Masquerade

Starred review from April 1, 2024

DEBUT Sangoyomi's novel showcases a reimagined pre-colonial West Africa in the 15th century, depicting the power of kings, courts, and family, plus one young woman's quest to find her own path. The warrior king of Yor�b�land has conquered Timbuktu, forcing changes that affect all. The women of the city's blacksmith guild are already seen as witches by most, and the new regime means even worse conditions for them. �d�d� is a young metalsmith who is unsure of what she wants for her future, but when she is abducted and taken to the capital city of S�ng�t�, �d�d� finds herself in the home of the warrior king, the Al��fin--and he wants her to be his wife. �d�d� might now obtain riches beyond her dreams, but she is just as trapped in S�ng�t� as she was in Timbuktu. The political rivalries outside and inside S�ng�t� threaten �d�d�'s status with the Al��fin, and she will have to navigate the schemes and plans of those who don't want her to marry him--or to survive. VERDICT Richly detailed worldbuilding and inspiration from the Persephone myth all lend to a layered, immersive storyline in Sangoyomi's debut.--Kristi Chadwick

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 15, 2024
Sangoyomi's debut novel, a loose retelling of the myth of Persephone, takes place in fifteenth-century West Africa. It paints a vibrant picture of the people, the colors, and the sights of the era for the reader. And nothing is better imagined than the character �d�d�, a female blacksmith by trade. Her city, Timbuktu, is dependent on the work of the witch blacksmiths, even as it despises them. But a chance encounter with the Aláàfin, the warrior king of Yor�b�land, sweeps �d�d� into political machinations, betrayal, and possibly even love. �d�d� quickly realizes that even her smallest actions can have grave consequences. How can a simple blacksmith navigate such treachery? Will �d�d� be able to overcome the danger? Yor�b�land is a fascinating and violent place. �d�d� and the Aláàfin are simultaneously made for each other and at each other's throats. �d�d� also has to contend with her future mother-in-law and the generals that support the patriarchal society. Her growth into a leader is the highlight of the novel. Highly recommended for fans of palace intrigue, like N. K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (2010), or scheming characters in a historical-fiction setting, like Jamila Ahmed's Every Rising Sun (2023).

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Starred review from July 1, 2024
�d�d�, a talented and beautiful blacksmith who has lived her whole life in Timbuktu, is whisked away by �r�̣mọ, a warrior king who has chosen her to be his next wife. �d�d�'s life has not been an easy one. She and her mother are blacksmiths by trade; as unmarried women in 15th-century West Africa, working at a forge is one of the few ways they can make a living. But the local people think blacksmiths are witches, and the conditions of their subjugation have grown progressively worse for them and the rest of their guild. Plus, her hometown of Timbuktu was recently taken over by the mysterious warrior king of Yor�b�land. When �d�d� is abruptly kidnapped and brought across the Sahara desert to the Yor�b� capital of Ṣ�ng�t�̣, she's both shocked and thrilled to discover that her kidnapper is none other than �r�̣mọ, the fabled warrior king of Yor�b�land. �r�̣mọ explains that he wants nothing more than for �d�d� to be his next wife, and �d�d�, who finds �r�̣mọ to be as charming and handsome as he is intimidating and cruel, is soon caught up in her new royal lifestyle. But the longer �d�d� spends within the court, the more she's exposed to complex political machinations and uncertain loyalties, and she quickly realizes that not everyone is as they seem, including her new husband. This debut novel is a page-turning blend of historical fiction with a retelling of the story of Hades and Persephone, deftly interweaving West African culture with mythology in a way that keeps a familiar tale feeling fresh and new. An intricately woven tale inspired by West African history.

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