This book is an excellent reason why we should all be reading diversely. This book really delves into the repercussions of the colonizer mentality. The magic, language, history, and mythology of this world were rich and interesting. There were parts that were incredibly poignant and some I found myself laughing about.
This did skew more YA which I did not mind. The only negative for me was the love triangle subplot, which is a trope I do not enjoy.
I found myself unable to predict the ending which is always nice, and the book left me wanting more. Thank you netgalley for the earc. My opinions are my own

Forged by Blood is a solid debut for this Nigerian fantasy! The beginning of this one has a strong start that had me drawn into Demi and her story with her losing her mother and tasked to kidnap the prince. I was also intrigued by her magic, and the world building was also interesting. We do have a bit of a love triangle in this one that i saw coming. 😌 There were times Demi had me rolling my eyes at some of her decision-making.

One thing that did take away from the book for me was the big time hop, along with the flow of the book sometimes. It had me wondering what happened in between the times we missed. I do feel that because this one is a duology, this book is laying the foundation for what's to come! I can't wait to continue on and see where it comes together and what happens next!

Forged by Blood is book one in The Tainted Blood Duology by Ehigbor Okosun.
FBB is a powerful and enthralling tale of vengeance and hope, struggles and growth in a lavish fantasy world. Ehigbor Okosun’s debut boasts unparalleled world-building, full of magic and emotion, and characters who will leap off the page. I absolutely loved it. A fantastic debut.
The care and details the author out into the world-building in phenomenal, laying the perfect foundation.
This action-packed duology inspired by Nigerian mythology was an amazing read.
Set in a complex world in which a young woman fights to survive a tyrannical society, having everything stripped away from her, and seeks vengeance for her mother’s murder and the spilled blood of her people.
This is one mythology you won’t want to miss.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Harper Voyager for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Stars: 3.75/5.0

Forged by Blood, as so many others are saying, is the perfect book for someone who is looking for a YA (pushing NA) fantasy book with commentary that heavily parallels the real world with European colonization. There are elements of Nigerian mythology which paired with Okosun's beautiful writing (and I will probably never stop talking about how beautiful it is) made for a story that was so easy to lose oneself in.

My biggest complaint is the pacing; however, that being said, I was so into the world already with Okosun's writing that I still happily continued to read it.

I do mention that it has a YA pushing NA feel to it. The characters and plot feel very reminiscent of most YA where the good are good and the bad are bad, but there are certain descriptions and events that make me say it pushes towards NA.

Overall, absolutely loved this book and will be excitedly waiting for book #2 and to see how Okosun grows as an author too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was cute!

I'm not big on the YA fantasy style, but this managed to be simple and fun without feeling halfway done. It's fast paced, action-packed, and emotionally thorough. Just the kind of book I'd recommend to someone who was more into this genre. Okosun really weaved together an interesting world with its own complex power structure while also not bombarding the reader with too much unfamiliarity. Fantasy can be tough when you're forced to try and pretend like you understand an entirely new society, but this wasn't like that at all. Also, the characters were very cute.

This debut is a solid addition to the already lush Nigerian fantasy genre that has been gaining notoriety the last few years. Even just as a general fantasy book, Forged By Blood shows up with strong bones. Okuson’s writing shines in action scenes and sentimental prose, and she managed to craft one of my favorite morally gray characters to read about in a long time. This was a delight to read and I am looking forward to the conclusion!

Forged by Blood is a fantasy adventure from debut author Ehigbor Okosun that follows Dèmi as she experiences the prejudices of being a magic-wielding Oluso and her journey to fight against a tyrannical society that seeks to wipe her people out. When she is tasked to kidnap the prince to help an Oluso regional lord gain a seat on the king's council, Dèmi's powers and strength are tested - especially when the mission reveals pieces of unfinished business from her past.

From page one, the author introduces us to a world lush with magic and folktales inspired by Nigerian mythology and harshly juxtaposes its beauty with the cruel reality of the racist regime that is determined to destroy it. Dèmi is quick to act and dare I say a tiny bit hot-headed, but her intentions are good and she truly just wants to see the world become a better place. Even when her world is brought crashing down by her mother's death and her worldview becomes more vengeance-tinted, Dèmi doesn't stray from her ideals of wanting peace for her people.

Her compassion and sense of duty towards the other Oluso send her down a path of possible rebellion but also reunites her with someone from her past. Her journey exposes more of herself and her morals while she battles against time and uncovers truths that threaten her own survival. Despite being marketed as an adult novel, the characters felt more targeted towards an upper YA or NA audience because of how black and white everything was portrayed. The bad guys are bad (for obvious reasons) and the good guys are good, but there's a lack of morally grey characters to help sway the story. Not to say that every novel needs the whole spectrum, but I found myself being less convinced and almost worried by the idealistic goals of the characters as a result.

With that being said, I still rooted for Dèmi and her friends because of how much they believed. With all that is thrown their way, they refused to hope for a better world even when set against a colonial power that has brought so much violence and suffering. This just leads to an explosive ending with angry mobs and literal chaos raining down as Dèmi has to choose whether violence is the only answer or if peace is possible to achieve. And while the story itself wraps up nicely, there's room for the author to expand and challenge the characters which I am very intrigued about.

Forged by Blood is a fantastic story of hope in the face of tyranny and a solid introduction into a captivating world of magic and spirits. Despite being younger in tone than I expected, Dèmi is a strong storyteller and I am excited to see how her story and world will continue to grow in the sequel.

I really wanted to dive into this book - anything inspired by mythology catches my interest, and the premise of this book promised an action-packed fantasy with a unique magical system.

From the beginning, the writing style and pacing proved difficult for me to get into. The writing leans heavily on dialogue and action, which isn’t a bad thing, but I felt that this overshadowed the emotion and exposition that would have drawn me in. I appreciate that the author wanted to introduce us gradually to the world and magic system, rather than giving a big infodump at the beginning. But the sudden drops of cultural and magical details sadly made it hard to follow, and I felt lost in the world-building and magic system.

It didn’t connect with me that the beginning is told from the perspective of Demi as a child, which left me disconnected with her and it took time to reconcile the narrative voice with the sudden time jump. Because the story was told from two age levels, I couldn’t tell if this was intended for a YA audience or adult audience.

I was also a little sad that the time jump fell when it did - I would have been interested to see Demi growing up and learning to trust again, which might have made me feel more connected to the story.

I think that readers who like action and fast-paced stories will enjoy this. Unfortunately I didn’t get the emotional connection I needed to be drawn in.

Rating: Enjoyed It, 3.5 stars

This was once again a case where I absolutely loved the world and the magic, but my rating was brought down by pacing and characterization issues.

Forged by Blood is the first in a debut duology, inspired by Nigerian folklore and mythology. The country of Ife has been invaded and colonized by nonmagical Ajes, and they have committed genocide against the native, magic-wielding, Oluso people. Dèmi lives with her mother, hiding and living a life of secrecy, until one day they are discovered and she is on her own. We pick up with 18(ish) year-old Dèmi who is looking to protect her found family and make things right for her people. She is pulled into a scheme to capture the Aje prince for another's political gain, and events unfold from there.

So the things I really enjoyed:
- The magic and the world are incredible. They are lush and beautiful. It is a world that I would like to explore more and really get to know better. Dèmi and company bounce around between different places, but my favorite was The Spirit Realm. I could have read an entire book following those spirits, honestly. I felt like a lot of the worldbuilding elements were very fresh and unique, and I was also really intrigued by the magic system. It was very much a throw you in without a ton of explanation, but I enjoyed that.

- For the most part, I really enjoyed the writing. I think that it suffered slightly from a first person POV because there were quite a few times the worldbuilding was delivered in info dumps by our MC. But the mechanical crafting of the sentences were often quite pleasing. There were lines that were very poignant and really conveyed a lot within them. I expect that this will only get better as Okosun improves in writing craft over time, and I look forward to seeing how it develops

- I felt that the pacing was quite uneven, but when it was on, it was definitely on. We start out with a bang, and then there are different parts throughout that I absolutely devoured.

Things that I found that were neither good nor bad:
- This novel is published by an Adult imprint, but it read like an upper YA novel to me. We follow a very young protagonist in first person POV, and it follows a lot of common tropes and plot beats that are very familiar in YA. I felt like Dèmi, despite experiencing so much brutality in her young life, was still very naive to the ways of the world and was searching for who she is and where she fits in the world. We also get a very poorly executed love triangle. It is a very dark world though, and I expect there will be a lot more brutality in the sequel as we approach the conclusion of the story.

Some things I didn't enjoy:
- As I mentioned, the pacing was very uneven throughout. Honestly, this read a bit like a trilogy that was being stuffed into a duology. I have noticed this in several duologies that I have read in the last few years, and I think that some of the issues could be resolved by giving the author the space to fully develop the world and characters rather than cramming all the plot points in in a mad dash to the finish.

- I feel like the characterizations suffered a bit from the first person POV. I usually love a brash, impulsive, angry heroine, but in this instance I felt like a lot of Dèmi's reactions and choices didn't fully make sense in the context of what we got in her POV. Because so much of the worldbuilding and explanation of the oppression and darkness of the world took place within her thoughts, it was very jarring when we would get a well-rounded explanation from the character of why X was the way it was, but then after taking the time to "think" through the ramifications for the reader, she reacts in a way that is completely contradictory to everything she had just explained. It was very jarring at times, and it kept pulling me from the story. I feel like this issue could have been alleviated if the worldbuilding was handled differently, or if it was part of the narration in a third person POV - because then it would just feel like an impulsive and brash main character rather than a character who just consistently made really poor choices. I also wasn't fully invested in the secondary characters. I feel like this is usually pretty common for me in first person POVs - it takes a while to fully develop the other characters since we only have one perspective, but because Dèmi never felt fully fleshed out, the secondary characters also remained somewhat flat for me.

- One of the major tropes in this is fated mates. However, I really disliked the way that this played out because it involved a love triangle, and as love triangles go, it was a pretty bad one. Our main character seemed to not want a relationship at all but was still making out with both boys in front of the other with no real regard for people's feelings, and it just read very oddly to me.

Overall, there were pieces that I really enjoyed but others that brought my overall experience down. I am interested by the world and by the ending, but what I consider to be the most interesting parts of the story were the ones that we dealt with the least. There was no true indication of whether these threads will be picked up again in the sequel. I assume they will be, but I will probably wait to commit to continuing the series until we get more info on the second book.

I received an ARC of Forged by Blood from Harper Voyager and Netgalley. All opinions are my own. Forged by Blood releases on August 8, 2023.

𝘿𝙚𝙢𝙞, 𝙖 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨, 𝙨𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙢, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙮. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙬, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙙𝙧𝙮 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙤𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚.

I think it says something about this book, that when I turned the last page, I was already looking forward to reading the next one!

Dèmi is only 8 years old when she witness the brutal murder of her mother, and is forced to flee or be captured/killed herself. Since the Ajes took control over Ifé, magic users have been systematically hunted, enslaved, and killed.

When Dèmi comes of age, she takes on a quest given to her by a stranger, with the promise of freeing her people.

The world of this book was so interesting, as it melded a “regular” society with a Nigerian mythological world, including a fun magic system.

The story itself was perfectly paced, and I was very much engaged throughout.

I’m not a huge fan of love triangles, and I didn’t quite *enjoy* this one, but I felt the answer of who she would “pick” was pretty obvious immediately, so I didn’t dwell on that too much.

I thought the romance was the weak spot of this book. It was pretty underwhelming, and a little cringey to be honest…But the rest of the book definitely made up for it!

If you enjoy YA fantasy with magic and (Nigerian) mythology, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and @netgalley for providing me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What this book is giving:
✅ YA Fantasy
✅ Inspired by Nigerian mythology
✅ Love Triangle
✅ Magic
✅ Mates
✅ Themes of colonization, racism, and slavery

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ / 5

This is a strong fantasy debut by Ehigbor Okosun -- you have everything you need from a strong female protagonist named Dèmi to a world that comes alive with unique magics inspired by Nigerian mythology and culture. The details throughout are bright and engaging. I never guessed which way the journey would take and it usually did not disappoint. I think a lot of fantasy readers will enjoy this book and those to follow it.

I will say I did struggle through the last 25% of it. There was a strong plot with well laid out hero vs. villain vibes, but something just felt a bit off for me. I felt like a lot of the secrets revealed were a little too much at once and that they didn't come together as flawlessly as I would've hoped. A lot of the action scenes and rules of the Oloso magic also felt stilted like I was missing important information. For example, I found myself having to reread scenes because I felt like I had skipped a line or missed a detail where in fact it was never given or a new rule of how the magic system worked was just thrown into the fray. Many times, I also felt like names for new and not long lasting characters were thrown around like they had been around the whole book when in reality I had no idea who was being talked about.

However, I did mostly enjoy our main trio. Dèmi was a pretty fleshed out character and she carries a lot on her shoulders in a pretty badass way. I personally would've liked if the characters surrounding her could have been given more fluff. Colin, in particular, I found dull because I thought he was just the pining best friend, and while I enjoyed their ride or die friendship, that's the only thing about him that's somewhat interesting until you learn a little bit about him in the very last bit.

All in all, an entertaining adventure filled read that I would give a solid 3.5 stars. I think this series will become a hit with a large crowd and I think Ehigbor Okosun is writing a story that has a very unique edge that many will enjoy.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for an advance copy for review!

3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Forged by Blood is a promising debut fantasy. While it’s being pitched as adult, I think this is one of those books that absolutely would benefit from further “mainstream-ification” of New Adult on the marketing side, as it definitely feels like a book that bridges the gap between playing with certain YA fantasy tropes, while also being a bit darker than it’s common for YA to be.
The world building is interesting, taking inspiration from Nigerian mythology. There are also some allegories to the treatment of Black people throughout history, particularly the impact of the slave trade, and the ties with magic use being punishable by death feel very poignant as a result.
Demi is a pretty standout protagonist. She spends the bulk of the story dealing with the trauma of having lost her mother and wanting to get justice for herself and her people. She’s easy to sympathize with as a result, and while she doesn’t always make the smartest decisions, it is a reflection of age and inexperience, and she grows and evolves over the course of the narrative.
The romance is a love triangle, and it’s pretty predictable in that aspect, in that there really isn’t a lot of tension and questions over who she’ll choose, even if the narrative does try to build it through cringey jealousy. However, the two love interests are pretty decent in their own rights, particularly in terms of what they offer to the overall “goal” of the narrative.
The pacing and some of the other storytelling choices are definitely what need the most improvement. I liked the first half, and how it built out the world and the characters within it. The way things were executed in the second half felt a bit rushed, and it definitely felt more cliche as the story went on. I found myself very unsurprised by the direction it took, and while I like tropey stories, I’d have liked a bit more subversion here.
This is a solid debut, and I’m interested in how the story develops in the next installment. If you’re looking for a multicultural fantasy with crossover appeal between YA and adult, I’d recommend checking this out!

Forged by Blood is a fast-paced fantasy adventure that had me strapped in from the first page.

I had fun reading this! Some of the plot was a little predictable, such as the mates and the overall romance aspect, but there was one reveal that genuinely had me shocked. I liked learning about the lush world, although I would have liked to understand the magic system a little bit more. When I finished, I felt as though I knew barely more than when I had started. I wish we knew more about the system as a whole, the different types of magic, and how it manifests. It felt as though at every turn there was just a new kind of magic there with a brand new name and rules that differ from what the last one was.

The romance plot was well balanced with the adventure side, although it was clear from the beginning who she would "choose" at the end. That being said, I did enjoy the moments shared between the pair, I am a sucker for hurt/comfort.

Overall, I give this book 3.5 stars, and I am excited for the next one!

I received this arc from NetGalley and Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Forged by Blood by is a spectacular adult fantasy debut that takes readers on a thrilling journey through a tyrannical society based on Nigerian mythology. From the very first page, I was hooked by the rich lore and the captivating journey of our main character, Dèmi.

While the tone and characters may have leaned more towards young adult, the enchanting world-building and mythology found throughout the is what really made this book a standout for me. Okosun's ability to create a vivid and immersive setting rooted in Nigerian folklore was nothing short of amazing.

Dèmi, our main character, is a force to be reckoned with, and her fight to survive in the oppressive society she is born into is both gripping and inspiring. Her growth and resilience throughout the narrative make her a compelling protagonist that readers can easily connect with and root for.

While the love triangle may have felt a bit unnecessary and an ending that included one too many grand monologues and reveals by the villains and heroes, the overall journey was still immensely enjoyable. The book's pacing and action-packed sequences kept me engaged, and I find myself eagerly anticipating book two in this duology.

Yet despite these minor flaws, the strength of the world-building, the journey of the main character, and the intriguing lore make this book a must-read for fantasy enthusiasts. I cannot wait to see how the story unfolds in the next installment, and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique and immersive fantasy experience.

A really interesting story with great world building and character development that has me looking forward to reading the second book! I would recommend to readers who like epic fantasy with lots of action, magic and a love triangle.

DNF @33%. I really wanted to like this one! The premise sounded amazing: action-packed adventure inspired by Nigerian mythology?! I actually enjoyed the beginning before the time jump; I was very invested in the MC and was excited to see where the story would go. Unfortunately, the plot kind of went wild after that and everything moved so quickly there wasn’t much room left for worldbuilding and actually getting to know the characters. The story also started becoming more predictable and juvenile - there is a love triangle that seems very sudden and forced, which is when I stopped reading.

Summary:
The worldbuilding and characters were okay and I actually wanted more. However, the plot turns very YA which, combined with a very YA style of writing, led me to stop reading.

after dèmi’s mother is murdered in front of her, she swears to avenge her and the rest of their murdered people, the oluso. so, when the opportunity arises, she and her friend colin set out to kidnap the aje prince, jonas, and bargain with his life to save the remaining oluso. but dèmi and jonas quickly become attracted to each other, which could mean trouble.

though i haven’t read that many, i don’t think a nigerian mythology-inspired book has disappointed me so far, so i was really excited to pick this one up. this really did not disappoint and i enjoyed reading about the in-depth world building and magic system, as well as the discussions on colonialism. i also loved the characters so much, and enjoyed how complex they all were. i highly recommend this book and i can’t wait to see where book two takes us!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the eArc. Dèmi’s story begins with a betrayal of trust that ultimately leads to her mother’s death. Prior to reading the book, I was under the impression that this was an adult fantasy debut, however, I feel that it felt more like a YA fantasy instead. The beginning of the novel begins with Dèmi as a child which, at first, explained the younger feel to the writing. As the story progresses, I expected Dèmi to be more mature, more wary of others and more thoughtful of consequences for her actions. I did not enjoy the love triangle, especially when the FMC vacillates between the two love interests. Overall, I am interested in seeing where the sequel takes Dèmi, Colin, and Jonas.

I’ve been wanting an African inspired fantasy since finishing The Battle Drum, and this book fixed that need. Also, look how beautiful this cover is! ☺️

Inspired by Nigerian mythology, I thought it was an interesting premise of how magic users are hunted/killed for their abilities; it definitely presented similar feelings of European colonization of the Africa and its history with the slave trade. 😔

Where the book really shines for me was with the inclusion of the elemental spirits. I LOVED how Okosun portrays them as benevolent spirits who want to help humanity despite its tendencies to destroy everything. I really hope we get to see more of those in the future! 🧚🏼‍♂️

As for the world building, it was a fascinating array of landscapes that the plot takes the reader to. From the plains, the coast, and then mountains, it was a fun ride to go on for sure! 🗺️

The characters, as much as I like them, did have some flaws for me. Dèmi was such an interesting MC, but at times I felt like she didn’t really think her ideas out all the way making her rather reckless in my opinion. Colin was a great friend and side character, but I felt like he was so loyal that he was blinded by it. Jonas I thought was a very well written character that struggles with fitting the position he’s expected to take on, but trying to find a community for himself. My one small issue was how rushed his and Dèmi’s relationship is rushed at times. But in the end, very interesting main cast for the first novel in the duology! 🗡️

All in all, fantastic Nigerian inspired fantasy, and definitely for those who are looking for an enemies-to-lovers like relationship filled with an interesting magic system and primarily black cast of characters! 🍃

Thank you again to @harpervoyagerus @okosunreads and @netgalley for an eARC for an honest review. It was definitely a fun start to a new series! ✨

Overall: 4.25/5⭐️

Forged By Blood is the outstanding epic fantasy debut from Ehigbor Okosun. Dèmi was forced to run for her life at a young age when her mother was murdered. Nine years later, she’s ready for vengeance and becomes involved in a plan to kidnap the prince. Dèmi is shocked to discover that she has met the prince before and must untangle the many secrets between them. Dèmi will do anything to protect her people and avenge her mother- but how far will she have to go?

Okosun deftly handles politics, romance, action-packed battle scenes, and a well-designed magic system. I couldn’t put this book down! The pacing was excellent- it felt action-packed with adventures, yet still had moments of deep connection between the characters. Dèmi is such a lovable character who it is impossible not to feel invested in. Dèmi is willing to risk it all for her people and tries to help everyone, even if it places her in danger. I enjoyed Dèmi’s romantic predicament and I think she definitely made the right choice. One of my favorite scenes was with the omioja; the verdict they reached was so heartbreakingly beautiful and moving. I really enjoyed Dèmi’s relationship with the magical creatures of the forest and can’t wait to learn more about them in the sequel.

Readers who seek fated mates with a magical connection, strong heroines, and stunning magic systems will devour Forged Blood. Readers who enjoyed N.E. Davenport (The Blood Gift), Jordan Ifueko (Raybearer), and Deborah Falaye (Blood Scion) will love this book!

Thank you so much to Ehigbor Okosun, Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc