Children of Virtue and Vengeance Character Analysis

Zélie

The novel’s protagonist; a teenage Reaper. Zélie’s life has been difficult and violent: her mother, Mama, was killed in King Saran’s Raid when Zélie was little, and at the end of the… read analysis of Zélie

Amari

One of the novel’s protagonists. Amari is the princess of Orïsha and grew up in the palace. Here, her father, King Saran, brutally taught her to put duty before self, and the wellbeing of… read analysis of Amari

Inan

The current king of Orïsha; he rules alongside his mother, Queen Nehanda. At first, many believe that Inan is dead after his father, King Saran, stabbed him at the end of the last… read analysis of Inan

Roën

A foreign mercenary with sandy skin. Though he’s somewhat slippery and raises Zélie’s alarm bells a little bit, he’s also extremely attractive, kind, and gentle—and so they slowly fall in love over the course… read analysis of Roën

Mama Agba

An ancient Seer and the former elder of the clan; she was also Zélie’s childhood mentor. Zélie believes in the beginning of the novel that Mama Agba is dead, but she discovers that Mama… read analysis of Mama Agba

Queen Nehanda

The cruel and ruthless queen of Orïsha; Amari and Inan’s mother. She’s a beautiful woman who loves wearing gold and expensive things. She’s also acutely aware of her power and how to use it… read analysis of Queen Nehanda

Ojore

Inan’s adoptive cousin and an admiral in the monarchy’s army. Ojore is large, bright, and charismatic; he brings warmth and happiness into any room he enters. However, Ojore has a dark and difficult past… read analysis of Ojore

Tzain

Zélie’s older brother. He’s tall, handsome, and extremely devoted to Zélie. A kosidán, Tzain has little to gain by helping Zélie fight to preserve magic in Orïsha, but as a fundamentally loyal person… read analysis of Tzain

Mâzeli

A young Reaper. He’s tall, bright, and has large ears that stand out from his head. Mâzeli is enchanted by Zélie from their first meeting and is open about his desire to marry her… read analysis of Mâzeli

King Saran

The deceased former king of Orïsha; Inan and Amari’s father. King Saran was a ruthless and cruel king who forced his children to spar with each other, which resulted in the scar on Amari’s… read analysis of King Saran

Ramaya

The elder of the Connector clan. She has coiled white hair and a scar across her eye, and she’s a few years older than Zélie and Amari. Amari recognizes her as the maji who… read analysis of Ramaya

General Jokôye

The petite but formidable commander of the monarchy’s army. She’s also the oldest and most revered member of the royal council. Since magic returned, General Jokôye became a tîtán—and later, the Iyika discover that… read analysis of General Jokôye

Khani

The elder of the Healers. Her twin, Imani, is her Second. Though she doesn’t entirely approve of Amari now that Amari is a tîtán, she agrees to heal Amari and reiterates that… read analysis of Khani

Kâmarū

The Grounder elder of the Grounders and Welders; he’s a tall young man with small freeform locs and a silver ring in his nose. One of his legs is made of iron. Kâmarū is… read analysis of Kâmarū

Kenyon

The elder of the Burner clan and a former Agbön opponent of Tzain’s. The two young men are close friends. Kenyon is somewhat hotheaded, though he’s extremely loyal to the Iyika cause. Most of… read analysis of Kenyon

Jahi

A Winder maji and the Winder elder. Jahi is somewhat cruel and isn’t interested in gaining any new perspectives, especially from those he deems enemies, such as Amari when she first arrives. Later, Jahi, Imani… read analysis of Jahi

Na’imah

The elder of the Tamer clan. She’s a curvy young woman who always wears flowers in her hair and consistently has birds or butterflies swirling around her head. Though she’s kind, she has a policy… read analysis of Na’imah

Baba

Zélie’s father. In the previous novel in the series, Baba died during the ritual to bring magic back to Orïsha; Zélie and Tzain bury him at the beginning of the book. Zélie adored Baba… read analysis of Baba

Binta

A deceased divîner who worked as Amari’s handmaid for years. King Saran killed her after awakening her powers with a special scroll in the last novel, which became the impetus Amari needed to escape… read analysis of Binta

Bimpe

A young Reaper. She’s in her mid-teens and is extremely tall. Like Màri, Bimpe is very enthusiastic about being a Reaper, but her age means that she’s a little more mature and has… read analysis of Bimpe

Harun

Roën’s second-in-command mercenary. He’s hulking, menacing, and wants nothing more than to hurt, rape, or collect the bounty on Zélie’s head after she injured him in the last novel. He does, however, fear… read analysis of Harun

Imani

The Second of the Healer and Cancer clan; her elder is her twin, Khani. Because Imani is a Cancer, Amari ropes Imani into joining in on her plan to unleash illness on Ibadan in… read analysis of Imani

Màri

The youngest Reaper maji at 13 years old. Màri is still short and looks like a child, with an adorable gap between her front teeth. Màri is enthusiastic about being a Reaper and adores Zélie… read analysis of Màri

Minor Characters

Raifa

A young maji girl whom Inan’s guards catch stealing from the palace. Inan allows her to take food and asks her to spread the word among that Iyika that those who join his cause will receive double rations, but Raifa’s companions firebomb Lagos instead.

Lekan

A deceased sêntaro; he awakened Zélie’s connection to the gods in the last novel and died protecting Zélie, Tzain, and Amari from Inan. His memory motivates Zélie to work hard to protect the maji she has with her so that no one else needs to die like he did.

Mama

Zélie’s mother; a Reaper who was murdered in King Saran’s Raid more than a decade ago. Zélie idolized her mother and wants to be as much like her as possible. Zélie often thinks of Mama at times when she’s connecting with her Reaper history and faith.

Nâo

The Tider elder. She’s in a relationship with Khani and enjoys putting on a show as she summons her powers. Nâo is extremely supportive of Zélie, but when Amari insists that they conduct the attack on Ibadan, Nâo is quick to jump to Amari’s side.

Dakarai

The elder of the Seers. He’s plump and wears thin chains around his neck. Seeing for him is somewhat difficult, as he can see the past better than he can see the future—so seeing the future requires a lot of effort.

Tahir

The Iyika’s strongest Welder. Though he’s only 14, his skills are so exceptional that Kâmarū made him his Second. He’s responsible, along with Mama Agba, for the Iyika’s innovative and beautiful armor. Tahir is albino, with light brown eyes.

Safiyah

A Healer who stops to heal Zélie before resuming her journey to escape Nehanda’s forces.

Folake

The elder of the Lighter clan. She wears yellow kaftans and her bright eyes and thick locs remind Amari of Zu.

A charismatic young maji who died in Children of Blood and Bone. Her horrific death motivates the Iyika to fight for a better, safer future.

Salim

A boy who died in Children of Blood and Bone. His death motivates the Iyika to fight for the future.

Nailah

Zélie and Tzain’s lionaire.

Captain Kunle

The royal tax collector.