Children of Blood and Bone Chapter Thirty-Six Summary & Analysis

Zélie, Tzain, and Amari travel through the lush Gombe River Valley. They come upon a river and take a moment to splash in it, laughing and playing. Suddenly, the river is gone—for just a moment, Zélie is in Inan’s dreamscape. When she returns to reality, she tries to warn her friends that Inan is near.

When Zélie, Tzain, and Amari experience just a moment of lighthearted fun, it emphasizes how miserable and afraid they have been for so long. The prejudice and inequality in Orïshan society generates fear and prevents people from leading normal, happy lives.

Active Themes

Zélie’s warning comes too late: Inan is speeding towards them on a panthenaire. They prepare to escape, but Zélie suddenly realizes he has no guards. He’s alone, and she can fight him. She realizes that trying to suppress his powers has weakened him.

Zélie sees that placing his loyalty to his father above his new identity has taken a toll on Inan. He is tired from fighting himself. Although Tzain and Amari beg Zélie to focus on escape, she thinks once again that she may be able to right a larger wrong if she lingers behind to fight rather than running to safety with her family.

Active Themes

Amari pushes past Zélie and approaches Inan. She says that they won’t hurt each other, and that fear of magic is their father’s burden, not theirs. She says that they can make their own decisions for themselves, as well as for the future of Orïsha.

Active Themes

Quotes

Inan pushes Amari aside and lunges for Zélie. He says that killing her will kill the magic within him, too. They begin to spar.

Active Themes

Children of Blood and Bone: Chapter Thirty-Six Summary & Analysis