Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye

Blood Scion

by Deborah Falaye

“Equal parts soaring fantasy, heart-pounding action, and bloody social commentary, Blood Scion is a triumph of a book.” —Roseanne A. Brown, New York Times bestselling author of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

 This is what they deserve.

They wanted me to be a monster.

I will be the worst monster they ever created.

Fifteen-year-old Sloane can incinerate an enemy at will—she is a Scion, a descendant of the ancient Orisha gods.

Under the Lucis’ brutal rule, her identity means her death if her powers are discovered. But when she is forcibly conscripted into the Lucis army on her fifteenth birthday, Sloane sees a new opportunity: to overcome the bloody challenges of Lucis training, and destroy them from within.

Following one girl’s journey of magic, injustice, power, and revenge, Deborah Falaye’s debut novel, inspired by Yoruba-Nigerian mythology, is a magnetic combination of Children of Blood and Bone and An Ember in the Ashes.

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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Blood Scion is both a debut novel and the start of a new series. Written by Deborah Falaye, it kicks off a series of the same name, one that is as intimating and dangerous as it is compelling. Get ready for an emotional roller coaster!

Sloan has spent her entire life hiding who she is – a descent of the Orisha gods. She has magic in her veins but must suppress it for the safety of herself and those she loves most. The Lucis hate people like her and will hunt her until the day they die.

Unfortunately, suppressing her magic isn't enough to keep her safe, as this is not the only terror the Lucis put on her people. Sloan has been forcibly conscripted into their army, which will make surviving so much harder – especially while trying to keep her gift a secret. There is a light in this darkness, as following through on their orders will give Sloan the chance to finally get some answers of her own.

“You have to decide what matters most: your humanity or your survival.”

Wow. Every now and then, I come across a book that defies reviewing. Blood Scion is one of those books. I have so many thoughts and feelings about this book, but I feel like I lack the words to adequately explain any of them.

Let's start with this: Blood Scion does not pull punches. It is an emotional and graphic read, pulling readers into the deep end and forcing us to ride along in Sloan's life. It's heavy, wondrous, and powerful all in one.

The characters are complex, the story compelling, and the twists shocking; this is a book that all fantasy lovers need to read. Seriously, go out and buy the book! If you can manage it, the OwlCrate version is stunning.

Oh, I forgot to mention the world-building. Shocking – I know. This is generally my favorite part about any fantasy novel, and Blood Scion did not disappoint. It's so rich and detailed. Even though we spent a whole book exploring the world, I feel like it is merely the tip of the iceberg. I cannot wait to see more.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 3 May, 2022: Finished reading
  • 3 May, 2022: Reviewed