Forged by Blood

A Novel (The Tainted Blood Duology, Book 1)

De: Ehigbor Okosun

Narrado por: Nneka Okoye

A brilliant new voice brings a brilliant new novel: debut author Ehigbor Okosun’s first book in an action-packed, poignant duology inspired by Nigerian mythology—full of magic and emotion and set in a highly atmospheric, complex world in which a young woman fights to survive a tyrannical society, having everything stripped away from her, and seeks vengeance for her mother’s murder and the spilled blood of her people.

In the midst of a tyrannical regime and political invasion, Dèmi just wants to survive: to avoid the suspicion of the nonmagical Ajes who occupy her ancestral homeland of Ife; to escape the King’s brutal genocide of her people—the darker skinned, magic wielding Oluso; and to live peacefully with her secretive mother while learning to control the terrifying blood magic that is her birthright.

But when Dèmi’s misplaced trust costs her mother’s life, survival gives way to vengeance. She bides her time until the devious Lord Ekwensi grants her the perfect opportunity—kidnap the Aje prince, Jonas, and bargain with his life to save the remaining Oluso. With the help of her reckless childhood friend Colin, Dèmi succeeds, but discovers that she and Jonas share more than deadly secrets; every moment tangles them further into a forbidden, unmistakable attraction, much to Colin’s—and Dèmi’s—distress.

The kidnapping is now a joint mission: to return to the King, help get Lord Ekwensi on the council, and bolster the voice of the Oluso in a system designed to silence them. But the way is dangerous, Dèmi’s magic is growing yet uncertain, and it’s not clear if she can trust the two men at her side.

A tale of rebellion and redemption, race and class, love and trust and betrayal, Forged by Blood is epic fantasy at its finest, from an enthusiastic, emerging voice.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Ehigbor Okosun (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Great listen

Here's my notes as I listened to the book:
Big adventure, many worlds but a thread through it.
Heart and emotion
Real sharing from author's spirit
Immersive audio reader
Beautiful sung song
She relies on those who love her
Finale is long awesome and satisfying
Makes me want to read book 2!
"can you see it"? It's a great book.

Interesting storyline

I really enjoyed the storyline and characters. It was sometimes difficult to follow, but overall the performance was lovely.

Stunning tale with very real colonization correlations

I love this book. I feel it was so well written and uses a fantasy landscape to portray how damaging and dangerous colonization is. The threat across multiple realms, the despair and anger at having your culture exterminated, and depth of the characters creates a beautiful, moving story. 5 stars, and definitely highly recommending to my fellow fantasy readers.

the characters stood out most. so much personality.

I liked the story line. I wanted to experience more from the story and explore more characters.

beautiful narrator

it takes not only a good story but a Great voice. I found myself in tears.. loved it!

Caught up to another world

The storyline, in depth personalities of every character & delivery of this epic saga transported me to another world! I look eagerly forward to the next installment

An exciting and exhilarating must read!

This book was exhilarating and intriguing from the outset! The narrative captivated the reader from beginning to end, leaving them yearning for more. It was exceptionally challenging to put this book down as my imagination ran wild with possibilities that the book met at every turn. The storyline, coupled with the reader’s collaboration and the vivid imagery, surpassed my expectations and fulfilled every desire I had for a book.

Had a lot of potential but some weird chouces actively detracted from my enjoyment of the story

Honestly I have mixed feelings on this book.
The writing itself is very beautiful and poetic. Initially I was super hooked, the world building was probably some of the most fascinating and inspired I've seen in a while. The narrator did a really good job imo
But then at times the book makes some really weird and cringy choices. we get a lot of annoying tropes that really end up detracting from the gravity of some of the subject matter in the book. A terrible love triangle, fated mates, "let's kiss as a distraction", knife to the throat etc etc. Like going through a laundey list of whats been popular in booktok books.

Will I buy the second book? Probably. But I definitely think this had so much potential that ended up going unused and squandered.


I have a lot more thoughts and issues, though I don't think I can say anything about that without spoilers, so be warned.
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So, the romance. This was by FAR the books weakest point and at times actively retracted from how good the story could have been.

First of all the attempt at a love triangle felt so pointless and contrived, because it was SO obvious from the very start who'd she end up with. which was very obviously Jonas who she is gushing over from the very first chapter. This was extra frustrating because Dèmi had genuinely fantastic chemistry with Colin, while she and Jonas pretty much just have insta love/attraction, that just doesn't feel earned. It was always about how he made her feel hot and bothered essentially.
Especially when you think about how before she kidnaps him, she legit only knew him for less than a SINGLE DAY.
Instead of a love triangle between Colin, Jonas and Dèmi, it would have been so much more impactful for the story (imo) if Dèmi and Jonas had developed a strong friendship/kinship, while Colin could have stayed a love interest.
This also would have solved the issue of this being a COLONIZER romance. I don't care if Jonas is Oluso or not, he is still a COLONIZER PRINCE. Which is kind of made worse by the fact that when the nobles don't want to accept that she won the crown later in the book she just kind of relinquishes it to Jonas 🙃


Dèmi I also have mixed feelings on, because at times she was such a wishy washy person about her convictions and opinions. One moment she's like "ew I don't like the gods deciding who my mate will be, I don't want a mate" but then the moment Jonas becomes her mate, she just unquestioningly accepts and welcomes it.
She also is really just leading both of the MLs on without really even attempting to make up her mind. It feels like Colin is just waiting in the wings until she can make up her mind about whether or not she actually hates Jonas, which she obviously doesn't.

Or how she literally witnesses a man about to have innocent people and CHILDREN slaughter each other to the death, like animals for the chance of 3 of them being able to live, stripped of their magic, FOR THE SAKE OF ENTERTAINMENT of nobles, just for when she has the chance to kill him (like she said she would) she goes all "oh no killing is wrong". Don't get me wrong, this CAN and HAS worked in media that I've liked. It worked in Avatar the last airbender for example. HOWEVER. this doesn't work after the reader witnesses a woman being dipped into molten iron in a sort of witch trial and then SET ON FIRE in front of her own child and family. It doesn't work when we've gotten very detailed information about how Oluso Women and children are raped and sold because of this man. How people are tortured and massacred for fun.
And when someone offers to kill the person for her SHE STOPS HIM because she wants him imprisoned instead, saying that his greatest punishment would be to see her people thrive. Girl. No. Nope. Nopedy Nope.
I feel like the only reason this is done is to set up conflict for the next book, which would have still worked even if she HAD killed him.
It just made Dèmi feel silly, naive and childish for her to not actually accept that there is literally way this conflict could be resolved without any bloodshed. Because Lord Ekwensi is kind of right and so is Colin. Liberty DOES come at a price.
like why are we protecting the perpetrator of the suffering of her people with more grace and mercy he was ever willing to extend to them? Like again, right before the showdown between him and Demi, he literally told the 300 innocent people he rounded up to massacre each other for entertainment, that he'd advise them to kill the children first out of "mercy". Yeah. no.

Great Book!!

Awesome read! Would highly recommend to anyone! The narrator beautifully painted the words off the page! Please read you will not be upset!

The Narrator was very good

I really enjoyed this book. The narration was very good. The pdf was so helpful to have, as there are lots of characters that are only around for short periods. Cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.