Exiled by iron

This impressive sequel to Okosun's Forged by Blood expands the world and raises the stakes, bringing the epic adventure, inspired by Nigerian mythology, to a powerful conclusion. For the past year, two factions have sought to control the kingdom of Ifé: revolutionaries led by Lord Ekwensi, who seeks to free the magical but oppressed Oluso people by any means necessary, and rulers Jonas and Dèmi, who seek to fix societal strife through more peaceful methods. When an assassination attempt ends with Dèmi stripped of her magic and a loved one near death, she travels the kingdom, communing with formidable spirits and Ekwensi himself in hopes of making things right. A breakneck pace and captivating action sequences make the pages fly, while the emotionally fraught choices Dèmi faces in her quest will keep readers invested. Though the details of this richly developed universe grow a bit unwieldy at times, the worldbuilding remains imaginative and original throughout. Fans of lushly drawn epic fantasy should check this out. Agent: Jess Regel, Helm Literary. (Oct.)

This conclusion to Okosun's "Tainted Blood Duology" dives deeper into the complex world that was introduced in Forged by Blood. Dèmi has agreed to marry her mate Jonas and rule as queen. In doing so, she has to learn the rules of the council and the social nuances to try and obtain freedom for the Oluso people. At their marriage ceremony, however, an attack forces the council to reckon with the danger of magic when Dèmi kills one of the attackers and cuts her bond to the magical realm, which causes the Oluso to become mentally unstable. In the attack, Nana is poisoned and close to death, and Dèmi's magic cannot heal her. The council decides to move all the Oluso to "safety" while keeping her ensconced in the palace, but Dèmi realizes fleeing Jonas and the council to find an old god is her only choice to save the Oluso. VERDICT A great edge-of-the-seat read for fans of complex and highly emotional fantasy romances. Recommend to readers of Naomi Novik and Tomi Adeyemi.--Leigh Verburg