Sloane is the protagonist, a fifteen-year old girl and descendant of the Orisha. Those who live through the process become soldiers in the Lucis army.
They are forced to commit acts of unspeakable violence against their own friends and family, exchanging their humanity for their survival. During basic training, the children are brainwashed and tortured both physically and mentally. To do so, they conscript Nagean teenagers to do the dirty work. The Lucis are running a campaign of genocide to slaughter all descendants of the Orisha. Using Yoruba-Nigerian mythology as a foundation, Blood Scion takes place in the land of Nagea, a land which has been brutalised by the invading Lucis for generations. The story has a basis in the current and historical colonial contexts of genocide, slavery, and child soldiers. It is also the first YA book I’ve ever read which takes the reader through the ancient military practice/punishment of decimation. It is relentless, dire, and ultraviolent-by far the most violent YA novel I have ever read. It is an unforgiving and action-packed examination of what it means to be colonized, and what it means to be exterminated like vermin for the colour of your skin or for following the “wrong” religion. Blood Scion does not shy away from the awful realities of colonialism.
It is the first book of a forthcoming young adult series, and it ends on a cliff-hanger.
Content warning: extremely graphic depictions of violence against Black people, including sexual violence, genocide, murder, and enslavement of childrenīlood Scion is the powerful debut novel by Nigerian-Canadian author Deborah Falaye.
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