Description

The spellbinding conclusion to the international bestseller Forged by Blood delves deeper into Nigerian mythology as the Oluso uprising comes to a head…and the young woman caught in between comes to her breaking point.

The King is dead. The Oluso rebel. War is here.

With the end of Alistair Sorenson’s tyrannical reign, Demi has accepted Jonas’s proposal to rule as his Queen with hopes to finally free her people, the magical Oluso. Yet social prejudice, corrupt council members, and the continued distrust of the nonmagical Ajes throughout the kingdom prove seemingly implacable obstacles. To make matters worse, Demi struggles to control her newly awakened iron blood magic. As Ekwensi’s rebel army-led in part by Colin, her best friend and one-time lover-become more triumphant in their mission, war seems inevitable.

Before long, a new evil appears that hunts Oluso and Aje alike, promising desolation on a larger level than ever before. When the failed assassination puts the life of Demi’s loved one in danger as well as the future of the Oluso into question, Demi embarks on a treacherous journey to find an ancestral spirit whose aid could tip the scales in her favor. Whether her new powers will destroy the kingdom or heal the blood-soaked rifts that have pulled it apart, she does not know.

Beyond the battles of swords and magic, there is the battle for Demi’s heart. Jonas-the former enemy prince-has divided loyalties despite his love for Demi. And Ekwensi and Colin have every intention of winning her to their side, while a past pledge hangs over Demi’s head. Demi is caught between the kingdom, her people, and the spirits, and must decide what sacrifices she is willing to make for peace, and whether she can outrun the greatest danger that constantly puts her in peril-her own heart. Only one thing is for certain…

There will be blood.

Publisher Review

Reviews for Forged by Blood

‘Okosun’s elaborate worldbuilding is lavishly detailed and meticulously constructed, but it never feels overwhelming. The result is an impressive and refreshingly original page-turner that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the second volume.

Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Forged by Blood

‘Ehigbor Okosun has called on the winds of worldbuilding and the gales of great writing to create a tempest of a novel. Forged by Blood is an enchanting tale of sacrifice and power. Found family, mated love and unexpected twists only add to its depth of heart.’

Saara El-Arifi, bestselling author of The Final Strife

‘Forged by Blood is a searing and thrilling fantasy, steeped in mythology and magic. Ehigbor Okosun weaves a gripping tale of power, sacrifice, and love-entwined in a captivating and intricate world.’

Sue Lynn Tan, bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess

‘Forged by Blood is an intense, spellbinding debut from a vivid new storyteller. Ehigbor Okosun’s lyrical prose effortlessly loops readers into a breathtaking adventure that keeps you on your toes and is set in a land as suffused with wonder as it is with heartbreak. Featuring a striking cast of characters with unbeatable chemistry, an inventive magic system, and rich, folkloric worldbuilding, Forged by Blood confronts history and captures the imagination with a gripping tale of tangled love, political intrigue, ancestral pain, and things worth fighting for.’

Thea Guanzon, author of The Hurricane Wars