In a slightly fantastical 15th century West Africa, Òdòdó is a blacksmith. She’s stolen from her home by a mysterious stranger and discovers he’s the king. As Òdòdó acclimates to her new home, she’s surrounded by dangerous political machinations on all sides.

I didn’t care for this one. Even though the story is told from a first person perspective, I could never understand why Òdòdó acquiesced to her situation or any of her decisions– many of them were remarkably short-sighted or silly, and it made her eventual move into politics just not fit.

To be fair, I wasn’t set up for success by the book’s marketing. The book is described as a loose adaptation of the Persephone/Hades story, and that “loose” adjective is carrying a lot of weight. Yes, the love interest steals the main character from her home and it turns out he’s a king, but that’s about it. It was also billed as a fantasy, but there are minimal fantastical elements.

On the positive, I loved the lush descriptions of clothing and buildings in the story and the mythology.

I ended up really enjoying Masquerade! It took about to the half way point for me to be fully invested as everything began falling into place.

The FMC irked me a few times but towards the end she overcame her obstacles & paved her own path

There were SOOO many characters named in 330 pages that it often became hard to keep track of & unfortunately I got over “little/my flower” being used constantly. Another phrase was repeated frequently but after finishing the book I believe it was used to show how little he noticed things around him.

This story was well-written and engaging to read. But I couldn't get into the story because I'm not a huge fan of first-person writing styles. Also, some of the minor details were repeated way too many times. How many times do I need to be told that Àrèmo could put his hair up correctly and he never noticed? There wasn't any real chemistry between any of the characters not even the love interest so that fell a bit flat.
Òdòdò is a morally gray character who feels more selfish than someone who did bad things for a good reason. Her motivation felt only self-serving.

I might have to do a reread to fully connect but this first read did not meet my expectations.

I was going in one direction and Masquerade kept changing paths to the point of my frustration. Although, twists were nothing compared to the character of the protagonist and her choices. Deeper into the book, more and more writing became sloppy and chaotic. The MC made no sense after some time - it’s either she went into madness or just became unlogical beyond Stockholm syndrome. Constant repetition took me out of the story, and although I felt there might be a very sensual romance brewing, it ultimately left me unsatisfied. It started so strong, it finishes dragging. I would say that the potential for the best book of 2024 was there for me, but fell short.

A gorgeous reimagining of 15th century West Africa, this historical fiction is dripping with lyrical prose and boasts a detailed world that will have you transported between the pages in no time.

An outcast woman is stolen away by a warrior king and must learn to survive in a world filled with betrayals and political intrigue.

What I loved…
- dripping with political intrigue and machinations
- gorgeous prose
- feminine rage
- a dash of magical realism
- standalone
- dark themes and difficult decisions
- spectacular character arcs/development

What I didn’t love…
- the world building felt a bit info dumpy in places
- the classification as a loose Hades + Persephone retelling is VERY loose if you go in expecting that you may be disappointed.

Overall this was an enjoyable read, perhaps a bit less fantasy than I was hoping for but I think if you’re a fan of historical fiction (and like a sprinkle of magical realism) this is a great choice for you. The author builds a stunning world with rich prose that makes the word jump off the pages. I am excited to see what else this author writes in the future!

I will absolutely be keeping in eye out for more books by this author in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group (Forge Books) for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I am always on the hunt for more fantasy written by BIPOC authors, so I was extremely excited for this book and it did not disappoint!! A Hades x Persephone retelling set in the background of Nigerian customs and culture? YES. ABSOLUTELY YES. This was a great story of morally gray characters with a lot of political intrigue that kept me on edge wanting more. Though at times I did feel like the story read more like a YA Fantasy than an Adult Fantasy, I did thoroughly enjoy myself while reading this!

Masquerade, a historical fiction by O.O. Sangoyomi, follows Ododo's journey in the fictional Oyo Empire. Set against West African history and inspired by Greek mythology, the novel explores feminism, power, and culture. It features strong female characters and Ododo's complex development, blending political intrigue with cultural authenticity.

The story follows Ododo, a complex anti-heroine, as she navigates political intrigue and personal growth. The book features strong female characters and explores themes of feminism, power, and West African culture. Sangoyomi's prose effectively delivers a fast-paced narrative while painting a rich cultural and political landscape. Despite some character simplifications, the novel successfully weaves together historical elements, mythology, and personal drama, ultimately telling the story of a woman's journey to power.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year from the moment I heard the premise (and even more so when I saw the cover). This debut shows so much creativity and talent from it's author that I can't wait to see where they go next.

- MASQUERADE is a gorgeously rich story. A loose Persephone and Hades retelling set in precolonial West Africa, the world of this story drew me in immediately and the beautiful writing kept me hooked.
- I took some issue with characterization in this book. Òdòdó didn’t have a very solid personality, and she veered between naive and smarter than a room full of generals depending on what the story needed.
- I did love how it was entirely women that drove the plot forward. Women who were trying to break out of the confined roles they were given, and each choosing different ways to try to do it.

The pacing is very different than what I’m used to. The MC made me want to pull my hair out. Extremely naive , pretty selfish. It does not read like an adult fantasy book to me. Then the ending… omg frustrating to say the least. Gorgeous cover! Thank you #MacAudio2024 for the advance audio.

Ododo is born in Timbukto in the fifteenth century. She is born a blacksmith as all blacksmiths are women. But they are not revered. Instead they are made up of widows and women who couldn't find a man to support them and are considered low caste and witches. One day Ododo is selling some flowers she made in the market when a man flirts with her and she gives him one of her flowers to remember her by.
Then disaster. Ododo is kidnapped and taken across the Sahara to the capital city. It turns out that the man in the market had been the ruler of all the land and he has decided that Ododo will be his wife. Aremo is a warrior king; he has conquered many lands and is at the peak of his strength and power. To be chosen as his wife is hard for Ododo to understand and she asks that her mother be brought to the capital for the wedding. Aremo agrees but the mother has disappeared, giving Ododo time to start to adjust to her new life.

As a member of the court and the prospective new queen, every word and action she makes is scrutinized. She tries to make friends but is betrayed several times by those who would have her disappear or be taken down in Aremo's regard. Each section of the country is headed up by a general and several of these men are determined to take Ododo down. Her prospective mother-in-law seems to hate her and her teacher thinks she is dull and uneducated. But Aremo thinks she is wonderful and that is the opinion that counts. He starts to train her to be a warrior in secret and she ends up going into battle with him. That battle almost leads to her death but she survives and comes back to even more power.

The author is Nigerian American and this tale is based on Nigerian folklore. It is full of descriptions that will transport the reader to Africa, markets and wealth beyond belief, court politics and battles for supremacy. Ododo's motives and actions are not always easy to understand but as she becomes adjusted to her new life she learns to not trust so quickly and to make her own plans. This book is recommended for readers of multicultural, historical and fantasy fiction.

Masquerade is set in 15th-century West Africa and that’s what drew me to it; It’s not a setting I’ve read before and it was lush and vibrant. The sense of place was fantastic because every scene was easy to visualize in vivid detail, despite my lack of knowledge about Yorubaland. I loved learning about the òrìṣàs, divine spirits of the Yoruba religion, as well as other cultural beliefs. Sangoyomi’s writing style was lyrical and I enjoyed her turns of phrase enough that I wrote down a lot of quotes I thought were beautiful or poignant. My only issue with the writing is the maddening repetition of the phrase “One of his braids came loose from his bun. He never noticed.” The author tells us this every time she describes the warrior king, I noted it at least 5 times and didn’t feel it was warranted—we remember.

I also really enjoyed the political intrigue and following the motivations of several factions. Òdòdó made several enemies by simply existing even though she was brought to court by force rather than by her own will. There are enough secret plots, rivals, betrayals and alliances to keep things interesting but not too much that it’s difficult to follow. I was especially fascinated by the blacksmith guilds, how they are connected to the overall plot and the broader implications of their roles in a patriarchal society. Blacksmiths were labelled witches and reviled despite being the backbone of the economy.

Masquerade is supposedly a Hades and Persephone retelling, which I can see in certain plot points but if you’re reading it solely for that, I think you run the risk of being very unsatisfied. Instead, I think the relationship between Òdòdó and Àrẹ̀mọ (the Warrior King) is not so much a romance but rather an exploration of power imbalance and what an all-powerful king thinks love is. The King’s characterization is static and one-dimensional. Then we’ve got our FMC. She is forced to live through so many hardships due to the nature of her lowly station in life but she is also ambitious and not exactly concerned with doing the right thing as she crawls her way to the top. She inspires empathy, annoyance, and even condemnation which, in my opinion, makes her an interesting character. Unfortunately, I had one issue with her depiction.

Òdòdó is 19 years old, but she has not received any education, nor does she know how to read. Once in court, she’s provided with a teacher and we have a few studying scenes but they’re always interrupted by something. In other words, the reader doesn’t witness believable growth. Then suddenly we’re supposed to buy that within a season, she becomes a master military strategist and advisor to the king? She starts to solve problems that even the most senior generals haven’t been able to solve. No, I simply don’t buy it. At the same time, she’s also shown as being incredibly naive. She’s been sheltered her whole life so I don’t blame her but it just doesn’t add up! I feel like it’s an issue in both the plotting and the character.

Lastly, Masquerade is a Historical Fiction and despite being marketed as Fantasy, it contains one scene of magical realism. The author herself has stated she does not intend her book to be categorized as a Fantasy. It would be disrespectful to relegate the òrìṣàs as mere Fantasy when they’re part of a faith that is still being practiced today in certain parts of the world. I felt the need to point all of this out because reading other people’s reviews, it seems this miscategorization is a common source of disappointment and confusion, myself included. Hopefully having this information will help you set your expectations accordingly. I know it helped me better appreciate some choices that the author made, after the fact.

Overall it’s a worthy read. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read historical fiction set in non-Western countries and people who support women’s rights and wrongs.

Pure female rage and I’m HERE FOR IT! This book had me holding my breath is so many parts. It is SO SO good! A little slow to start, but when Ododo finally gets to Aremo’s Royal city, the story takes off! This is a Persephone/Hades retelling and it is gorgeous. Poor Ododo! Everything she goes through, but she is standing on business. My heart broke so many times of all the betrayals, misunderstanding, love, family, relationships. Beautiful read, I highly recommend!

following a chance encounter with a poor stranger, òdòdó is kidnapped away from her mother and their blacksmith guild in timbuktu. only after she has been carried across the sahara to the capital city of ṣàngótẹ̀ does she learn that her stranger is actually the warrior king of yorùbáland, who recently conquered her city, and he has chosen her as his bride. at first her fortunes appear to have changed overnight, as she soars from the fringes of society to the uppermost heights, but she quickly learns that her new position comes with new threats—and new opportunities, if she is willing to seize them.

this book had me from “persephone retelling in 15th century west africa,” and while it’s only a retelling in the vaguest sense, i think i enjoyed it more for that. i didn’t love the first half—the pacing was off, and òdòdó accepted her new situation a little too easily, so it was difficult to fully believe the gravity of the situation (and later events would have been more meaningful if we saw more inner conflict early on)—but the second half more than made up for it. òdòdó’s transformation from naive girl to ambitious royal is so satisfying; my only complaint is that it happened rather abruptly at certain points, which i think goes back to the pacing issue. otherwise this is a lush, captivating historical fantasy (although very light on the fantasy elements) full of politics, court intrigue, and one woman’s fierce pursuit of agency and power.

This story was well-written and engaging to read. But I couldn't get into the story because I'm not a huge fan of first-person writing styles. Also, some of the minor details were repeated way too many times. How many times do I need to be told that Àrèmo could put his hair up correctly and he never noticed? There wasn't any real chemistry between any of the characters not even the love interest so that fell a bit flat.
Òdòdò is a morally gray character who feels more selfish than someone who did bad things for a good reason. Her motivation felt only self-serving.

I might have to do a reread to fully connect but this first read did not meet my expectations.

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TL;DR: A deeply immersive and wonderful read, I devoured this.
Source: Thank you to the publisher for an ARC via Netgalley!

Plot: Òdòdó is kidnapped from her life as a blacksmith to wed the king, thrusting her from a life of poverty to political tensions and backstabbing.
Characters: The cast was varied and unique and I came to love almost everyone.
Setting: Beautifully drawn, the characters were more the focus but the setting was well realized.
Magic: There is a tiny hint of magic in the dreams of Òdòdó but outside of that I didn’t pick up on much.

Thoughts:

I loved this one. I’ve sat on a it a few days and it’s just stayed wonderful in retrospection. This follows the daughter of blacksmith, a witch, Òdòdó. She catches the eye of a wandering man, and is abruptly kidnapped and thrust into the position of a bride to be to the king. This comes right before a blacksmith strike, where the guilds are simply disappearing, and other political tensions are simmering. Òdòdó has to learn to navigate her new home and environment and find out where she fits.

This is probably one of the most immersive books I’ve read this year. This had that special spark that once you start reading, you sink in and can’t come out. I didn’t trust anyone in this one, but I loved everyone. It’s one of those books you really have to pay attention because you’re seeing the world through Òdòdó’s eyes and even she is lost. It’s absolutely entrancing.

It’s not an easy read in some aspects so go in checking your content warnings, but it’s so worth the time and the read. The cover is beautiful and so is the contents, how can you miss out on all that? Long live the Queen.

5 out of 5 daffodils

I can't really give a full review on this book as I DNF'd it, or at least put it down and haven't picked it back up. I don't know if it's just the mood I was in or something else. I liked the author's writing style but this really felt like a YA book trying to be adult. The pacing of the book had some issues for me as well. I will probably give this book another chance at a later date. But when I put the book down and just couldn't bring myself to start reading it again, I knew it just wasn't the book for me at this time.

This was one the biggest surprises this summer, whatever you expect from Masquerade by O.O Sangoyomi, you are going to be surprised! I think it's really better to go in blind and experience this as you go!

I loved every second of it and I got swept in from the first pages, which not always happens to me. This is the perfect case of supporting women's rights but more than anything women's wrongs.

Òdòdó is an amazing character to follow, growing through the story and seeing her come into herself and bloom on pages was a wonder to behold. I was rooting for her from page one and I did end up holding my breath through certain chapters 😶‍🌫️.

I thought this would be a love story, and it is in a way. It's more a love letter to powerful women that need to make their own way through a society that is built against them.

I don't really know what to complain about, there were a few instances where the pacing was bit off but other than that this is perfect. I think we are all sleeping on this book and I really need more people to pick it up!!!

Not a bad read but an overall miss. I expected more fantasy and thought the story would follow a more intentional usurp of power by Òdòdó for more of the book. And though the ending was satisfying, the bulk of the story was too far from my expectations.

Very interesting read and a good introduction to African mythology. You get a little bit of political intrigue, lots of cultural insights and rich worldbuilding. My only complaint is the book felt a bit too long or was a pacing issue. Nonetheless, I'm excited to read more from the author.