By Ahaqir Ishaq | Books of Brilliance
Tomi Adeyemi’s books offer two different starting points: a West African-inspired fantasy trilogy and a contemporary college story with dark academia and speculative elements. If you want to follow Zélie’s journey through Orïsha, begin with Children of Blood and Bone. If the dangerous allure of an exclusive campus circle interests you more, you can begin with The Siren.
The essential distinction is simple: the Legacy of Orïsha novels should be read in order, while The Siren is separate from that trilogy. You do not need to finish Zélie’s story before meeting Emery.
Here is Tomi Adeyemi’s novel publication order, how the books connect and which starting point makes the most sense for you.
Tomi Adeyemi Books in Publication Order
As of October 2026, this guide covers Adeyemi’s four published novels. Dates below are the original U.S. publication dates; other editions and territories may differ.
| Order | Book | U.S. publication date | Series or connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Children of Blood and Bone | March 6, 2018 | Legacy of Orïsha, Book 1 |
| 2 | Children of Virtue and Vengeance | December 3, 2019 | Legacy of Orïsha, Book 2 |
| 3 | Children of Anguish and Anarchy | June 25, 2024 | Legacy of Orïsha, Book 3 and finale |
| 4 | The Siren | September 29, 2026 | Separate novel; outside Legacy of Orïsha |
The publisher identifies the first three books as the complete Legacy of Orïsha series. The Siren introduces a different protagonist and setting rather than a fourth installment.
Legacy of Orïsha Books in Reading Order
For this trilogy, the recommended reading order matches publication order. Start with the first book and continue through the finale. Later installments build on earlier events, relationships and changes to the world’s magic.
The following descriptions avoid major plot revelations, although identifying each sequel’s direction can hint at developments in the previous book.
1. Children of Blood and Bone
Children of Blood and Bone introduces Zélie Adebola, a young woman living in a kingdom where magic has disappeared and the monarchy has violently targeted the maji. She finds an opportunity to restore magic, setting her on a dangerous journey that brings her into conflict with royal power.
Adeyemi’s debut establishes Orïsha, its magical traditions and the relationships that carry the trilogy. Its West African-inspired setting gives readers a world to explore, while Zélie’s mission connects that exploration to questions of oppression, inheritance and resistance.
Start here if: You want an immersive fantasy world, a quest and a story about challenging an unjust kingdom.
For a closer look at the opening novel, read our Children of Blood and Bone review.
2. Children of Virtue and Vengeance
The second novel follows the consequences of the first book’s struggle. Zélie and Amari face a kingdom in which competing groups seek control, and changing the balance of power has created new dangers.
The story’s focus shifts toward leadership, divided loyalties and the difficulty of turning a revolutionary goal into a future people can share. This is a direct continuation, so reading it first would sacrifice both context and important discoveries from the opening novel.
Read it next if: You have finished Children of Blood and Bone and want to follow the political and personal fallout.
3. Children of Anguish and Anarchy
Children of Anguish and Anarchy concludes the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy. Zélie’s struggle expands beyond familiar territory as she faces a new enemy, King Baldyr, whose pursuit of her power threatens her people.
The final volume takes the story into unfamiliar lands and forces its characters to seek allies against a larger threat. It is the destination of the trilogy’s reading order, rather than an alternative entry point.
Read it last: Both earlier novels provide the background for its central relationships and final conflict.
For readers who prefer starting a series after its conclusion is available, all three volumes are now published.
Where Does The Siren Fit?
The Siren follows the trilogy in Adeyemi’s publication history, but it is outside Legacy of Orïsha. It introduces Emery, a Dartmouth student trying to protect her scholarship and leave a troubled past behind.
On campus, Emery becomes drawn to Roux and a glamorous group of young women called the Sirens. Their exclusive world promises belonging and influence, but the power behind their circle carries a dangerous cost.
The college setting makes this a different reading experience from the kingdoms and quests of Orïsha. The publisher presents it as a speculative thriller, with ambition, secrecy and survival shaping its premise.
The Siren is already available. Its U.S. publication date was September 29, 2026, and the UK hardback followed on October 1, 2026.
For more about its characters and premise, see our guide to Tomi Adeyemi’s The Siren.
Which Tomi Adeyemi Book Should You Read First?
My recommendation for fantasy readers is Children of Blood and Bone. Beginning there lets you discover the world alongside its characters and follow the full arc through the next two novels.
However, publication order across an author’s entire bibliography is a suggestion, not an obligation. If you are more interested in secretive campus circles than an epic fantasy quest, The Siren offers a separate place to begin.
| What you want to read | Best starting point |
|---|---|
| West African-inspired epic fantasy | Children of Blood and Bone |
| A completed fantasy trilogy | Children of Blood and Bone, followed by Books 2 and 3 |
| Dark academia and a contemporary college setting | The Siren |
| Every novel in publication order | The three Legacy of Orïsha books, then The Siren |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Legacy of Orïsha finished?
Yes. The published trilogy concludes with Children of Anguish and Anarchy, released in 2024.
Is The Siren the fourth Children of Blood and Bone book?
No. It is a separate story with different characters and a contemporary setting.
Do you need to read Children of Blood and Bone before The Siren?
No. The two stories have separate entry points. Read Children of Blood and Bone first if you want to begin the fantasy trilogy; choose The Siren if its campus setting interests you more.
What order should you read the Children of Blood and Bone series in?
Read Children of Blood and Bone, then Children of Virtue and Vengeance, and finish with Children of Anguish and Anarchy.
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