BOOK OF NIGHT by Holly Black

The fascinating concept of shadow magic was what drew me to this book. Sadly, this concept is not well-developed and is slowly established in a manner that had me confused for most of the story. The lack of tension and suspense generated by the writing style also failed to keep me engaged in the unfolding story. However, I did find the transitions between current and past events very smooth, and I thought these added some much-needed depth to the story.

BLOOD SCION by Deborah Falaye

Steeped in Yoruba-Nigerian mythology, the world Deborah Falaye creates is immersive, graphic and fascinating. I particularly enjoyed the extensive history and culture that unapologetically showcases the Yoruba language. While there is no avoiding the wealth of information needed to establish this complex world, I love that Deborah takes her time to gradually weave this information into the story. This allows the fast pace of the story to be maintained and presents the details in manageable pieces.