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A review by stuartjrodriguez
Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi
5.0
Absolutely loved this one. It’s an anti-colonialist, anti-corporate Nigerian mythology-inspired heist novel about a pair of demigod freelance mercenaries in a world where godhood has been corporatized—pantheons are spirit companies, belief is measured in market share, and pay is rendered in prayer—who are contracted to break into the British Museum to steal a Nigerian artifact.
God, but do I absolutely love the core conceit of this book. I love a good heist as well as corporate backroom politics, and this novel does both extremely well, in addition to kinetic action sequences, great writing, and excellent, full-bodied characters.
This book does feel like it’s set up for a sequel (and I really hope Talabi returns to this world), but its conclusion is absolutely satisfying on its own. I can already tell this book is going to be in the running for my favorite fantasy of the year.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Hey, this sounds just like American Gods,” you’re on the right track—but, y’know, if American Gods was actually good (I did not like American Gods).
God, but do I absolutely love the core conceit of this book. I love a good heist as well as corporate backroom politics, and this novel does both extremely well, in addition to kinetic action sequences, great writing, and excellent, full-bodied characters.
This book does feel like it’s set up for a sequel (and I really hope Talabi returns to this world), but its conclusion is absolutely satisfying on its own. I can already tell this book is going to be in the running for my favorite fantasy of the year.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Hey, this sounds just like American Gods,” you’re on the right track—but, y’know, if American Gods was actually good (I did not like American Gods).