{AD} I've been in a reading slump for months now but this book had me reading as often as possible over the last 12 hours just to finish it. I'm a huge fan of [book:Raybearer|50158128] and [book:Redemptor|55624056] and THE MAID AND THE CROCODILE is set in the same world. It even features some of the same characters but can also be read as a standalone. I'd definitely recommend reading the duology if you haven't thought as it's incredible.

Sade is such a compelling and powerful protagonist. Her struggles and hopes are those the majority experience rather than the elite minority. Her journey is at the centre of this story, learning to take up space in a world that wants to grind her down. The Crocodile is a very fun character and I loved his playful dynamic with Sade. His journey also explores identity and belonging, but almost in the opposite direction to Sade.

Honestly, I just loved this from beginning to end. The prose was engaging, the characters compelling, and the plot kept me turning the pages. Definitely one to pre-order!

A warmhearted fantasy set in the mystical world of Oluwan City.

Small Sade, an orphan searching for work with her speckled skin and misshapen feet, has been fending off spirits since the day she was born.

Sade finds work as a maid and Curse-Eater in a swanky inn, altering people's fates by cleaning negative spirits.
Only, Sade also attracts the attention of the Crocodile god known for devouring girls. Now soul-bonded with a god who is not as he seems, Sade must manage her mistress’s heavy expectations and the curse that is turning the Crocodile into a beast.

Told in the second person to a ‘You’, this makes the narrative mirror the story teller-like quality as a folk tale full of warning and moral.
The second person narrative never confused or detracted from the plot, and actually added to it, especially when you find out who ‘You’ is if you hadn’t guessed it already.

I had lived in between names, changing shape like mashed fufu in a pot, forced to fit whatever crevice they jammed me in.

Sade is a strong character, and despite being a nobody, a commoner, a cleaner, she takes pride in what she does and enjoys being around those of her class and carrying out tasks others would deem as menial.

This is a powerful story about choosing your future, making yourself be heard, and staying resilient.
Definitely read the author’s note afterwards - not only was it fascinating, it also added a lot of personal context to the story!

“I am beginning to think," I said, "that standing tall is less useful than standing together…. What if there is nothing wrong with being an ant?" I wondered aloud. What if together, we could be stronger than any giant?"

You don’t have to have read the Raybearer duology to understand this book, but it would add to your knowledge, depth, and history of the world as this is set ten years after.
It’s a treat for readers who want to know what happened after the duology and what changes were made and where our characters ended up.

Thank you to Hot Key Books for providing me with an arc!

Jordan Ifueko has done it again. The Raybearer duology are some of my favourite books and it was such a treat to return to Aritsar and get to know new characters, and see a new perspective of that world.

Sade is an absolutely delightful MC - I adored her stubbornness and the arc she went through. I loved how she learnt to move away from making herself small, from blaming herself for the way she had been treated when it was society at fault. I loved how she didn't do things the way the Crocodile wanted, didn't incite some grand rebellion, but began working in a way that would actually better those around her (the Amenities - who I also adore) in a more immediate way, began to sow the seeds of helping others like her learn more skills and be respected in their professions. Because after all, someone needs to clean and there ought be nothing demeaning about such a role, it is just as (if not more) necessary that the work of the wealthy.

I think this book was incredibly competent at weaving in this criticism of class systems and the flaws within them. I found one of the best parts the arc that the Crocodile/Zuri went through in learning that changing things from a high position, leading some rebellion, believing you know best is not much more helpful that staying a King. There is no solidarity like lived experience, or listening to those with the lived experience. Zuri needed to (going with Sade's idea) become an ant both to actually learn, but also to shed his curse (and I think the way that worked out was so good, I didn't clock the solution early but when Sade worked it out it made so much sense and just worked).

This was also just great with disability - it was so nice to read a fantasy book where the MC uses a cane and how the impact of that was acknowledged by the book with the stairs of the multi-storey buildings and the way others treated her when she was looking for work. I loved how, by the end, Zuri came in and installed an elevator and shower for Sade - I loved how, as much as that came with his apology, it was not some expectant bribe, that he was ready to leave again if that's what she wanted. Just, Sade and Zuri are so good for one another. (Oh, and it was also really cool to have a MC with vitiligo, and how the way that impacted Sade's life through the views of others, like those in the village she lived in with Mamasade, was explored - as well as how, in contrast, Zuri saw her as a girl with worlds on her skin).

All in all, this was yet another incredible book from Jordan Ifueko and I cannot wait to read more from her.

I adored everything about this from the plot to the characters to the phenomenal world building. I can't recommend this enough!

Hands down - this book is most definitely going to be amongst my best reads of this year.

I read Raybearer during a really bad period of my life, and Ifueko's fantastic worldbuilding, vivid characters, and beautiful writing casted a small but bright light into my world. When I saw that Ifueko was writing a companion novel, to say I was ecstatic would be an understatement.

This book wasn't just what I hoped; it was so much more than that.

Sade is such an fantastic lead. So different than Tarisai, but that's a good thing. She's melded her mindset to be smaller, lesser than the nobles she serves because that is what they believe. And yet, she still has so much fire in her, her anger pointed towards the injustice in her society, at the privileged who confine her under her boot and at the god who constantly tries to tell her she's not. I just wanted to give this girl a hug the whole book - she deserved the whole world, and though I won't spoiler if she does, let's just say I'm so happy where the story ends for her.

Even with Sade, the side characters are just as colorful and full to the brim with personality. I loved her relationship with the Crocodile, which was filled with sweet moments as well as lots of banter (i.e., Sade berating him for being useless. It's great). There's numerous other characters, too, who have their moments to shine, including some characters from Raybearer (Sade often refers to a 'you' throughout the story, and I didn't figure out til the reveal that it was actually referring to a specific character. I genuinely didn't it coming, but it was such a delightful surprise that I don't wanna say it here, even with the spoilers tag.)

Speaking of which, I think I can confirm you don't have to have read the first series to understand and love this story. It's been a while since I read those books, so I remembered worldbuilding and story details easily whenever they were brought up in the story, but I still believe they still hold up so well without knowing that. Ifueko's writing is that strong, her world so fleshed out it could stand on its own. It's a feat not easily made, and I cannot help but admire Ifueko endlessly for that.

All in all, read this book. It's incredible, Sade is amazing, and I need people to give it the love and attention it deserves.