Welcome to my stop on the Turn the Page Tours blog tour of BLOOD SCION! I am so excited to write my review of this amazing book! Check it out below!
Deborah Falaye is a Nigerian-Canadian young adult author. She grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, where she spent her time devouring African literature, pestering her grandma for folktales, and tricking her grandfather into watching Passions every night. When she’s not writing about fierce Black girls with badass magic, she can be found obsessing over all things reality TV. Deborah currently lives in Toronto with her husband and their partner-in-crime yorkie, Major. Blood Scion is her first novel.
Title: Blood Scion
Author: Deborah Falaye
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: March 8th, 2022
Genre: YA fantasy
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This is what they deserve.
They wanted me to be a monster.
I will be the worst monster they ever created.
Fifteen-year-old Sloane can incinerate an enemy at will—she is a Scion, a descendant of the ancient Orisha gods.
Under the Lucis’ brutal rule, her identity means her death if her powers are discovered. But when she is forcibly conscripted into the Lucis army on her fifteenth birthday, Sloane sees a new opportunity: to overcome the bloody challenges of Lucis training, and destroy them from within.
Following one girl’s journey of magic, injustice, power, and revenge, Deborah Falaye’s debut novel, inspired by Yoruba-Nigerian mythology, is a magnetic combination of Children of Blood and Bone and An Ember in the Ashes.
"I am a descendant of Shago, the god of heat and fire. i am a living inferno."
So, that's just in chapter one, dear readers. The book starts off with fifteen-year-old Sloane trying desperately to locate her missing mother when she meets a Nightwalker in a heartwrenching scene of attempted sexual assault that showcases her powers. From that point on, the author takes on a journey where Sloane bears witness to atrocities while keeping her magic hidden when she's conscripted into the Lucis army.
“Great soldiers are made from pieces of their broken selves, and the most vulnerable children are always the easiest to use, abuse, and destroy.”
My initial impression of Sloane ranged from bad-ass female warrior to a determined and loyal friend. When she's conscripted and brought in as a recruit, the story evolves and new characters are brought in with a leader named Dane. From there, the plot reminded me a bit of Divergent (I love that book, so this isn't a dig). Sloane rises in the ranks, but she's still careful who to trust. There's also a rival from her home who is hell-bent on making her life miserable. But her journey is riveting and emotional and full of moments that will make you cheer.
"Sometimes, the things we don't want to do are exactly what needs to be done."
I won't mince words-there is a lot of graphic violence, and gore, as well as heavy themes such as suicide, human trafficking, child abuse, and language. Some of it shocked me, but I like that this book doesn't dance around it.
Final thought: I loved the complex world-building and the fast-paced plot. Blood Scion is a debut fantasy sure to excite readers of all ages. I highly recommend it and I cannot wait for the sequel!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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