I thought that is was a good book overall. There were moments that enjoyed listening to the main character and how she overcame adversities... but there were also slower moments where it was almost too descriptive and dragged. I enjoyed listening to the parallel story of Hades and Persephone and the differences but yet similarities in the characters and their personalities. The ending was a great way to end Ododo's very tough life.

4.5 stars but rounded up

I was given an audiobook ALC via NetGalley and Macmillan Audio…this review is entirely my own.

First off…WOW. The audio narration by Ariel Blake was incredibly well done. Her voice can really tell a story! I definitely need to find more audiobooks narrated by Blake.

Second…WOW! This book is beautifully written and weaves a tale of the seduction of power and what people are willing to look past, allow and forgive for the taste of that power.

I enjoyed reading about the setting taken place in 15th century West Africa and the Persephone myth connections. If you like Historical fiction, this is definitely for you!

4.5 Stars

Thank you MacMillan Audio for the Audiobook Arc exchange for an honest review.

Masquerade is a West African Nigerian/ Yoruba retelling of Hades and Persephone. Ododo is a 19 year old Black Smith who the village people call witches lives in Timbuktu with her mother who is also a Black Smith. One day she is kidnapped and whisked away to the capital city of Ṣàngótẹ̀ after giving a stranger a rose that she foraged in her shop. The stranger ends up being Aremo , the warrior king who has taken over Yorùbáland including Ododo’s home, Timbuktu. Captured by her beauty, singing, and blacksmith skills, he wants her to be his wife and rule by his side. As Ododo steps into becoming his wife and her role in the court, political and court intrigue ensues for the quest of power.

This book is like a slow cooker or a pressure cooker. You put all your ingredients in for your dinner and let it cook slowly. You read the instructions of the slow cooker and you trust the process. When your dinner is done, the meat, vegetables and rice you had there is tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection.  That is what Masquerade is to the fullest. It’s a book that you just got to let it cook and you’ll be surprised with the contents.

The author weaves a basket of storytelling, world building and character development in the eyes of Ododo and how women are treated in general. Her character development from a 19 year old girl who was black smith taking from home to marry the warrior king to being the most powerful Women in Yorubaland is perfectly crafted.   She is a woman that as the saying goes “I support women’s rights and wrongs.” can be fitted perfectly with her. She did what she had to do in order to survive.

I do have to say that if you are a person who doesn't like slow pace books, this may not be for you. Even though I am not too fond of slow paced books myself, some parts are slow but I can tell the author was building on to something. So you have to trust the process because the payoff is so good. Like the last 30% of the book was cooking but the last 10% was straight fire. But it is the reason why I can’t give it a full five stars because some parts were a little boring but it’s a book that if you push through you will love it. I listened to the audiobook in which the narrator, Ariel Blake, was amazing with her voice. Which she did hold my attention to the story.

The characters of this book are morally grey and challenging at best. Some are doing things for themselves, while others are doing things for others. One thing I do have to say is that you have to watch your back in this book because you don’t know who is going to pull the dagger at you for their personal grain. This book pretty much becomes if Game of Thrones was set in 15th century Africa. The political scheming and intrigue was top notch. Like I just said you don’t know who to trust and who is your ally or your foe.

I will say this book is loosely based on Hades and Persephone to the point it feels like more an inspiration than an actual retelling. If you are looking for a traditional love story with the two characters based on Hades and Persephone (cough to fix your Lore Olympus fix cough) this is not the book for you. The love between Ododo and Aremo is a walking red flag, toxic, and who can use the other.

The king may say he loved her but he did kidnap her, never fully thought that she could be his equal even if he was using her for Intel, was using gifts for love, and almost turned on her at a drop of a dime when serving his interest. Even if was full of charm and had some great lines, he still was a tyrant who didn’t mind who he killed and took land from to increase his power. Even if “You are the bones that make up my spine.” was a good line, it shows what a good charmer he was.

Ododo never fully loved him but loved the fact that she could gain with him power and social standing.  Like sure, he was a walking red flag that she should have walked away from but each day she strayed she realized she liked the power and freedom it gave her being with him. Until she realized that he will never appreciate the things she did for him which she had to take matters in her own hands. I also will not call Ododo an “Evil Persephone” either. This woman was put in certain situations that were not ideal and she thought about her own survival/ place in the kingdom which she learned that quickly.

There is also social commentary on how women are treated and how they can get their agency back.  Like the black smiths who are women are called witches for no reason at all. Who they pretty saw how one person rose in the ranks and thought they can all do it too. It shows how women are treated by the moms, the guys who think they are inferior and how often they are pitted against each other instead of being unified. Like I said before I support women's rights and wrongs which this book makes you think.

This is a debut for this author but this is a masterclass on how you tell a story that if you trust what the author is trying to do, it is a payoff.  I highly recommend this one and can’t wait to see what Ms. Sangoyomi writes next. I just wish I had the physical arc of it to put in my library instead of the digital. Lol Will be buying this one!

Also lets give it up for the beautiful cover!

TLDR: Red flags!! Red flags!! Everything is NOT alright.

I have some serious thoughts on this book, but I'm keeping this review short and sweet because I don't feel like throwing caution to the wind…like the main character of this book. Ododo, Ododo, how I wanted to really like and root for you Ododo. But, alas, you were headstrong, obstinate, and naive.

Apparently, this book is a Hades and Persephone retelling set in historical Africa in what is now known as Nigeria. If you know me, you know that Hades is one of my favorite Greek gods. If you know me, you also know that I have an almost infinitesimal amount of romance that I like in my stories. I have never read a Hades and Persephone romance. But, now that I have, I can add it to the list of romances I don't like. Don’t worry, it will have great company right up there with enemies-to-lovers. I know. How dare I!

The problem I have with this romance is that this dude was throwing red flags up, down, left and right and Ododo was shrugging them off like they didn’t even matter. From the very first time she described his eyes as some kind of dark pooling orbs when he looked at her, arrangements would have had to be made to extricate myself from this man’s interest, expeditiously. I would have run for the hills, hid out in the Sahara. No means no everyday of the week and in every freaking century, historical fiction or not. And, that was just the beginning, the triggers kept progressively getting worse and worse. I don’t know how she stomached that man for so long. I really just couldn’t get with this supposed romance.

The plot progression and underlying message in this book are the main two things I liked about it. I also enjoyed the world building. The plot never felt like it dragged to me. I enjoyed reading about day-to-day life in Yorubaland. Well, I don't know if enjoy is the right word. It would be best be described as intrigued. I could never enjoy anything with that dude around. King or not, I hate that dude.

I want to say the ending was unexpected, but honestly, it took way too long to happen at all in my humble opinion. It should’ve happened in chapter 2 when he showed her the kind of man he really was. Ugh!

Ariel Blake, the narrator did an amazing job with the audiobook. Her voice is perfect for the inflections and accents needed.

3.5/5

A fascinating character study of a woman who is kidnapped from her home by a king and her journey as she rises through the ranks of the royal city, even as she deals with her complicated feelings for her kidnapper. A promising debut.

“Masquerade” is loosely based on the myth of Hades and Persephone set in the 15th century in West Africa. Ododo is working as a blacksmith and witch as she has been unsuccessful as a woman, when she is kidnapped by the warrior king of Yorubaland and is expected to be his wife. The book explores “the true costs of one women’s fight for freedom and self discovery.”

I am sitting here struggling writing this review. I really enjoyed this book all the way up to the last chapter or two. It is a complex coming of age story where Ododo fights to be the woman she is capable of despite her circumstances. After reading, I googled the story of Hades and Persephone and enjoy it more understanding some of the context. Unfortunately, I feel like the last couple of chapters veered from the myth, felt rushed and inauthentic to how I read the rest of the story, and left me somewhat confused. I can understand why the author ended the story in the way that they did, but would have liked a little more blatant foreshadowing to prepare me for this turn of events. Or maybe rereading this knowing more about the story of Hades and Persephone would enhance the read. Overall, I did enjoy the book and recommend it to those that enjoy mythology retellings or historical fantasy.

Thank you Macmillian Audio and Forge books for a copy of this one!

Masquerade is a 15th Century West Africa retelling of Hades and Persephone. It was filled with so many twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat. It was dark and complex but such an engaging read with beautiful writing. I enjoyed it!

What You'll Find:
Strong FMC
Morally Grey characters
Political intrique
Immersive read
Dark love story

Y'all, this book is SO GOOD!!! I need it to pop off and become a huge hit because it's an incredibly impressive debut and I want to see more from this author. Masquerade is an African-inspired political fantasy novel, loosely drawing on the Hades and Persephone myth. To set expectations, this is not an underworld situation, rather it is a story about a woman who is kidnapped by a warrior king who falls in love with her and wants to make her his bride. But if you're expecting something like a traditional romance, that's not what this is.

The entire story is about Òdòdó, the main character, reclaiming her agency and finding a way to wield the power that she has always dreamed of. It wasn't what I expected, but it is brilliantly crafted with nuance and gritty details. Attention is paid to the ways women and children are often underestimated and can use that to their advantage. It is at times a brutal story, but I think the situation warrants it. This is a very low-magic fantasy. Some women are called witches, but it's unclear whether they wield any actual powers or are simply feared because they are independent and unmarried.

Seriously though, go pick this up! It's truly fantastic. And the audio narration is excellent. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC!

"Men called us witches, they thought us demons, and yet, it was them who wished to possess us."

MASQUERADE is an immersive, compelling historical fantasy set in the 15th century that's based on African mythology but also has similarities to the Hades / Persephone storyline. If you're looking for morally gray characters or you love villains like me, look no further.

Òdòdó is a blacksmith from Timbuktu, shunned by society and deemed a witch. When the Aláàfin (king) of Yorùbáland conquers Timbuktu, she is captured and taken to Ṣàngótẹ̀ (in Nigeria) and told that she will be the Aláàfin's wife.

With a narrative centered on the place of women within society, O. O. Sangoyomi does a masterful job of writing enticing politics and drama and throwing in shocking twists that kept me wanting more. Did all of the characters make some questionable choices? Absolutely. Do I love some well-thought-out secrets and betrayal? Also yes.

Don't miss this this debut!

I loved this on audio, narrated by Ariel Blake!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook!
I'd first like to acknowledge the immensely talented Ariel Blake who narrated this book so beautifully. Her performance was absolutely enthralling. And, the story itself was just as engaging as the perfect narration. This is the first book I've read set in West Africa, but somehow, I was able to envision myself in this world and in this time. I loved seeing the morally grey rise of Ododo from a life of servitude to a life of chaotic influence. There were so many moments when I didn't know what was coming next and was surprised in the most entertaining ways. This was a solid 4.5 for me!

This book is pure chaos and I loved it. The meeting of Greek mythology and African folklore makes for deeply captivating storytelling. Each time I felt like I knew what might happen next the story was taken in another direction and I was completely enthralled. The audio narrator did an amazing job delivering the rollercoaster of ups and downs from poor blacksmith to warrior witch and every thing in between.

This book sucked me in immediately and kept me engaged the whole time. I did not want to put the book down! I didn't know until I was finished with the book that it is a Nigerian retelling of Persephone, which is cool because I love mythological retellings especially when they blend different cultures' mythologies, but i loved this book even without knowing that. The characters are complex and I loved watching Ododo grow into herself. I look forward to more by this author!
I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator does a fantastic job as well!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook for review purposes.

Powerful emotions as you meet each character and learn about every circumstance. Powerfully feminine.

Actual Rating 4.5

I loved how strong and capable the protagonist was but also how realistic her growth was. She was relatable and made for a wonderful narrator. The remaining characters were also quite strong, written to be unique and well developed. I also loved the emphasis on female relationships in this one and how they were portrayed.

The setting was beautifully written. It was incorporated throughout the story in a way that brought the world to life and supported the characters and plot. The writing was beautiful in many places and added to the immersion. Another thing I loved was the direction this book took. I was convinced I knew how it would end and wasn’t particularly excited about it, but the author surprised me, and it was excellent.

While this is categorized as a work of fantasy, it wasn’t at all. I would call this straight historical fiction, which wasn’t a bad thing but adjust your expectations. The narrator did an excellent job, and I highly recommend checking out the audiobook. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work, which will be published July 2. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book is feminine rage.

The last 14 minutes of this book are INSANE. My best recommendation is to go into this without knowing a single thing. Don't read the description, don't look up other reviews, just pick this up and enjoy the ride. Because I think the biggest reason I am giving this 4 instead of 5 is because I read what this book was based on and I read the alleged tropes and so the entire time I was expecting things or looking for them or waiting for them.

This book was bananas. This book was incredible. I loved it. There are parts that are a little slow but they are worth pushing through because daannnnng is the whole ending of this book (like the last 3 hours or so) is so good and so worth it.

A very interesting coming-of-age tale set in Africa. The author did well painting the picture of Sangote, the royal city, and the life of riches inside. The main character, Ododo, is transfixed by the power held by the men of the city, including her kidnapper, the King. Ododo's character begins as an innocent young woman, but becomes the bride of the king, a transformation that takes the reader on many surprising twists and turns. Ododo is sometimes difficult to like, but the author does well keeping the reader engaged throughout the story. The narrator does an excellent job, particularly when considering how different her voice is in the introduction and final credits compared to the narration of the story. I enjoyed the setting of the novel, and reading about the culture of Yorubaland. There were some points in the story where it seemed to be a bit slow, which is the reason for 4/5 starts. Overall, I would recommend this book, particularly if you are looking for something different than what is typically seen on the shelves in the US.

I loved every aspect of this book and am SO glad I had the audio to listen to because the narrator, Ariel Blake, had a lyrical voice that was perfect for O.O. Sangoyomi’s gorgeous writing: the two paired beautifully.

The plot, the setting, the world building and the dark & magical aspects were simply breathtaking. I loved the focus on elephants and the role they played, I loved the underlying current of women are more than they’re given credit for and Òdòdó’s character growth was fantastic. I loved that she didn’t fit into the cookie cutter role of mousey girl turned warrior. Her change was much more subtle and realistic, which was refreshing and a take I don’t think we see often.

The underlying heartbeat of this story represented this quote perfectly:

“As long as I belonged to a man I would never have any power of my own.”

I was less interested in the political aspect, this is simply my personality as a whole, but I found the political system throughout this story to be easy to follow and don’t end up confusing me to a point where it took my out of the story. I felt like I was right there, walking with elephants and warriors - what an experience which again, one quote depicts perfectly:

“I could’ve consumed the world and still died famished.”

And I absolutely died for the ending. How perfect and full circle and just, ugh. Bravo Sangoyomi.

Okay this was darker than I expected and I have conflicted feelings about it. Masquerade is an interesting portrayal of a 19 year old trying to survive in a patriarchal society. She's a complex MC who makes decisions that serve her own interests which was difficult to see when it involved decisions that hurt other women to get ahead. I wish the author had chosen a more clear direction with their take on the Hades and Persephone myth. Many takes romanticize the relationship (a choice I've enjoyed many times before). Other takes subvert the story and point out the problems with that dynamic. The author confused me because she did both - she had our main character deeply in love with this guy while also showing us how toxic their relationship was. It was very uncomfortable to read. Many parts of this book were difficult to get through. I was waiting for a reason for the grittiness, for the suffering. I really wanted to see our MC triumph in the end or learn something as a result of everything that had happened to her. The ending felt a bit rushed and didn’t give me as much closure as I would have liked about where our MC is now and who she will be going forward. I'm struggling with my feelings with the book because I want female MCs to have the room to make decisions that are self-serving/be more morally gray but for some reason I found myself struggling with her more controversial choices. I still had a good time with the story and really loved how rich the world felt. I was very immersed in the story and I think that's part of what made the difficult subject matter hard to read about. This book is like nothing I've ever read before and I'm very glad I picked it up. It was an unusual reading experience but definitely worth the read.

Oh my gosh this narrator was incredible. I felt transported listening to their portrayal of all the characters. I would love to listen to more of their books. If you can get this book on audio, definitely go for it because it was a fantastic listening experience!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for the advanced audiobook.

Audiobook & narration: 5/5
Book content: 4/5

The narrator did an exceptional job at providing passion and tension where needed and really immersed me into the story.

The book started off a little slow for me. The beginning was too dense and i struggled to find the plot at first. However, I am so glad I kept going though, because Sangoyomi created one beautiful and intense story. There's also the perfect hint of mythology retelling that I found particularly enjoyable. Historical fiction fans will devour this.

What a great mix of historical fiction and Nigerian myth. I love a strong female lead and Ododo was one! The plot and character arc kept me right up to the end. I will definitely be recommending this to fellow readers.