The Tainted Blood Duology (1) — FORGED BY BLOOD Paperback

"Forged by Blood" by Ehigbor Okosun is the thrilling first installment in "The Tainted Blood Duology," an epic fantasy steeped in rich Nigerian mythology. The story follows Dèmi, a young woman from the magic-wielding Oluso people, who must survive under the tyrannical rule of the non-magical Ajes, who have occupied her homeland and are enacting a brutal genocide against her kind. When Dèmi's trust leads to her mother's death, her quest for survival transforms into a fierce desire for vengeance. She seizes an opportunity to kidnap the Aje prince, Jonas, hoping to bargain for her people's freedom, but finds herself entangled in a forbidden attraction and a dangerous mission where alliances are uncertain and her own burgeoning blood magic is a powerful, yet unpredictable, force. This action-packed tale explores themes of rebellion, redemption, race, class, and the complexities of love and betrayal within a meticulously crafted, emotionally resonant world.