Inan Character Analysis in Children of Blood and Bone

Inan is the loyal, level-headed heir to the throne of Orïsha and is Amari’s brother. Trained by his harsh, merciless father, King Saran, to put his duty to the monarchy above his own interests, Inan is well-practiced in pushing down his own emotions and desires. Violence sickens him, but years of training have convinced him that it is a necessary evil. There is nothing that Inan hates or fears more than magic—except, perhaps, the thought of letting his cruel father down. He is horrified, then, when he realizes that he is also a divîner and begins falling for Zélie, who can also do magic. As a Connector, Inan has the ability to influence and create dreams. After witnessing Kwame harness his power over fire to brutally attack the guards, Inan is certain that magic is too dangerous and must be abolished.

Inan Quotes in Children of Blood and Bone

The Children of Blood and Bone quotes below are all either spoken by Inan or refer to Inan. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Yemi meets my eyes with a hatred that impales me like a sword. Though her mouth never opens, her voice rings in my skull. “Safe ended a long time ago.”

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Yemi

Page Number and Citation: 108

Explanation and Analysis:

I arch my eyebrow at Amari and think back to her mention of a training accident. I assumed the scar came from her brother’s sword, but was she holding a sword, too? Despite her escape from Lagos, I can’t imagine the princess locked in battle.

Related Characters: Zélie (speaker), Inan, Amari

Page Number and Citation: 129

Explanation and Analysis:

Growing up, Father led me to believe that those who clung to the myth of the gods were weak. They relied on beings they could never see, dedicating their lives to faceless entities.

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), King Saran

Page Number and Citation: 210

Explanation and Analysis:

“Those are Father’s words, Inan. His decisions. Not yours. We are our own people. We make our own choices.”

“But he’s right. Inan’s voice cracks. “If we don’t stop magic, Orïsha will fall.”

Related Characters: Amari (speaker), Inan (speaker), King Saran

Page Number and Citation: 275

Explanation and Analysis:

Zélie’s memories don’t hold the villains Father always warned of. Only families he tore apart. Duty before self. His creed rings through my ears. My father. Her king. The harbinger of all this suffering.

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), King Saran, Zélie

Page Number and Citation: 286

Explanation and Analysis:

This pawn was the only piece I managed to salvage. Shame ripples through me as I stare at the tarnished metal. The only gift he’s ever given me, and at its core is hate.

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Zélie, King Saran

Related Symbols: Majacite Pawn

Page Number and Citation: 324

Explanation and Analysis:

Zu’s tears make my own eyes prickle. Kwame’s face pinches with pain. I want to hate him for what he did to Tzain, but I can’t. I’m no better. If anything, I’m worse. If Inan hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve stabbed that masked divîner to death just to get answers.

Related Characters: Zélie (speaker), Inan, Tzain, Amari, Zu, Kwame

Page Number and Citation: 343

Explanation and Analysis:

A pit of guilt opens in my chest, tainted with the smell of burning flesh. The fires I watched from the royal palace resurface, the innocent lives burned before my young eyes. A memory I’ve pushed down like my magic, a day I longed to forget. But staring at Zélie now brings it all back: the pain. The tears. The death.

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Zélie, King Saran

Page Number and Citation: 364

Explanation and Analysis:

“I thought things could be different. I wanted them to be different. But after what we just saw, we have no choice. We can’t give people that kind of power.”

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), King Saran, Kwame, Zélie

Page Number and Citation: 412

Explanation and Analysis:

In that instant it hits me: Zulaikha’s death. Zélie’s screams. They don’t mean a thing to him. Because they’re maji, they’re nothing. He preaches duty before self, but his Orïsha doesn’t include them. It never has.

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Zélie, King Saran

Page Number and Citation: 432

Explanation and Analysis:

I stare at the blade; the inscription gleams in the moonlight. Its words simplify my mission, creating space for my pain. A soldier. A great king. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to be. Duty over self. Orïsha over Zélie.

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), King Saran, Zélie

Page Number and Citation: 476

Explanation and Analysis:

As I approach Inan, Baba’s shaking grows frantic. I can’t let him break my resolve. I don’t want them to win, Baba. But I can’t let you die.

Related Characters: Zélie (speaker), Inan, Baba, King Saran

Page Number and Citation: 499

Explanation and Analysis:

I cannot end it like this. If I do that, I’m no better than him. Orïsha will not survive by employing his tactics. Father must be taken down, but it is too much to drive my sword through his heart—Father pulls back his blade. Momentum carries me forward. Before I can pivot, Father swings his sword around and the blade rips across my back.

Related Characters: Amari (speaker), King Saran, Inan

Page Number and Citation: 513

Explanation and Analysis:

Inan Character Timeline in Children of Blood and Bone

The timeline below shows where the character Inan appears in Children of Blood and Bone. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Amari’s mother compliments Samara, a young, rich girl who is betrothed to Amari’s brother, Inan. Amari knows that what her mother values is Samara’s lighter skin, which is seen as... (full context)

...on. As Nailah leaps back over the fence, Zélie locks eyes with a young captain (Inan) below and feels as if an electric shock has gone through her body. (full context)

Inan heads inside to face his father, King Saran, preparing for his wrath. He is intercepted... (full context)

Inan suddenly remembers Zélie’s face, and feels a sensation like electricity under his skin. The King... (full context)

Inan braces himself for punishment. Instead, King Saran tells him that he knows only Inan can... (full context)

Having made it a safe distance from the capital city, Inan stops Nailah and begins to reprimand Zélie for putting them in danger. Zélie is angry,... (full context)

Inan is shocked that Amari is the fugitive who took the scroll. King Saran says that... (full context)

Inan is shocked: shocked to find that the gods are real, and shocked to discover that... (full context)

Saran says that Inan must go with Admiral Kaea, his second in command, to find Amari. Because Zélie passed... (full context)

Inan stands shaken on the edge of the ruined village of Illorin. His plan has gone... (full context)

A strange cloud of turquoise air floats towards Inan, bringing with it a vision of Zélie sinking into cold water. Admiral Kaea can’t see... (full context)

Inan tells Kaea that the fugitives are nearby with the scroll. Desperate to hide the fact... (full context)

Kaea and Inan threaten the villagers until a girl comes forward. She says she’ll tell them everything they... (full context)

...where she fell asleep, she’s alone in a field of reeds. She turns to see Inan. Confusingly, he demands that she release him from the dreamscape. He believes that she is... (full context)

Zélie notices a shock of white in Inan’s dark hair. She realizes he must be a Connector, a maji with power over mind,... (full context)

Zélie wakes up beside Nailah, where she fell asleep. Now that she knows the Inan’s secret, she fears he will hunt her down. (full context)

Zélie asks Amari about her scar. Amari reveals that Saran forced her and Inan to fight with real swords to make them stronger, because his first family was “coddled,”... (full context)

Inan and Kaea ride on in pursuit of Amari and the scroll. Inan battles the magic... (full context)

Inan and Kaea arrive at Sokto. Inan feels exhausted and tense from concealing his new identity.... (full context)

Inan and Kaea search the tent of a merchant, and find Amari’s headdress. Inan’s heart is... (full context)

Inan threatens the merchant until he reveals that he saw the two girls headed for Chândomblé.... (full context)

As they approach Chândomblé, Inan’s magic grows stronger, allowing him to hear the disgruntled thoughts of the guards buzzing like... (full context)

Inan has a vivid memory of Saran telling him to fight Amari. Amari refused to raise... (full context)

...around. Zélie, Tzain, Amari and Nailah creep across a rickety bridge as Lekan holds off Inan and the guards with powerful magic. As Zélie is crossing the bridge, it snaps, forcing... (full context)

Having witnessed magic for the first time, Inan stands shocked. He feels that he finally understands Saran. He knows Orïsha cannot survive if... (full context)

Admiral Kaea approaches, and Inan convinces her that they should rebuild the bridge and pursue Zélie and Amari. Privately, Inan... (full context)

Inan wanders through Chândomblé, experiencing visions of Lekan’s life. He enters the room decorated with murals... (full context)

When he comes to the portrait of Orí, the god of mind, spirit, and dreams, Inan realizes that this is his patron god. He shouts at the portrait in anger, vowing... (full context)

Inan finds himself back in the dreamscape of reeds. He feels overwhelmed by a sense of... (full context)

By imagining Zélie, Inan is able to summon her to the dream space. Zélie taunts him, asking if he’s... (full context)

Inan and Zélie realize that as Zélie steps away from him, new reeds sprout under her... (full context)

Zélie says that if water cost Inan a gold piece per cup, he’d want to swim, too. From that accidental hint, Inan... (full context)

Inan comes out of the dream to find Kaea staring at him, sword outstretched. She just... (full context)

...the new bridge is complete and that she will take a team to track Amari. Inan, she says, is a liability. She must force him to return to the King, because... (full context)

Panicked, Inan tackles her. Kaea screams for help, saying that Inan is a maji. Without meaning to,... (full context)

Inan travels alone through the desert, missing Kaea. He sends a message home that maji killed... (full context)

Inan arrives in Ibeji, where the townspeople are celebrating. He senses that Zélie is close. He... (full context)

...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... (full context)

Zélie’s warning comes too late: Inan is speeding towards them on a panthenaire. They prepare to escape, but Zélie suddenly realizes... (full context)

Amari pushes past Zélie and approaches Inan. She says that they won’t hurt each other, and that fear of magic is their... (full context)

Inan pushes Amari aside and lunges for Zélie. He says that killing her will kill the... (full context)

Amari and Tzain watch helplessly while their siblings fight. As they follow Inan and Zélie through the jungle, they are suddenly caught up in nets. Amari tries to... (full context)

Zélie hears Amari’s screams, and she and Inan freeze midway through their fight. Realizing Tzain has been taken as well, Zélie takes off... (full context)

Inan feels his goal of killing Zélie tantalizingly close. He presses down on her arms and... (full context)

King Saran’s instructions ring in Inan’s ears. But with this new perspective, he can’t bear to bring more death in his... (full context)

Zélie is awash with guilt. If she hadn’t tried to fight Inan, none of this would have happened. Tzain is always paying for her mistakes. She is... (full context)

Inan grabs Zélie’s hand and feels magic thrumming in his skin. Now that he’s seen her... (full context)

Inan tells Zélie they have to work together to save their siblings. Zélie does not want... (full context)

Zélie and Inan trudge through the forest, following a series of hidden symbols at the direction of the... (full context)

...the valley, arranged in the symbol of the outlaws. Zélie wants to attack immediately, but Inan warns against it. There are masked soldiers stationed all around the camp. (full context)

They argue about how to proceed. Inan wants to call guards from a nearby town, but Zélie scoffs, saying the guards would... (full context)

Zélie tries desperately to summon enough animations to take down the guards, but Inan easily takes them down, demonstrating that they won’t be enough. She knows that using blood... (full context)

Zélie says that Inan should use his own magic to attack, but he refuses, panicked. He says that he... (full context)

...maji’s oppression. Without power, the monarch is free to see and treat them like maggots. Inan says more magic, meaning more power, will only intensify the conflict. Zélie hits him with... (full context)

Inan feels Zélie’s pain sharply, causing him to question his father again. Zélie says that the... (full context)

Inan calls after Zélie, looking for her. He feels hopeless—he realizes now that instead of being... (full context)

...returns and says, reluctantly, that she thinks they should work together. She reveals the sunstone. Inan says that he hates the way his magic makes him feel—he feels at war with... (full context)

Inan remembers how he got the pawn. He and his father, King Saran, used to play... (full context)

Zélie says that Inan is holding out loyalty to someone who will always hate him for who he is.... (full context)

As Zélie and Inan prepare to attack the encampment, Zélie remembers the self-hatred she experienced after the Raid. She... (full context)

Inan walks towards the fortress and holds out the sunstone, calling to the guards that he... (full context)

Inan and Zélie fight amidst the crowd of animations. Kwame runs out of the encampment’s gate,... (full context)

...him, he stalks towards Zélie and prepares to strike her with a jet of fire. Inan rushes forward to counter with magic of his own, but at that moment, a girl... (full context)

...is surprised to see a thriving, hidden community of divîners. She is also confused that Inan tried to save her. She feels like she’s seeing him in a new light. Zu... (full context)

...Zu begins to explain that she and a few others barely escaped after Saran attacked. Inan and Amari exchange guilty looks. (full context)

...but she knows that she’s no better. She would have killed the masked boy if Inan hadn’t stopped her. She knows they were just fighting to keep their people safe. Zu... (full context)

Tzain confronts Inan, saying that he will not trust him. When Zélie tries to convince him, Tzain says... (full context)

Outside the tent, Inan gives Amari her headdress, which he’s been carrying with him since Sokoto. They talk about... (full context)

...curious. Flirting, he tells her she’s beautiful. His name is Roën. As Roën slips away, Inan stops him and tells him to return Zélie’s compacted staff, which he pickpocketed when they... (full context)

Zélie offers to help Inan learn how to control his magic, which he is still suppressing. Sitting by the river,... (full context)

Zélie and Inan swim in the cool lake in the dreamscape. Zélie talks about living in the lakeside... (full context)

Zélie feels conflicted. She knows she shouldn’t trust Inan, but she’s also seen his kindness over the last couple of days. She realizes that... (full context)

Zélie begins to believe Inan really does want to change Orïsha for the better, despite herself. Inan says he can’t... (full context)

Suddenly, Zélie and Inan are pulled violently out of the dream. Tzain throws Inan to the ground. Inan leaves... (full context)

Amari also gives Zélie a word of caution. She says she can see that Inan is infatuated with her, but she warns that his loyalty to their father is stronger.... (full context)

Inan watches Zélie dance with a child, thinking that she looks beautiful. He grabs her hand... (full context)

...by the monarchy and the potential for violence that she now contains. Thinking of Kaea, Inan says that he, too, lost control of his magic and hurt someone he cared about.... (full context)

Inan tells Zélie she should move to Lagos with him, and she bristles. He says that... (full context)

Inan thinks they can convince King Saran to give up his fear and violence toward the... (full context)

Tzain abruptly stops dancing with Amari, as he sees Inan kissing Zélie. When he sees Zélie kissing Inan back, Tzain storms away, gathering his belongings.... (full context)

Amari asks why Tzain can’t forgive Zélie this time, and he explodes. Inan destroyed their home, killing innocent people, children. Now, Zélie is forgetting that and putting them... (full context)

As Zélie and Inan kiss passionately, a horn blares. Soon, a horde of royal guards surrounds the camp, yelling... (full context)

Tzain and Amari search in vain for Zélie on the scorched, corpse-strewn field. Inan isn’t there either, and Amari is forced to consider he may have betrayed them. Tzain... (full context)

...those who died in vain, including Lekan and Zu. She thinks with horror about whether Inan could have betrayed her, after all they’ve been through. But then, Inan walks in, flanked... (full context)

Inan orders the guards to leave. When they do, his face immediately changes. He says the... (full context)

For Inan, the feeling of grief is overpowered by fear. He says that Kwame took out three... (full context)

Saran asks if she killed Kaea or knows who did. Zélie thinks about revealing Inan, but his terror stops her. Saran tells Inan that when Saran was young, he believed... (full context)

Saran calls in a physician who injects a serum into Zélie’s neck while Inan watches, horrified. Saran says it is to keep her from passing out while they torture... (full context)

Saran scoffs at Inan, who feels the sting of his father’s disappointment. The guards pull Inan out of the... (full context)

Desperate, Inan snaps into the dreamscape. He needs to bring Zélie there, to save her from the... (full context)

...that moment that she must circumvent the line of succession to gain the throne over Inan. (full context)

Inan feels Zélie’s pain like a lingering presence. He enters King Saran’s office, and sees that... (full context)

Saran says that Inan disgraced him, expecting Inan to cower. But for once, Inan talks back, saying that the... (full context)

Saran gives Inan an unexpected and unwanted hug, and Inan remembers when he hurt Amari as a child.... (full context)

Late at night, Inan sneaks into Zélie’s cell. Zélie is bloodied and almost lifeless, in chains. Inan wonders how... (full context)

Inan watches as soldiers fall to magic around him, terrified. He thinks it is a slaughter... (full context)

Inan is now determined to stop magic, but he also must save Zélie. He realizes that... (full context)

Inan is stopped short by the sight of Amari, wielding a sword with confidence. The Amari... (full context)

As they leave, Inan says he must stay to try to help them from inside the monarchy, since King... (full context)

Zélie finds herself once again in the dreamscape. Inan approaches gingerly, and all Zélie can think is that she can’t reveal how much Saran... (full context)

Zélie awakens, awash with confused memories of Inan, Saran, and the scars on her back. The girl who healed Zélie enters, smiling brightly.... (full context)

Inan can’t stop thinking about Zélie, and he can’t shake the feeling that he’s lost her... (full context)

Saran surprises Inan by saying that he, too, wavered once. As a young prince, he watched as the... (full context)

Hearing his words, Inan pictures the death and destruction he witnessed at the Gombe fortress. Saran says that Inan,... (full context)

...all the pain her family has caused. She apologizes that it took both her and Inan so long to realize just how wrong Saran was, and to begin to right his... (full context)

...At that moment, Saran and his men jump out from hiding places around the room. Inan is there, too, holding a majacite blade. Baba is with them. (full context)

Inan steps forward to trade Baba for the artifacts. Zélie drops the sunstone and scroll, and... (full context)

Zélie has turned her deadly focus on Inan. He aches with her heartbreak, but he focuses on his goal of ending magic. He... (full context)

Inan runs towards Zélie, yelling that this is all her fault. He says it’s her fault... (full context)

A mercenary approaches King Saran from behind. Without thinking, Inan kills the mercenary with his magic. His father is horrified, especially when he sees the... (full context)

Amari sees Inan crumble, pierced by Saran’s sword. Amari runs towards her father. The king says that the... (full context)

Amari thinks about all the fighting Saran forced her and Inan to do as children, pitting them against each other so that they would be stronger... (full context)

Inan Character Analysis

Inan Quotes in Children of Blood and Bone

Chapter Eleven Quotes

Chapter Thirteen Quotes

Chapter Twenty-Four Quotes

Chapter Thirty-Six Quotes

Chapter Thirty-Nine Quotes

Chapter Forty-Seven Quotes

Chapter Fifty-One Quotes

Chapter Fifty-Four Quotes

Chapter Sixty-Three Quotes

Chapter Sixty-Six Quotes

Chapter Seventy-Four Quotes

Chapter Seventy-Nine Quotes

Chapter Eighty-Three Quotes

Inan Character Timeline in Children of Blood and Bone