Resulting from my present state of elation, I shall be writing this review in a different way. First will come an open, short message to the author. Then will come the review proper. Here it goes...
Dear Mrs. Falaye, I will not dwell too much on the astounding cover (sentiments well documented). Instead, I will begin by thanking you for introducing our lore and mythology to the West in such a brilliant manner. You are a writer of considerable potential (I believe you can do so much more), and I'm truly amazed at your natural talent. Of all the writers I know who have delved into this particular mythology (a certain, ahem, Tomi Adeyemi, inclusive), your work stands head and shoulders above them all. For me, your work has now become the standard for African Mytho-Fantasy, at least until you go one better by giving us an even more impressive sequel to Blood Scion. Thank you for the eARC.
Yours truly, Akinwale Ojo.
Now, on to the review proper. I shan't give any spoilers...
Blood Scion is epic fantasy based on the Yoruba culture, of Yoruba lore and mythology. It incorporates elements of this inside of its pages, to great effect too...
The author's blend of mythological accuracy and standard YA tropes is impressive, as she adds her own perchant for the spectacular into the mix. The result is YA Fantasy that I personally rate higher than COBAB.
The main character is just 15, but there are no hints of childishness in many of her decisions. Think of Hunger Games and Harry Potter with a touch of joyless Joe Abercrombie. Her sufferings are highlighted with the right amount of intensity. And perhaps, even more importantly, she is not prone to a certain sickness of the mind that plagues almost all female YA leads that I've read.
The other characters are just as great, and the storyline itself is impressive, with some massive reveals littered here and there, plenty of surprises in this one.
It's quite bloody, to be honest. Not the overly detailed, sadistic, gory delight that I enjoy reading (and writing), but violent nonetheless. The violence is cold, and given how the genre is YA, readers of the, ahem, "softie" propensity would do well to steel their minds before reading this, else risk heartache, shocking gasps, or downright tearing up at strategic intervals.
Speaking of strategic intervals, I think much of the suspense occurs at the best possible times. For such a fast-paced read, one can appreciate how the author manages her punchlines and big reveals...
The world-building is one of the very best I've read, over a relatively low page count (I have a preference for Oathbringer-style tomes). It is done with all the deliberacy and precision of Cristiano Ronaldo taking a spot-kick.
I believe that the beauty of any mytho-based fantasy lies in the fineness of the juxtaposition of mythological facts and creative leeway. For instance, we can enjoy Rick Riordan's works today because the man did well to balance things out. He did not forget for one second that he was writing actual history (mythology), to a potential audience of Greek mythology nerds like me who are quick to notice disparity, inaccuracy, and creative overzealousness.
In this, Deborah Falaye truly excels, as she leaves no stone unturned in her bid to deliver incisive, accurate, and deliciously exciting Yoruba mytho-fantasy.
So, here's one for fans of COBAB: you've probably heard some discontent murmurs from a certain black fanbase- a fanbase of locals who discount COBAB, not because the story was bad, but because of its mythological inaccuracy....
READ BLOOD SCION and meet Sloane of the Fire God!
(That's as far as I can go without dropping spoilers)
P.S: I'm curious to know the bits that will change in the final version of this book....
