Tomi Adeyemi Bibliography: Every Book in Order

Book 1: Children of Blood and Bone (2018)

Full Title: Children of Blood and Bone

Series: Legacy of Orïsha, Book 1

Publisher: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: March 6, 2018

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

NYT Debut: #1

The novel that started everything. Set in the fantasy West African kingdom of Orisha, it follows Zélie Adebola as she attempts to restore magic to her people following a royal massacre of magic users a decade earlier. 

The novel is rooted in Yoruba mythology and was written across 45 drafts over 18 months.

Awards: 2018 Andre Norton Award, 2019 Waterstones Book Prize, 2019 Hugo Lodestar Award, five starred reviews. Named to TIME's Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time. Tonight Show Summer Read (2018).

Film adaptation: Paramount Pictures, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, releasing January 15, 2027.

Book 2: Children of Virtue and Vengeance (2019)

Full Title: Children of Virtue and Vengeance

Series: Legacy of Orïsha, Book 2

Publisher: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: December 3, 2019

NYT Debut: #1

The second instalment picks up directly after the events of the first novel. Magic has been restored to Orisha— but its return has not brought peace. 

Both maji and the ruling-class kosidáns now have access to power, and the resulting civil war tears apart the alliances formed in the first book. Zélie and Amari face their most complex challenges yet.

The novel was praised for deepening the political complexity established in Book 1, though some readers found certain character decisions frustrating.

Book 3: Children of Anguish and Anarchy (2024)

Full Title: Children of Anguish and Anarchy

Series: Legacy of Orisha, Book 3

Publisher: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: June 2024

NYT Debut: #1

The conclusion to the trilogy. The five-year gap between the second and third books was accompanied by significant fan anxiety, fuelled in part by the author's own public statements about the difficulty of completing the story to her satisfaction. 

When it finally arrived, it entered the bestseller list at number one on its first week — a remarkable achievement for the conclusion to a YA trilogy.

The novel brings the central conflict of Orisha to its resolution, addressing whether a society built on trauma can be genuinely rebuilt — and at what cost.

Coming Next

As of publication, Adeyemi has not announced a fourth Legacy of Orisha novel or any project outside the trilogy. Her energy has been focused on completing the trilogy's arc and dealing with the parallel reality of its film adaptation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Tomi Adeyemi written?

Three novels, all part of the Legacy of Orisha trilogy.

What order should I read Tomi Adeyemi's books?

Read them in publication order: Children of Blood and Bone (2018), Children of Virtue and Vengeance (2019), Children of Anguish and Anarchy (2024).

Are there any Tomi Adeyemi books outside the trilogy?

Not as of publication. All three published novels are part of the Legacy of Orisha series.