Masquerade

DEBUT Sangoyomi's novel showcases a reimagined pre-colonial West Africa in the 15th century, depicting the power of kings, courts, and family, plus one young woman's quest to find her own path. The warrior king of Yorùbáland has conquered Timbuktu, forcing changes that affect all. The women of the city's blacksmith guild are already seen as witches by most, and the new regime means even worse conditions for them. Òdòdó is a young metalsmith who is unsure of what she wants for her future, but when she is abducted and taken to the capital city of Sàngótè, Òdòdó finds herself in the home of the warrior king, the Aláàfin--and he wants her to be his wife. Òdòdó might now obtain riches beyond her dreams, but she is just as trapped in Sàngótè as she was in Timbuktu. The political rivalries outside and inside Sàngótè threaten Òdòdó's status with the Aláàfin, and she will have to navigate the schemes and plans of those who don't want her to marry him--or to survive. VERDICT Richly detailed worldbuilding and inspiration from the Persephone myth all lend to a layered, immersive storyline in Sangoyomi's debut.--Kristi Chadwick

Òdòdó, a talented and beautiful blacksmith who has lived her whole life in Timbuktu, is whisked away by Àrẹ̀mọ, a warrior king who has chosen her to be his next wife. Òdòdó's life has not been an easy one. She and her mother are blacksmiths by trade; as unmarried women in 15th-century West Africa, working at a forge is one of the few ways they can make a living. But the local people think blacksmiths are witches, and the conditions of their subjugation have grown progressively worse for them and the rest of their guild. Plus, her hometown of Timbuktu was recently taken over by the mysterious warrior king of Yorùbáland. When Òdòdó is abruptly kidnapped and brought across the Sahara desert to the Yorùbá capital of Ṣàngótẹ̀, she's both shocked and thrilled to discover that her kidnapper is none other than Àrẹ̀mọ, the fabled warrior king of Yorùbáland. Àrẹ̀mọ explains that he wants nothing more than for Òdòdó to be his next wife, and Òdòdó, who finds Àrẹ̀mọ to be as charming and handsome as he is intimidating and cruel, is soon caught up in her new royal lifestyle. But the longer Òdòdó spends within the court, the more she's exposed to complex political machinations and uncertain loyalties, and she quickly realizes that not everyone is as they seem, including her new husband. This debut novel is a page-turning blend of historical fiction with a retelling of the story of Hades and Persephone, deftly interweaving West African culture with mythology in a way that keeps a familiar tale feeling fresh and new. An intricately woven tale inspired by West African history. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.