Children of Blood and Bone

Turpin’s bold reading of Adeyemi’s Afro-futurist fantasy solidifies her reputation as one of the best voice actors working today. Since he took power 11 years earlier, King Saran has brutally suppressed the use of magic in the fictional African kingdom of Orïsha. When his 17-year-old daughter, Amari, is motivated by her father’s violence to flee the palace and head for the unknown, she teams up with the embattled teen diviner Zélie to restore magic—and justice—to Zélie’s people. Turpin is a star at voicing the novel’s characters, but the contralto depth she employs for Zélie stands out—particularly during religious rituals, in which Zélie cries out to the gods for help in her quest. Turpin’s sonorous incantation of prayers, as well as her brisk pacing during exciting moments of danger, will have listeners on the edge of their seats. Her depiction of the king’s rage is also downright terrifying, as Turpin is unafraid to roar. Her hypnotic performance is one to be reckoned with. Ages 14–up. A Holt hardcover. (Mar.)