Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

Children of Virtue and Vengeance is the highly anticipated sequel from the Legacy of Orisha series, written by Tomi Adeyemi. That first novel introduced us to a world of magic and bloodshed. The characters were enough to sweep us away, hoping they’d create a better world for themselves.

Now Zelie, Amari, and everyone is back to finish the job they started. They succeeded in bringing back magic to the land. But it has not gone at all how they expected. The Maji got their power back, yes. But so, too, did the nobles, who had never had power beyond money and politics. Now they’re stronger than ever, so the war is far from over.

Children of Virtue and Vengeance is a compelling and emotional sequel to this beloved series. Fans that have been looking forward to this release will not be disappointed. But do recall all of the emotions that Children of Blood and Bone made you feel, and prepare yourself to go through that experience all over again.

Writing

Children of Virtue and Vengeance is an intense and enthralling sequel from Tomi Adeyemi. Any fans worried about her hitting her sophomore slump can breathe easily. In many ways, this book was the sequel that was promised to us.

Adeyemi filled the Children of Virtue and Vengeance pages with plot twists, character development, and some surprising parallels. It made for an enjoyable read, full of emotional highs and lows as our heroes desperately try to find an end to all the bloodshed.

One thing I particularly loved about Adeyemi’s writing here is that she made innovative use of repetition. Several phrases repeated throughout the course of Children of Virtue and Vengeance seriously added to the impact of what was happening. It was clever and put to careful use.

Perhaps the only downside to this sequel is that it concludes with a minor cliffhanger. Well, minor, depending on your definition. No matter how you cut it, this novel will leave readers seeking answers that won’t come out until the next book.

Development

Children of Virtue and Vengeance was a fast-paced read. Though I should probably warn readers, give yourself time to read this book in large chunks. Because if you’re anything like me, you won’t want to put this one down.

Children of Virtue and Vengeance is told from several perspectives, as with the first novel. Well, three, if you want to be exact. This gave us vital insight into everything happening in this war. And more importantly, it lets us see the minds of the three biggest movers and shakers involved.

This novel is not afraid to do everything needed to elicit emotions from the readers. It’s a powerful read that throws the leading characters from one moment to the next. And yet there’s such emotion filling the pages between each series of events. It’s impossible to look away from. And it makes it all feel so real and human.

Conclusion

Children of Virtue and Vengeance was every bit the sequel I was hoping for. It was intense and vibrant. Getting a chance to learn more about the Maji was something I appreciated, as was learning more about their culture and legends.

Even with everything that happened in Children of Blood and Bone, it was difficult not to be surprised by some of the events within these pages. But that just proves how Tomi Adeyemi can surprise her fan base.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.

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