Having loved 'In the Shadow of the Fall', I was SO keen to dive into this sequel - and it did not disappoint.

Tobi's writing is beautiful, engaging and drawing the reader into their world. The slow rebloom of magic is enticing while very human characters grapple with the issues these bring; the hopefulness that the previous book left us with remains, but from the first moments, the reader is shown that returning the gods to the world will be a huge challenge, especially for our comparatively innocent protagonists.

This is a battle between very differing perspectives that brought to mind parallels with our world today, particularly regarding issues of race and belief. Sides are chosen and lines drawn, but the author ensures that nothing is clearly-cut. Humans and gods are fallible, egotistical and vengeful, and for decency to prevail it must tackle those challenges head on.

A beautifully fearless, brave and very relevant tale that I absolutely loved.

Picking up where In The Shadows of the Fall finishes At the Fount of Creation is a wonderful conclusion to the Guardian of the Gods duology. Once again we see the wonderful craftmanship of Ogundian in storytelling. Inspired by Yoruba mythology they have managed to create a tale that is filled with adventure and memorable characters as well. What I also liked is we got to see more of the antagonists side. Not to justify them but to show that it’s not as easy and good vs bad and so on. I have really enjoyed this duology and would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy with a rich world and wonderful storytelling.

As always thank you to Titan Books and Netgalley for the copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

This captivating conclusion to the Guardians of the Gods duology continues the journey of Ashâke, the living vessel of the remaining Orisha, as she confronts the soul-stealing Godkillers and their enigmatic leader, the Teacher.
The novel masterfully explores profound themes of faith, survival, and the fragile balance between deities and mortals. Tobi Ogundiran’s storytelling is vivid and evocative, painting a world on the brink of both recovery and collapse.
Ashâke's character development is particularly noteworthy. Her internal struggles and quest for allies to combat the Godkillers made her journey both relatable and inspiring.
The introduction of a new character brought a lot of depth and intricacy to the story, raising compelling questions about the worthiness of the Orisha's survival, challenging both the protagonist and readers to reflect on themes of redemption and legacy.
The intricate world-building and mythological references enrich the story, providing a layered and immersive experience. The fast-paced plot brims with action sequences that keep readers hooked from start to finish.
At the Fount of Creation is a masterful blend of action, mythology, and introspection.
It's a must-read for fans of African-inspired fantasy and those seeking a narrative that challenges the boundaries between the divine and the mortal.

It was easy to slip back into this story as it picks up from where In the Shadow of the Fall leaves off. Ashâke has a difficult path ahead of her, growing more dangerous by the day and with the Gods trying to direct her on her journey, she has to decide whether to listen to them or follow her own plans. Her enemies grow in number and power, and she's responsible for protecting the Gods she harbours, meaning the stakes are high and Ashâke doesn't know who, if anyone, she can trust. I enjoyed the unpredictability of this story, and seeing a protagonist who is imperfect and making mistakes but battling on. It didn't feel as though as much happened as in the first book, so I did find it a little harder to get into and struggled with the two different narratives from different points in time - though the backstory was useful to have. There were also fewer characters in this story, with the focus mainly on Ashâke and the Gods, with a few exceptions, so I think I missed that element from the first book. However, Tobi Ogundiran is skilled at crafting an interesting and unexpected story, with twists that will catch you off guard - and all in novella form! Despite the short length of this story, and the duology overall, Ogundiran packs a lot into it and also manages to round the story out well, providing a sense of closure that I sometimes struggle to find in novellas. It felt like we had a whole story without it being rushed, rather than a few chapters of a longer novel. I'm glad I gave this duology a go and look forward to whatever the author writes next.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

3.5 stars
My thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley for the free eARC of "At the Fount of Creation" by Tobi Ogundiran.
The conclusion to the "Guardian of the Gods" duology continues the adventurous tale inspired by the Yoruba mythology.
Here we see more behind the antagonist's motivations and it created more reflection on what is actually right and what is wrong or if there is a clear cut line.
I enjoyed learning about this world and I am sure that we can expect great things from this author in the future.

At the Fount of Creation is the final book in the Guardians of the Gods duology, and it was one of my most anticipated reads. The story is inspired by Yoruba mythology, following Ashake's journey after the events of the first book as she seeks a solution to save the Orishas and trying to defeat the Godkillers. Alongside Ashake's narrative, the book includes interludes that explore a different storyline, revealing the mysterious Teacher's background. How he became who he is and the reasons for his deep hatred toward the Orishas. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, with its incredible twists and action scenes. I appreciated how everything came together in the end. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mythology and fast-paced stories. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. Thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll post my review closer to the publication date.

4/5

This was a great sequel to In the Shadow of the Fall, I think I enjoyed it even more! I love the West African-inspired world and the influences of Yoruba mythology woven into it. It's a fascinating take on a world of gods and mortals, and how the two intersect.

I'm glad this instalment was longer than the first, it really allowed enough time to feel situated in the story and completely immersed. This is a well fleshed-out yet bite-sized read that you can easily read in one sitting, but that offers a vast and sprawling story.

I adored the interludes and other perspectives that brought a lot of depth and intricacy to the story. I very much appreciated them and loved the mystical settings we were able to explore through them.
My only gripe with this story was that I found Ashâke, our main character, to make some idiotic and frustrating decisions at times. She never completely emerged for me to entirely connect to, although I definitely feel more strongly about her now than I did at the end of the first book.

This is a tale of gods and mortals, of what it means to be alive, to be made, and what it means to be unmade. This is a great novella series that makes for an incredibly fun and easy read.

Thank you Netgalley and Titan Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

At the Fount of Creation is an expansive and fast-paced epic fantasy inspired by Yoruba mythology.

“She was merely a pawn in a long cosmic game.”

I really enjoyed the first book in The Guardian Of The Gods duology and this was a highly anticipated read for me. Tobi Ogundiran is a fantastic writer and I loved the non-linear narrative and multi-POV that provided a deeper insight into the motivations of the villain. I do wish the story had been longer or the pacing had been more steady; the middle of the story felt dragged out and the resolution to the conflicts happened incredibly quickly.

Overall, I had so much fun returning to this world and love how strong a main character Ashâke is. Watching the web unravel around the orisha was so well done. I would definitely recommend this to lovers of high fantasy and African inspired folklore,