeline jumps to 9 years later, when she is 17. In professional library review journals and other places where I initially came across this title, it has been billed as for a "general adult" audience (although I see it is now tagged as "young adult" on Goodreads). If I had realized it was going to be narrated by such a young main character, I probably would not have requested an advance readers' copy of this title--I have realized that I am just past the point where I enjoy reading YA fantasy. I really wanted to like this book, but stopped reading around 25% or so just because the main character felt so young and naive. I can tell that the author put a lot of effort into world-building and from what I read, I think the plot is interesting, but it should be being marketed as a YA fantasy.

Forged by Blood is such an amazing book. It carefully combined magic with Nigerian culture to create a unique world and characters. The best part of the book is how well-written the protagonist Demi is. Her voice shines in the novel, with her thoughts, feelings, hopes, and fears driving the story further. As a YA fantasy novel, Forged by Blood stands out because of its storytelling. I was never able to guess what was going to happen next, but it still all flowed seamlessly. The story never felt rushed, and I enjoyed being in the world Okosun created.