From: From Love, The Letters
To: Reader
Re: Children of Anguish and Anarchy- Tomi Adeyemi
Delivery: Priority Mail
Dear Readers,
I finally finished Children of Anguish and Anarchy, and I have to admit, I walked away feeling two things at the same time: satisfied and slightly disappointed.
The ending wasn’t what I expected it to be. In fact, it wasn’t the ending I had hoped for. But after sitting with it for a day or two, I can honestly say that it felt earned.
From the very first book, Zelie has been on a relentless journey. Every decision, every sacrifice, every loss has led her to this moment. Her ultimate goal for Orïsha was accomplished, but it came at a cost. And maybe that’s what left me feeling conflicted. I wanted the victory without the heartbreak. Tomi Adeyemi reminded me that sometimes those two things don’t come separately.
Despite my hectic schedule lately, which has left me with little time to sit down and read, this book kept pulling me back in. Every chapter was packed with action, emotion, and that constant anticipation of wondering what would happen next. Even when I was tired, I found myself wanting just one more chapter.
One of my favorite parts of this series has always been watching Zelie’s growth. Her determination to protect Orïsha never wavered, even when her confidence did. What stood out most to me in this final installment was the respect she earned from those around her. The people who once questioned her eventually saw her for what she truly was: a leader. Even when she doubted herself, others believed in her, and that was beautiful to watch unfold.
Can we talk about Tzain for a minute?
Because Tzain is hands down my favorite character.
The character development Tomi Adeyemi gave him throughout this series was phenomenal. We watched him grow from a protective older brother into a man carrying his own burdens, making his own choices, and finding his own strength. His growth felt natural, earned, and incredibly satisfying. Out of everyone in this story, Tzain’s journey impressed me the most.
Now, I also need answers.
Where is Roen?
Seriously. Where is he?
Maybe I’m alone in this, but I needed more Roen. He was mentioned a few times, but not enough for me. I liked him. I was invested. I wanted to know what happened to him. Did his mercenary crew do him dirty? Is he off somewhere living his best life? I have questions, and unfortunately, I don’t have answers.
As for Amari, Inan, and the Queen…
I’m going to keep my mouth shut because I refuse to spoil anything. Just know that there were several moments where I had to pause and stare into space for a second.
And Amari?
Baby.
That’s all I’m going to say.
Y’all are going to have to read it for yourselves and discover why I firmly believe my girl decided to FAFO.
What I loved most about this story was how deeply it explored power, oppression, grief, leadership, faith, legacy, and the lengths people will go to protect the things they love. Every group stood firmly in their beliefs, even when those beliefs put them at odds with one another. Yet when everything was on the line, they realized something important: the fight would continue, but survival required unity.
That message resonated with me.
You don’t have to agree with everyone to recognize that you’re stronger together than apart.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Was the ending exactly what I wanted? No.
Was it the ending the story earned? Absolutely.
And perhaps the biggest surprise of all is that somewhere along the way, this series made me a fantasy fan. If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be emotionally invested in magic, kingdoms, prophecies, and fictional people making questionable decisions, I probably would have laughed.
Yet here we are.
And honestly?
I’m not mad about it.
From Love,
The Letters
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