Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye

Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye is a Yoruba-Nigerian inspired fantasy novel and the first in a brand-new series. 

Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye

Blood Scion is a YA fantasy novel by Nigerian-Canadian author Deborah Falaye. It is her first novel and the first of a series. Fifteen-year-old Sloane can incinerate an enemy in a heartbeat - she is a Scion, a descendant of the ancient Orisha gods. Under the brutal rule of the Lucis, Sloane’s identity paints a target on her back. If her identity is discovered, she will be killed. But when she is forcibly conscripted into the Lucis army on her fifteenth birthday, Sloane sees a new opportunity to destroy them from within. Sloane plays by their rules and rises through the ranks, but in doing so, she risks losing herself entirely and becoming the very monster that she abhors.

Blood Scion is thrilling and truly unputdownable. It is full of twists and turns and jam-packed with action. The novel is also incredibly fast-paced - Falaye will have you consuming every page at a break-neck speed. However, it should be noted that the novel can feel slightly too fast-paced at times, skimming over details that need to be further elaborated on. Nonetheless, it is still a gripping read. The world Falaye creates is immersive and innovative, steeped in Yoruba-Nigerian mythology. This made for an incredibly interesting read as we come to learn about various Yoruba deities as well as Nigerian culture and history. Throughout the entirety of the novel, it felt as though Falaye’s imagination never faltered. 

Sloane is incredibly loveable. Her character was perfectly complex, brimming with anger and rage over the treatment of her people. Sloane was bold and unafraid to seek revenge, yet caring and sweet at the same time towards the people she loves. As the novel is written in the first person, we are given the joy of listening in on all of Sloane’s self-reflections and inner turmoil as she questions how far she is willing to go for revenge. Bearing witness to her internal voice added an extra layer of three-dimensionality to her character and made her more relatable as we come to understand what drives some of her more questionable decisions. 

Blood Scion is a novel that will capture readers and transport them to a magnificently immersive world of Yoruba-Nigerian culture. It will be great to see where the series goes next. 

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