‘Children of Blood and Bone’ by Tomi Adeyemi

Book Description

They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.

Now we rise.

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.

Maude’s Book Club Discussion Questions:

Plot & Worldbuilding Questions

• How effective is the opening massacre in setting the emotional and political stakes of Orïsha? What does it immediately tell us about power and fear in this world?

• Magic is gone before the story even begins. How does that absence shape the society more than magic ever did when it existed?

• The maji are oppressed through laws, taxes, and violence rather than outright enslavement. How does this kind of systemic control feel more insidious than overt domination?

• What moments in the first half make the world feel most alive to you—rituals, geography, language, or mythology?

• The journey structure kicks in quickly. Does the pacing feel urgent or rushed, and how does that urgency affect your emotional investment?

Major Events & Turning Points

• Zélie’s awakening of her powers is chaotic and dangerous. Did it feel empowering, terrifying, or both—and why do you think Adeyemi chose that tone?

• The death of Zélie’s mother looms over every choice she makes. How does grief function as a driving force rather than just backstory?

• Amari’s decision to flee the palace is a sharp break from her former life. What’s the exact moment where you felt she crossed a point of no return?

• The scroll becomes a symbol as much as a plot device. What does it represent differently to Zélie, Amari, and Inan?

• How does the constant pursuit by the monarchy affect the moral tone of the story—does it make the conflict feel personal or purely political?

Character Deep Dives

• Zélie is brave, impulsive, angry, and deeply compassionate. Which of these traits helps her survive—and which ones put her in danger?

• Amari begins the story with privilege but no power. What does her early arc suggest about the difference between innocence and accountability?

• Tzain is often positioned as the voice of caution. Is he right to prioritize survival over resistance, or does his fear risk enabling oppression?

• Inan is introduced as an antagonist, but his inner conflict is clear early on. At this midpoint, do you see him as a villain, a victim, or something more complicated?

• Which character feels the most changed by the events of the first half, and which feels the most resistant to change?

Themes & Big Ideas

• Anger is framed as both destructive and necessary. When does Zélie’s anger feel justified, and when does it risk consuming her?

• The book explores inherited trauma—how parents’ suffering shapes their children. Where do you see this most clearly in the first half?

• Power in Orïsha is gendered, racialized, and magical. How do these layers intersect rather than operate separately?

• Silence is repeatedly shown as dangerous. Which characters benefit from silence, and which are harmed by it?

• Hope exists, but it’s fragile. What moments in the first half made you believe restoration is possible—and what moments made it feel impossible?

Midpoint Reflection Questions

• At the halfway mark, whose story are you most emotionally invested in, and why?

• If the book ended here, what would feel unresolved versus intentionally unfinished?

• What do you expect the second half to focus on—external battles, internal conflicts, or the cost of restoring magic?

• Do you trust the prophecy, or do you feel the story is warning us not to?

THE PROPHECY

At its core, the prophecy says:

• A divîner will rise and restore magic to the land.
  The ritual requires three sacred artifacts to be brought together.

• When magic returns, it will upend the existing power structure—specifically the monarchy that destroyed it.

• Restoration will come with sacrifice, loss, and consequences that cannot be undone.

What makes the prophecy interesting (and dangerous) is that it’s deliberately vague. It doesn’t promise a happy ending—only change. Different characters project their own fears and hopes onto it:

• For the oppressed maji, it represents justice, survival, and cultural rebirth.

• For the monarchy, it’s a threat of collapse and revenge.

• For Zélie, it’s both a burden and a calling, forcing her to carry the weight of an entire people’s future.

• For Inan, it becomes a crisis of identity—because restoring magic may also mean destroying the world he’s been raised to protect.

The key question isn’t “Will the prophecy come true?” but
“Who pays the price when it does?”

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