Stellar! Fast-paced and beautifully written, the plot was better than other fantasy novels with 800 pages to accomplish their storytelling.

In the Shadow of the Fall is the first book of a novella duology. The story follows Ashake, an acolyte in the temple of Ifa, who aspires to become a priest. However, Orisha refuses to speak to her. One day she tried to bind the orisha and everything she knew changed and she found herself in an ancient war. I found the premise of the story to be unique and intriguing, and I enjoyed reading it. However, I felt that the pacing of the story was a bit rushed, and I wished that certain parts had been explored in greater depth. Overall, it was a great start to a new story, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mythology. Personally, I am eagerly waiting for the release of the final book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story was wonderful and I was wishing there was more. The plot grabbed my attention for the first page. When I was getting to the end I found myself dreading finishing this story because I was enjoying it so much

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free novella*

While I enjoyed "In the Shadow of the Fall" for its wonderful world building featuring orisha, I found that the novella should have rather been a novel. I especially found the main character and her priesthood upbringing somewhat shallow and unbelievable. In addition, the world building felt overwhelming especially later in the book and the pacing also did not work for me. I often felt confused and found character motivation or story lacking plausibility. It was fast-paced but the novella could have been so much more, there is so much unused potential in this one.

3 stars

ohhh I loved this so much - pulled in by the cover and hooked from page one. worldbuilding was phenomenal - how Ogundiran managed this with so few pages is beyond me but SO impressive.

I loved loved loved reading this!! It was such a compelling story. I can't wait for part 2! The presentation of the tale with the asides was amazing - really ramped up the tension for me, while also adding depth and detail to the narrative itself. I could so clearly see this world and it was BEAUTIFUL.

⭐️ 4.5 STARS ⭐️

I want to start this off by saying I loved this story and all the characters SO much! Ashâke was such a strong main character and I think she will be truly a badass in book 2. I think a few scenes, especially towards the ending could’ve been drawn out a bit more and I honestly think this could’ve worked as a full novel and I would’ve loved this just as much, if not more. Very much looking forward to the second book and how the story will go on (and also secretly hoping it’s longer 😉).

Being a novella, the pacing of this book is fast. The transitions are quick, as are the decisions. Some of the reveals felt very jarring, like they came out of nowhere, and others were almost adequately foreshadowed. However, my feelings about this may be due to my lack of familiarity with novellas and their pacing.

I felt like this book would have benefited from some additional consideration to Ashâke. I found the idea of her having 22 seasons (if seasons are years) was not very believable. Making her younger would add to the believability of her actions. This book definitely didn't want to be classified as YA, however I believe that shy of a few word choices, it would do well there.

All in all, I enjoyed the book, but felt it could have been more. The ideas were absolutely there, but I don't know that their execution was to my taste. I enjoyed it for an afternoon read.

.75 stars

Ashâke, an acolyte in the temple of Ifa, attempts to summon an orisha but experiences a terrible vision that draws the attention of a powerful enemy sect, thrusting her into a centuries-old war that will shatter her world.

This novella was good, and it left me wanting more. This is the first time I've ever read about African mythology, and I found it so engaging. I knew of griots from The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi, but the mythology here is expanded upon in a way I never knew. The scenes with the griots were my favorite part of the story. I would absolutely love to be able to hear a story and be fully immersed in it the way the griots are able to do in this world.

Ashâke is desperate to commune with the orisha, and when that fails, she sets out from the temple that's been the only home for her entire life. While I enjoyed her adventure and self-discovery, I found myself having a hard time believing she was 22. She felt more like a teenager. I don't know if that's because she was sheltered in a temple all her life, but she didn't feel like an adult.

This novella is fast-paced. It hits the ground running and doesn't stop. I enjoy a faster pace when reading, but this novella didn't allow me to connect with the characters as much. I felt dropped into this world and struggled at some points to understand the overall worldbuilding. This may be my ignorance of African mythology, but I would've loved more expansion of the world and the magic. The side characters that are introduced are intriguing, and I wanted to learn more about them. I wanted to care more about their lives and their impact on Ashâke. With it being a novella, we didn't really get a chance to build that connection.

I wish this was a novel rather than a novella. The writing is excellent, and if we were able to have a longer format, it would have hit even better. I look forward to the next novella to see how things wrap up.

I also want to add what a gorgeous cover! It depicts a scene from the novella, and after reading it, seeing the artwork again was fantastic.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

THIS NOVELLA IS SO SO GOOOOOOOOOOD. LIKE I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! Everytime i read through the chapters it keep give me goosebumps, MY JAW DROPPED EVERYTIME, i can hardly breath so i take a break, fire in my nerves, my heart beating so FASTTTTTT.

This book is amazing, the plot, the characters, the setting, and everything about the cultural of africans it's sooooo beautiful. It's soooo intriguing and always left me speechless. Such a fun read, I can't wait for another novella!

I am now, and have always been a mythology fan. And that fandom grew today as I learned about a new (to me) African mythology lore!!

Ashake is an acolyte at the temple, hoping and praying that the orisha will speak to her as they have to all her peers who have been able to move on to specific temples. Unfortunately, that just doesn't seem to be in the cards for her, so she learns of a secret way to gain access to the gods and goddesses, but that unleashes a whole world of mysterious circumstances around her and changes the landscape.

This quick little fantasy novella, the first half of a duology, is beautifully written and the way that each layer of the story is unraveled is unparalleled. As a reader, you are able to really get into Ashake's mindset as she learns, unlearns, learns again, and explores new realities. This was amazing, and I am excited to see how the second half of the story falls out!!

Thank you so much to Tobi Ogundiran and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review. In the Shadow of the Fall comes out on July 23, 2024!

I was given an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran is a Nigerian fantasy novella where the acolyte Ashâke has been in service to the orisha for most of her life but has never been made a priest by them. They are silent. After witnessing multiple peers become priests and be chosen by the orisha, Ashâke tries to force their hand and witnesses a terrible vision as the price.

The novella moves at a fairly brisk pace and is mostly from Ashâke’s POV. I was immediately drawn in by the voice and the desperation that seeped through and the pacing kept me hooked the entire way. The worldbuilding was also very cool, from the boats tied together that create a floating city to the use of faith and oral tradition to the use of orisha.

I would recommend this to fans of Nigerian fantasy and of orisha and readers looking for more non-Western fantasy novellas.

Ashâke wants to be a priestess, but the orisha don’t speak to her. Desperate to understand why, she attempts to summon and bind them, and thus gets tugged into a whole world of trouble. It takes a while for the story to show you exactly why, though: a little bit gets revealed, then you spend a bit of time with Ashâke exploring the world and getting a little more context, and then a little more of the story comes out.

There are some really fascinating details — I loved the scenes with the griots, in particular — but the story turns out to be on quite a big scale. Zoomed out, whole-plane-of-existence stuff, rather than one temple among many, or one unremarkable girl. I wonder almost if it might’ve worked better as a single novel, rather than two novellas: where we’re at by the end of the book obviously isn’t the end, and it’s a little unsatisfying because of it.

It did also feel very familiar, and I’m trying to remember in what way. The beats of the story really reminded me of something: I think it might be Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights, actually, where Lyra ends up with the Gyptians for a time… Not that the two books are the same or anything, but I did get this uncanny sense of familiarity that I’ve been trying to pin down.

In any case, it has whet my appetite for more: I’m very curious what comes next, how Ashâke has changed as a result of the revelations, and what the world will look like when the events of the story are done.

We embark on a cosmic journey in Tobi Ogundiran’s “In the Shadow of the Fall,” the first book in the Guardian of the Gods series. ASHAKE finds herself caught in a celestial clash between Yoruba gods, portrayed by formidable acolytes and cosmic forces. To prevent a cosmic catastrophe and the end of the world, she must uncover her strength. The quest for trust and self-discovery begins by unravelling her true identity.

Let me express my admiration for the captivating cover design. It perfectly captures the whimsical essence of the story’s backdrop.

This fantasy work offers a refreshing twist on a familiar magic system, keeping readers on their toes. An enticing introduction to a promising fantasy series, it leaves us eager for more.

Pretty damn awesome! Very refreshing read with fantastic writing and very compelling character. Very curious to see what this author does next.

What does it mean to question everything you know?

This book is one that will stay with me for quite some time. The world of the Orisha, the world that Tobi Ogundiran creates, is one absolutely filled to the brim with magic and intrigue. We get shown a relatable main character, a goal that feels unattainable, a cult conspiring to tear this world limb from limb, and the concept of freedom from a path we feel tied to. There's a theme of love and loneliness, of curiosity and of the limits placed on knowledge-seeking. This is, ultimately, a fantasy novel rooted in the idea that tradition and religion can have multiple facets and sides to them - and that there is magic at the heart of all of it. I cannot recommend this novel enough, especially to those of you who have perhaps experienced shaken faith yourself. It's an absolutely beautiful story written by an author who I can't wait to continue following. My only complaint is that this felt a little bit short - but this just means that I'll be even more excited to read any future books.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this novel.

This book was amazing. I loved the characters, the folklore was very interesting and, even though it was relatively short, I had the best time. In the beginning of the story, I was in shock about how fast things went wrong for our main character and how her story was unfolding but, when we find out THE TRUTH?????? MY GODDD???? I was in complete shock and couldn’t understand how everything happened and so fast. I would have loved more exploration about the community she found herself in and just explore it a little more but, at the end, it was very unique, different and it brings new information and aspects to the fantasy world. Also, love the diversity in characters and how we explore this new perspective on African mythology. Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to enjoy this arc from one of my fav reads of this year for sure.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This novella was INCREDIBLY good. I was immediately captivated by Ashâke's world. Ogundiran skillfully makes the reader feel Ashâke's emotions every step of the way, making her a protagonist who is easy to root for. The side characters are equally vivid; I especially loved the griots Ashâke meets.

The worldbuilding, based on West African mythology, is impeccably done. Tightly written enough to fit into this less-than-200-page novella, but rich enough to leave the reader excited to read more in the next installment. This novella does a better job of pacing, vivid characterization, and imaginative worldbuilding than most 400+ page epic fantasy novels I've read.

I can't wait for the sequel, and I will definitely be picking up any and all books Ogundiran writes next.

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

TW: animal death, blood, child death, confinement, death, death of a loved one, fire/fire injury, injury/injury detail, medical content, violence, war.

Captivatingly vivid and beautiful written, this novella was *so good.*

I was concerned that the length would detract from my enjoyment of the story, but those fears were completely unfounded. Tobi Ogundiran used every single page to its fullest, somehow managing to weave a story that is both intricate and incredibly fast-paced in less than 200 pages. The characters, no matter how brief their appearance, were fleshed out and felt entirely real. Creating three-dimensional characters is something authors (reasonably) struggle with on a much larger canvas and yet this novella handled it with such ease, I felt like I was simply hearing about people that had once existed.

Pairing that with the use of African mythology and a cosmic war between the gods, this was one you're not going to want to miss.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the arc copy of this novel. In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran follows Ashake who is an acolyte training to become a Priestess of the temple of Ifa. After many summers of watching her friends ascend to the priesthood while she stays an acolyte, Ashake decides to perform a forbidden ritual to summon and bind an Orisha. Unfortunately, her ritual goes terribly wrong and leads to her discovering the true nature of the Orisha and of a secret war that has been raging for centuries.

In all honesty, I didn't like Ashake in the beginning. I felt she was selfish, entitled and reckless. She knowingly endangered everyone and kept making excuses for her behavior. Like, OMG girl take some accountability. However, as the story went on and her character developed, I grew to like her and started rooting for her, which goes to show the author's talent. This was a great read and i recommend to anyone who loves African Mythology. There is one particular scene that brought tears to my eyes, I won't go into it but it was incredibly moving. I give it four well deserved stars and can't wait to find out what the author has in store for us and Ashake.