YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

After battling the impossible, Zélie and Amari have finally succeeded in bringing magic back to the land of Orïsha. But the ritual was more powerful than they could’ve imagined, reigniting the powers of not only the maji, but of nobles with magic ancestry, too.

Now, Zélie struggles to unite the maji in an Orïsha where the enemy is just as powerful as they are. But when the monarchy and military unite to keep control of Orïsha, Zélie must fight to secure Amari's right to the throne and protect the new maji from the monarchy's wrath.

With civil war looming on the horizon, Zélie finds herself at a breaking point: she must discover a way to bring the kingdom together or watch as Orïsha tears itself apart.

Children of Virtue and Vengeance is the stunning sequel to Tomi Adeyemi's New York Times bestselling debut Children of Blood and Bone, the first title in her Legacy of Orïsha trilogy.

I'll be a couple of days late starting - waiting on mine to be delivered still :(

ch 1-5

(view spoiler)[ We're picking up not long after the end of book one. Zelie and Tzain saying good bye to Baba was a heart-wrenching way to kick things off.

I really feel for Amari. She was hands down one of my favorites from book one and I'm looking forward to watching her get stronger and more confident in this book, but having lost every family member and her friendship with Zelie seeming to be in a tense place currently really sucks. At least she still has Tzain and no matter how hard things are Zelie still has her back as she embarks on taking her place as Orisha's Queen. (hide spoiler)]

oh, and (view spoiler)[ While I liked Zelie's interactions with Roen in book one, and Inan definitely didn't deserve her love, she seems way too ready to throw herself at Roen already. Seems a bit fast after everything that went down with Inan.......... (hide spoiler)]

I'll start it soon.☺️

I'll be slow - once again, over did it on buddy reads lol.

So glad to be back into this world!

Chapter 12- (view spoiler)[ Whoa!! Poor Armani...What a messed up family she has. And the fight between Zélie and Tzain (and Zélie and Armani) was intense. So much anger from her. I haven't even flipped one extra page because I'm not sure what happened to Inan yet, and I'm not sure if his point of view chapters will be back, and I don't want to be spoiled! HA...My theory was that he survived the ending of the first book. (hide spoiler)]

Last update of the night:

Chapter 15- (view spoiler)[ YES!!! Inan isn't dead...I know I'm in the minority, but I really liked his character development in the first book!! And that dream scene...WHOA!! You better run, Inan!! Zélie will hunt you down!! Glad Armani and Tzain caught up with Zélie! (hide spoiler)]

HeatherH wrote: "ch 1-5

We're picking up not long after the end of book one. Zelie and Tzain saying good bye to Baba was a heart-wrenching way to kick things off.

I really feel for Amari. She was hands down one..."

(view spoiler)[
Amari is my favorite character as well. i feel bad for her, she doesn't even think she has a right to grieve her father lose or the guilt of killing him, i also want to know more about her powers. hopefully things between her and Zelie get better soon.
(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Bit behind on planned reads, but started this earlier. Excited to see how things pick up from book one.

Hoping tomorrow to get a bit more read..

Chapter 41- (view spoiler)[ I’m glad Armani was able to find her spot in the group, but I miss Zèlie's and Armani’s relationship from the first book. I understand Zèlie’s anger towards Inan, but the last few chapters have just been so much anger towards everyone. They are trying to escape the wall/tunnel now, and so much unexplained magic happened in there. I kind of prefer when the magic is explained a little more than “well this happened” without an explanation. But I also appreciate we aren’t getting a huge info dump with it. I like it so far, but I also feel not a ton has happened... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 55- (view spoiler)[ It’s picking back up!! Everyone thinks Inan lied to them again... it’s probably going to take him dying protecting Armani or Zèlie to get them to understand he wants peace. Mazeli died when combining his magic with Zèlie :( A lot is starting to take place! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 70- (view spoiler)[ I have not really been enjoying Zèlie in this book, but Roën telling her off made me LOVE HIM! “You’re not a victim, Zèlie. You’re a survivor!” Yessss!!! Now maybe she’ll start acting like the character I enjoyed from before. (hide spoiler)]

I'm dropping from this one.. too far behind and too heavy on fantasy lately so cutting out a couple. Hope you all enjoy it!!!

I completely get it Heather! :) So much fantasy these last couple of weeks!! I will be taking a break from the genre over Christmas break! :)

Finished- (view spoiler)[ First...I didn't see a lot of these plot twists coming, which I LOVE when I don't see things coming, but I'm still trying to decide if I enjoyed the twists. I didn't see Inan's mother being responsible for EVERYTHING! And Amari's attack/sacrifice just made me soooo mad.....agh!! I think Roen's men ended up taking everyone, and when they wake up on a boat, I think they are headed to Roen's homeland. Still trying to decide my rating. (hide spoiler)]

Took me ages to get round to book one and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve been the same with this-not totally in the mood. Read up to ch4 and the time is of disappointment- nobody’s got what they thought they wanted.

Up to ch12. That meeting didn’t go quite as expected. Hope these two can patch up their argument and get on with sorting things out.

Up to ch22. Inan means well but his actions suggest he’s alienating those who could support him.

Up to ch31. No matter what these characters feel they should do, someone crawls out of the woodwork to make it seem like the wrong choice.

Up to ch45. Not quite what I expected.

Up to ch53. I can’t decide whether Inan is being played by his mother, or if he’s merely pretending to think differently. This is just a mess.

Up to ch69. Who knows whether the new approach will work. Things are being put in place to suggest we’ll get a huge clash.

Finished. Review on home page. Not what I hoped for.

25%: (view spoiler)[Okay, but Inan is a pretty great character. He's so complex. I hate what he's doing at one moment, but I'm sympathizing with him the next. (hide spoiler)]

50%: (view spoiler)[So awesome that Zelie got elected as elder. You go, girl! (hide spoiler)]

75%: (view spoiler)[Absolutely heartbroken over Mazelie. Why does that have to happen? (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[What a way to end it with Inan dissolving the monarchy. (hide spoiler)]

Katie wrote: "So glad to be back into this world!

Chapter 12- [spoilers removed]"

Finally picked this back up.. through ch 12 now

(view spoiler)[ that fight between Zelie and Amari/Tzain broke my heart. I get her grief and anger but also want her to heal enough to see that they are on her side and to work together.. they're going to need to if they want to defeat Amari's mom.. and what is up with her being able to steal the ashi from her guards?! Holy titans with their new powers!~ (hide spoiler)]

Katie wrote: "Last update of the night:

Chapter 15- [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I adored his character in the first book and so far liking him here as well! I was so glad he was not dead! (hide spoiler)]

through ch 21
(view spoiler)[ INAN IS BACK!!!! I really like how complicated his character is and really look forward to his arc through this story after how much he grew and developed in book one.

I'm glad Amari and Zelie are working through their friendship after all the drama and loss they've both been put through. I was ecstatic when Roen led them to Mama Agba!! And Mazeli is so sweet and adorable and totally the comedic relief here right now. (hide spoiler)]

So glad you're enjoying it, Heather!

just finished ch 29

(view spoiler)[ poor Amari! She is really getting the raw end in this book. Breaks my heart a bit.

I think Inan really struggles with how he was raised by his parents to hate and the truth he found while with Zelie and them. I think that is why he flip-flops so much and I just hope he holds on to that part of him that is good and lets it lead more often as the story progresses. (hide spoiler)]

Through ch 41

(view spoiler)[ This book doesn't feel as intentional as the first. Like some places feel rushed and others kind of drag a bit. I agree with Katie about how the unexplained new magic stuff that just got thrown in didn't feel right or make sense or whatever.

I like that Inan still tries. I like that Zelie was made an Elder. I wish her and Amari were in a better place. And I want Amari and Inan to reconnect and have each other by their sides. (hide spoiler)]

Katie wrote: "Chapter 55- [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I AM SO UPSET ABOUT MAZELI!!!!! (hide spoiler)]

HeatherH wrote: "Katie wrote: "Chapter 55- [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

I KNOW what you mean!!!!!! (view spoiler)[ I was just starting to love his character and their friendship! (hide spoiler)] I keep checking back on this board because I want to see how other feel after reading this one!!! It took me a while to rate this book!

Katie wrote: "HeatherH wrote: "Katie wrote: "Chapter 55- [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

I KNOW what you mean!!!!!! [spoilers removed] I keep checking back on this board because I want to see how other..."


I'm glad you are because it is nice to chat about it!! I'm up to ch 76, hoping to finish tonight. I'm really worried about (view spoiler)[ Roen after that attack! (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I'm still gathering thoughts here.. But like, that moment when she sucked out Inan's life force?! I don't want them together but I don't want him dead either. Also, I LOVE Roen, don't get me wrong there, but I agree with so many that it should have been Zelie and Amari as the power couple here.. I'm bummed Mama Agba had to go but it was the perfect way to use that option for the Maji. That cliffhanger sucked.. Not a bad middle book but definitely felt like a middle book. (hide spoiler)]

Katie wrote: "Chapter 70- [spoilers removed]"

Roen in that moment truly won this novel!

^^ YES!!! :) Heather, so glad you liked it!