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daniellestarredpages's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
3.5 Stars.
Novellas can be very hit or miss for me. Either I love the story so much that I'm begging for more or I want more because I felt elements of the story could use more development.
In the case of "In The Shadow Of The Fall" by Tobi Ogundiraan, I felt there could've been more. I had a few issues with the pacing as the time between the MC learning something mind and belief-shattering and then finding out the information she had just learnt wasn't completely accurate was way too short. The author began to build a connection between secondary characters and the reader but I don't think there was enough before "emotional" things started happening to these characters. However, I did find the emotional turmoil the MC felt towards things that happened to the secondary characters to be believable and well done. I was quite interested in the mythology and the magic that was hinted at and wish we had seen or learnt more. If the author decides to write a full-length novel set in this world and follow this MC, I would be interested.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Novellas can be very hit or miss for me. Either I love the story so much that I'm begging for more or I want more because I felt elements of the story could use more development.
In the case of "In The Shadow Of The Fall" by Tobi Ogundiraan, I felt there could've been more. I had a few issues with the pacing as the time between the MC learning something mind and belief-shattering and then finding out the information she had just learnt wasn't completely accurate was way too short. The author began to build a connection between secondary characters and the reader but I don't think there was enough before "emotional" things started happening to these characters. However, I did find the emotional turmoil the MC felt towards things that happened to the secondary characters to be believable and well done. I was quite interested in the mythology and the magic that was hinted at and wish we had seen or learnt more. If the author decides to write a full-length novel set in this world and follow this MC, I would be interested.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Blood, Murder, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Blood
bookstaash's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and TorDotCom for providing an eARC of this in exchange for my honest feedback!
In In the Shadow of the Fall, Ashâke is an untrained acolyte waiting for the orisha to call her into service as a full-fledged priest. When she grows tired of waiting, she attempts to summon the gods and finds herself thrust in the middle of an epic power struggle that will decide the fate of the world.
This novella was so well-done - there was enough explanation of the world and backstory but, I still felt like I was in the middle of the current situation. The story was fast-paced, descriptive and engrossing, such that I felt like I was missing out every time I had to set the book down.
I’d put this in my top reads of 2024, and would recommend this to anyone interested in Yoruba mythology and epic high-stakes fantasy.
Can’t wait for the next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, and Violence
mothreadsbookssometimes's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In the Shadow of the Fall is a novella about an acolyte, Ashâke, who has been refused a promotion to priesthood. She attempts to summon the orisha (deities), but fails and instead sees a terrible vision. And with it being a novella, I can’t say too much else without spoiling the story😅
This was so good! It’s such a quick read — the first couple chapters are a little slow, but once you hit the first interlude, we’re off. Every few chapters, we get an interlude from the POV of a side character. Those interludes were my favorite chapters because that was where the world-building really got to shine.
For only 150-ish pages, the story and the world is very well-explained. The pacing was smooth, moving quickly but not at a breakneck speed.
The last third of the book had me in a chokehold, I couldn’t stop reading because it was so exciting. I can’t wait for the second book of the duology, and in the meantime, I’ll probably be reading Jackal Jackal for the first time.
This was so good! It’s such a quick read — the first couple chapters are a little slow, but once you hit the first interlude, we’re off. Every few chapters, we get an interlude from the POV of a side character. Those interludes were my favorite chapters because that was where the world-building really got to shine.
For only 150-ish pages, the story and the world is very well-explained. The pacing was smooth, moving quickly but not at a breakneck speed.
The last third of the book had me in a chokehold, I couldn’t stop reading because it was so exciting. I can’t wait for the second book of the duology, and in the meantime, I’ll probably be reading Jackal Jackal for the first time.
CW: death/murder, suicide, violence, religious trauma
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide
chaptersofmads's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Captivatingly vivid and beautiful written, this novella was so good.
I was concerned that the length would detract from my enjoyment of the story, but those fears were completely unfounded. Tobi Ogundiran used every single page to its fullest, somehow managing to weave a story that is both intricate and incredibly fast-paced in less than 200 pages. The characters, no matter how brief their appearance, were fleshed out and felt entirely real. Creating three-dimensional characters is something authors (reasonably) struggle with on a much larger canvas and yet this novella handled it with such ease, I felt like I was simply hearing about people that had once existed.
Pairing that with the use of African mythology and a cosmic war between the gods, this was one you're not going to want to miss.
Captivatingly vivid and beautiful written, this novella was so good.
I was concerned that the length would detract from my enjoyment of the story, but those fears were completely unfounded. Tobi Ogundiran used every single page to its fullest, somehow managing to weave a story that is both intricate and incredibly fast-paced in less than 200 pages. The characters, no matter how brief their appearance, were fleshed out and felt entirely real. Creating three-dimensional characters is something authors (reasonably) struggle with on a much larger canvas and yet this novella handled it with such ease, I felt like I was simply hearing about people that had once existed.
Pairing that with the use of African mythology and a cosmic war between the gods, this was one you're not going to want to miss.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Violence
Minor: Medical content and Child death
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