Dealing with themes of race and power, Tomi Adeyemi’s West African-inspired series is as timely as it is magical—and truly something special.
Imagine a fantasy world where magic has been banished. Then, imagine meeting a fiercely determined young heroine who is willing to brave vengeful spirits and take on a king to bring magic back to her homeland. That’s a hint of Tomi Adeyemi’s pause-resistant series, Legacy of Orïsha.
Zélie Abedola remembers when magic graced Orïsha, keeping the tides rolling, the soil humming, and the spirits at peace. When the ruthless monarch ordered that all maji be killed, Zélie lost her mother, and her people were left powerless. Now as Zélie’s own powers grow stronger, she knows she can no longer live in fear. With the help of a rogue princess, she begins her fight against the king to restore magic. But her quest is filled with lurking dangers and unexpected complications. She’s struggling to control her own magic—and to understand her feelings of affection for someone who should be her enemy.
Adeyemi’s highly imaginative fantasy series is rooted in West African Yoruba culture and spirituality, and the real-world history of its persecution by tyrants. While geared towards young adults, Legacy of Orïsha will appeal to listeners of every age. The message of hope in the face of oppression is one that speaks to many people. And the characters and settings are so richly imagined that you can’t help but get sucked into this world.
The series debut, Children of Blood and Bone won the Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year, and when you listen to Bahni Turpin’s narration, you’ll understand why. Booklist praised Turpin’s “excellent, refreshing performance,” noting that the narrator “excels at customizing her voice to capture the unique personalities of each character.” Turpin, an Audible Hall of Fame narrator, returns to perform the second audiobook in the series, Children of Virtue and Vengeance.
