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A review by naiadtales
Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi
dark
emotional
sad
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? No
3.75
Such a great start to the reading year. I was instantly hooked by Sangoyomi's writing and was not disappointed (shocked? yes but disappointed never) with the way the story turned out!
In Masquerade we follow the blacksmith Ododo, who is kidnapped from her home to become the bride of the all powerful, Alaafin. Ododo is at first wary of the Alaafin's motives and is hesitant in becoming his bride (I would be too if he kidnapped me). As time progresses and Ododo becomes accustomed to life at court, she slowly begins to fall for the Alaafin but all is not as it seems and not everybody is pleased with the Alaafin's new bride - to -be.
One of the things I loved the most about this story was Ododo, I enjoyed that we discovered the inner machinations of Yoruba court as we did. Her naivete about certain things did annoy me at times and I constantly had to be reminding myself that this was loosely based on the Persephone myth and thus she probably had Stockholm's cause ain't no way
With that being said there are quite a few things that were touched on more:
- Omosewa's death, I get that he was an asshole and may have not been generally liked but Rotimi killing a great warrior on the basis that he did like the King's wife seemed random to me. It seemed to me like the author needed to kill off this character and that was the only way she say fit.
- On the topic of Rotimi, it is implied that him and his second in command were more than good workers and you want me to believe that Rotimi was satisfied with his measly attempt and was just gonna live with the fact that the love of his life had been sold off into slavery what??
- which brings me to another issue I had with the story, I'm not going to pretend to be knowledgeable about 15th century Africa but why was everybody so nonchalant about their loved ones being sold off into slavery?? Like they were upset for a minute and then it was oh well life continues
-how did nobody suspect that Kolo was not Kolo.. was there no delegation, you mean to tell me that none of the royals had ever laid eyes on the the real Kolo?!
- On the topic of Rotimi, it is implied that him and his second in command were more than good workers and you want me to believe that Rotimi was satisfied with his measly attempt and was just gonna live with the fact that the love of his life had been sold off into slavery what??
- which brings me to another issue I had with the story, I'm not going to pretend to be knowledgeable about 15th century Africa but why was everybody so nonchalant about their loved ones being sold off into slavery?? Like they were upset for a minute and then it was oh well life continues
-how did nobody suspect that Kolo was not Kolo.. was there no delegation, you mean to tell me that none of the royals had ever laid eyes on the the real Kolo?!
"Yes, I am your daughter," I spat the words back at her. "And I will be the Alaafin's wife. And one day, I will be someone's mother. But when will I get to be a person?"
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery, Animal death, and War