THE MAID AND THE CROCODILE is a fantasy not concerned with princes or queens, but with the ordinary people who make up the bulk of the population.

I liked that this is about commonfolk. These are the people who are on the edges of typical fantasy - set dressing more than anything else. And yet they make up the bulk of the population, with dreams and lives of their own. It is a look at exploitation not from the perspective of a "good" noble who is trying to help but the people themselves. It explores systems of injustice that keep people in their respective "places", the emotional and societal manipulations to tell people they're happy and no overlook their own power.

In the face of all this, it's a book about hope. That people can make a difference in their own ways. Some are small, touching only a few lives - but that's no matter; it's still worthwhile. And some of those changes, when performed by communities coming together, are as big and sweeping as those traditionally seen by nobles in fantasy - bigger even. It also touches on how we can - and must - rethink the physical accessibility of spaces.

THE MAID AND THE CROCODILE is set in the world of RAYBEARER, almost a decade after the end of REDEMPTOR, but follows a new cast. There are a few links, but it can be read without the original duology (but beware of some pretty major spoilers for how it all ends!)

I really enjoyed other Jordan Ifueko books and at first found myself interested in a new book set in this world however I have found no urge or motivation to actually pick up this.

I've seen a lot of good reviews for this one and it might be one I pick up in the future but at this moment in time I'm no longer interested in reading it.

What a cosy, magical read this was. I enjoyed every single second of reading this.

The protagonist's voice. It's refreshing to meet a character who is not set on fighting battles and who, for the most part, just wants the freedom to enjoy peace. Yet she encompasses everything I love in a female fantasy heroine.
The characters. I loved Sade's found family.
The social commentary. So very needed during these times.
The world. Sade's magical abilities to quite literally EAT people's negativity away.
The slow burn romance. Swoon.

I had not previously read the Raybearer series, but that did not hold me back from feeling grounded in this story. So, if you are new to this world, do not be discouraged and dive straight in. Cosy, magical, feel good vibes await!

loved this! i definitely missed some references because i read raybearer so long ago - i would recommend reading raybearer before this to pick up on references and there are some spoilers from that series, but you don't need to know anything going in.
the characters' stubbornness was sometimes annoying but i loved the messaging, which was mostly about class, disability and revolution/enacting change. the story itself was also engaging, mostly because of the character work rather than action.

Due to personal issues cannot write a proper review now
A more extensive review will follow. Many thanks to the publisher

is is actually my first book by Jordan Ifueko but my god I will be reading her others! What an absolute talent for crafting a deep, beautiful story
The characters? I love them, love love love them! There's animal sidekicks, disability rep, likable side characters, a fantastic romance. The magic system is brilliant and while I haven't read the Raybearer series yet (YET) I didn't feel lost. Absolutely 1000% recommend

I like the world this author created, it's very interesting with a lot of detail. I didn't love the second person writing style that kept popping out of nowhere, it took me out of the story. I read the original Raybearer duology and preferred the writing style in that.

2.5 (rounded down) ⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Bonnier Books and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book

I loved the Raybearer books so I was so excited to read this, but it was quite disappointing.

I found this book to be a lot more childish than the Raybearer books, it didn’t have that rich world building or have the same character depth and development.

A shame for me as Raybearer was a top read and one I have recommended to a lot of people.

This is set in the same world as Raybearer and Redemptor and while it works as a stand-alone, you do benefit from knowing the back story.

The story itself is compelling and I loved the political backdrop. There's been a revolution but there are still some wrinkles to work out. The main character might have some of the answers.

Her life has been hard and she has been orphaned and disabled in an industrial accident. The book treats the theme of disability responsibly and there is no magical cure at the end, thank goodness.

There is also a queer couple in the story who are given space to develop and who appear as fully human and not tropes or clichés.

There is some discussion of domestic abuse but it isn't too graphic. I think it was handled very responsibly.

Overall, a great read.

I adore this book - what a beautiful, moving, powerful, all the adjectives, story. I wish I knew this would spoil pretty much everything for the Raybearer duology, but ironically it made me much more excited to pick those books up. The characters were complex, vivid and felt real. The relationship was tender and complicated. And the themes were explored to an amazing degree, really bringing this imperfect world to life. The author is so skilled, I can not wait to read more from her. Although I don't have any personal experience, I feel like the disability rep was really well and sensitively done. I think Small Sade will be a character I will keep thinking about. Also shoutout to the audiobook narrator, great job.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, all thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Bonnier Books/Hot Key Books for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review. 


TW: discrimination, permanent physical injury, emotional and physical abuse, death, pregnancy, classism, self harm


Set in the same world as the author’s ‘Raybearer’ books but a decade later, ‘The Maid and the Crocodile’ takes place in the magical city of Oluwan, where spirits and god wander the streets as creatures. Small Sade, a girl from the countryside seeking a job, is determined to get a role as a maid with someone who doesn’t mind her vitiligo or her disabled foot caused by an injury from working in a factory. She knows all the risks of coming to the city but now she’s too old to live in the orphanage she was raised in, Small Sade has no choice. Just as it seems she’s about to secure a role, she accidentally binds herself to a god after handing over a piece of her hair. The one she’s bonded to is the worst of them all, the Crocodile who is rumoured to devour beautiful girls after they wander into his many houses. Small Sade thinks she’ll be safe- after all she’s not beautiful. Instead she finds a wounded, oddly helpful god who is intrigued by the idea that she has a rare form of magic: she is a Curse Eater, capable of altering someone’s fate merely by cleaning their house. Small Sade manages to get away from the Crocodile but their fates are bound together even as she creates a new career for herself as a Curse Eater for an inn frequented by nobles and royalty. Determined to do away with her past, and intent on being seen as she is to earn a place in Oluwan City, Small Sade is shocked when the ambitions of the Crocodile and his romantic interest in her, her past and uncommon magic lead her to be manipulated by the wealthy woman who runs the inn.


I loved that this is a standalone set in the vibrant world of ‘Raybearer’ ten years later (which I’ve read, even though the sequel is still on my TBR) and you can read it without needing to know much about the other books. One of the standout parts of this for me was that it’s written in second person, which is so like an old fashioned folk tale and not something you see often in fantasy. This is a gorgeously written book, humorous but also moving and a powerful story about self acceptance, romance and personal strength. Small Sade is such an enjoyable main character, so much of her life has been determined by the people around her and what they think she should be. As she grows to realise her own strength we get to see more of the true Sade and why the Crocodile is so interested in her- he sees her as beautiful no matter what, regardless of how anyone else might view her, because of her personality and mind. The Crocodile is the complete opposite of what the stories describe him as and I love that, he’s beautifully written and deeply thoughtful, even as he continues to make decisions that Sade has to rescue him from. I also loved Clemeh, the tiny gecko who appears whenever the Crocodile is near, so much. I know that this book is compared to ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ and I think this is a perfect description- it combines a whimsical, magical world full of gods with important themes around love, self esteem and disability as well as the wider issues of sexual harassment, child labor, self harm and domestic abuse. I'm going to go back and reread the ‘Raybearer’ books as soon as I can!

An excellent follow up yet stand alone story to the Raybearer series. Same well written characters with depth to all, intriguing and unique plot and the kind of book you can't put down! As a fan of the Raybearer series it was great to check in on the world after the events, to see it from a more "ordinary" viewpoint and see how the rulers are viewed and perceived. I loved the links between the stories. I hope to read more of this world soon!

I loved every single second of this fabulous book. The story is 100% addictive, engrossing me, the characters wonderf and relatable , a highly recommended read

Returning to the the World of Raybearer, this is a story of self-discovery, Afrofuturism, and romance, set against a richly imagined backdrop of magic, class consciousness, and empowerment.

I absolutely adored the Raybearer duology, so my excitement for this standalone, which directly addresses the aftermath of the events in the duology, was sky-high. Small Sade was a character crafted with beauty and a respectful portrayal of her disabilities. The Crocodile character was also a delight; I felt they complemented each other well, but the Gecko stole my heart!

The narrative weaves a tale of finding one's place in the world, the concept of chosen family, animal companions, the blurred lines between humans and gods, and romance. It's a robust YA fantasy read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'The Maid and the Crocodile' by Jordan Ifueko.

'The Maid and the Crocodile' is the newest standalone by Jordan Ifueko set in the world of 'Raybearer' and my goodness am I happy to be back in this universe. It's been a while since I read that duology but luckily you don't need any prior knowledge of the series to read this. Ifueko's storytelling always feels to regal and beautiful to me and this was no exception. Masterpiece.

There are so many excellent aspects to this story and I could talk about it for hours.
In a nutshell, we have:
Disability rep
LGBTQIA+ rep
Found/built family
Speaking up
Sisterhood
And all in the world of Raybearer and Redemptor which I was desperate to go back to. Normally when I end a review with 'Please let us go back!' I never expect the author to actually do it. But Jordan did! And we have this gorgeous story now.

While I think having read Raybearer and Redemptor adds to the details and background of this story, you don't have to have read them so it is perfect for fans of the series and new readers.

I loved the different varieties of spirit silt/creatures, grief-gnats, ambition-spores, envy-beetles, egorust, guiltworms, joy-moths. The narrative of Sade telling us the story as we're a part of it, which becomes clear later as to why that is but up until then it just adds to the feel of the story. Sade is telling us her story, rather than just us reading about it or your usual first-person narrative. And throughout were these sprinkles of other fantasy stories that are so beloved.

I think Jordan wrote a timeless book in The Maid and the Crocodile. There are always ants and Giants and the ants have a voice, even when they think they don't. I loved Sade and her heart breaking but triumphant story was exactly what I needed.

🐊The Maid and The Crocodile🐊

by @jordanifueko !

I really enjoyed this book, the story was so unique and the characters were incredibly well written and individual.
I loved how different cultures were represented within the novel and how the story focused on how someone in a lower social class might really feel about the structure of their society. the relationship between the maid and the crocodile was really interesting and I really enjoyed reading how their own class experiences affected it initially and as it developed!

I really liked as well that even though this novel was set within an existing world that I didn't feel I had to have read the other books in order to understand it. there was subtle points of exposition throughout that let me understand how the world was structured without being overwhelming or confusing. it has intrigued me and ill definitely be adding the other books in the series to my tbr!

thank you to netgalley for giving me this e-arc!

I’m so glad we got to return to this amazingly crafted world! This is such a heartwarming story and I really loved Sade and The Crocodiles character development.

The narrator for the audiobook was fabby, so highly recommend listening to that.

This !!!!!!! book !!!!!!

I could ramble about how incredible every little detail of this book is for hours. Theres so much expression in the smallest of things. I have no idea how to put my all admiration for this book into words.

I don’t know where to start so I will start with Clemeh. Clemeh is a gecko, a pawn for powerful people, no one sees Clemeh as more than a use until Small Sade. Small Sade is my favourite protagonist ever. She’s so real, she has pain, and pride, and most of all compassion. This is a story of revolution in many forms, it’s a story of people, power, and love. 🌿 As someone with a somewhat similar disability to Small Sade, this book means the world in so many ways

Read this …

• disability rep
• queer romance
• found family
• Clemeh

This book does take place in the Raybearer world It’s not a must to have already read them !

A stand-alone book in the Raybearer’s universe, this is the first book by Joardan Ifueko I’ve read and I loved it. A slow growing romance/political fantasy based on the extraordinary aspects of ordinary people. The fantasy realm is based in part on West African history, as well as current US social issues. Captivating heroine and swoon-worthy half Crocodile God love interest...