Tomi Adeyemi says the forthcoming film adaptation of her bestselling novel Children of Blood and Bone caused severe distress, including panic attacks, and that she does not plan to watch it. The experience has made her determined to reclaim ownership of her work, reflected in her decision to put her own portrait on the cover of her new novel, The Siren.

Adeyemi’s 2018 debut earned a record-breaking seven-figure young-adult deal and topped the New York Times bestseller list, but its success also left her feeling burdened with representing Black writers and readers. The film, featuring stars including Viola Davis, Idris Elba and Amandla Stenberg, is due to premiere in January 2027; Adeyemi co-wrote the screenplay but says she will never adapt another book for the screen. The Siren instead follows Emery, a Black student at Dartmouth drawn into a mysterious sorority, and draws on Adeyemi’s own experiences and “inner teen”.