I’ll definitely consider reading Raybearer at some point because Jordan Ifueko’s writing style was absolutely amazing! It truly felt like reading a folktale at times and the atmosphere of the world and the city were truly palpable. However I think this should’ve been maybe 50 pages longer because the author would just hit the pacing marks too soon, and it felt overall a bit rushed and underdeveloped in some aspects, notably the romance. I liked the perspective on activism but that made me not root for their romance when hearing how he perceived her work as a maid. The ending focused too much on what they achieved and not how they did it, and I wished we’d seen more of Crocodile once he had actually changed and learned, to make me root for the romance. Aside from that, I really liked the messaging of the overall story and it’s quite funny because it parallels what I am currently studying in German literature class, with the revolutionary artistic movements of the 19th century. Trump fangirls will tell you this is commie propaganda. 3.75 stars

This was one of the most spellbinding audiobook narrations ever, I loved listening to every second. Immersive, fantastical, and amazing! I love that this story tackles a variety of challenging topics in a way that is really accessible, including disability representation and classism. I loooooved the character of small shade, so endlessly herself and so well developed. Cannot recommend the audiobook enough, it was so well done.

Thank you to RBmedia and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this audiobook production

I loved The Maid and the Crocodile. I didn’t realize at first that it was part of the Raybearer universe, but fortunately, it works perfectly as a standalone novel—you don’t need any prior knowledge to enjoy it. The audiobook was beautifully produced, and I especially appreciated the trigger warnings provided at the start. The story immediately pulled me in, and I finished it within two days. The magical system was intricately woven into the narrative, adding a deeper emotional resonance. Overall, it’s a captivating young adult fantasy that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to RBmedia and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook.

Thank you Net Galley and Abrams Kids (Amulet Books) & RB Media for sending this book ( audio arc) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The Narrator was fabulous and brought the story to life. I could imagine my self in Small Sade's world. I loved the characters and the slow burn romance. Ifueko tackles some heavy topics in this book but in a beautiful story of hope and one girl's strength. This is a great fantasy book that isn't heavy on the romance.

A really lovely fantasy. Sade is a likeable and believable protagonist and the plot and pacing are very solid. Ifueko has not really mastered romance yet though and the subplot isn’t very satisfying. The audiobook is delightful thanks to the narrator singing the appropriate parts and decent vocal characterizations.

This review is in exchange for an ARC Audiobook from NetGalley

Genuinely so good! I remember reading Raybearer and enjoying the story, but that was a while ago. Listening to this brought me right back to the world. I loved getting to experience this world from the viewpoint of a common person. Both main characters were endearing, likable, and relatable. I am really glad the author chose to add to this world and touch on tough topics.

I left reviews on both goodreads and amazon.

This was such an adventurous read, and also one that's going to stick with me for a lot longer! I've read the Raybearer dualogy when it was released and it's one of my all time favourites, so I was extremely excited for this standalone set in the same world. And I can assure you that Jordan Ifueko does it again!

"The Maid and the Crocodile", while being marketed as a romantasy is definitely more than that. We follow Small Sade, who starts her job as a maid in one of the inns in the city, and the book focuses on her journey of self discovery and growth. Because of an unfortunate incident in her previous workplace, Sade has an injured leg and has to rely on a cane for walking. While many look at her as a weak person, she never lets any of it get to her! She works diligently and even questions the wrongness of the society as the plot progresses. I liked how assertive and strong she was in her opinions!!

On the other hand, we follow Crocodile who's cursed to turn into a beast and Sade might be the only one who can cure his curse. From the moment we are introduced to him, it's so obvious that he's not the "murderous beast" everyone portrays him to be! He's intelligent, caring and also highly observant! He never intends to ask Sade to help him but instead helps her in every step of the way. He makes her see the value in herself, and I loved that about him.

The book heavily focuses on the aspects of revolution and the need for a world where everyone has equal rights and freedom to do what they want. The idea that people should not be bound by where they're born, and should be allowed to follow their passion and should not be looked down even if it's something so menial is highlighted in the novel. There's a lot of trigger warnings too, so I'd advise looking them up before starting it.

The narrator did a wonderful job of portraying the characters of the novel, and the emotional scenes were particularly well-done in my opinion. And it was noteworthy that Sade sings throughout the novel as it's part of her job and the audiobook narrator did not just read the lines but sung them perfectly! It added to a more pleasant experience of listening to the audiobook.

Overall, this was such a well-rounded YA fantasy that I'd highly recommend it for people looking for more than romance in their fantasy books! Also it's perfect for readers who love "Howl's Moving Castle" and "Half A Soul."

Huge thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for sending me the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved how effortless the author made the worldbuilding seem. Little details and facts about the world and setting were incorporated throughout the exposition and dialogue in a way that created an immersive experience without infodumps or feeling forced. The story and events were creative and intriguing, and I found myself completely engaged.

Something else the author excelled at were the characters. Even the secondary characters were well developed and felt like they were there for more than just decoration or support of the protagonist. I loved the character growth that occurred and how meaningful it was. This facet alone made the ending of the story even more impactful.

This work is a companion to the Raybearer series, and I’m going to have to read it now. Thankfully, you don’t have to have any prior knowledge of the series to enjoy this one. However, I did see after I read this that this book has some pretty major spoilers for the series (oops), so if you want to read the series, DO NOT read this first. I listened to the audiobook version of this work, and the narrator was fabulous – she did many voices that added much to this experience.

While this work is YA, it was only YA in the best of ways (suitable for younger readers, dealt with difficult topics in a way that was age appropriate, etc.). If you like fantasy set in a fascinating world with strong characters, this is a must read. Many thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Intrigued by the cover and as a fan of the author's previous Raybearer books, I couldn't resist clicking request on this new standalone set in the same universe as Raybearer and Redemptor. Unique but with the same fantasy inspired flare, this was another entertaining, multi-layered reads that was also good on audio. Highly recommended even if you haven't read anything by this author before. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was really good! I do not generally read fantasy and have not read any of the other Raybearer books (I may go get them now!) but I was really drawn into Small Sade's adventures and the world of Oluwan City and just the Realmhood in general. The narrator was also excellent.

Disclaimer: I received this audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for the possibility with honest review. This is my honest review that I chose to post willingly.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to the end. The mythology was so well crafted and interesting, but I was constantly waiting for the next thing to happen. I loved the main female character and how strong and assertive if she was even in the place of extreme adversity.

I loved the representation. We have a character with limb differences as well as vitiligo. I like how the character constantly found ways to overcome and sore over their disabilities versus trying to fix them. As a disabled individual, I hate when disabilities are magically erased. I enjoyed the disabilities being mentioned throughout the story as well as how the character managed with those disabilities.

The themes tackled within this novel are very important today's times. The narrative that people in poverty are kept in poverty by those who are in a higher earning class is so on point. People who have more money and are more well off. Do not want to do the tasks that poverty stricken people are willing to do and they are not willing to pay a fair livable wage or treat those people like people. it is such a strong message to send to today's youth, and I even took from it as an adult.

this was just such a well crafted and told story. I cannot wait to read more by this author. You do not necessarily need to read the Raybearer series in order to enjoy the novel, but I do recommend that.

This colourful story was everything I had come to expect from Jordan, I loved Raybearer but I loved this one even more. Highly recommend.

I think I simply enjoy her writing style.

This story was a great pallet cleanser. I wish I could have experienced it closer to when I read books 1&2

Jordan Ifueko is a masterful writer who I can't get enough of. This book takes us back to the same world as the Raybearer duology, but into a totally different character for *such* a different viewpoint. I couldn't get enough of The Maid and the Crocodile!

Okay, I am late to the Jordan Ifueko party, but oh, wow. This novel is billed as a standalone romantasy set in the world of the Raybearer. About which I know nothing.

Instead I dove into this expertly narrated story (kudos to Adetimbo Thomas for presenting distinctive voices of different genders with various accents and intonations, from West African to North American to—I might guess East Indian) without much expectations. If anything I was thinking it might be a bit like <I>Howl's Moving Castle </I> (a magic house, a handsome cursed wizard, a downtrodden girl), but I was dazzled by the novel's unique direction.

The story begins with Small Sade, an orphan with a mangled foot from a child-labor injury, the ability to see guilt and joy as dust, and the will to survive in the huge city of Oluwan when she "graduates" from the orphanage. Her magical gift — she can see and clean feelings, which mades her a genuine Sin-Eater — draws the attention of The Crocodile, a cursed magic-worker who is hiding layer after layer of secrets behind the doors of his shrine.

It's a book full of big themes and hard-fought victories, as Small Sade slowly learns that she might indeed do better than to stay in her limited place, staying meek and permitting her gift to be exploited by the same wealthy nobles who ran the factory where her foot was injured.

This story is sweeping in scope: it's both political and personal, full of rich detail steeped in West African tradition. I loved the characters, from Small Sade and her squad of co-workers to the tiny gecko who acts as a messenger of a god, reserving a special spot for the revolution-minded Crocodile, with his waist-length braids and his deep deep voice. Their romance struck the right balance for me of sweet, forthright attraction and the earnest search to reconcile their various inequalities. Small Sade's transformation embracing her power and using it to effect social change is hugely satisfying and convincing.

Now to read the rest of the stories about the world of the Raybearers!

Thanks to NetGalley and RB Audio for the audio-ARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

This was absolutely exceptional. I was rendered speechless by this. Seriously. Jordan's story telling and ability to weave myth is unparalleled.

Rating: Really Enjoyed It, 4 stars

I had a really great time returning to the world of the Raybearer in this one! It is not necessary to have read first, but there were connections to the duology that were so fun! It had been a little while since I had last read the series, so it took me a little bit to place everyone, but I loved it!

We follow Small Sade, an orphan with a permanent injury to her foot as she makes her way into the big city in the hopes of getting a position as a maid. She has the unique ability to see spirit silt, which allows her to cleanse people's houses of more than just dirt - she is able to rid them of guilt worms, doubt spores, and the like. She accidentally binds herself to the crocodile god who is destined to turn into a beast, and shenanigans ensue from there.

I loved the elements of found family in this. It also explores essential workers, imperialism, and class structures. I found it really fascinating to return to the world where we followed the heads of the empire, and see the perspective of those at the other end of society. I found the themes really compelling, and something that we don't see super often in fantasy novels; however, it was a little on the nose at times..

Overall, I had a good time. I will say that it is marketed as a romantasy, and I think that the romance was definitely much more of a subplot. It was paced well, and I read it quickly. The audiobook was excellent as well! I loved that it felt like I was being told a story. The narrator does have a fairly thick accent, so I wasn't able to speed it up as much as I usually do, but it was an excellent audiobook!

Overall, I think this was a fun addition, and if you enjoyed Raybearer, you'll probably enjoy this book!

I recieved an early copy for review from Netgalley and RBMedia. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have not read the Raybearer duology, so I went into this book hoping to still be able to follow along, and I was relieved to know I could. This book follows the life of Sade, an orphan maid in look for a job in a big city. She gets bound to a god by mistake and needs to learn how to navigate her new life.
There are some pretty dark topics discussed, all handled with tact and respect. The cast of characters was diverse, and they all had their own character arc, even the smallest ones.
One thing that made this reading experience wonderful was the narrator, she was fenomenal, perfect in every way.
I really enjoyed this book, and I will definetely read Raybearer now.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publishers for this audiobook arc. This is my first book I have read from Jordan Ifueko and I was not disappointed. Such a grand story and to put it simply the narrator Adetinpo Thomas was amazing. Accents, women, men, children, older people and singing, it was all top tier. In Millennial terms she killed it. In Gen Z terms she ate. It felt like multiple people were bringing the characters to life. I really enjoyed this story.

All the stars to the audiobook narrator, Adetinpo Thomas!

Imagine my surprise when I found out that this was her first audiobook. She breathed life into this novel and it made my listening experience very enjoyable! I hope she tackles more audiobooks in the future. I’ll legit listen to anything she’ll narrate, even if it’s out of my usual genres.

Onto the novel…

I’ve heard of Jordan Ifueko’s Raybearer series, but I haven’t read them yet. The summary says that The Maid and the Crocodile can be read as a standalone, but some reviewers have said that it contains spoilers for the Raybearer series. I’m not too hung up on spoilers usually, so this doesn’t really bother me. YMMV though.

This was such a great YA fantasy! I loved the characters and the world building. The author creates such a rich and lush African-inspired world, with an interesting fantasy basis with magic and gods that influence people’s lives.

I loved Small Sade as a strong FMC. It’s not everyday that you get an FMC who has to use a cane, and also has vitiligo.

Even though she’s down on her luck, the author writers her so skillfully that it’s not a “woe is me” story. Instead, it’s a story of survival, self-discovery, and creating your destiny. And I love the “Will they? Won’t they?” interactions between Small Sade and the crocodile god.

This book made me excited to start the Raybearer series!

Thank you to Abrams Books, Recorded Books and NetGalley for this arc.