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.

"The Maid and the Crocodile" by Jordan Ifueko, narrated by the incredibly talented Adetinpo Thomas, is a story that effortlessly weaves together themes of found family, self-discovery, and the search for one's place in the world. The audiobook truly shines with Thomas's narration—her voice draws you in, making you feel as though you're right there with the characters, living their experiences.

What I found particularly captivating was how the story balanced deep, thought-provoking questions—like the long-term impact of justice, the process of healing from the past, and the role of ordinary people in a revolution—while still maintaining a gripping and fast-paced narrative. Sade’s journey, with all its complexity and emotional depth, really stole the show for me. Her resilience and growth were beautifully portrayed, making her a character you can’t help but root for.

The love story between the Maid and the Crocodile is both unique and engaging, but it's Sade’s arc that gives the story its heart. Despite the hardships she faces, there’s an underlying sense of hope that permeates the narrative, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, there’s light to be found.

Overall, "The Maid and the Crocodile" is a powerful, hopeful tale that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt out of place or yearned for something more. If you’re looking for a story that combines rich character development with a touch of fantasy and deep, meaningful themes, this is one you won’t want to miss.

This book was so beautiful interwoven within the raybearer series but so lightly that you would hardly notice if haven’t read those books. But I would recommend reading them before starting this book there are some major spoilers for the raybearer and the redemptor. I love how lively the African storytelling jumps of the pages. The way that African culture and (what I think) mythology spat of the pages it makes for an amazing listen.

The only reason this book doesn’t have a higher rating is that the narrator did voices and different accents but that are always deal breakers for me. What was amazing though that the narrator did the whole book with an African accent. I don’t know of that is her normal accent but still excellent casting

This is a mildly dark fairytale from the author of Raybearer. Set in the same world, after the events of the duology we follow a young girl who leaves the orphanage where she was raised and gets pulled into the world of the clay gods as a curse eater. As the story progresses we see that, while having some supernatural gifts, its herself that is the most amazing thing. The Author, Jordan Ifueko, does an amazing job of making sure that we as the audience knows that while having magic is helpful it's not the only thing needed when plotting out a bigger life than the one you were born into.

The Narrator does a really lovely job of bring all the characters to life. Our FMC sings to "activate" her magic and the narrator does an amazing of chanting/signing with the emotion of the scene. She does do different voices for the other characters as well. There is a good flow during the narration as well.

Overall this was a great story and wonderfully told. I don't think you need to have read Raybearer before this but it wouldn't hurt. There were some parts that I was confused over because I didn't have the backstory but there were enough context clues that I wasn't completely lost or brought out of the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Recorded Books for this ALC!

- I knew this would be a 5 star book, and by the end I knew this would be one of my top reads of the year. I cannot stop recommending it because it really is just that good!!
- One important thing to know is that while this book can be read separate from the Raybearer duology, it does have major spoilers for both books! If you are planning to read Raybearer and Redemptor (which I also highly rec), you should read them before this one.
- I am always so impressed by how Jordan Ifueko can write these incredibly deep stories full of these incredibly challenging questions (what does justice look like long term? How can we heal from our past? What place do “normal people” have in a revolution?), while also keeping the story moving.
- I love Howl’s Moving Castle, and this book has done the best job of any with capturing the important, small details from the original (Sade just wanting to be a maid, the Crocodile’s temperamentalness and silly amounts of vanity, Sade being frightened by the Crocodile’s power).
- The way Ifueko writes Sade’s inner monologue, especially with how she internalizes the inn’s Mistress’s manipulations, is so incredibly well done. It’s so hard to watch happen as well.
- The whole concept of silt is so mundane and magical at the same time, and it fits so well into the overall story.

This book made me feel so much I can barely corral my thoughts into coherence.

Racism, classism, found family, disability representation, magic, consent, justice, romance – This book had it all, without sacrificing the world building and depths of characters.

I loved the songs throughout (the narrator actually SINGS!), the nods to Diane Wynn Jones’ work, and the non-Hollywood, yet still happy ending.

I wish we could have seen more of Sabe’s gifts, when they weren’t being misused, but maybe that’ll come in further works.

Thanks to NetGalley, RBMedia, and ABRAMS kids for this incredible ARC.

One of the best YA fantasy books I’ve read! The writing is incredibly captivating with how Sade is telling “you” the story and makes for the perfect audiobook. The weaving of fantastical elements within a society very much still struggling with class divisions between the rich and poor was done very artfully. There is so much to learn here and so much to think about. I was completely enchanted by the animal companion, the found family, and the sweet romance between the Crocodile and Sade. There were moments that also had me raging at the unfairness of the world.

Small Sade accidentally finds herself bound to a powerful God known as the Crocodile. He is known to devour young girls and is surrounded by mystery. Sade also has a gift, she is a Curse Eater. The handsome Crocodile keeps showing up to help Sade, no matter how many times she pushes him away, insisting that their fates are linked. There is also no denying the intense chemistry between the two. Small Sade begins a new job at an inn where the owner uses Sade’s gift to further her own social standing as well as that of her daughters. The Crocodile and Sade share similar beliefs as secrets surface about his past and her gifts are tested.

I loved this well crafted story filled with unique characters. There is a lot more to the story than meets the eye. There is a political and class struggle as well as an underlying romance balanced with the power of self and one’s beliefs. An outstanding read that can be read alone without any knowledge of the previous books in the Raybearer Series. The narration was fantastic—spoken with emotion and well acted, immersive!!

5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The FMC is a disabled teen domestic worker who can change the fate of people by cleaning their houses. Of course, the wealthy exploit her abilities. The FMC meets a god, the crocodile, that is rumored to eat beautiful girls. The crocodile and the maid develop a friendship. Their relationship is sometimes unwanted by the FMC. I couldn't stop thinking about this book! It is beautifully written and performed. It's a cozy fantasy story that has found family, disability representation, and romance.

This is a new to me author and I am so glad I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. The narrator, Adetinpo Thomas, did a wonderful job bringing the story to life.

4.5 stars rounded up

I'm fully rooting for Small Sade in this book!! It has been awhile since I read the Raybearer duology and therefore took me a bit into the book to remember who some of the side characters are. But what's great about The Maid and the Crocodile is you can read it as a standalone, though I might suggest reading the Raybearer books first if you don't like spoilers.

This was a beautifully written YA fantasy novel following a poor, disabled young woman with a secret magical ability to eat curses. She unwittingly binds herself to the crocodile god who is more than he seems and must decide whether to take her fate into her own hands. Small Sade is a fantastic character who has been through a lot but never lost her spark. And she faces microagressions as well as truly abusive treatment through the course of this book, but I love seeing her path to overcoming it. Disability is handled pretty well and it's never something to be fixed. Which can be a problem in books with magic. And there's a low-key romance plot too! It took me a minute to get into this, but I ended up really loving it. The narration is great and feels like being told a story while creating this atmosphere of a magical version of Africa. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

This book was so sweet and unique and the romance was so beautifully written. The world that Ifueko builds is engrossing and the characters, even the minor ones, are well-developed. As far as the audiobook goes, Thomas' narration is perfect for the setting and I was pleasantly surprised that none of the characters were annoying to listen to. From what I understand, this story is a stand-alone but takes place in a larger universe. I will definitely be looking into more books from this author!

3.5, the narrator for this audiobook is so so great! I loved the different voices and accents and the singing was wonderful, too! That being said, I found it hard to stay engaged with this one. I’m not sure if it’s because I really don’t recall anything of the Raybearer duology or if maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for an audiobook. There were parts of this I really enjoyed, like the found family aspect and Sade as a character, but I was never fully invested. I might try to give it another go in ebook format!

This is perfection.

I absolutely adored this book and found the narrator to be a perfect fit for this wonderful story. Having no prior knowledge of this series, I had no issue jumping into this book as it works well as a standalone.

Truly such a rich and bold story is woven here with amazing lore and emotion that kept me wanting more and more. We’re really guided through such a wonderful story about not only finding who you are but finding your people and your place. Through magic, fantasy, and song we are so immersed that I found myself crying, smiling, and hanging on every word.

Truly such a wonderful book.

This is the third book I've read from this author, and once again, she has knocked it out of the park!!!! I loved going back to this world and immersing myself in the stories of new and old characters. There were so many poignant points in this book and I loved the way the author chose to tell the story through the various characters' choices and inner monolgues. Seeing Small Sade come into her own was a sometimes rough, sometimes funny, but always captivating journey. The Crocodile was so adorable in this story, and I'm glad we got to see more of him. I think it's safe to say that I will be reading anything else this author puts out. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book to add to my collection of books set in the Raybearer world (The cover of the audio book is my favorite so far).
I completely enjoyed the narration of the audio book. The character voices were so easy to distinguish and each felt at home with the individual they represented. I also really loved the singing and found myself humming along. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves a YA / New Adult fantasy books.

Thank you to Netgalley and RBmedia for providing a copying of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.