This West African myth inspired novel as a marvelous multifaceted read. This intriguing novel had me in its death crib and I am now anxiously waiting for the second half of this duology.

Ashâke who’s been living in a temple for as long as she can remember, is unable to hear the Orishas. In a desperate attempt to hear them she goes through a dangerous ritual. That ritual is one used to summon bind an Orisha, so she can get her answers.

But nothing is as it seems and when all is revealed, is not at all what it seemed to be.

Wonderful plot and flow, I loved the danger involved from the very beginning until the very end with that bit of a cliffhanger.

In the Shadow of the Fall is the first half of a West African myth inspired fantasy duology by author Tobi Ogundiran. The story follows (a few interludes aside) the 22 year old Ashâke, who has lived seemingly her whole life in a Temple to the Orisha...Orishas she is distressed to be unable to hear, which causes her to take desperate measures that reveal the world isn't what she knows...and into conflict with an enemy who seeks to destroy the very gods she was raised to follow.

It's an intriguing setup and told very well, although it does very much seem like the first half of the story....so it might not be satisfying enough on its own for some readers (I'm kind of torn on this myself). But I enjoyed it enough that I'll probably be back for the conclusion next year.

More specifics after the jump:

Plot Summary:
Ashâke is 22 seasons old and yet still an Acolyte at the Temple of the Orishas...despite the fact that all of her peers were five years into their own priesthoods. The reason is that she alone cannot hear the Orishas and she finds that silence agonizing. And so she resorts to a desperate measure: engaging in a dangerous and forbidden ritual to summon and bind an Orisha to get answers.

But when the ritual goes wrong and she finds herself punished on account of it by the High Priestess of all people, Ashâke has had enough...of the Temple and of the Orishas themselves. And so she finds a way to escape into the world she knows so little about - a world filled with peoples who might be friendlier and kinder than she could ever hope, but also filled with monsters who seek to destroy all that she was at once brought to believe in.....

With the exception of a pair of interludes, both which feature an early look at the mentality and powers of an antagonist (although one is set from the POV of a good supporting character), In the Shadow of the Fall is told from the perspective of Ashâke, its protagonist. And that's an effective way to tell the story, as Ashâke is a very understandable and enjoyable protagonist: she's a well meaning if impulsive person who is desperate to not be alone as the last acolyte and to find answers to why she seems to be forsaken. And when those answers never come, she (with some pushing) sets out to the rest of the world in hopes of finding the one friend she once had before she left to be a priestess...an impulsive, not well thought out decision, but one that's easily understandable.

Add to that solid main character a West-African myth inspired world featuring Orisha, an Orisha-killing cult, and a loving and kind community of griots who keep and spread the world's history, and you have a really intriguing setup for a story here. The only question I have and one I am not really sure my feelings on, is if this novella is satisfying as a story....because it's so clearly just the first half of the story, with the conflict only just established before the story ends. And yet, the novella ends at a reasonable stopping point, at a point where Ashâke is taking new steps into the world to face the unknown, with the issues of her earlier panic resolved, so it is kind of satisfying. Overall, I think I would recommend this novella, and will be coming back for the second half of the story.

loved the world so incredibly much, I loved every morsel of discovery. I absolutely adored the influences of Yoruba mythology, it has sparked in me a hunger to consume more West African-inspired fantasy.

Because of its length, I did struggle to connect with the characters as much as I wanted to. However the length wasn't the only factor, the large amount of death in the story also affected this. As soon as I felt myself beginning to connect with a character they were gone. I just would've loved if this were longer so that we could spend more time in each moment.

I'm super excited to continue and to read the sequel once it's out. I hope the author decides to write novels as well, I think I'd absolutely love a longer, slower-paced story by Ogundiran. But this was a great first taste of his writing and storytelling!

Didn't realize it would be a novella, which hardly ever works for me with epic fantasy. Writing style felt stilted. Read like a translation that wasn't working for me. Wasn't hooked at all from the start.

A novella i desperately wish was longer. I enjoyed the world building, and the characters and would have liked to spend more time with the story as a whole.

Ashâke’s life is a mess. She’s stuck sweeping floors and experiencing existential despair while her peers are busy chatting with divine Orishas. Frustrated and desperate for divine validation, she tries a forbidden summoning ritual. Because what can go wrong, right?

Ashâke’s journey from temple reject to potential chosen one is packed with twists and turns, and decisions that will make you ask “Girl, why?” on repeat. Along the way, she meets colorful people, and genuinely terrifying villains.

I loved the setting inspired by Yoruban mythology (Orishas, griots, magic). On top of this, we get familiar fantasy tropes (chosen ones, epic quests) spiced up with West African culture and traditions. But for every moment of dazzling worldbuilding, there’s a plot hole lurking in the shadows. Additionally, the novella’s fast pace keeps things tight and exciting, but it also leaves you hungry for more context and insights into the socio-political intrigue hinted at throughout.

Ashâke’s journey is interesting but also typical - she’s the type of protagonist who lacks what everyone else has, only to discover they’re secretly the most special. It’s done well, though. And Ogundiran’s engaging prose and vibrant characters make it work.

The ending is a soft cliffhanger - just when things really heat up, it stops. Frustrating? Sure. But it sets the stage for exciting things to come.

Tobi Ogundiran’s *In the Shadow of the Fall* is an incredible blend of African mythology, rich world-building, and compelling storytelling. It's amazing how much was packed into this novella. The vivid prose and compelling narrative make this a standout read for fans of speculative fiction. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this novella and can’t wait for the conclusion. I appreciated the addition of west African elements and the fast pacing. I read this in one sitting and felt so much along side the characters journey. Even seeing the cover, after meeting her I didn’t know where she would end up, and I’m so excited for the second novella.

Loved the world building and loved the characters. I feel like this could definitely be a long series because I really wanted more in a good way.

This was a fast paced read. It takes the chosen one trope and shakes it up a bit while invoking some humor and Yoruba religion.

TL;DR

Tobi Ogundiran’s In the Shadow of the Fall opens up a duology in which ambition leads to the re-ignition of an old war. Can Ashâke handle the consequences of her actions? Recommended.

Disclaimer: The publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone.

Review: In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran

Fantasy is a field that possesses endless possibilities. We read it to escape, but we also read it to escape to a world where good can overcome evil. Where the little one can defeat the big bad. And where we can be so much more than ourselves. Ashâke, the main character of In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran, understands this. She sees others passing her by, making more of themselves and their lives than she’s doing. So, she decides to take action and force the issue. Her attempt reignites an old war for the cosmos. She will learn that she may have more parts to play in this war than she knows and that her ambition has unseen consequences.

Ashâke is a woman with ambition. She wishes to summon and bind an Orisha, and the story starts with her attempting to do so in the Sacred Grove. Ashâke is a priestess in training, and the final part of her journey is to be visited by an Orisha as have all the others she’s studied with. It just hasn’t happened for Ashâke yet, but she’s determined to force the interaction if she has to. Inexplicably, the ritual goes wrong. Ashâke is visited by visions of fire and burning. She failed, but she doesn’t know how badly she’s failed. Yet. In fact, she’s nearly turned away from the temple. Only through the interaction of the High Priestess does she stay. Her punishment doesn’t sit well with her though, and Ashâke decides to escape the temple. Out in the world, she meets Griots, travelers and storytellers. But Ashâke is in danger, and her very presences has put the Griots in danger. For her failure with the Orisha signaled to an ancient enemy that the temple has been weakened. The time for this enemy to destroy the temple and rid the world of the Orisha may be at hand.

In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran is a third person fantasy novella about hidden potential, secret intentions, and fitting in. It’s a fast paced, lovely story that ends a bit too soon for my tastes. While there is a conclusion to the story, it doesn’t feel like a conclusion. I don’t mean that it ends on a cliffhanger; it just sort of ends at a point that feels like mid-way in other stories. To be fair, In the Shadow of the Fall is being sold as a duology with At the Fount of Creation, which arrives on January 28th, 2025. The story, itself, leading up to the ending is fun and interesting; so, I think despite the ending it’s definitely worth reading.

Worldbuilding

Ogundiran has created a world worth exploring, and the structure of the novella does just that. We begin the novel focused in on Ashâke, alone, and soon expands to the temple. From there, Ogundiran takes us out of the temple, and we, along with Ashâke, get to experience the world outside. Ashâke has spent so much time in the temple that she doesn’t know much of the outside world; so, we get to experience the wonder of it through her. And there is wonder. I enjoyed Ashâke’s encounters with the Griots. They were joyful and playful in way that Ashâke seemed to need.

Next, the enemies of the temple get their own point of view during interludes in the story. Ogundiran does a good job making the enemies feel not-quite-human and menacing while still adaptable enough to blend in. I look forward to learning more about then in At the Fount of Creation.

Conclusion

Tobi Ogundiran’s In the Shadow of the Fall starts off the duology with an interesting and inventive world. The ending feels a little lackluster, but overall this is a story worth reading. I’m looking forward to the conclusion, and I’m sure you will too.

4.5/5 rounded up to 5 stars. This little novella is packed full of story! I fell in love with the FMC and enjoyed going on her journey of lost faith, found family, a big twist surprise and realizing her place in the world may be right where she started! I am so excited to read book 2! Highly recommend.

In the Shadow of the Fall is the first novella in a duology that centers an acolyte named Ashâke who’s drawn into a centuries-old magical war.

I loved the African-inspired mythology in this and was definitely intrigued to know what was going to happen next!

Because of its length constraints, I really needed the characterization to pack a punch and do a lot with only a little. It was hard to know what really made Ashâke tick beyond her acolyte-related woes!

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to the eARC in exchange for my review!

3 Stars

This was a nice little quick read. I liked the story but it didn't pull me in. It took me a bit to get in to but once things started going it was so interesting.

Thank you to Tor publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

**_In the Shadow of the Fall_** by Tobi Ogundiran is a gripping entry into the world of epic fantasy, where the fates of gods and mortals intertwine. This novella, the first in a duology, follows Ashâke, a frustrated acolyte at the temple of Ifa. Unlike her peers, she has yet to be chosen by the orisha, the deities she serves, which leaves her yearning for the priesthood and a life of divine purpose. When she tries to summon an orisha on her own, she instead attracts dark forces, leading her into a war that threatens to unravel her world.

There is so much story packed into these 150 pages, and I cannot wait to read the sequel/conclusion! Ashâka feels abandoned because she is five seasons behind her peers, all of whom have heard from the orisha and been elevated from acolyte to priest, but she is still an acolyte. When she decides to try binding an orisha to her to ask what she’s doing wrong, she sets into motion events that have been brewing for 400 seasons. All the revelations and the ending are so masterfully done, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Ashâka.

I loved this book. Going through this book through Ashake's eyes was incredible. The twists in the story were good and unexpected. This book was an amazing introduction into African mythology and I look forward to continuing this series

I can sum it up in one phrase. I wanted more! Given the length of the book there is some lacking in character development. The reader has to make a lot of assumptions and form their own idea of the characters. For me, this made it difficult to feel immersed in the story and the characters for a good portion of the first part of the novella. I found it difficult to feel connected and engaged with Ashâke. The world building is a bit rushed as well; however, with basis in mythology it was pretty easy to fill in some of the blanks. I think that could have only been solved by maybe another 50 to 100 pages. Despite that, I hung in and quickly was quickly swept up in the action following the big reveal. From that point I couldn't put it down. This is a part one of a duology. I'm curious to read the second and see where the story leads. I am also interested in discovering if the two together would have made an excellent full length novel. The writing is really good. I loved the way Ogundiran wove together the story. It definitely was a fun read.

"In the Shadow of the Fall," the first volume in Tobi Ogundiran's Guardians of the Gods series, is a compelling novella that explores the intense journey of Ashâke, an acolyte desperate to become a priestess. Unlike her peers, Ashâke struggles with a painful reality—she cannot communicate with the divine forces she is meant to serve.

Driven by frustration, Ashâke makes a risky decision to summon and trap a deity, but instead, she experiences a terrifying vision that thrusts her into a centuries-old conflict. This vision not only alters her fate but also draws the attention of a powerful enemy, placing her at the center of a dangerous and high-stakes battle.

Ogundiran’s writing is vivid and engaging, effectively bringing Ashâke’s world to life. Despite its shorter length, the novella delivers a richly layered story with tight pacing and strong character development.

Ashâke should be a priestess by now, but while all of her peers have ascended into service, she’s still an acolyte, toiling away at menial tasks in a remote, isolated temple. Desperation leads her to try to call on the orishas directly, but instead of binding the gods to her will, Ashâke discovers incredible things about the state of the spiritual world and her place in it. All of this leads her on a quest full of surprising truths, new friends, and frighteningly nasty villains.

There are so many things to love about this novella (the first in a planned duology),

Ashâke is the chosen one, bound to gain power and knowledge and focus, and while it doesn’t necessarily feel earned yet, it does fit into a sense of a much larger world happening around our heroine. Here’s hoping the next book takes us further into that world and solidifies her place in it. I’m certainly looking forward to whatever comes next.