This book is set in West Africa before colonisation, the story follows Ododo, a blacksmith considered a witch. She is kidnapped and taken to the capital of Yoruba-land Sangot and is expected to marry the Alaafin. While there she must navigate court and make alliances all while supporting her soon-to-be husband. An exciting and immersing read taking readers deep into West African folklore. I would recommend especially to readers who enjoyed "The Goblin Empire" by Katherine Addison.

disclaimer I received this book from NetGalley and Rebellion | Solaris in exchange for a free and honest review

DNF @ 50%
It's really difficult to dnf an arc, but I can't do this anymore. I really tried but masquerade didn't work for me. The characters were one dimensional and not compelling. The Fantasy aspect has been nonexistent so far, despite this being classified as fantasy on goodreads. I think it's an 'it's not you, it's me' kind of problem. Maybe I'll give this another chance when I'm in the right headspace.

Masquerade is a standalone historical fantasy novel written by O.O. Sangoyomi, published by Solaris; a story that blends together a loose retelling based on Persephone's myth, with a bigger plot that explores the history of Yorùbá people. Sangoyomi not only creates an excellent female main character, full of nuances and whose growth during the story is incredible, but also brings to the spotlight a rather forgotten part of history as it is Yorùbáland.

Òdòdó is a blacksmith living in the recently conquered by the Yorùbá city of Timbuktu; a rather naive and young person, she's abducted and brought to the capital city of Ṣàngótẹ̀. Aláàfin, the warrior king of Yorùbá, wants her to be his wife, a situation that takes Òdòdó from one of the lowest social stratum to the top of the society; but surviving and dealing with the complexities of politics and nobility is another problem of its own magnitude. Òdòdó won't only have to deal with the rejection from Aláàfin's mother, but the relationship with the own king will show to be a difficult one, born with an imbalance of power that fights with the love they feel.

Sangoyomi puts the main narrative weight on Òdòdó's character; born in a low social stratum, and due to its naivety, abducted to be part of one of the highest. You can see how she's really in love with Aláàfin, but the rest of the court doesn't help with that; navigating and surviving to make firm her position will require of many sacrifices. Òdòdó's arc is not only a growth one in age, but in wisdom, learning how to cope with the difficulties, and finally understanding the hard truth behind her relationship with Aláàfin; her own example will be followed by many blacksmiths in Yorùbáland, starting a conflict that will push her position to the limit at many times.
Secondary characters are a layer of nuance to the story, creating a wider scenery of nobility intrigue and politics; each one has a set of goals that they will move towards, and all will influence in Òdòdó's life.

It is refreshing to see low fantasy proposals that explore civilizations that are criminally underrated, as it has happened with most of the Subsaharian Africa history; Sangoyomi, with a prose that borders the lyrical, paints a vivid portrait of the great moment of Yorùbáland, one of the empires that gained control over this particular region, putting attention to details such as the Ṣàngó's religion.
The pacing is relatively closer to be a slowburn, which puts many pieces in the table before starting to move all of them into the great finale.

Masquerade is simply excellent; a novel that puts the focus on a character such as Òdòdó, going far from conventionalism, a low fantasy proposal that I recommend everybody to read. An excellent debut novel by O.O. Sangoyomi, a voice that promises much in the future.

One of the best books of the year (and decade) so far for sure! I'm in awe at the world and characters O.O. Sangoyomi has created. This book was everything I was hoping it would be, and yet it still managed to surprise me at every turn. I really love it to bits.

I know it's been promoted as a Hades x Persephone story, and while I can see it here and there, it's not a huge part of the book. So if anyone thinks "oh this is just another retelling" STOP RIGHT NOW!! It's not, it's so much better. PLEASE GIVE IT A CHANCE, IT'LL BLOW YOU AWAY!

It's also not much of a fantasy, so I hope anyone won't be disappointed going into this thinking that it is. It's more along the lines of historical fiction, but even if you mainly read fantasy I think you could still have a really good time with Masquerade.

The world is so vivid and easy to imagine, the beautiful writing contributes to this. I often felt like I was inside the book myself, walking or attending lessons with Òdòdó, running and collecting gossip with the twins, marching into battle, checking out the stables, attending meetings with the generals...

Naturally, I loved being in Òdòdó’s head as well, the whole book is told from her PoV, which was actually refreshing. I know someone probably would've preferred to have, for example, Dígí's PoV or even the Aláàfin's, but for me hers was more than enough.

Masquerade was really easy to get into, I was hooked from the very first page and loved the whole storyline, especially the ending.

THE ENDING!!! I was not expecting it to go that way, but I'm so glad it did. This is actually how I was hoping The Wrath and the Dawn would end, but it didn't, so I finally got my wish in the form of a different and better book. Yayyyy!!! No one is happier than I am in this moment.

I'd also love to see a sequel. Though, this book does stand on its own very well. I feel like, with the themes explored here, the next book could be even more exiting, so fingers crossed we get one.

As for the romance...listen...I like me a little toxic romance here and there, and I did ship them, but there was someone near the end I shipped Òdòdó with even more, WHICH I WILL NOT BE CONFESSING!! Mayhaps if we get another book, I will.

I loved how the Aláàfin picked Òdòdó out, and how much he seemed to genuinely love her, the many gifts he gave her etc. But at the same time he could be controlling, not allowing her to have any contact with her past life, not wanting her to have any political positions because why would she need them...so it's a complicated relationship for sure.

One of my favourite things is that, despite the control of everyone around her, Òdòdó still managed to find her power. And I will support her no matter what.

*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Ever since I first heard of Masquerade, I was very excited for it – a Persephone retelling set in pre-colonial West Africa?? Sign me up!
And it really delivered.
It took a bit for the book to take off, the first half is definitely a lot slower than the second and while I still enjoyed it, I was certainly hoping that it would take off soon. And wow, it really did!
The second half was amazing, and the last 20-30% elevated the book so much that I went from giving it 4 stars (first half 3 stars, second half 5 stars) to 4,5 stars rounded up to 5 stars, simply because it was THAT GOOD.

The character development is absolutely fantastic, I love how the author balanced the FMC being a badass with the circumstances she lives in and all the misogyny and sexism. I love feminist worlds, but I also appreciate when a misogynistic world is done well, and I think this is one of the best I've ever read.

I was wondering why it was pitched as a Persephone retelling rather than a Hades and Persephone retelling, but after reading it, it makes perfect sense since it was much more focused on the character arc of the FMC than the love story between her and her husband. I really appreciated that as there are so many H&P retellings out there and this felt such a unique spin on it.

I also love when a book is morally gray but not in the sexy kind (though I also love that), but simply because characters are doing shady stuff for either their own gain or political gain or because the goal justifies the means. Books that have this kind of morally gray tend to be some of my favorites because of the complexity they display, and Masquerade absolutely excelled at this.

The worldbuilding and setting were also great. There is almost no magic other than little hints of West African mythology, but it still felt very much like a fantasy novel in terms of storytelling and just 'vibes'.

Overall, I truly loved this book and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves strong character development and maybe wants to broaden their horizon by reading a book with a setting that is still quite rare in the publishing industry.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

4.5 stars rounded up

My two main takeaways with this book were 1) I really enjoyed it and 2) I picked it up because it was shelved as fantasy, which it isn’t. Luckily I’m a big historical fiction reader so I still had a great time, but the only potential fantasy elements were certain spiritual aspects that I just read as ‘the character believes this to be real.’

So, reviewing this as historical fiction reimagining 15th century West Africa:

This is a rich and propulsive story of a sheltered young woman who was kidnapped to be made the bride of the conquering ruler (this is the Hades and Persephone inspiration). As Òdòdó becomes familiar with the workings of the court and convinces her husband-to-be to train her as a fighter, she begins to learn how being a woman does not mean she lacks power.

It doesn’t shy away from the brutal aspects of this period’s history, from slavery to death to child soldiers trained for war. Nor is Òdòdó’s relationship with her husband-to-be simplified to ignore the power imbalance between them. She is aware of both his flaws and the precarity of her situation all while she falls in love with him. I really enjoyed how their whole relationship was handled, because he is a very charismatic man who gives her unusual attention and respect, but the story never forgets the power he holds.

Half a star is deducted because as much as I was invested in Òdòdó’s development as a fighter and strategist, I rarely felt like I had a strong grasp on her movitations — I understand that she saw life in the royal city as a better prospect than life as an outcast blacksmith, but that only explain why she wanted to stick around, not why she necessarily took the other actions she did. And I would have liked a bit more of this, because Òdòdó was an interesting point-of-view to be inside of.

Masquerade is a vivid historical fiction set in 14th Century West Africa with a morally grey MC at its center.

The two stand out parts of this book for me were its setting and its MC.

Sangoyomi does a great job of describing the world and time period - I was easily able to picture the scenes and understood the politics etc., despite this being an area of history I know little about.

The MC, Òdòdó, was a compelling character. It was hard to root for her sometimes (especially in relation to Àrẹ̀mọ and his actions and her love for him) but I suspect this was a deliberate choice that works well in the context of the story and who she is as a character.

There were, however, also a few weaker narrative moment that let it down slightly. Her mother's death scene didn't pack the emotional punch it should have and there were a few places where was happening felt obvious to me as reader even whilst Òdòdó remained frustratingly oblivious. The ending also like it was a far too easy for her to kill the Aláàfin and become Queen without being stopped or challenged.

Overall though, a riveting read that I would recommend for anyone wanting more diverse historical fiction.

A bit different to my usual reads, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn't put it down once it got to about the 30% mark. It was written extremely well, with a mix of history and myths, as well as political intrigue.

Whilst I didn't feel much for our main lead at the beginning, she really begins to grow as the story goes. Whether it's the right way, it's unsure, but it did lead to so very good plot points for growth within the story. We see a young girl shed her innocence and naivety as she goes from loss of friendships, to family and finally to love.

The book ended in a morbidly satisfying way, with our lead taking matters (quite literally) into her own hands as she realises that she doesn't want to return to being repressed and shut down when she has shown herself to be more than capable.

I was so excited to read Masquerade and so grateful to be given the opportunity to read it early via netgalley. It did not disappoint.
It is written so richly and I felt all the emotions that were being conveyed through Òdòdó. The rage, the betrayal, the power.
I very much enjoyed Òdòdó's character growth throughout the story and was so happy that she ended up where she did at the end.
I highly recommend reading Masquerade.

Such a powerful, passionate and unexpected novel! If you enjoy fantasy but want something different, this is really interesting. This has drawn inspiration from the Hades & Persephone story but set in an incredible West African landscape. Our main character is a blacksmith who are also called witches. She lives with her mother and other women in Timbuktu, when she is kidnapped and taken to be the bride of the King.

We have a main character who refuses to be cowed. She’s often put in difficult positions, schemed against by others, treated disdainfully, and yet she perseveres. She forges alliances where she can, she looks to the less powerful for mutual support. She is ferocious in her determination to not be diminished, continually showing her intelligence and strategic mind, even where men would dismiss her or take credit for her ideas.

A phenomenal main character, a fascinating story brimming with passion and fire, in an incredible setting.

DNF at 40%.
This was an incredibly interesting book in terms of setting, but the protagonist was exceptionally naive to the point of annoyance, and nothing much seemed to happen. Characters felt two-dimensional with no depth, so I could not get invested in the story at all. Everything was treated as : "and this happened, and it was a little sad / scary / interesting, but let's move on now." A shame, given such an interesting setting.

A lyrical novel set in 15th West Africa. An interesting story with a vivid and atmospheric setting. However the writing lacks emotional depth and characters are very two-dimensional. The main character seems to have Stockholm syndrome which is totally glossed over to further the romance plot. Not one for me.

Considering this being a debut novel you can only say it was phenomenal! It took a different take on the Hades and Persephone story, which I could read a hundred times and probably did. I felt connected to the characters right from the beginning and loved that it wasn’t a traditional love story.
I struggled with the pacing here and there but it wasn’t a major thing. Overall it was a great book!

“Long live the queen”

One of the most incredible debut novels I’ve read in a while. It was so well written and such an original take on a story that’s been used thousands of times.
I think it is important to mention that this is not a traditional love story. After all, it is a retelling of Hades and Persephone’s story, so I thought that was a given from the start. While I was reading, I literally never trusted any of the characters and my emotions were constantly conflicted, but I also thought that was the point. If you get into this book with that in mind, and you’re looking for a complex, strong female character, you will not be disappointed.

I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the arc!

I have received an e-ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Solaris/Rebellion Publishing!

4.75 stars

This story is set in a reimagined 15th century West Africa and inspired by the Hades and Persephone myth, minus the Underworld and a couple of other twists to it. I’d say this is more historical fiction than fantasy. You might be disappointed going in expecting this to be fantasy because there isn’t much if anything of it in this book.
The writing is really good, having made the story come alive in front of my eyes so vividly that I completely forgot that I was reading words. I can’t believe this is the author’s debut novel and I definitely am interested to read more of her work in the future. There’s a glossary for those who aren’t familiar with some words but I think they were explained well within the text without slowing down the story.
Òdòdó is an interesting character. She wants to break out of her life as a looked-down-upon daughter of a blacksmith mother, and a blacksmith in her own right, which does explain a bit why she isn’t quite as bothered by having been kidnapped and declared the bride of the warrior king against her will as others might have been in the same situation. She is complying with a lot more initially in order to not lose her new position than I expected and can come across as rather passive at first. She can also be frustratingly naïve, even when one might think that she might have learned better later on. I loved her character development all the more for it. It’s a subtle process, the little and bigger things coming together nicely in the end. I found her to be a fascinating character, even though I wanted to shake her in frustration sometimes. She is 19 though, not having had any experiences beyond her little blacksmithing world before being thrown into her new life, so I think she’s allowed a bit of naivety as long as there’s character development, and there definitely is. There is something deeply satisfying to watching a character grow into their badassery over the course of the story, with some smaller and bigger bumps on the road, and then rising like a phoenix from the ashes. Love it.
I also enjoyed reading about the other women Òdòdó is surrounded by and whom she has different relationships with, be they antagonistic, more friendly, or a mix of both. They are all connected being women in a world where women have little freedom or rights and it’s equally frustrating and satisfying to see their individual approaches to gain more freedom.
The relationship between Òdòdó and the warrior king is not a healthy one and this book is definitely not a romance, so if you’re looking for a healthy relationship or a romance in general, this is not the book for you. I like to read about power dynamics, and the further along we get, the more we can see a push-and-pull, Òdòdó trying to level the playing field. Will she achieve it? Will she achieve more than that? I’ll not answer that lol. Are they in love? It is hard to say. But as I’ve said, this is not a romance book. It is a book about Òdòdó’s fight for her own freedom.
The pacing is somewhere between medium and slow, I think. It’s not an action-filled book, more one of intrigue, politically and otherwise, but also leaning quite a bit towards being character-driven. I personally really enjoyed it this way.
The cover is even more stunning now that I’ve read the book. It fits the story so well.
I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is interested in West African history and mythology, the Hades and Persephone myth, badass women, (political) intrigue, as well as power dynamics and power struggles. I’m not sure whether there are more books planned for this, but this works well as a standalone.

The following content warnings contain mild spoilers, so proceed with caution:

Content Warnings: blood and gore, violence, loss of a body part, SA, finding out that you’re the result of SA, misogyny, (forced) infertility, kidnapping, confinement, toxic relationship, gaslighting, slavery, murder, death, grief, animal death, death of a parent, war, betrayal