The Maid and the Crocodile is a profound story about love, grief, hope and evolution. You are immersed into the world of Oluwan City and introduced to our heroine Small Sade. At just 17, she has endured what most have not in their entire lifetime. Sade is an orphan, she has a physical disability and she is now homeless after being aged-out of the orphan system. On her quest to find employment and enter the "real world" she has a strange encounter in which she accidentally binds herself to the Crocodile God. After these two meet, Sade's life is set on course of adventure, friendship, healing, finding family, self-actualization and love.

The story was captivating from beginning to end. The plot was engaging and told in the second person. This method of story telling allowed me to feel like I was hearing Sade tell her own legacy story for *me* to pass down to the next generation. It hooked me in and made the events in the story that much more noteworthy.

I enjoyed all of the characters in the story. The Amenities now hold space in my heart and I'm sure they will hold space in yours too. All in all, you will not be disappointed. Jordan Ifueko's writing is so descriptive that you are teleported into that universe and captivated by its beauty. Undoubtedly phenomenal.

Adetinpo Thomas' narration was absolutely amazing. Her ability to change her voice allowed each character a chance in the spotlight and added personality to the story. A great listen and in totality an outstanding story.

Favorite quote: "What if there is nothing wrong with being an ant?" I wondered aloud. “What if together, we could be stronger than any giant?"

**Thank you to RBmedia and NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

This was a delightful offshoot of the first two books. I would recommend reading those first so as to not get anything spoiled because there is some overlap. I listened to the audiobook and truly enjoyed the different accents and songs. The author creates a world that feels African (more western) and has a sense of folk tale to it as well.

I love love love Jordan’s writing. I love this world and I love her story telling and I need EVERYONE to read her books! I will forever be greatful for any book she puts out even her comic series!

4.75 rounded up! This was everything I was hoping it would be.

This follows Small Sade as she ages out of the orphanage she grew up in. While trying to find a job as a maid, she gets thrown into the world of the Crocodile. She is also more than your average maid with the ability to clean curses.

Great disability representation and found family. A refreshing take on essential workers in a fantasy world.

Song plays an integral part in the story, so I would highly recommend the audiobook as Adetinpo Thomas brings the song to life.

If you've read Raybearer, don't skip this one. If you haven't read Raybearer/Redemptor, I would recommend starting there unless you don't mind some big spoilers.

Thank you NetGalley and Recorded Books for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko is a delightful, magic-filled story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Small Sade, the main character, is incredibly endearing, and her journey is both touching and full of surprises. The dynamic between her and the Crocodile adds a unique twist to the story that kept me hooked from start to finish.

The narration by Adetinpo Thomas was fantastic. She brought so much warmth and energy to the story, making the characters and the world of Oluwan come alive. Her performance made the audiobook experience even more enjoyable, and I highly recommend listening to it.

I really enjoy the author's writing style, and I think I would enjoy her other book(s) within this universe. I also love her representation, as Small Sage (the FMC) has a physical disability and Vitiligo. This particular book, however, was not for me. I really wanted to like it because I did enjoy the author's writing, but a quarter of the way through the book and I didn't care at all about any characters or the plot. Ultimately, I DNF'd this book, but I have bumped Raybearer higher on my TBR.

I saw the reels the author made to describe this book and RAN to Netgalley to request it. I really liked the ray bearer series but this is a standalone in the same world and I loved it even more than I thought I would.

Sade is in desperate need of a job and she is hopeful to work in a wealthy house as a maid before she can get hired she accidentally gets bound to an old cursed god. She needs to break his curse all while keeping her new job.

I love this world (especially the characters)and feel like the writing is done so well you won’t necessarily need to read the Raybearer series to enjoy this one.

Thanks to netgalley and Recorded Books for an alc

This was sweet, beautiful, whimsical, and thought provoking! It definitely lives up to the "Howl's Moving Castle" comp which I loved.

I read this without reading the Raybearer series, and didn't feel lost. I wanted a bit more from the romance, but they were very cute with lots of great moments. Highly recommend if you're a fan of YA fantasy!

The audiobook was excellent.

Wow. This book was magnificent. The layered characters, the story weaving... I was absolutely hooked. I loved Small Sade. Literally everything about her. The character is so perfectly crafted and the crocodile! Listening to these two as the grew closer and started to really see each other was its own form of magic. This is the kind of book that makes you want to jump down the authors entire catalog from the beginning. The audiobook is well performed and certainly kept me entertained. This is one book that you do want to have the physical copy for because it's that good and you'll want to highlight and notate in every chapter. Excellent work.

Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape media for the free ALC. What an amazing book. Loved the narration, the story the fantasy aspect the entire thing was just perfection. I will absolutely add this to my forever shelf.

5/5☆

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The Maid and the Crocodile is a powerful, tender, and beautifully cozy YA fantasy with fantastic characters and an entertaining plot.

I had so much fun with this one! The Howl’s Moving Castle vibes were *chef’s kiss. The story was cozy and hopeful, with fun and magic woven throughout. It’s the perfect read to brighten your day or help you relax after a long one. I adored the characters and their lovely development. The found family and magic were well-written, and the romance was fantastic. The writing was gorgeous and vivid; I felt like I was inside the story the entire time. I highly recommend this whimsical fantasy!

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the fantastic audiobook narrator. Adetinpo Thomas presented this story with unmatched love, power, energy, and warmth. She immersed me in the story and brought it to life! I highly recommend listening to the audiobook of TMatC!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

If you've read Raybearer, you know that Jordan Ifueko is a masterful storyteller. The Maid and the Crocodile is no different. This story is immersive, rich, and will simultaneously allow you to escape and reflect back on the state of the world.

I was beyond grateful to received an audio ARC from Recorded Books narrated by Adetinpo Thomas. The narration is absolutely phenomenal. Their voice will draw you in and keep you engaged through the entire story. I now am considering a deep dive through all the books narrated by them.

The narrator's voice helps weave the imagery of this audiobook beautifully. This is a great book, with a somewhat cozy-ish vibe to it.

Thank you infinitely to NetGalley and Recorded Books for providing this audio review copy in exchange for an honest review!!

Words cannot fully encapsulate my love for Jordan Ifueko’s writing - but I’ll do my best :)

Sade is one of my new favourite main characters, I absolutely adored her growth throughout the story, and how her music was brought to life by the incredible narrator, Adetinpo Thomas!!

Please do yourself a MASSIVE FAVOUR and check out this wonderful book!! (I highly recommend the audiobook for this one!!!)<3

I am so mad at myself that I haven't read Raybearer after finishing this book. If it's anything like this one, I will absolutely love it.

I adore everything about this story - the characters, the slow burn romance, the sweet Sapphic side couple, the themes of change and empowerment, AND the audiobook narrator is *fantastic*! Definitely recommend for fans of N.K. Jemisin and Roseanne A. Brown! I will be recommending this forever.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

The stand alone book follows small Sade , a orphan who want to make on the bustling city. Small Sade needs a job—preferably as a maid, with employers who don’t mind her unique appearance and bad foot. She binds with a deity the Crocodile, who is rumored to devour pretty girls. Small Sade tells the Crocodile her secret ability, she is a Curse Eater, gifted with the ability to alter people’s fates by cleaning their houses. I received the audio of this novel, so i will give a review on that. The narrator ascent was thick so it was hard to understand what was said in the story. So I dnf it.

I wasn't able to finish this book. At no cost of the story. I didn't like the person narratoring the story. Her accent was very strong and honestly hard to fucus on the story.
It's not what I look for in a narrator personally I love her voice and would mind talking to her. Other then that the story started out very good and would mind reading the book.

The Maid and the Crocodile is a spellbinding return to the magic-soaked world of Oluwan, offering a fresh perspective while still satisfying fans of Jordan Ifueko's Raybearer duology. This new standalone introduces us to Small Sade, a determined young woman with a unique appearance and an unlucky foot, who is desperately seeking a job in the bustling capital city. Her goal is simple: become a maid, earn her place, and keep her secrets hidden. But things take an unexpected turn when she accidentally binds herself to a powerful being known only as the Crocodile, a god rumored to devour pretty girls.

Small Sade is an endearing and tenacious protagonist, and her journey is one of resilience and cleverness. Despite the challenges she faces, including the ominous presence of the Crocodile, she remains determined to carve out her own path. Her ability as a Curse Eater—one who can alter fates by cleaning—adds a fascinating layer to the story, and her interactions with the Crocodile are filled with tension and intrigue.

The novella balances its narrative between Small Sade's personal struggles and the broader ambitions of the Crocodile God. The dynamic between them is compelling, offering a rich exploration of power, fate, and choice. For fans of Raybearer, the small glimpses into the larger events of that world are delightful bonuses, but the story stands strongly on its own, making it accessible to new readers as well.\

New to the scene, narrator Adetinpo Thomas does a commendable job bringing Jordan's story and characters to life. I look forward to listening to any books she narrates in the future.

Ifueko once again proves her mastery of world-building and character development in The Maid and the Crocodile. This new story is an enjoyable addition to the world of Raybearer, filled with heart, magic, and a protagonist you can’t help but root for.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook.

This book is a MASTERPIECE! You need to go out and buy it TODAY! That’s it, that’s the review.

JUST KIDDING I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY!

This is a fantasy standalone set in the West-African inspired world of Ifueko’s previous books. (No need to have read Raybearer though.) It’s a YA fantasy with romance and danger, but it’s the incredible journey of our FMC Sade that makes it shine.

She’s not a typical fantasy heroine with flawless skin and skills with blades. She’s a poor orphan who walks with a cane and is just trying desperately to stay off the streets by cleaning houses. Sade has been treated cruelly her whole life and so tells herself not to hope for any more because she doesn’t deserve it.

But Sade has a special gift: she can see silt, a magical residue created from unmet expectations, disappointments, grief, guilt and all the things that make the human toil what it is. Sade goes on a compelling character journey that left me weeping more than once. Ifueko takes us on a beautiful journey as she comes to understand her worth and hope for a better future for herself and her people.

The entire concept of silt was so beautiful and profound to me. It coincided so deeply with some of the nonfiction reading I’ve done lately with The Way of Integrity. I also identified so strongly with the West-African inspired world that Ifueko created of a of haves and have nots. I spent 13 years working for an NGO in Kenya and South Africa and saw so many parallels to life there. I loved hearing Shaday’s internal thoughts when she had to deal with foolish rich people trying to tell her what was best for her. This book has so many helpful insights for people who want to be involved in mentoring others or community organizing, including highlighting the dangers of trying to help while actually taking others’ agency.

I listened to the audiobook which was immaculately narrated, so I definitely recommend giving it a try if you like listening to your books.

Overall, this is such a fantastic book. I know this will be one of my top 10 reads of the year!

Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the ARC

This is a book set in the same universe as the Raybearer series, but you don't need to have read them to understand this book. I haven't and still felt immersed in the world. The worldbuilding was good and the characters interesting. However I couldn't connect with any of the characters because of the narrator. She didn't click with me and unfortunately I spent more time irritated by the narration than actually enjoying the story.

2,5 ⭐️