I read this same book about two years ago, it was called Children of Blood and Bone. I wasn't a fan of it then and I'm not a fan of it now.

Also, can we stop forcing our black heroines to fall in love with the children of their opressors? Why is this such a trend in YA? What are we teaching young women of color?

And from BIPOC authors too. Disappointing.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Every moment of this book was spent in complete confusion. I have little to no knowledge of west African mythologies, so that might be the explanation. I don't actually think that's the entire issue, but it must have contributed somewhat. I acknowledge that. I also read this from an ebook, and I couldn't see the map (it didn't load in my sad little app), so geographically I wasn't always sure of my surroundings. But I think mostly there were several technical issues that got in the way of me engaging with this story.

The most basic is the writing. On a sentence level, there were some nice things, and sometimes the imagery worked. Other times it didn't. I was overwhelmed by how many similes and call-backs the author tried to make. It felt sometimes like an attempt to enrich the world building - Démi would note that something reminded her of a mythological creature, or of an atrocity from her people's history, or of something that had happened in her own past or experience. If that is in fact what the author was attempting, it wasn't successful. It made the writing feel overwrought, it distracted from what was happening in the scene, and throwing in more new language was honestly just more confusing. Here's an example from the last third of the book:

"They fight like this for several moments, Lord Vermillion attacking, bearing down, while Jonas blocks and dodges, arms getting slower with each parry. It reminds me of the winter festival courtship dances - the Benin girls who dance with multiple suitors because their parents are desperate they marry well. The suitors keep coming until the girls, tired of holding out for the best, let a fortunate suitor carry them off like a festival prize, knowing full well that they will never be the same again.
Except I doubt any of those girls had been recently shot in the chest."

Immediately followed by:
"Even as Jonas blocks the latest cut and Lord Vermillion catches him in the stomach with his boot, the king and the guards do not move, watching transfixed, like ooni with their heads barely visible above water, scouting their prey before they hustle their giant, scaled bodies out of the water and devour everything in sight."

I'm distracted by references to things that have either A) never been mentioned before that I can recall, or B) references to a mythological creature that I <i>think</i> we briefly mentioned with in the first third of the book, but I'm not sure because it wasn't ever mentioned in the meantime, and it didn't seem important when it was introduced. The scene loses momentum, and I start to lose interest in what's happening to Jonas. This happened constantly.

So obviously pacing was an issue on the scene level, but the overarching story suffered from pacing issues too. The book opens with Démi and Jonas as children (I think, young children - like six or seven?), and then immediately after it jumps to ten-ish years later. I think this was supposed to set up the love triangle (I know) and the whole thing with Mari, but otherwise it didn't seem necessary. After that it's hard to tell how much time passes. I think most of this novel takes place over the span of a week, but I'm not sure. There are so many "lost time" moments - the entire sequence with the forest spirits especially, but also Démi spends a lot of time either imprisoned or unconscious. This translates to lots of random bursts of activity being immediately followed by a slowing or complete stop in momentum. I don't even know if there is an overarching plot, because the author kept adding things for the characters to do. Démi kept focusing on new things (and as a result, our attention was drawn in a new direction every ten pages or so), and I lost track of what the end goal was. It was ridiculously episodic. I was never sure where we would end up, but not in a good way.

Part of that mock-suspense was because there were so many convoluted "GOTCHA" moments. Many of these moments are presented as something completely earth-shattering, but that supposedly answer questions we were supposedly asking (usually not in either case). These moments were rarely given time to sink in, and the character's reactions didn't feel genuine because they were never given time to process anything. A sizeable number of these gotcha moments were things that the characters knew from their past but the author didn't share with us until it was "important." Some of them were even things that could have been introduced in the very beginning, before the time jump.

The characters themselves were flat and confusing. There was a love triangle, or at least there was something that was supposed to be a love triangle, but really it was one character experiencing unrequited love and that two other characters being inexplicably attracted to each other. There were no stakes to it and then (THIS MIGHT BE A SPOILER) it was topped off with Jonas being Démi's mate, which I saw coming from a mile away, and which I don't care about. Also I felt like it was a weird thing to include in a story where she frequently highlights the violence experienced by Oluso - she literally says they're "hunted like animals," so the animalistic "mate" situation made me feel a little gross. (OKAY SPOILER DONE) The whole romance between Jonas and Démi (which I don't think is actually a spoiler) confuses me a little. It's very insta-love-y, and she spends the first half of the book being like "ugh, why am I attracted to this absolutely hateful, racist man?" and the second half like "I don't care I love him." I feel like Jonas' position in the political scene should have been a bigger hurdle than it was. Démi doesn't really grapple with her feelings for him at all - it's implied that she's loved him since they were children, and all she does is push her feelings aside and then yell at him to make herself feel better. There is no resolution for this. A switch gets flipped, and suddenly she's okay with it.

I have complaints about the world building (how does the magic work?), but I've already talked too much. It always breaks my heart to read the acknowledgements on a book I didn't like, because I know authors put their heart and soul into their work (there's no other way to write if you really mean to), and this was no exception. I always feel like situations like this don't necessarily reflect badly on the skill of the author, but on the work of their editing team. This read more like a first draft of a story, and that is a crying shame, but it's not solely the fault of the author. Someone should have caught it before me, when something should've been done about it. There's the bones of a really interesting story here, interesting characters too.

As someone who reads and works with books professionally, sometimes I hear this scared little voice in the back of my mind asking what we're doing. So many things today are published not because they're good, moral, or worthwhile, but because the publishers (and authors) need to make money and sell books. Maybe I'm making an unfair assumption, but pushing a book through just because one has to fill a quota or make more money than last year does a disservice to the art of writing, and to the reader as well.

I really enjoyed this book. I hope the author continues to write more books in the future. I can't wait to see what this author releases in the future.

Well that escalated quickly.

"Forged by Blood" by Ehigbor Okosun starts the Tainted Blood duology. In which it's pretty rough out there. Dèmi has a tough first chapter. After helping heal a boy with her mother she then has to flee her home because of betrayal. Then it gets worse... Later has learned to control her powers, but still must hide them thanks to the policy of the king. Unfortunately folk are going to be scummy and when the chance to assist in some scum busting arrives Dèmi gets caught up in the machinations of a local lord. Who definitely doesn't have motives he isn't saying.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the Arc.

Reasons to read:
-Really good magic, with consequences
-Characters, eventually, just say what they are hiding instead of letting it fester for multiple books
-Real good reasons to remove the current governing system
-Spirits who might be playing an even deeper game

Cons:
-The unfortunate knowledge that if some folks had powers in real life people wouldn't be cool with it

Between the cover and synopsis I was itching to read this book. The author did not disappoint. It has all the elements of a great book

This had one of the best opening chapters I've read in a while and definitely makes you excited to jump into this world. I would recommend FORGED BY BLOOD for fans of Tomi Adeyemi.

The world building, the fantasy, the representation! This was a great book that I could recommend to everyone. I was so enchanted by the magic and how the world was built I could barely put the book down. You're telling me this is a debut? Okosun is an absolute amazing writer and I cannot wait to read more of their books.

Would I read it again? Probably not. While the story as a whole was ok, I felt at some points it was both rushed and drawn out. I found myself confused at some points trying to figure out if I missed something. The romance aspect was very weird as well. I could never really quite grasp what was going on until the end.

Amazon Review submitted, pending system approval
Blog post goes live Nov 28th
Will also be featured in weekly vlog and mid-month Wrap-up for October

I hate to be that person but can we stop aging up YA books into the Adult age/marking group with little to no editing or adjusting? Forged by Blood was pitched and seemingly marketed as belonging to the Adult Fantasy fans. This most definitely was not the right call.

There is very little here that I would describe as an an adult or epic fantasy attribute. Instead we have a young girl who is hell-bent on revenge, to the point that it becomes her one personality trait. We have two young men who are accompanying her on her quest. Both of them are in love with her, one is a childhood friend and the other the brooding and forbidden prince. She, of course, has unique magic and attributes, and uses those wildly and with little control (again her personality is revenge, not well behaved).

There was little to enjoy in this one and I ended up sighing my way through it. I enjoyed the setting, the spirits and mythology (the inspiration is always one I enjoying seeing) but the characters, the quest, the ‘mates’. It was all very much not great. If you enjoy a YA or Middle grade style fantasy with this description this could be for you. But otherwise it’s a hard pass from me.

1.5 out of 5 bone blades

I was really looking forward to this book. I loved the culture and the world building, but this book felt very YA.

I’m not a huge fan of love triangles and that may be why I didn’t like this as much as I hoped it would.

3.5⭐

I really did enjoy this book. The story was was new and fresh, weaving world building and magic into a beautiful story filled with strength and resilience. It does feel a little more YA than adult but to me, it's not a big deal.

3.5
Forged by Blood brings a fresh new perspective into the fantasy genre with its tale. The book starts off exciting and immediately immerses the reader into Dèmi's world, which is filled with magic and inspired by mythology. I thought the lore and magic systems were unique, and the setting was excellently crafted. Additionally characters were interesting and their interpersonal dynamics and motivations were compelling and written well. The book's true weakness comes out in some of the plot points. One of the major internal conflicts Dèmi has is whether to choose Jonas or Colin as her mate. However, in the early chapters, she explicitly states that she has no romantic interest in Colin. This love triangle conflict is utterly unnecessary because the reader is aware from the beginning that she isn't going to choose Colin. Thus, this entire conflict seems contrived and I couldn't help but feel like the author felt compelled to include a love triangle in a book that clearly did not need one. Additionally, there were some other minor critiques I had about the storytelling. Namely, I felt that a lot of relevant information or backstory was given at the moment needed in a deus-ex-machina sort of way, rather than using other tools such as foreshadowing. I do believe this minor hiccup will be rectified with experience. Despite the critiques, I enjoyed the magic and most of the storytelling and will eagerly await a sequel and more books from this author.

I really enjoyed this book. This will contain spoilers so please don’t read this review until you read the book. I loved the world building and the languages. It was so magical. The beginning of the book instantly had me hooked. I loved the characters especially the family. The story gave a lot about family and building your own family. I loved her sense of Justice even though it was at a fault sometimes. The saltire was truly my favorite part of this book. I do wish somethings were explained more. Like the magic and the fight with the king at the end. Now I truly didn’t like the love triangle at all. It felt like the whole time she was kind of leading Colin on. I understand she was probably into him and never thought she would find her mate but I wish when she realized who her mate was she gave Colin a heads up. The ending kinda felt rushed to me. I was confused about her father a little bit. I wanted to like Jonas a lot more but I felt like sometimes he was just there. I wanted them together though but I kinda wish he was black. Just a little only because of the story and it being more Nigerian. I will be reading book 2 and I’m excited and hoping it will explain more. Thank you so much Ehigbor Okosun and Avon and Harper Voyager, Harper Voyager for letting me read this ARC.

I was really looking forward to this new fantasy romance, but unfortunately it fell a little bit flat for me. This was marketed as an adult novel, but definitely reads more ya with the love triangle romance and dialogue. Sometimes I enjoy the naive love triangle romance, but I expected it to be more flushed out and advanced since it's "adult". The pacing was also strange, with it being super exciting in the beginning, but it lulls through the middle. That being said, I still think this is a fun novel with a very cool setting, but I think teenagers would enjoy it way better. Fun story, I just don't think many adults will LOVE it.

Okosun debuts with Forged by Blood, a YA fantasy story including a romance subplot, mythology, and some intricate world building.

I cannot emphasize enough just how beautiful the writing in this story was; the world-building was intricate and the storytelling extremely lyrical. The characters were relatable and the comedic relief added an element to the friendships that built the realistic nature of the relationships. My only critique would be that the pacing of the story and placement of the stakes felt a bit too slow, but this may just be the nature of duologies! Solid read

I will always be a fan of experiencing fantasy in a non-dragons/castles world. The culture and lore in this book is beautiful- but that’s also the hard part. I wanted to learn more about what was being presented, but things would move along so quickly as new lore details would get sprinkled in quick succession. I got a little whiplash from the frequency of new betrayals, reveals, and declarations. There’s a love triangle but it’s a bit weak because one of the participants is pretty unlikeable (in my opinion). I appreciated the main characters strength and drive, and you can really feel the reverence she has for her culture and beliefs. I think the world is really cool, the magic engaging- I just wanted things savored a little longer.

***3.5 Stars***

FORGED BY BLOOD is a complex and carefully crafted fantasy filled with action, rich lore, and emotion. Okosun shines with the eloquence of her prose as the reader begins to understand the world they are entering.

What I loved about this particular book is the multiple layers to the story. At the core, it is about a young girl’s struggles and quest to fight for what is right. However, there are also political power plays, discrimination, enslavement, complicated relationships, and a whole system of blood magic. All of these on their own would be compelling, but together, they form a vivid and well-crafted tale.

Because this is the first book in a duology, I understand that there is a lot of background needed to set up the players and build the world. And yet, as the reader, there were I wanted more lore and more about the magic. You see it in action, but questions were lingering about all the facets which made things murky at times.

FORGED BY BLOOD is a solid beginning to what could possibly be an epic second book. Okosun’s voice is strong with a wonderful balance of heart and action. I am looking forward to seeing what comes in the next book.

Forged by Blood (The Tainted Blood Duology) is a YA fantasy story with touches of mythology, romance, magic, and phenomenal world-building.

Okosun has a beautiful writing style that draws you in and but the pacing was a bit off. At times I almost DNF but I wanted to see where the story and characters were going to go. I love that we got to see some comedy moments within the love triangle, making the characters feel relatable. The story is described as high fantasy but reads more YA fantasy, maybe the second book will slide into the high fantasy category - after all the reviews that it gets for feedback.

Forged by Blood reads in many ways like a YA fantasy. The tropes and relationship dynamics are really common for that age range and the writing wasn't as descriptive as I'm used to from adult fantasy.
How to decide if it's for you:
The worldbuilding was of the "building the car as you're driving it" variety common in YA fantasy.
The magic system is pretty cool if not super developed.
Love triangle.
Uneven pacing.
Very clear good vs evil.
Launches a duology, so there's more to come if you end up liking it.

I won't be continuing this series, but would give the author's work another shot as there are a lot of fun pieces. They just didn't come together well for me.

2.5 Stars

Plot wise there is nothing really new here for a YA fantasy, but the setting was good and the culture well developed.