Children of Anguish and Anarchy
Children of Anguish and Anarchy is the 3rd and final instalment of The Legacy of Orïsha series by Tomi Adeyemi. It was published on the 25th of June 2024 by Henry Holt and Co.
The book concludes the tale that begun in the first book Children of Blood and Bone which was followed by Children of Virtue and Vengeance. Starting immediately after the events of the last book, the plot unfolds as a tale told from the view points of the 4 main characters Zelie, Inan, Amari and Tzain, as they battle a new deadly foe that threatens Orïsha.
The Good
Tomi Adeyemi has great world building skills and transports you into a vibrant and textured world with vivid descriptions and immersive landscapes from vine-covered sceneries to jagged silhouettes, it’s a feast for the imagination.
Having the story told from 4 view points, helps the story arcs of characters as they mature from being bumbling teens to hardened warriors forged by loss, pain and the weight of the choices that have led them down the path they are now. The other previous ones have had the view points of 3 main characters, this one adds a character who has a remarkable story arc, finding strength as if it were a magical axe that could be wielded against all obstacles.
At its core Children Of Anguish and Anarchy is a story about resilience, owning mistakes, unity and the moral dilemmas caused by power -those without versus those with.
“I’ve lost count of how many times over the past moon I’ve called out to my gods. How many times nothing but sorrow has answered in return. I cannot bear to hope anymore.”
The Bad
This book came out 4 years after the previous and it continues the story as if it’s the next page…. I had forgotten who all the characters were, the allies that had been broken or made and just how did things get to the way they were. After a couple of chapters I had to stop reading and go find a recap of the story-so-far to make it make sense.
After getting my recap I felt that some key characters from before had been left behind, along with the whole story that had begun in Orïsha…. For a book in a series called Legacy Of Orïsha the bulk of Children of Anguish and Anarchy is set far away from Orïsha introducing places and characters that just feel conjured out nowhere, with the no real substance, like a well detailed illusion but still an illusion.
While the main characters get a fair character development, its not entirely convincing and there a few leaps and gaps as somethings are just left “off screen” and boom love interests, advanced fighting skills are unlocked – a rousing speech later and long standing foes in the middle of months long civil war suddenly holding hands and walking arm in arm… just like that..
“If the two of us can bring down a kingdom, we have to be capable of bringing down a single ship.”
The book is 368 pages and the shortest in the series a lot is packed into the plot which speeds past, it feels chaotic and rushed ignoring plotlines that had been cultivated before…. Its giving season 8 Of Game Of Thrones.
The Ugly
Children Of Anguish and Anarchy is violently brutal. War is ugly and this book spends a lot of time vividly describing gruesome scenes of death and carnage… If it were adapted into a motion picture as is… it would carry an R18 restriction for violence.
“I teach you to be warriors in the garden, so that you may never be gardeners in a war.”
While it concludes the story and offers closure for book fans who have waited for this book, it feels like it would have served more as a standalone book or as a spin-off sequel to the Legacy Of Orïsha book series to fully explore the new lands unlocked.
Final Thoughts
Children of Anguish and Anarchy ends the tale that started in Children Of Blood and Bone. I absolutely loved the first book and none in the series can compare to it. While this book offers closure to the series, it leaves one feeling slightly cheated on the Orïsha that could have been.
Fun Fact: Tomi Adeyemi finsihed writing the script of the movie adaptation of the book which is being produced by Paramount.
Have you read this book series?
~B
Becoming The Muse 
Your thoughts.. if you will?