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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
"Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon" by Wole Talabi is an exceptional five-star journey into the heart of African mythology, blending traditional storytelling with a fresh, imaginative twist. Talabi crafts a vivid world where magic and reality intertwine seamlessly, bringing to life the rich tapestry of Yoruba folklore through the eyes of the eponymous Shigidi, a supernatural being on a quest that challenges the very essence of his being. The novel's brilliance lies in its deep respect for cultural heritage while engaging contemporary themes, making it resonate with readers across the globe. The characters are intricately developed, with Shigidi's journey exploring themes of identity, purpose, and redemption, making him a relatable and compelling protagonist. Talabi's prose is lush and evocative, creating vivid imagery that transports readers directly into the story's magical world. "Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon" is not just a book; it's an experience, weaving a spellbinding tale that stays with you long after the last page.
This is an incredibly slickly done debut novel. Someone inevitably is going to evoke the vibes of Black Panther here, and actually, the best way to sum up the vibes of this book is to think of that scene where Killmonger does a heist on the museum with the Wakandan artifact. Talabi keeps everything going at a clip, but will still give us side chapters that dive into the past of our heist crew, and the descriptions make you feel like you're there or at least watching it happen in front of your eyes. The crew is great, the politics of the spirit world are fun, and let's be real, the idea of people doing heists on museums to get artifacts back is real appealing these days. Talabi is definitely someone I'll be keeping an eye on in the future.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
DNF. Urban fantasy isn't particularly my thing but this felt very derivative.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
3.5 stars, rounded up. It’s a heist. I liked the idea of our heroes stealing an artifact from the British Museum to return it to the gods it belonged to. I liked the Orisha gods being organized into a corporation with minor gods as employees, and a CEO and a board of directors. There were some good action scenes. I did not like the emphasis on how beautiful our heroes were, and I really didn’t like one being a male author’s version of a succubus. Go figure.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
100% AMAZING! i LOVE this book so much i wish i hadn't finished it. an imaginative, funny, fast-paced, cool, sexy fantasy heist book with great decolonial themes. highly recommended. the romance between the main characters is FIREY and beautiful.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No