Fantasy lovers can never have too many fun, exciting adventures. Tobi Ogundiran's novella, In the Shadow of the Fall, fills the need and then some. Ashâke is desperate to be accepted into the order of priests at the temple where she's lived her whole life, but the orisha refuse to speak to her. Absent this critical rite of passage, she languishes as an acolyte while others pass her by. When she attempts a forbidden magical rite, she sets off a sequence of events that threatens all of humanity--and the gods as well.
Ogundiran (Jackal, Jackal) creates an immersive and fascinating world, pulling from Yoruba myth and religion. These elements, including the bard-like griots and the orisha of water and fertility, are gorgeously depicted. The griots have an unusual and compelling type of magic: they're historical storytellers who transport their listeners into the physical world of their story, immersing them in the sounds, sights, and smells of the past. It's a dynamic that enables some climactic thrills.
The novella is taut and fast paced, and its ending both satisfies and whets the appetite for the second book of the planned duology. Readers will relate to Ashâke's quest for purpose and belonging, and perhaps also to some of the bad choices she makes along the way. That theme of belonging becomes particularly vivid when the matron of the griots takes Ashâke back to their camp, caring for her in a way she's never experienced. It's a poignant moment in a narrative full of heart, magic, and danger. --Carol Caley, writer