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roseleebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is a story set in 15th century Africa that focuses on the rise of Òdòdó from blacksmith to bride of the Aláàfin of Yorùbáland. There are some elements that could be considered magical but for the most part the plot focused on political and military machinations with detailed world building.
The story begins fairly simply: a tale of a woman trying to grasp the comforts that come with wealth and status, but that slowly grows more complicated as she realizes that what she wants cannot be given to her by someone else. I was impressed by how much tension is infused into the story, it was hard to step away from watching Òdòdó grow in confidence and power. Her struggles and frustrations carried through the page so clearly. It was almost cinematic in how easily I could picture each scene.
I wasn't fully sure what to expect from this as I began it, but was impressed by the characterization, setting, and slow build of tension throughout the book. The writing style seems very direct at first but the complexity grows with the story. The world was immersive and Òdòdó as a main character is extremely compelling.
Thank you to Netgalley and Forge for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Slavery, Confinement, Murder, Misogyny, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual assault, Animal death, Death, Infertility, and Fire/Fire injury
brittanythechronicreader's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WOW. Masquerade was one of the best books I've read in 2023 and possibly my favorite general fiction book this year. This story, loosely based on the myth of Hades and Persephone, is set in 15th century West Africa. The main character is a marginalized girl from Timbuktu who is kidnapped by the Alaafin (emperor) of Yorubaland who decides she will be his second wife. Her kidnapping causes a chain of events to occur throughout the kindgdom that she must deal with to maintain her place at court. This book kept me on my toes the entire time. From the very first page, Sangoyomi drew me in with her beautiful writing and fast-paced plot. The imagery in this book is incredible. The scenery, buildings, and outfits were described so vividly that I felt like I was there next to the characters. This story took political drama and court drama to a new level, and I cannot recommend this enough if you have any interest in either. The main character, Ododo is one of the best morally grey characters I've ever read, and I never fully landed on whether I loved or hated her. This story fleshed out the complex realities of being a woman in a patriarchal society, and it did so without moralizing or being too on the nose. My only critique of this book is that the pacing in the first quarter feels off. The first part moves a bit too rapidly, but it doesn't take away from the book as a whole. If you are interested in historical fiction, court drama, West African fiction, feminist literature, Black fiction, or books at all, I would highly recommend this read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual assault
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