Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Goodreads summary:

They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.

Now we rise.

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy. 

My Thoughts:

This is a magical book. I loved immersing myself into the world of Orisha and Zelie and Inan. You think you have some characters all figured out and then boom no! Course changes and storylines flow and change like the sea. I loved everything about this magical world.

Not only does she share such an amazing world she also has something to say about the human condition and how we have to dehumanize the "evil other" in order to awful and terrible things to them. It's a powerful metaphor for our present times.

I recommend listening to it. The woman who narrates pronounces everything beautifully and she really engages you so you are completely immersed. I also recommend buying the book because they cover is gorgeous and it has maps and deity and maji maps and power descriptions. It helps to keep it all in your head!

So please go pick this book up!

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Goodreads Summary:

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

I was very surprised at how much I loved this book. Saenz manages to make his characters come alive. Even the parents are actual human beings with thoughts, feelings, and gray areas. I loved watching the relationship between Ari and Dante. Discovering the secrets of the Universe was an immense pleasure. The lessons it teaches is one for the ages. I look forward to rereading this again and again.