Children of Anguish and Anarchy, by Tomi Adeyemi - Jasmin
I first fell in love with this book series when I was at University. The whimsical fantasy element helped me escape the never ending assignments and grotty British weather. It wasn't until I took a semester on Young Adult literature that the nuance of this book came to life - also known as hitting me square in the face.
While this can be read as a whimsical fantasy book with amazing characters and world building, it would be dismissing the history that this book series is pulled from. I, personally, had never read a fantasy book based in African mythology and found myself entrapped by Adeyemi's storytelling and how she reimagined long lost myths and stories.
The last book in the series is a roller coaster of emotion and leaves you on the edge of your seat after ever chapter as it explores the emotions and politics of the slave trade in a new and mystical setting.
The whole series looks at forbidden love, restoring magic and power to the people and follows an ensemble of well developed and loveable characters that are thoroughly human making mistakes and faux paus that give the series a lease of life.
If you are a fan of mythology, magic or just good story telling, this book series is a must read!
Jasmin
