Three books. Three number-one debuts on the New York Times bestseller list. A fictional world rooted in Yoruba mythology that grew more complex with each instalment.
The Legacy of Orïsha trilogy by Tomi Adeyemi is one of the most successful young adult fantasy series of the 2020s — and it rewards reading in sequence.
Here is what each book covers, what links them, and what the trilogy achieves as a complete work.
Book One: Children of Blood and Bone (2018)
Published March 6, 2018. This is where everything begins.
The world is Orïsha, a West African-inspired fantasy kingdom where magic once existed in balance with everyday life.
Magic users — called maji — drew their power from the Yoruba Orishas and served their communities as healers, fighters, and spiritual guides.
Then King Saran ordered their extermination. The Raid, as survivors call it, killed the maji and left their children — divîners — alive but powerless and persecuted.
Zélie Adebola is a divîner. She lost her mother in the Raid. She has grown up under a taxation system designed to grind her people into permanent poverty.
When a chance encounter puts her in possession of the scroll that can restore magic to Orïsha, she takes it — alongside Princess Amari, who has defected from the royal court, and her brother Tzain. Prince Inan pursues them.
The novel ends on a cliffhanger that changes the entire power structure of Orïsha, raising stakes that the second book is built entirely around.
● Published: March 6, 2018
● Publisher: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
● Debut chart position: #1 New York Times
● Awards: Andre Norton Award (2018), Waterstones Book Prize (2019), Hugo Lodestar Award (2019)
Book Two: Children of Virtue and Vengeance (2019)
Published December 3, 2019. This is the darkest instalment.
Magic has returned to Orïsha. But restoration has not brought peace. It has brought new power imbalances, new grievances, and a war that threatens to destroy everything Zélie fought to restore.
The maji have risen but fractures emerge within their own movement. Amari's loyalties and identity are tested in ways the first book could not yet reach.
The sequel drew criticism from some readers for its pacing and for choices made by major characters, but critical reception remained strong. It debuted at number one on the New York Times list.
● Published: December 3, 2019
● Debut chart position: #1 New York Times
Book Three: Children of Anguish and Anarchy (2024)
Published June 2024. The conclusion.
Adeyemi held the third book for several years, reworking it under significant public pressure.
The wait fuelled fan anxiety and expectation in equal measure. When it arrived, it debuted at number one — a third consecutive debut chart-topper.
The final instalment brings the trilogy's central tensions to a conclusion. The question of whether Orisha can be remade justly — whether the wounds of the Raid can be addressed without simply creating a new class of oppressors — is the trilogy's deepest question, and Adeyemi does not shy from the difficulty of answering it.
● Published: June 2024
● Debut chart position: #1 New York Times
Reading Order
The correct reading order is publication order:
● 1. Children of Blood and Bone (2018)
● 2. Children of Virtue and Vengeance (2019)
● 3. Children of Anguish and Anarchy (2024)
There are no companion novels or prequels as of publication. The three novels form a single continuous arc and should not be read out of order.
The World of Orisha
One of the trilogy's consistent strengths is its world-building. Orisha draws from Yoruba cosmology — its Orishas are not invented deities but named divine spirits drawn from real West African spiritual tradition.
The maji are divided into groups aligned with specific Orishas: Zélie's clan draws power from Oya, goddess of storms. Others draw from Yemoja, Shango, Ogun.
For readers new to Yoruba tradition, the novels provide enough context to follow the theology without being patronising. For those who grew up with these traditions, the representation carries meaning that goes beyond entertainment.
— FAQ —
Is the Legacy of Orïsha series finished?
Yes. The trilogy concluded with Children of Anguish and Anarchy, published in June 2024.
Will there be more books in the Legacy of Orïsha world?
As of publication, Tomi Adeyemi has not announced additional books set in Orïsha beyond the three main trilogy volumes.
Do I need to read the books before watching the movie?
You do not need to — the film is based on the first novel. But reading Children of Blood and Bone before the January 2027 release will give you richer context for the adaptation.