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MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5
Format: Kindle Whispersync
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Set in a wonderfully reimagined 15th century West Africa, Masquerade is a dazzling, lyrical tale exploring the true cost of one woman’s fight for freedom and self-discovery, and the lengths she’ll go to secure her future.
Òdòdó’s hometown of Timbuktu has been conquered by the warrior king of Yorùbáland, and living conditions for the women in her blacksmith guild, who were already shunned as social pariahs, grow even worse.
Then Òdòdó is abducted. She is whisked across the Sahara to the capital city of Ṣàngótẹ̀, where she is shocked to discover that her kidnapper is none other than the vagrant who had visited her guild just days prior. But now that he is swathed in riches rather than rags, Òdòdó realizes he is not a vagrant at all; he is the warrior king, and he has chosen her to be his wife.
In a sudden change of fortune, Òdòdó soars to the very heights of society. But after a lifetime of subjugation, she finds the power that saturates this world of battle and political savvy too enticing to resist. As tensions with rival states grow, revealing elaborate schemes and enemies hidden in plain sight, Òdòdó must defy the cruel king she has been forced to wed by reforging the shaky loyalties of the court in her favor, or risk losing everything—including her life.
[Loosely based on the myth of Persephone, O.O. Sangoyomi’s Masquerade takes you on a journey of epic power struggles and political intrigue which turn an entire region on its head.]
MY REVIEW
Sangoyomi’s debut novel is a stunning achievement, a beautiful and powerful story that reimagines pre-colonial West Africa with a subtle dash of Greek mythology, drawing on parallels to the Persephone and Hades myth. My familiarity with the story, as a lover of Greek mythology, made reading this more exciting to spot the parallels used. This unique blend crafts a historical fiction tale centered on female empowerment and political maneuvering, while quietly educating readers about a time and place that’s too often overlooked. I always appreciate when a book’s title layers in its own meaning, and Masquerade feels like it nods to multiple facets of the story: the king’s disguise, the web of courtly deceptions and Òdòdó’s carefully crafted facade.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve made a conscious effort to branch out from Nordic-focused stories and explore more global narratives, which is what initially drew me in to add it to my TBR. Since I’m not well-versed in African mythology or history, especially the 15th century, I relied on Sangoyomi’s knowledge and research that shines through the entire book. She seamlessly weaves in elements of, per the author, pre-colonial West Africa, including the Mali Empire, Songhai Empire, Kingdom of Ghana, Ọ̀yọ́ Empire, and Yorùbá history, making the world and characters feel vividly real, as if pulled straight from the pages of history itself.
“There is but one shell to the àșe of the soul. Be as water, always knowing the right direction, and the world will never be off course.”
That said, the story’s slower pacing and relative lack of action might not click for everyone. As a standalone novel though, the pacing gives the plot, characters, and worldbuilding ample room to breathe and develop, rather than rushing into battles or high-stakes fights. This was especially helpful for someone like me, unfamiliar with the era, it allowed her rich prose, intricate worldbuilding, and vibrant setting to truly immerse me, bringing everything to life with exquisite detail. On top of that, the narration by Ariel Blake was top tier bringing the immersion to another level, as she added an even more authentic element to the story with the pronunciation names and places.
What elevates it even further is the incredibly likable fmc, Òdòdó. She’s not your typical bold, outspoken heroine; instead, she navigates a male-dominated world through sharp intellect and cunning. She holds her own, even dipping into a darker side along the way, which adds real depth. Her relationships with her mother, the king, and the courtiers she encounters, highlight the complexities of trust, showing how some bonds form easily while others are fraught with suspicion. I also loved the minor characters of Táíwò and Kéhìndé; they added an extra warmth and playfulness that I wished we’d gotten even more time with them. All of this builds to some unexpected twists and a killer ending that left me reflecting long after I turned the last page, truly a debut that punches above its weight.
Wolfmantula.com 