This book was so interesting.

I truly enjoyed the way the plot unrolled, the characters, the writing style, and the different myths and culture the author used to help write the story.

The way the Demi had to learn to trust again after a sharp betrayal, understand that she still deserves love, and is able to show mercy to those will not show it to her made her a powerful character. I loved her personality and fearlessness she showed esp when she needed to step in to help others.

I was so sad when I noticed that the second one does not have a release date yet as I just want to keep following Demi’s story and hope that all her questions get answered.

I would recommend this to everyone especially as it talks about race issues in a way that is easy to understand for younger readers as this book is marked YA.

Wow, this book is so amazingly good. If you’re fond of epic fantasy, political machinations, and soulmates this is a book you should absolutely read!

Dèmi grew up having to keep her abilities secret because just before her birth the kingdom of Ìfe was conquered and all Oluson persecuted for fear of what their abilities could do against the Eingardan. One day, though, a young boy is brought to Dèmi and her mother, poisoned, and the act of saving his life condemns Dèmi’s mother. Dèmi is able to escape with her life and find family and home, but nine years later the events and people who led to Dèmi’s mother’s death are coming back to demand a price.

The writing of Forged by Blood is so beautiful and utterly engrossing. I loved the world and the way magic worked, how much of it is spiritual and a blessing. But also that there is always a price to magic, and rules about how it can be wielded. The family and community aspects were also especially good. There are such complex interpersonal dynamics at play, and so many secrets that keep changing the reality once revealed. Once I got sucked in, I found this hard to put down. And that ending! I cannot wait to see what is going to happen next because big changes have occurred. The political machinations really come to a head in the last quarter, but all the pieces have been moving since the beginning. Which, to me, really shows a strong handle of the world and the goals because for all the moving parts, they create a really amazing whole!

All around this is a fantastic read that I highly encourage picking up!

Forged By Blood
by Ehigbor Okosun
⭐4⭐

“We will fight for all, not just those whose lives you deem worthy,”

“They may kill me, but at least I get to choose my death.”

“We are both beautiful, we are both powerful. And come what may, we are both together. It is time for war.”

“She always said a woman could do everything a man could do while wearing a dress carrying twins.”

Forged By Blood is the first of a fantasy duology inspired by Nigerian mythology. We follow Demi on her quest harnessing and using her powers for good as well as revenge. After witnessing her mother’s murder for using forbinding magic (magic that Demi shares with her), Demi has had to start over. After finding her own family of Oluso, she has been training and perfecting the use of her abilities and fighting.

When Demi is asked to kidnap the nephew of the Aje king who made Oluso magic punishable by death, she and her best friend Colin work together to complete this task. If she does not, her found family and her people may have to pay the ultimate price. Demi must use all that she’s learned in order to make the world a better place for all.

“Abidemi. The meaning is cruel, but definite: A girl born without a father. The name my mother gave to sever my destiny from my father’s.”

Loved this book. Fabulous world building and character growth. Excellent read with an interesting protagonist who experiences great personal growth.

4.0 out of 5.0 stars.

This story is about Dèmi, who is an Oluso or spirit-born. In the past, everyone was Oluso and had powers derived from the seven tribes. Now, Oluso are hunted and killed for their magic. Dèmi and her mother live in a village, trying to make ends meet. After healing a young boy from poison, she and her mom are betrayed. And *spoilers* her mother is murdered. Nine years pass, Dèmi is living with an adoptive family when she is approached by a man who promises peace for her and her people if she can kidnap the prince. And of course, hijinks ensues.

I really loved the world and magic of this story. It is so refreshing to be fully immersed in a fantasy world. I also really love Dèmi, even though I do not always agree with her.

A few things kept this from being perfect for me. I am a big fan of a slower burn romance, and this book sorta leaps from enemies to lovers. I just wish there was a slower development there. I also struggled with how many reveals, twists, and plot was happening in the third act of the book. Most of it is foreshadowed in some way, but so much is being tossed at the reader it’s difficult to digest. I think additional pages may have been beneficial for the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I will definitely be buying a copy when it comes out (hopefully able to snatch my hands on the Fairyloot edition).

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have been curious about this one ever since seeing its cover! It’s very eye-catching. I did like a lot of the book but there were some issues I had that ultimately didn’t make me love it.

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Dèmi. We are first introduced to her when a significant event happens in her life that involves the loss of her mother. It takes a toll on her and from that point she is on a mission to make things right, not only for her but for her people as well. Dèmi is very strong, but she can be impulsive. Some of her actions are just so quick and she doesn’t think about the consequences that can follow. I do think that it makes sense since her inexperience is what causes a lot of rifts at the end.

Other characters in the book are fine but I don’t feel like we truly got to know them. Obviously for the more villainous people I felt something because their actions were horrible and you couldn’t help but hate them.

The romance was meh. Their is a forced love triangle. I am usually down for a triangle but it felt like she just used both of them. She would kiss one in front of the other and then get upset when they would fight over things. From the beginning I knew who she would pick. I already have a guess as to what the other guy will end up doing. Everything about the romance was just quick because of the “mate” trope.

I did think that the plot was pretty decent. There were a couple lulls that took me a bit to get through where I didn’t feel like picking it back up again but once you get past the 60% mark it really ramped up and I wanted to finish the rest in one day. There is a lot of talk about colonization and slavery. The author did a good job with the topics and reminded me a lot of what R.F. Kuang has done in her novels. I wouldn’t say its as gruesome but some things were pretty hard to read about. It was just real sad.

Some of the plot twists felt predictable and I feel like I caught all of them before the reveal besides one.

Overall, this was a good read even though I had some issues with it. I am still curious enough to try the sequel since there are a lot of unanswered questions.

FORGED BY BLOOD lives up to its promise as a classic YA tale, filled with action, a strong female lead, a love triangle, and Nigerian-inspired magic. The characters and setting are well-crafted, and I enjoyed following Demi's journey. The only drawbacks were the fast pacing and a wish for more Nigerian cultural elements. Still, it's an impressive debut, and I'm excited for the sequel and future works from the author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC to review!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC, the opinions that follow are my own.

I had mixed feelings about this book, but overall I did enjoy it! The beginning had me clutching my kindle at 12 PM, begging myself for one more chapter. Then, the story hit a few potholes for lack of a better term that didn’t give me the same feeling. I think it’s more of a mismatch with me as a reader than the book itself. The writing style kept me reading until the end. I am curious to see where the story ends so I will most likely be picking up the sequel!

1/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

DNF @ 25%

This one is a no from me, sadly, because I was really excited to read a fantasy novel that incorporated Nigerian mythology. I actually was checking when I reached 25% because it felt unfair to DNF before that, but I really couldn’t do it anymore.

Most of what I read takes place when Demi is young, but even then I noticed plot conveniences and things that simply didn’t work. It makes no sense that she would trust Jonas after a brief conversation, and then she blames him for her mother’s death even though 1) she shouldn’t have trusted someone she just met and acted surprised that he “betrayed” her and 2) it wasn’t even his fault. After the time jump, Demi decides to open the door even though her life is actively in danger, and a stranger just happens to need her for something.

After I learned there were mates and a love triangle, I decided this was no longer something I wanted to read.

4.75/5 stars

Wow - just wow! Ehigbor Okosun is EXPLOSIVE with this brutal, intricate, elegant debut. Demi is such a great main character - she's broken and flawed and strong and torn; we learn from and with her and watch as the history she thought she knew, based her life on, is flipped on its head. She is forced to confront everything she's grown up thinking and the grief and anger she's carried for 9 years and make decisions that will determine not only her fate, but the fates of the nation and all magic users.

The world building, lore, magic, and Nigerian folklore is stunning in this book - fully immersive, beautiful, and devastating at times I was left reeling by the images rendered by Okosun's descriptions. It never felt info-dumpy but I always felt like I had enough information at the time to understand what was happening and feel apart of the world.

The relationships were just....chefs kiss. The tension and love triangle, further complicated by trust issues and secrets, was done so well. Any frustration was felt on behalf of the characters, not because I felt like Okosun was toying with us or dragging it out. Some of the reveals shocked me, others were expected, and at least one broke my heart to pieces.

Overall, this was a really phenomenal start to a duology I cannot WAIT to complete. The cover is stunning, the writing is outstanding, and it was just so fun to read. Definitely add this one to your TBR and Okosun to your authors-to-watch list!

Unfortunately I could not get into the writing style or story of this book and ended up not finishing it

Forged by Blood is a fantastic debut fantasy, with really rich and compelling world-building and a plot I couldn’t see coming (well, for the most part).

Dèmi is a fantastic character who is out for vengeance, but she’s also got this fierce empathy for her people, Oluso—Oyo people gifted with magic. She’ll do whatever it takes to save as many Oluso from the tyranny of their Eingardian king, no matter the cost. While at times this can lead to more trouble than anticipated, it’s really moving to see a character who won’t let someone suffer even a second more.

There’s also a love triangle with a really interesting dynamic. I won’t say more than that, because it’s really fun to read and discover.

While Dèmi herself is 17 going on 18, and she still has a long way to grow, I don’t think this is really a YA story like people are saying. It’s firmly adult. While she’s young, there’s no coming of age narrative, for Dèmi had to grow up far before she should have. She’s facing very adult struggles. I think this book would be appropriate for a mature teenager to read, but I still think it makes sense to be categorized as an adult narrative.

Overall, this is a solid fantasy that I really enjoyed, with characters that jumped off the pages for me. I absolutely cannot wait for book two, and I know I’ll be thinking about this story for some time.

(Side note: there’s a Dramatis Personae at the end of the book, but it’s kinda filled with spoilers, so I recommend saving it until the end of your read.)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Forged By Blood by Ehigbor Okosun for me was a solid 3.75 stars. It is a fantasy about a 17 year old girl, Demi, who is hiding she has powers to survive where people with powers are either killed or captured and sold off to become servants. It’s based in Nigerian Mythology and was new for me. It is an extremely complex story that has amazing historical and cultural settings. My favorite part was that it didn't shy away from the fact that if you use magic for dishonorable things, there are consequences because that’s the way it should be.It’s the first of a duology, so even though it doesn't end on a terrible cliffhanger, it does leave you wanting more. It has fated mates, strong FMC, and MMC, kidnapping, and a semi-love triangle. Thank you HarperCollins and Netgalley for sending me this book to review.

I really liked the characters and the plot and writing. The only issue I had, was that the pacing felt a little off. I'll definitely be reading the sequel.

Forged by Blood has all the pieces to really be a standout fantasy but so often for me it took the easy and straightforward approach.

Pacing was a big issue in this book because it would constantly change and we sometimes didn't have enough time to sit with a reveal or a big event before moving on to the next. While at the same time the overall journey felt dragged out because of repetitive scenes or dialogue.

There's a love triangle that made for some wacky and funny moments but everything about how it played out was so predictable it felt unnecessary. If you've read any YA fantasy than you know who she ends up choosing from the start. And she was so whishy washy for most of the book openly kissing them both in front of each other, it felt a little cruel.

I know it was originally written with a YA audience in mind and I don't think the story ever elevated outside of that YA audience despite it being published by an adult imprint. It could easily sit next to Children of Blood and Bone and Blood Scion on the bookshelf. There's no morally gray characters. The bad guys are bad and the good guys, though they keep a few secrets are very clearly shown as morally superior. And there was a lot of room here for nuance but Demi is pretty much a firm believer in taking the high road. I'm wondering if that will change in the sequel.

It does end in a way where it gives you a solid conclusion while also leaving room to do more.

First, I want to thank NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me access to an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Forged by Blood is a daring first novel in a series following Demi, a magical girl who grew up knowing she had to hide her gifts as she watched her people being torn from their homes and enslaved or killed. When tragedy strikes too close to home, she is forced to flee and leave her life and history behind, but her history is not done with her yet. A boy from her past returns to her life, and she is forced to follow a trail of lies and betrayal to find out who she is and how she can free her people.

Forged by Blood is hard to pin down. I really enjoyed the magic of the world and its ties to the people and the earth. There is also a rich world of magical creatures and spirit realm that borders on the realm of humans. Along with all the magic system development, there is also a lot of political intrigue with a complicated class system and a difficult history of political and social upheaval. Not to mention a developed language system with its own political implications. All of this is really to say that there is a lot going on in this book. I really enjoyed the first few chapters, but it felt like there was a lot to keep track of, and that started to weigh down my enjoyment of the book.

Outside the world building, I felt like the characters were really enjoyable for the first half of the book, but as you get further in there are a lot of “revelations” happening, and it feels a little like too much of the same trope. People having secrets is fine, but it felt like all the secrets were the same secret.

My final take on this is that the story has a lot to offer. If you enjoy fantasy, and you want something that isn’t just like every other fantasy world, then this might be a good fit. It's also worth noting that this is the first in a series, and there is a lot of building up tension in this book that does not get resolved and does not need to be resolved. I am personally interested to see the next book in the series and see if any of my lingering concerns about the world and characters get resolved.
I hope this helped you decide if this is the right book for you, and if you do take a chance on it I would love to hear your thoughts. Have fun and happy reading.

4.5 ⭐️ This was phenomenal!!!! I do think it's more ya than adult. Thats my only complaint. The complexity of the plot, the cultures, the history was just amazing. The world building was on point. I'm so freaking obsessed

I thought the world building was amazing and this was a great debut novel . The characters were interesting enough but I will say it was hard for me to grasp onto the story and there was a lot going on . I think this is a good read and I’m looking forward to seeing what book 2 brings .

The world-building was interesting and detailed, combining fantasy elements with poignant commentary on war, oppression, and loss of language and culture.

Dèmi’s journey was often unpredictable and surprising as she traveled through the world and the spirit realm, but I was able to root for her because she tried so hard to save others who were suffering.

Mari kept appearing abruptly and I wished for her backstory earlier, to help explain her particular level of violence. Her actions became increasingly graphic and brutal without enough context for me.

I struggled a bit with the romantic storylines at first because Dèmi’s feelings seemed in conflict with her actions with Colin and Jonas. I couldn’t get fully behind her when it felt like she didn’t care about their feelings or was impulsive with physical intimacy. By the end, the relationships were better developed but it still felt like a rushed fated-mate trope without the other option in the love triangle ever feeling possible.

The plot took some disorienting turns. It got to the point where I couldn’t trust anyone and had no idea where this story was ultimately headed.

The end was stronger, with plenty of conflict left to resolve in book two and an uplift of hope to give a sense of closure.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

Forged by Blood is an amazing debut novel that explores themes of oppression, colonial violence, racism, rebellion, love (not just romantic), trust and the difficulty of choice.

I really enjoyed the world building and writing. The plot was fast paced and full of action. I do wish the pacing would have been adjusted a bit, we learned a lot of information towards the end that I think could have been spread out more. There were also a couple of scenes that I think deserved more time and flushing out.

I also loved the main character Dèmi, she’s the badass female main character that we love, without constantly having to be told how badass she is with no actions to prove it. She’s 17 so didn’t always make the best choices throughout the book but I felt how high the stakes were so I couldn’t be mad at her. I’m really interested to see how her character develops more in the second book.

Overall I’m excited about the second book and anything else this author puts out in to the world.