Ok, four short sentences and I’m ready to read this book! And 525 pages (or 18 hours) later, I’m glad I did. The story follows Zélie Adebola, who has been chosen by the Sky Mother who is the mother of the gods and the creator of all humans – to bring back magic in the country of Orïsha and restore the majji to their former glory. Zelie is a diviner, who is descended from those with magical blood. She lives in a world where magic is forbidden. It has almost been eradicated by King Saran who fears those he doesn’t understand.Each character has experienced the incredible personal loss of a loved one. They have all witnessed torture and the senseless taking of lives, just because someone looks different. They are determined to make their world a world of peace.The characters each have to battle their own demons. Each chapter is written from the viewpoint of a different character and in this way we can empathise with them. We are able to understand their fears and losses.

Der er enormt interessante elementer i denne bog. Selve magien og kampen er virkelig spændende, men der hvor bogen kommer til kort er i karaktererne og kærlighedshistorien. Det stereotype kærlighedsplot fylder for meget og bliver altoverskyggende og kedeligt rent ud sagt.

Helt utrolig bok med gode karakterer, kjempespennende magi og et viktig budskap!

Spannend boek met een belangrijk thema (discriminatie) gemengd met magie.

Bokas ulike stemmer viser hvordan traumer kan få mennesker til å reagere som de gjør: ulikt, med sinne, med frustrasjon, med svik, med tvil, med kjærlighet, med stolthet, med besluttsomhet, med vaklende vilje. Boka skildrer en tilværelse svært ulik min, men i epilogen plasseres handlingen i den virkelige verden. Det knuste meg, men gjorde boka enda viktigere. Grusomme og detaljerte volds- og torturscener, men også nydelige og varme kjærlighetsscener. En reise der alle følelsene blir brukt.

Verhaal komt maar niet op gang. Zo traag allemaal. Slecht voorgelezen ook.

Not well read. Narrator could not pronounce the Yoruba words properly which kept making me cringe. I do know that it’s a good book though hence the 4 stars. Guess I’ll be buying the paperback!

O MY GODS!! O MY GODS! I LOVED THIS SO MUCH. THE LOVE THE SORROW THE UNDENIABLE METAPHORS. THANK YOU, JUST THANK YOU!!

Te langdradig voor mij, maar kwam ook door de matige manier van voorlezen.

Niet mijn genre.