About the Book
Children of Blood and Bone is a Young Adult fantasy debut from Tomi Adeyemi, set in the fictional West African-inspired world of Orïsha. Magic once existed openly in this world, practitioners called maji could summon fire, water, and even souls, until the king ordered a violent purge that wiped out magic and killed most of its users. The story follows Zélie Adebola, a young woman who lost her mother in that purge, as she discovers a chance to restore magic to her people.
The plot is driven by a race against time. Zélie must find a sacred artifact and complete a ritual before the king and his forces close in. She's joined by her brother Tzain and by Amari, the king's own daughter, who has turned against her father after witnessing his cruelty firsthand. The story alternates between three points of view, Zélie, Amari, and Inan, the crown prince sent to hunt them down.
The book was a major commercial debut, reaching #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and earning significant critical attention. It draws clear thematic lines between its fictional monarchy's oppression and real-world racial violence, which gives the stakes a weight that goes beyond standard fantasy quest mechanics. It's the first book in the Legacy of Orïsha series, and the story ends with setup for the sequel, Children of Virtue and Vengeance.
Narration & Audio Performance
Bahni Turpin is one of the more reliable narrators working in YA audiobooks, and this is one of her better performances. She handles the three-POV structure clearly, Zélie, Amari, and Inan each have a distinct vocal register, which matters a lot in a book that switches perspectives frequently. Turpin's voice for Zélie in particular has an urgency that suits the character's anger and grief without tipping into melodrama.
Pacing is consistent throughout. Action sequences feel propulsive without becoming hard to follow, and the quieter emotional scenes don't drag. The world-building passages, where Adeyemi introduces Yoruba-influenced terminology and magic systems, are delivered with enough clarity that listeners don't need to rewind to catch what's being described. Turpin handles the non-English names and terms with confidence, which matters here, mispronounced worldbuilding vocabulary is a common distraction in fantasy audiobooks, and it's not an issue here.
Production quality is clean and straightforward. There's no music or sound design layered in, which keeps the focus on the narration itself. That's the right call for this kind of story.
The Audible Verdict
Bahni Turpin's narration is genuinely well-suited to this material, the multi-POV structure benefits from a narrator who can differentiate voices clearly, and she does. The book is also long and plot-driven, which makes audio a practical format choice for getting through it. This is one of the stronger YA fantasy audiobook pairings in recent years, and a paid credit is a reasonable spend.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
Children of Blood and Bone is a good fit for audio. The narrative is linear and fast-moving, structured around a chase plot with alternating POVs, exactly the kind of storytelling that works well when read aloud. There are no maps, charts, or visual elements that the text depends on. The world-building is delivered through action and dialogue rather than appendices or footnotes.
The three-narrator structure is worth noting specifically. In print, readers have to track the POV shifts on their own, which can occasionally disrupt momentum. In audio, Turpin's distinct voices do that work for the listener automatically. It's a case where the audio format provides a practical advantage over reading.
Listeners who tend to tune out during dense fantasy world-building may actually find audio more accessible here than print. Adeyemi's prose is energetic and the terminology is grounded in Yoruba language and culture, but Turpin's delivery keeps it from feeling like homework.
Popular Listener Questions
Is this the first book in a series?
Yes. Children of Blood and Bone is the first book in the Legacy of Orïsha series. The sequel is Children of Virtue and Vengeance. The story has a complete central arc but ends with clear setup for the next book.
Is the audiobook narrated by the author?
No. The audiobook is narrated by Bahni Turpin, not by Tomi Adeyemi.
Is this book appropriate for younger listeners?
It's published as Young Adult, which typically targets readers 14 and up. The book contains violence, grief, and themes of systemic oppression. It's not graphic, but it's not light reading either.
Does the audiobook handle the Yoruba-inspired names and terminology well?
Yes. Bahni Turpin pronounces the world's names and terms consistently and with confidence throughout. This is worth noting because fantasy audiobooks sometimes stumble here.
Do I need to read the sequel immediately after?
The first book tells a complete story with a clear resolution to its main quest, but it ends in a way that sets up the next installment. Most readers will want to continue, but it doesn't end on a pure cliffhanger.
Similar Audiobooks
Children of Virtue and Vengeance
The direct sequel in the Legacy of Orïsha series, also narrated by Bahni Turpin, picks up immediately where the first book ends.
Sabaa Tahir's YA fantasy is mentioned in the publisher's own comps for this book, both feature oppressive regimes, dual POVs, and action-heavy plots.
Leigh Bardugo's series is the other publisher comp for this title. Both attract readers who want YA fantasy with moral complexity and ensemble casts.
Roshani Chokshi's debut fantasy shares the West African and multicultural world-building orientation and targets the same YA fantasy readership.
Anansi Boys
Neil Gaiman's novel draws on West African folklore in a different way and for a different audience, but listeners drawn to Adeyemi's mythological foundation may find it worth exploring.
Audiobook Details
| Title | Children of Blood and Bone |
|---|---|
| Author | Tomi Adeyemi |
| Narrator | Bahni Turpin |
| Genre | Young Adult Fantasy |
| Year | 2018 |
| Publisher | Henry Holt and Company (BYR) |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
Children of Blood and Bone is available on Audible with Bahni Turpin narrating, a good use of a free trial credit or a paid one if you're already committed to the series.
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