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.

I really enjoyed this book. Although the end seemed to drag on a bit. Colin was kind of annoying (ngl). And Demi's whole reason for hating the prince was kind of iffy (like ma'am y'all were eight and you were literally with him the whole time, so her holding that grudge against him didn't really make any sense in my honest opinion). But her unwillingness to kill or to change her views to fit what other people thought should be was admirable. Jonas was my favorite. He was freaking adorable (I need more jealous Jonas in my life).

I’ll cut to the chase and state that this book had promise, but only somewhat delivered. The best parts were about the magic and its connection to the people. I wish it was more expanded.

The fated mates trope in this one didn’t necessarily work for me. I have a hard time believing that in a matter of days a strong connection as such can be built, regardless if it’s fantasy.

Similar to other books I’ve read this summer, it did enough to make me want to read the sequel to see what happens in the end. I would also watch this as a TV series. It would help me be able to visualize some of the scenes and catch on subtext I missed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

A great read by a debut author! I loved the lore and world building. And the character dynamics. Definitely looking forward to the next book in three duology.

This was an excellent debut fantasy steeped in Nigerian mythology and folklore. I’m looking forward to seeing future work by Ehigbor Okosun. I’m getting mixed messages if this is marketed to YA or adults but in my option this works best as YA.

In the midst of a tyrannical regime and political invasion, Demi just wants to survive: to avoid the suspicion of the nonmagical Ajes who occupy her ancestral homeland of Ife; to escape the King's brutal genocide of her people-the darker skinned, magic wielding Oluso; and to live peacefully with her secretive mother while learning to control the terrifying blood magic that is her birthright.

But when Dèmi's misplaced trust costs her mother's life, survival gives way to vengeance. She bides her time until the devious Lord Ekwensi grants her the perfect opportunity-kidnap the Aje prince, Jonas, and bargain with his life to save the remaining Oluso. With the help of her reckless childhood friend Colin, Demi succeeds, but discovers that she and Jonas share more than deadly secrets.

I really loved getting to know Dèmi she was a badass! She was fierce, funny and dedicated. She maybe acted irrationally at times but she’s young so it’s to be expected.

I enjoyed the world we were brought into it was really interesting! The mythology elements were really fun. I loved the mythological creatures and the magic! I do wish we got more depth into the magic. I didn’t fully understand how it worked.

Even though I enjoyed this book there were some elements that didn’t work for me. The pacing for me was the biggest issue. The beginning was great and fast paced but it tapered off and I found that to be the rhythm throughout the book. Because of that pacing issue there are parts of the book that we fly through when they should have been explained more thoroughly. There were a few times I had to go back to see if I missed something while reading but find out it just wasn’t mentioned or explained.

Overall I enjoyed it! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I've ever read (or even heard of) with fantasy elements based on Nigerian mythology and I was so pumped to receive an ARC. However, I had a hard time getting into it. The characters were a bit underdeveloped and childish, but I understand this is written for a much younger audience. The world building in this novel is INTENSE. So many things to remember, and I think it made it harder for me to connect with the story. A map or glossary of terms might have helped.

The story itself is exciting and intriguing- I believe the younger me would have absolutely loved it, but adult me found it difficult to connect with the story.

2.5/5 stars

Overall I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the plot. The world building was pretty good. I found it a little confusing however because while I understand it is fantasy and therefore things and names are made up, many of the words for things in the magic world were similar and also had to pronounce, making it confusing what was what. Nothing really stuck. This was a good YA although I still enjoyed it as an adult. The end was a little rushed but also left open for more which is good and make you want to read the second book.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is a DNF; I will not be finishing it. I thought this would read older that it did, and I’m becoming really picky in my fantasy reads, so I have no further interest in reading. I’m only giving this a review and star rating because this makes me and I don’t want to hurt my feedback ratio.

5 / 10 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2023/08/06/forged-by-blood-by-ehigbor-okosun-review/

Let’s start with the tale. And it’s a good one—adventure, magic, a mythos that might be different to those you normally see in fantasy. An epic quest, a burgeoning love, a people on the brink of genocide, a land where magic is hated and feared. All of these elements combine to form a plot that is truly epic, and impossible to predict. The setting is equally fantastic: the Kingdom of Benin (while I’m somewhat familiar with it historically) is packed with magic and the supernatural. It’s nothing like the comparably dull histories I’ve read—wild and vibrant and packed with adventure. If Forged by Blood were based on the overarching plot alone, not to mention the setting, I’d recommend it 100%, hands down.

But it’s not.

Let’s start with the love-triangle. Mostly, I don’t understand why there’s a love-triangle. Colin, supposedly Dèmi’s intended, sleeps with every girl in sight, so much so that it’s a joke between the two when they’re first introduced. As friends, I might add. The whole “intended” thing only appears after they’ve met Jonas in the present day. Then the womanizing begins to sound… a little different. Colin is also kind of a jerk (I mean, Dèmi is too—but we won’t get into that). Jonas might as well be a saint. She blames Jonas for her mother’s death (like, actually blames <i>him</i> which is ridiculous—but we won’t get into that either) (okay maybe just a little: it’s obvious from her memories that Jonas had nothing to do with it—he’s unconscious and on the brink of death for most of it. After that he defends both of them and helps her escape, while his minders betray them. And yet Dèmi blames <i>him</i> over everyone else—and no it’s not transference or self-hatred, it’s him—even with overwhelming evidence against. But anyhow~), but that’s the only thing she has against him. If not for that, there wouldn’t even <i>be</i> a love-triangle at all. Not that I see why there’s one anyway.

I saw some notes from other reviewers that there was too much talking during chase scenes, or “time is short” scenarios—and that’s certainly true. There are several instances of “time is short” or “we have only seconds” where they proceed to discuss matters for 5-10 minutes. Even though I was warned of it beforehand… I think I would’ve noticed anyway. It’s blatant, and routine. Happens way too much; screws with the pacing.

And lastly.

How many similes is too many? The answer: pretty much until you begin to notice they’re there. A good story is built from many different parts. Metaphors, similes, and the like are just another building block, to be used like any other. The only point at which they become an issue is if they’re ridiculous, ill-formed, or overused. I really started paying attention to these in the middle of the first chapter, when I’d seen about a dozen—some simple, some complex, others florid. I went back to count and found 23 in the first chapter alone, with the next three chapters yielding a total of 47 more. See, <i>that</i> is too many. Whenever you see them constantly: on every page, in every other paragraph. Use your comparisons like you would anything else—in moderation. Now, they peter off later on (you’ll find 3-5, maybe even 10 in later chapters, but in the early ones they’re just constant. I’ll even include every single one from the first chapter on my blog, should you be terribly curious.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced digital review copy.

Great start to the series. I can't wait for the next installment.

I wanted ti love this book. It had the makings to be something great but it fell a bit short for me. I didn't feel connected to the characters like I was hoping. The setting and background story were great though. I liked the concept quite a lot.

However, I did have trouble getting into Démi's pov and tell the dialogue at the beginningwas much too mature for a 10 year old. It took me out of the story a bit. I know it was the set up for her revenge but it just seemed a little unrealistic. I really could not like her because of this.

The romance also didn't flow for me and I just wasn't rooting for them. I think this was a great start for the author though and look forward to seeing them progress. Thank you so much to netgalley andthe publisher for the chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC of this novel. All opinions are my own :)
A coming of age fantasy full of rich culture that is woven tightly through the magical system. Demi is a young adult who is given a mission to kidnap the prince, who she happens to have a dark history with. She is faced to make tough decisions as she finds out more about her destiny through both her past and her present.
This book dug its claws into me and did not let me go until I was finished. It will keep you reading through the end with twists and turns. Some tropes included in this book are Fated Mates, Forced Proximity, and Enemies to Lovers. An amazing debut novel for Ehigbor Okosun and I am excited to see where she goes from here.