I really enjoyed this book. This will contain spoilers so please don’t read this review until you read the book. I loved the world building and the languages. It was so magical. The beginning of the book instantly had me hooked. I loved the characters especially the family. The story gave a lot about family and building your own family. I loved her sense of Justice even though it was at a fault sometimes. The saltire was truly my favorite part of this book. I do wish somethings were explained more. Like the magic and the fight with the king at the end. Now I truly didn’t like the love triangle at all. It felt like the whole time she was kind of leading Colin on. I understand she was probably into him and never thought she would find her mate but I wish when she realized who her mate was she gave Colin a heads up. The ending kinda felt rushed to me. I was confused about her father a little bit. I wanted to like Jonas a lot more but I felt like sometimes he was just there. I wanted them together though but I kinda wish he was black. Just a little only because of the story and it being more Nigerian. I will be reading book 2 and I’m excited and hoping it will explain more. Thank you so much Ehigbor Okosun and Avon and Harper Voyager, Harper Voyager for letting me read this ARC.

I was really looking forward to this new fantasy romance, but unfortunately it fell a little bit flat for me. This was marketed as an adult novel, but definitely reads more ya with the love triangle romance and dialogue. Sometimes I enjoy the naive love triangle romance, but I expected it to be more flushed out and advanced since it's "adult". The pacing was also strange, with it being super exciting in the beginning, but it lulls through the middle. That being said, I still think this is a fun novel with a very cool setting, but I think teenagers would enjoy it way better. Fun story, I just don't think many adults will LOVE it.

Okosun debuts with Forged by Blood, a YA fantasy story including a romance subplot, mythology, and some intricate world building.

I cannot emphasize enough just how beautiful the writing in this story was; the world-building was intricate and the storytelling extremely lyrical. The characters were relatable and the comedic relief added an element to the friendships that built the realistic nature of the relationships. My only critique would be that the pacing of the story and placement of the stakes felt a bit too slow, but this may just be the nature of duologies! Solid read

I will always be a fan of experiencing fantasy in a non-dragons/castles world. The culture and lore in this book is beautiful- but that’s also the hard part. I wanted to learn more about what was being presented, but things would move along so quickly as new lore details would get sprinkled in quick succession. I got a little whiplash from the frequency of new betrayals, reveals, and declarations. There’s a love triangle but it’s a bit weak because one of the participants is pretty unlikeable (in my opinion). I appreciated the main characters strength and drive, and you can really feel the reverence she has for her culture and beliefs. I think the world is really cool, the magic engaging- I just wanted things savored a little longer.

***3.5 Stars***

FORGED BY BLOOD is a complex and carefully crafted fantasy filled with action, rich lore, and emotion. Okosun shines with the eloquence of her prose as the reader begins to understand the world they are entering.

What I loved about this particular book is the multiple layers to the story. At the core, it is about a young girl’s struggles and quest to fight for what is right. However, there are also political power plays, discrimination, enslavement, complicated relationships, and a whole system of blood magic. All of these on their own would be compelling, but together, they form a vivid and well-crafted tale.

Because this is the first book in a duology, I understand that there is a lot of background needed to set up the players and build the world. And yet, as the reader, there were I wanted more lore and more about the magic. You see it in action, but questions were lingering about all the facets which made things murky at times.

FORGED BY BLOOD is a solid beginning to what could possibly be an epic second book. Okosun’s voice is strong with a wonderful balance of heart and action. I am looking forward to seeing what comes in the next book.

Forged by Blood (The Tainted Blood Duology) is a YA fantasy story with touches of mythology, romance, magic, and phenomenal world-building.

Okosun has a beautiful writing style that draws you in and but the pacing was a bit off. At times I almost DNF but I wanted to see where the story and characters were going to go. I love that we got to see some comedy moments within the love triangle, making the characters feel relatable. The story is described as high fantasy but reads more YA fantasy, maybe the second book will slide into the high fantasy category - after all the reviews that it gets for feedback.

Forged by Blood reads in many ways like a YA fantasy. The tropes and relationship dynamics are really common for that age range and the writing wasn't as descriptive as I'm used to from adult fantasy.
How to decide if it's for you:
The worldbuilding was of the "building the car as you're driving it" variety common in YA fantasy.
The magic system is pretty cool if not super developed.
Love triangle.
Uneven pacing.
Very clear good vs evil.
Launches a duology, so there's more to come if you end up liking it.

I won't be continuing this series, but would give the author's work another shot as there are a lot of fun pieces. They just didn't come together well for me.

2.5 Stars

Plot wise there is nothing really new here for a YA fantasy, but the setting was good and the culture well developed.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for a digital ARC of this book

This book was a breath of fresh air for me as a reader who has almost exclusively read European-based fantasy novels since I started reading.

This fantasy world is based on Nigerian culture and has made me want to read more books with Nigerian roots. The story deals with many serious issues such as colonialism, imperialism, child slavery, etc. and I think these things were handled well.

I enjoyed Demi's character arc throughout the story. The very first pages establish her strong sense of justice and kind nature.

The love triangle in this book was not my cup of tea, but that may be due to the fact that I felt I knew who she would end up with and ultimately saw it as a waste of time to deliberate on. The pacing in this book was also an issue for me as I felt like it was a bit all over the place.

The beginning of this book really did hook me, but I felt as though some of the steam was lost during some points in the middle of the book until I got into the second half.

Overall, I enjoyed it and I would like to see how the second book wraps things up.

This book was captivating from the very beginning. The main character is a beautiful example of how female characters should always be. She is so full of life and personality and the plot of the story tests her through the entirety of the journey. This book delves into politics and racism, and has a touch of romance. This book is suitable for teens, and up, looking for a fantasy read full of twists and jaw-dropping plot twists.

couldn't finish this before the book's release but this was a very nice read
Loved reading about a different culture that I haven't experienced before and this was really interesting
Would love to read more

Forged by Blood has one of the most intriguing and immersive magic systems I've read this year, and the premise is fantastic: a Nigerian-inspired fantasy where a young woman with incredible powers must fight to free her people and avenge the death of her mother.

However, the execution was a little uneven for me.

The first three chapters, where a young Demi's powers are exposed in a heartbreaking way, and she first meets one of the two love interests, are powerful and captivating. It made me so excited for what came next, only for there to be a massive time skip with a whole new cast of characters. Everything after the time skip felt very YA and a little confusing. Not to spoil anything, but there is a love triangle, and a lot of the interactions between Demi and her two love interests were just not as intriguing (in my opinion) as the super cool magical stuff that Demi's doing.

Whenever Okosun leaned into Nigerian mythology, the narrative absolutely sang. The whole middle of the book, with a journey to a mystical forest and encounters with spirits, was fantastic, and I even enjoyed portions of the end. I liked the enemies-to-lovers thing that Demi and her one love interest, Jonas, had going on, but wish it had been better developed (also, there's a fair bit of insta-love here and some icky fated mates stuff, my least favorite trope). I also loved the rhythm of her writing, if that makes sense. It's lyrical and beautiful, and I can almost hear Demi's voice as I was reading. I can't wait to hear an audiobook version of this, because I can tell it would make for a delightful one.

But all of these positives felt mired in the forced love triangle and also held back by the YA feel of everything. I know this is a YA manuscript that got aged up, but I almost wish that it had stayed YA, because I think it suffers a little bit from expectations of adult readers, as many other reviews can attest to. I still enjoyed it, but think I would've enjoyed it more if I was a teen.

Despite my mixed feelings, though, I am really excited about the fact that this is a duology. I can't wait to see what Okosun does with the world that she's created, because I think a lot of these first book problems might fall away in a sequel, and I really do like Demi as a character.

Forged by Blood is a story with a rich world and interesting politics. It starts off very strong, and I was fully invested in Dèmi's story. I loved the section our main characters spent with the forest spirits. It feels very magical and immersive. Unfortunately, around the halfway point, it started to fall apart for me.

This is marketed and published as adult fantasy, but it really should be YA. There is not enough depth or nuance to make it feel like it's intended for an adult audience. The pacing is quick, jumping from big event to big event in the second half, which doesn't allow the reader to sit with anything before moving on. Dèmi lands in a lot of situations that should be dire, but she is always (quickly) miraculously saved, making it feel like there are never truly any stakes. The worldbuilding also includes fated mates, which is a trope I don't enjoy reading.

Recommend if you like:
-YA fantasy
-non-European mythology
-fast pacing
-fated mates

...WHY IS THIS A DUOLOGY!?!?!?!?! I wanted all of it now! This was SO good. At times it was a bit YA (love triangle, tropes, some dialogue was a bit too expository) but at its core, this story was a magical fantasy story with some great worldbuilding (that didn't take away from the plot! Yay!!!!)

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Unfortunately this one couldn’t keep me captivated. I tried picking it back up 3 times before officially deciding to DNF this book at 40%. The idea was there but it felt questionably executed. Great world building, but the relationship between characters and their interactions felt rushed to me.

Thank you so much for this advanced reader copy. Out of respect for the author I will not post a negative review throughout goodreads & amazon, rather send my thoughts directly here through Netgalley.

This epic fantasy debut follows Dèmi, a magic wielding Oluso, who is trying to survive a brutal regime that murdered her mother and invaded her homeland. She and other Oluso must hide their powers, as capture would mean death or enslavement. When a regional lord offers Dèmi the chance to secure the safety of her people by kidnapping a prince, she embarks on an adventure that will challenge everything she knows about her heritage, her magic and herself.

This debut from Okosun was a really fun and unique read! The Nigerian mythology and cultural setting were new but, very well-explained and illustrated throughout the novel. I liked the author’s writing style and enjoyed the overall story. The love triangle/romance was adorable, and one of my favorite aspects.

My biggest criticism is that I didn’t understand the motives or histories of the “villains” throughout the story. <spoiler> Alastair Sorenson and Mari seemed to have started a war based on Dèmi’s mother rejecting them - ?. It’s possible I just didn’t understand but, their reasoning seemed kind of lame. I also don’t feel like I really understood how Yétunde fit in to their lives before the war. </spoiler> I think some of this is due to the fact that the story is told from Dèmi’s perspective, and I’m sure their will be more details in the next book (as she learns more).

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

As a person that grew up with a family that believe in Yoruba I'm extremely happy this book exist.

It honestly is a pretty sad story and I couldn't help but think about the history factors that are implied in it. Demi is such a strong character and I love how she stayed true to herself after everything she went through. She really did not have it easy.
I love how there's a real enemies to lovers trope. The world building was amazing and I loved learning more about the spirits, the magic and the ooo people.

all in all this was a 5 star book so good so full of adventure and although that the story was sad, it was great at the same time and the ending was amazing.

Storytelling at its finest!

"Power only understands power."

I was drawn first to the cover and then next I began to engage the writer's style and this book became such a brilliant, fast-paced, action oriented masterful tale.

Forged By Blood is the debut from author Ehigbor Okosun which is heavily inspired by Nigerian mythology is so good and beautifully rendered! If you enjoy fantasy, magical realism, bits of science fiction, and romance -- this is the book for you! Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

Let me just say first that I love main character Demi, who has been dealt essentially every bad hand she could possibly be handed. And while this is true, she does not give up for anything or anyone. She is stripped of nearly everything but her will to survive and avenge the death of her mother. Demi is a complex character, living in a complex word, filled with blood magic that has been deemed in conflict with the people who have come to occupy her homeland. Her one wish is to stop the King's genocide of her people and free them of his reign. Only she'll have to kidnap a prince in order to do so.

Forged By Blood becomes a coming of age story that is filled with adventure after adventure as Demi learns more about her own powers and makes life and death decisions at every turn. I love a strong, fierce, female lead and Demi embodies this notion fully. There were times when the storytelling became dense and it slowed down the pace but overall, this is one to definitely add to your list!

4.5/5

3.5/5 stars

as far as debuts go, this was pretty good. however, i am conflicted. normally, when i sit with a book for a few days after reading it, i come to appreciate it more. with this one, i feel like i became a bit more frustrated before settling on some sort of ambivalence.

also, i have no idea if this is supposed to be ya or adult. everyone keeps labeling it ya even though what i’m hearing is that it’s supposed to be adult. it’s 100% ya in my opinion. definitely needed a bit more elevation to be an adult fantasy.

what i liked:
→ storytelling and worldbuilding. i was so immersed in this world. the author created such a spell-binding universe of magic-users, fantasy creatures, and kingdoms at war. the characters’ stories and the way they were written drew you in.
→ everyone knows i’m obsessed with fantasy inspired by mythology/folklore. i like to learn more about the world whether i’m reading fiction or nonfiction. this was inspired by Nigerian mythology. i thought i knew at least a bit based on magical anthologies i’ve read featuring orisha- but i definitely need to dive deeper!
→ female characters full of rage, resolve, and power. the main character, supporting characters, AND background characters. the spectrum of grieving, healing, avenging, and prospering women in this book is sensational!
→ casually queer supporting characters. obsessed.

what frustrated me:
→ this book brings you in and gives you exactly what you want for the first half. the longer it goes on, the more frustrating it becomes imo. the multi-faceted violence of grief, war, displacement, and alienation can do unbelievable things to people and their connections to those around them. but the balance of how some things were prolonged and how some were unpacked or resolved became more and more unstable as the novel reached its resolution. it ended in a way that made sense for a duology. but i was still personally unsatisfied. was surprised by how and who lost their teeth and who grew fangs.
→ had to suspend my disbelief a little too often. however, *disclaimer* i am neurodivergent. i find that i often have a harsher standard than others in terms of what suspending my disbelief means to me. do with that what you will.
→ just a personal preference, but i feel like there were not enough scenes where the characters get to rest in or positively reflect on their love (rather than be fighting to show, prove, or earn it). it makes sense based on the POV of the book, but it was a lot to continually absorb as a reader.

things i need:
→ a nana and will spinoff <33333
→ an aziza court short focused on the joys of love and community!!!
→ a yetunde and mari backstory
→ yes, i just want to know all of the side characters more intimately- they were all beautifully rendered.

so, overall, i devoured this book. read it in like 3 weekdays- which is big for me. this book obviously is inspired by Nigerian history and mythology, but it reflects a lot of darker issues still very much present in society today. if a ya-leaning fantasy story that has dark, (rightfully) pessimistic elements and characters weaved throughout the narrative is not for you- i would avoid this. if you are in a period of suffering in your life, this might not be for you (because suffering is the main thing that motivates and focuses our main character dèmi). i think it made the story powerful and fast-paced but, after a certain point, i realized there had not been much of any rest or fluff to balance it out. so be aware.

basically, if you love something gritty, full of powerful women, and brimming with beautiful fantasy elements, i’d say this is the right book for you. even though i had my struggles with it, i’m fully looking forward to reading the sequel.

I received a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was the first Nigerian mythology inspired fantasy that I’ve read. I’m not sure what mythology it was based off of, but I truly enjoyed not reading yet another Beauty & The Beast retelling, or some other European fantasy retelling.
I loved Dèmi’s character BECAUSE she was headstrong, whereas some people saw that as a character flaw. Yes she was rash and didn’t always think things through, but she was working towards a bigger picture and trying to help other Oluso people.
There is betrayal, magic, a bit of a slow burn romance, a love triangle, fated mates, death, genocide, and over throwing the patriarchy. I can’t wait to read how Dèmi and Jonas (Maybe Colin too?) help free the Oluso people from a terrible ruler in book two.
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Age recommendation: 15+ years old.