17

Rachel and I sit silently across each other, sipping slowly from our glass of milkshake as we turn the pages of our copies of Children of Blood And Bones. I was afraid Rachel wouldn't be able to keep up with my reading speed but clearly, she's an OG herself.

She pauses and looks up, clearing her throat as a warning that she's about to break the silence.

"This book is like the Nigerian version of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson."

I nod emphatically, "have you read it before? You obviously must-have if you know they're similar." I slap myself on the forehead and Rachel chuckles, her hair is raised in a messy bun and she's wearing thick black-rimmed reading glasses. She doesn't look like someone who wears glasses.

"If you're trying to ask me whether I like it then the answer is yes. It's my absolute favorite book."

"I can't answer if I'm asked my favorite book," I admit and her grin grows wider.