Children of Virtue and Vengeance

Children of Virtue and Vengeance

by

Tomi Adeyemi

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Children of Virtue and Vengeance makes teaching easy.

Queen Nehanda Character Analysis

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. While Amari thinks most often of Nehanda’s political and social power, it soon becomes clear that Nehanda has magical powers too: she’s not just a Grounder tîtán, she’s a cênter, and so can draw power from other Grounder tîtáns. She uses this power to act on her hatred of maji and of anyone who opposes her, including Amari. Though Inan understands that Nehanda is cruel and doesn’t share his values, he loves her anyway and continues to draw on her for moral, emotional, and political support throughout the novel. She encourages Inan to buy into the idea that the maji are a scourge on Orïsha and need to be eradicated, no matter the cost. Nehanda kills her own tîtáns to achieve this goal, as well as destroys the temple of Chândomblé despite its historical and spiritual significance. Inan only begins to question his loyalty to his mother when she reveals that she incited the Burners’ attack on nobles in the years before the Raid. In this sense, she’s responsible for the Raid itself, as well as for orphaning Ojore, whose parents died in the fires. The final straw for Inan comes when Nehanda kills Ojore and insists that Ojore wasn’t grateful enough for her help. Nehanda is distraught and enraged when Inan announces that he’s going to dissolve the monarchy, but she can’t do anything in the face of the Iyika’s attack on the same night as the announcement.

Queen Nehanda Quotes in Children of Virtue and Vengeance

The Children of Virtue and Vengeance quotes below are all either spoken by Queen Nehanda or refer to Queen Nehanda. 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:
Power and Systems of Oppression Theme Icon
).
Chapter Twenty-Three Quotes

“For so long we’ve been defenseless against the havoc the maji wreak, but now the gods have blessed us as well. We’re powerful enough to annihilate them, Inan. The only way to achieve lasting peace is to cleanse the maggots from this land.”

Her words make my fingers grow cold. To cleanse Orïsha of maji would be finishing Father’s work. It would be another Raid.

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Queen Nehanda (speaker), King Saran
Page Number: 111
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Twenty-Four Quotes

“Yoruba is sacred to our people. It’s not just something you can learn.”

“This is bigger than that,” I wave my hand. “For skies’ sake, we’re at war—”

“Our magic isn’t about the war!” Zélie shouts. “Our incantations are the history of our people. They’re the very thing your father tried to destroy!” Her chest heaves up and down and she shakes her head. “Titans have already stolen our magic. You can’t steal this, too.”

Related Characters: Zélie (speaker), Amari (speaker), Queen Nehanda, King Saran
Related Symbols: Yoruba
Page Number: 118
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Twenty-Seven Quotes

“These rebels burned your city to the ground. They wanted you and your people to starve. They are the poison of Orïsha! If you do not cut off the hand now, eventually you will be forced to sever the entire limb.”

I clamp my mouth shut, digesting her words. I know as long as these rebels terrorize us, every maji in Orïsha will be seen as a criminal. The Iyika have to go.

But despite knowing this, my insides twist as Ojore grabs the Burner by her hair.

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Queen Nehanda (speaker), Ojore, Raifa
Page Number: 138
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Thirty-Eight Quotes

“Everyone, fill the bags with as many scrolls as you can. Kenyon, burn the rest.”

“Amari, you can’t!” I whip around, blinking as the ringing sensation in my ears grows louder. [...]

“These are sacred incantations,” I explain. “Histories of our people that will be lost to time!”

Related Characters: Zélie (speaker), Amari (speaker), Inan, Queen Nehanda, Kenyon
Related Symbols: Yoruba
Page Number: 188
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Forty-Two Quotes

“No!” I jerk up, wincing at the pain that shoots up my side. “This temple may be the oldest Orïsha has. It holds the stories of our past!”

Though Chândomblé wasn’t created for me, I feel its pulse like the beating heart of this land. I remember wandering its hallowed grounds in search of Zélie’s path moons ago. Kneeling before the portrait of Ori. This temple was the one place that could quiet the noise in my head.

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Zélie, Amari, Queen Nehanda
Page Number: 203
Explanation and Analysis:

My chest falls as Mother marches forward with her tîtáns that still stand. As she walks past the carnage in her path, I know she’s right. Our enemies are gaining ground. We need to eliminate every asset they have. But how long can both sides keep going like this before we destroy Orïsha?

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Queen Nehanda
Page Number: 204
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Fifty-Nine Quotes

All these years I thought Father was a monster, but what if ruling this kingdom forced him to act that way?

Related Characters: Amari (speaker), Inan, Queen Nehanda, King Saran
Page Number: 282
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Sixty-Four Quotes

“This war didn’t start when magic came back, Inan. You are only seeing the end of a battle countless have given their lives for. By winter’s dawn, we will have wiped the scourge of maji from this land. Even your wretched father couldn’t achieve that.”

“Mother, what are you talking about?” I grab her arm. “We’re fighting the Iyika. Not the maji.”

“We’re fighting them all. We have been for decades. This war started long before the Raid. It began before you were even born.”

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Queen Nehanda (speaker), Amari, Mama Agba, King Saran
Page Number: 306-07
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Seventy-One Quotes

I look back, not recognizing the monster that wears Ojore’s face. We did this to him. We poisoned him with all our hate.

Now we shall pay the price. I can’t even pretend he isn’t justified. He deserves retribution for all the blood on our hands. All of Orïsha does—

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Queen Nehanda, Ojore
Page Number: 332-33
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Seventy-Six Quotes

Even from afar, I see the blackened corpses that lie in the streets. Corpses that lie there because of me.

I picture Inan and Mother among the dead.

I picture my best friend.

Strike, Amari.

Father’s voice fills my mind as the tears fill my eyes. Though I breathe, my chest stays tight. It feels like I’m being buried alive.

“Orïsha waits for no one,” I whisper the words. “Orïsha waits for no one.”

I will the words to be true as I ride through Ibadan’s gate.

Related Characters: Amari (speaker), Zélie, Inan, Queen Nehanda, King Saran, Jahi, Imani
Page Number: 350
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Seventy-Eight Quotes

“He attacked the king. That foolish boy killed himself.”

It’s the last sword in my gut. I’m surprised when I don’t feel blood. Ojore saved me more times than I could count. He needed me today.

But instead of backing him, I let him down.

I let Mother sacrifice him for the throne.

“He was right,” I whisper. “We’re poison.”

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Queen Nehanda (speaker), Ojore
Page Number: 355
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Eighty-Five Quotes

“I see the truth now. We pretend that magic is the root of our pain when everything rotten in this kingdom begins and ends with us. There’s no helping it.” I clench my fist. “Amari proved that in Ibadan. This throne corrupts even the purest of hearts. As long as it exists, people will continue to tear this kingdom apart.”

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Amari, Queen Nehanda
Page Number: 384
Explanation and Analysis:
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Children of Virtue and Vengeance PDF

Queen Nehanda Quotes in Children of Virtue and Vengeance

The Children of Virtue and Vengeance quotes below are all either spoken by Queen Nehanda or refer to Queen Nehanda. 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:
Power and Systems of Oppression Theme Icon
).
Chapter Twenty-Three Quotes

“For so long we’ve been defenseless against the havoc the maji wreak, but now the gods have blessed us as well. We’re powerful enough to annihilate them, Inan. The only way to achieve lasting peace is to cleanse the maggots from this land.”

Her words make my fingers grow cold. To cleanse Orïsha of maji would be finishing Father’s work. It would be another Raid.

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Queen Nehanda (speaker), King Saran
Page Number: 111
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Twenty-Four Quotes

“Yoruba is sacred to our people. It’s not just something you can learn.”

“This is bigger than that,” I wave my hand. “For skies’ sake, we’re at war—”

“Our magic isn’t about the war!” Zélie shouts. “Our incantations are the history of our people. They’re the very thing your father tried to destroy!” Her chest heaves up and down and she shakes her head. “Titans have already stolen our magic. You can’t steal this, too.”

Related Characters: Zélie (speaker), Amari (speaker), Queen Nehanda, King Saran
Related Symbols: Yoruba
Page Number: 118
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Twenty-Seven Quotes

“These rebels burned your city to the ground. They wanted you and your people to starve. They are the poison of Orïsha! If you do not cut off the hand now, eventually you will be forced to sever the entire limb.”

I clamp my mouth shut, digesting her words. I know as long as these rebels terrorize us, every maji in Orïsha will be seen as a criminal. The Iyika have to go.

But despite knowing this, my insides twist as Ojore grabs the Burner by her hair.

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Queen Nehanda (speaker), Ojore, Raifa
Page Number: 138
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Thirty-Eight Quotes

“Everyone, fill the bags with as many scrolls as you can. Kenyon, burn the rest.”

“Amari, you can’t!” I whip around, blinking as the ringing sensation in my ears grows louder. [...]

“These are sacred incantations,” I explain. “Histories of our people that will be lost to time!”

Related Characters: Zélie (speaker), Amari (speaker), Inan, Queen Nehanda, Kenyon
Related Symbols: Yoruba
Page Number: 188
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Forty-Two Quotes

“No!” I jerk up, wincing at the pain that shoots up my side. “This temple may be the oldest Orïsha has. It holds the stories of our past!”

Though Chândomblé wasn’t created for me, I feel its pulse like the beating heart of this land. I remember wandering its hallowed grounds in search of Zélie’s path moons ago. Kneeling before the portrait of Ori. This temple was the one place that could quiet the noise in my head.

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Zélie, Amari, Queen Nehanda
Page Number: 203
Explanation and Analysis:

My chest falls as Mother marches forward with her tîtáns that still stand. As she walks past the carnage in her path, I know she’s right. Our enemies are gaining ground. We need to eliminate every asset they have. But how long can both sides keep going like this before we destroy Orïsha?

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Queen Nehanda
Page Number: 204
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Fifty-Nine Quotes

All these years I thought Father was a monster, but what if ruling this kingdom forced him to act that way?

Related Characters: Amari (speaker), Inan, Queen Nehanda, King Saran
Page Number: 282
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Sixty-Four Quotes

“This war didn’t start when magic came back, Inan. You are only seeing the end of a battle countless have given their lives for. By winter’s dawn, we will have wiped the scourge of maji from this land. Even your wretched father couldn’t achieve that.”

“Mother, what are you talking about?” I grab her arm. “We’re fighting the Iyika. Not the maji.”

“We’re fighting them all. We have been for decades. This war started long before the Raid. It began before you were even born.”

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Queen Nehanda (speaker), Amari, Mama Agba, King Saran
Page Number: 306-07
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Seventy-One Quotes

I look back, not recognizing the monster that wears Ojore’s face. We did this to him. We poisoned him with all our hate.

Now we shall pay the price. I can’t even pretend he isn’t justified. He deserves retribution for all the blood on our hands. All of Orïsha does—

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Queen Nehanda, Ojore
Page Number: 332-33
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Seventy-Six Quotes

Even from afar, I see the blackened corpses that lie in the streets. Corpses that lie there because of me.

I picture Inan and Mother among the dead.

I picture my best friend.

Strike, Amari.

Father’s voice fills my mind as the tears fill my eyes. Though I breathe, my chest stays tight. It feels like I’m being buried alive.

“Orïsha waits for no one,” I whisper the words. “Orïsha waits for no one.”

I will the words to be true as I ride through Ibadan’s gate.

Related Characters: Amari (speaker), Zélie, Inan, Queen Nehanda, King Saran, Jahi, Imani
Page Number: 350
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Seventy-Eight Quotes

“He attacked the king. That foolish boy killed himself.”

It’s the last sword in my gut. I’m surprised when I don’t feel blood. Ojore saved me more times than I could count. He needed me today.

But instead of backing him, I let him down.

I let Mother sacrifice him for the throne.

“He was right,” I whisper. “We’re poison.”

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Queen Nehanda (speaker), Ojore
Page Number: 355
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Eighty-Five Quotes

“I see the truth now. We pretend that magic is the root of our pain when everything rotten in this kingdom begins and ends with us. There’s no helping it.” I clench my fist. “Amari proved that in Ibadan. This throne corrupts even the purest of hearts. As long as it exists, people will continue to tear this kingdom apart.”

Related Characters: Inan (speaker), Amari, Queen Nehanda
Page Number: 384
Explanation and Analysis: