Masquerade instantly drew me into its vividly reimagined West African world. The world building was incredibly well-done, and I was immediately swept up in Òdòdó’s story of a woman looking to make space for herself in a world not made for blacksmiths like her.

If you’re looking for an intricately crafted world with West African elements, morally gray characters, and tense political intrigue, you definitely want to pick this one up.

The audiobook narrator made this story really come to life. I loved her accents and definitely want to hear more books read by her.

ARC received from Macmillan Audio via Netgalley.

Sangoyomi’s debut Masquerade is an engaging historical fiction full of rich political intrigue and shifting alliances. Deeply feminist and empowering, this Masquerade is a strong debut that shows a deep love of history, culture, and character-based storytelling that praises the beauty in women friendships and alliances in societies dominated by patriarchal restrictions.

Whoa, the feminine rage was real and I was here for it. The last scene of this book will live rent free in my brain forever. I had such a good time with this. The audio book was so well done, if you’re an audiobook reader, this is a great one to pick up.

O.O. Sangoyomi’s Masquerade is a gripping tale of secrets, identity, and transformation. Set against a richly crafted backdrop, the story unfolds with suspense and emotional depth, exploring the masks we wear and the truths we hide. Sangoyomi’s prose is captivating, weaving a narrative that keeps readers hooked until the final page.

A perfect blend of mystery and heart, Masquerade is a compelling read that lingers long after it’s over.

I wasn't able to read this book due to time and other constraints. I liked the descriptions and expect it will be a good read.

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.

Audiobook was a treat and I love the narration. The narrator is the only reason why I finished this book.

In Masquerade, we follow Ododo, a blacksmith which are known as witches for being independent and unmarried. She gets kidnapped and whisked away by the warrior king Alaafin, to be his wife. As his wife she is involved in politics and war and aids the Alaafin in schemes and war strategies risking her life in the process.

I loved the fact that Ododo is a morally grey female character. Like all the other women and children in this book, Ododo was always underestimated. Ododo does however use this to her advantage to reclaim her power. As a morally grey character, she tasks risks and does whatever is necessary to get what she wants

I am not familiar with African mythology, or culture. But it was a very intriguing way to do a hades and Persephone retelling.

I listened to the audiobook and at first I struggleed keeping track of the names, but I very quickly picked up who was who. And I also loved Ododo’s name. Whenever it was said I would repeat it out loud. It’s a beautiful name that just rolls off the tongue.

I’m not sure if this was an unpopular opinion, but Alaafin’s love and dedication to Ododo was so enticing. I loved the way he did everything in his power to make her happy and satisfy her.

The ending had me shook

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was a really great debut West African mythology fantasy novel from O.O Sangoyomi. We follow Òdòdó as she navigates court politics when we is kidnapped by a warrior king. She learns how to get what she wants and who to trust the more she stays in this new home.

I really enjoyed the world Sangoyomi created and watching Òdòdó learn and grow. If you enjoy character driven mythology stories, like Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel, I think you could enjoy this one. If you are looking for an action-packed plot, I don't think it will work as much for you. While there is a plot to follow, it takes a back seat to Òdòdó's character growth.

In the end I wanted a little more from the plot. The ending 1/3rd lost me a little because I was hoping for a bit more. I also wanted more magic since it is shelved under fantasy as it's first tag. We had glimpses of magic and ancient gods, but those were very small moments in the story. Overall, its 4 stars and I would recommend it to mythology readers!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillion Audio for providing me with an ARC for review!

- 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.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was more and better than I was expecting! Very well written, and the ending was just perfect. I would absolutely read more by this author. The narrator did a great job.

This was such a beautiful journey! I loved Ododo's character arc and the ending was completely unexpected. I ended up doing some light research on who the Alaafin of Oyo was to get some cultural context since this was new to me, but it was not necessary to understand the story (I was just curious). I had moments where I wanted to scream at Ododo only to realize I was making the same mistake as those around her and not valuing her intelligence, resilience and bravery. I truly loved this audiobook and the narrator was perfect.

Masquerade by O. O. Sangoyomi was a good read. I enjoyed the character work, world building and message of the book but it was really slow for too long so I started to lose interest a little. Overall a worth reading.

I did end up enjoying this one. I had a good time while listening. The story itself was done well. My only problem with it really felt like a me problem, not one with the book. It just seemed to go on forever. I would think that I listened to a lot but then there was still so much left. But even then I did enjoy it and would recommend it. Just check content warnings first because there are a few

Thank you Tor Forge, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for an ARC and advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a wonderful surprise of a novel and an incredibly strong debut! Thoroughly engaging and nuanced, I fully support Òdòdó’s rights and wrongs. Sangoyomi’s medieval pre-colonial West Africa is rich and in some ways, Masquerade reminds me a bit of another favorite, She Who Became the Sun. While I didn’t always remember this was a Hades and Persephone retelling (it’s more like broad strokes of the Greek myth, I think), the storytelling is solid and Òdòdó’s journey was very compelling. I loved the prose and Sangoyomi does such a great job at portraying deeply complex emotions and scenarios.

Ariel Blake is a great narrator and I think the audiobook elevated the reading experience, with each character feeling distinct. Definitely recommend!

Òdòdó is a strong blacksmith from Timbuktu where she lives with the other members of her blacksmith guild. Blacksmiths are already viewed as outsiders within the community, and now that the warrior king of Yorùbáland has conquered Timbuktu conditions have deteriorated for her guild even further. Things go from bad to worse when Òdòdó is kidnapped and brought to Sàngótè where she is forced to marry Àrèmo, the warrior king who is responsible for the conditions she and her guild finds themselves in. It seems that a simple kindness to a beggar, who was the warrior king in disguise, has lead to this predicament, but as tensions continue to grow between rival states Òdòdó sees an opportunity defy the king, but first she must repair the strained bonds that her new, unwanted position has created, or potentially lose her life along the way.

Masquerade is said to be loosely based on the myth of Persephone, which is what drew me in at first. The more pages I read the less I could see the comparison–the similarities are so very few–but I still found Masquerade to be a very entertaining story full of strong female characters. Òdòdó is a remarkable individual and I took delight in joining her on her journey. I loved watching her growth as the story went on. Sangoyomi is a masterful storyteller, using words to paint spectacular scenes and events, creating a page-turner that kept me hooked.

I also greatly enjoyed the audiobook. The inflection and changes of pace effectively conveyed the various feelings, emotions and experiences of the characters, creating a tone that fit well with the story, and the voices and accents used for the characters brought them to life. Blake’s presentation of the narrative greatly added to my overall enjoyment of the story.

Set in a reimagined 15th-century West Africa, when the warrior king abducts Òdòdó from her hometown and chooses her as his future wife, Òdòdó must tread carefully among shaky loyalties and ever-changing political alignments or risks losing everything—including her life.

MASQUERADE is a fast-paced and unputdownable debut based on the myth of Persephone. While there are fantasy elements, the story always retains its steam with just the right amount of world-building that eases the readers into this reimagined historical drama. Sangoyomi perfectly blends historical fantasy, thrilling plot twists, and character development into an adrenaline-filled story. I love following Òdòdó's journey as she navigates complex politics and hidden loyalties; I devoured MASQUERADE in a day and would happily read another 500 pages.

If you're tired of mainstream romantasy and want something different (read: more diverse), if you love reading about unhinged women, female rage, and morally gray characters, if you want to give fantasy a try, if you adore magical elephants (who doesn't?), then definitely don't miss MASQUERADE! I highly recommend this unputdownable debut to fans of KAIKEYI (Vaishnavi Patel) and THE POPPY WAR series (R.F. Kuang).

The audiobook was beautifully done. I didn't realize the story was a retelling of Persephone and Hades until about halfway through. The historical history was fascinating, but I still had trouble connecting with the characters, but that doesn't mean that this story isn't important. Sangoyomi gave a unique retelling of life for women in 15th century West Africa. I felt honored to read such an account and be immersed in a culture I am unfamiliar with. I have already begun to recommend this book to readers who love historical fiction and enjoy a story of a woman on the path to inner power and freedom. Thank you for the opportunity to listen to this story.

🎧📖 Audiobook Recommendation 💫📣 Masquerade by O. O. Sangoyomi

This unique historical fiction novel was released in July and I have to say it's not getting the hype it deserves.  It takes place in 15th century West Africa, is imbued with magical realism, and lightly borrows inspiration from the Persephone-Hades myth.  An ambitious concept for a debut novel and the author pulls it off. 

What I loved:
🏵 Our MC Òdòdó!  She's forcefully plucked from her sheltered life under the watchful eye of her mother and the woman blacksmith guild where she was raised, finding herself now navigating the dangers, delights, and courtly intrigue of the ruling class, all while being wooed into a toxic yet alluring relationship. She learns brutal lessons, is forced to make difficult decisions, and grows out of naivete into her badass self.
🩶 Did I mention that Òdòdó is morally grey?  There were points where I was like, really wow not sure how I feel about that.  But ultimately these internal conflicts and her responses made her more interesting.  This would make a good book club choice because it would be fun to discuss everyone's different reactions to Òdòdó and where the story goes.
🌍 The detailed setting in a time, place, and culture I haven't had much exposure to and thoroughly enjoyed becoming immersed in.  The lush descriptions made for a vivid reading experience without being over-wrought or dragging down the pace of the story.
💥 Daaaaaaang... that ending!  No spoilers here, but I'll just say I left this book saying WOW and feeling really satisfied.
🎧 Ariel Blake's audiobook narration was fantastic and kept me engaged.  Her beautiful intonation was captivating, and I appreciated hearing this story in an accent authentic to the story's setting.

Other thoughts:
✍️ Hard to believe this well-constructed story is a debut!  There were moments in Òdòdó's inner monologue that were a bit heavy-handed - I felt like I didn't need to be explicitly told what I can infer - but overall well-written.  Enjoyed it so much I bought the Aardvark edition! 

Thank you to the Macmillan Audio Influencer Program for my complementary copy in exchange for my honest review.

If your vibe is "I support women's rights... and wrongs," then this is the book for you. And that's exactly why it wasn't the book for me.

Òdòdó is a blacksmith, something that in this fantasy world based on the ancient West African kingdoms spanning Mali, Benin, Togo, and Nigeria, is seen as taboo and results in her being labeled a witch. Very early in the story, she is taken from her home and family and is thrown into a world of power - men's power.

Òdòdó is understandably very frustrated with the turn her life has taken - a turn that is unjustly out of her control. However, she sets out to make the best of it, spinning her forced marriage to a warrior king as a way to provide for her mother.

While at the court, before her wedding to the king, she encounters intrigue, plots, and shifty characters. How Òdòdó handled these issues was at first with a semblance of grace, but then quickly turns to ruthlessness and cruelty in her efforts to gain power. The story very much becomes a tale of Òdòdó grappling for power and respect in any way she can... leading to some unsavory choices.

I was engaged and raptly paying attention for most of the story, but I didn't enjoy how morally gray - not even that, just morally dark - Òdòdó becomes. I didn't like the ending, and the way Òdòdó lost her self in her chase of power. It was probably realistic, I'll give you that. But not very enjoyable to watch.

Other than that, the setting and world were richly described. As I mentioned, I was engaged. I even enjoyed some of the twists and turns. And lastly, the audiobook was truly stunning, excellently narrated by Ariel Blake! (If you struggle with accents in your audiobooks, be warned that this may not be the audiobook for you).