Fantasy is a field that possesses endless possibilities. We read it to escape, but we also read it to escape to a world where good can overcome evil. Where the little one can defeat the big bad. And where we can be so much more than ourselves. Ashâke, the main character of In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran, understands this. She sees others passing her by, making more of themselves and their lives than she’s doing. So, she decides to take action and force the issue. Her attempt reignites an old war for the cosmos. She will learn that she may have more parts to play in this war than she knows and that her ambition has unseen consequences.
TL;DR
Tobi Ogundiran’s In the Shadow of the Fall opens up a duology in which ambition leads to the re-ignition of an old war. Can Ashâke handle the consequences of her actions? Recommended.
From the Publisher
A cosmic war reignites and the fate of the orisha lie in the hands of an untried acolyte in this first entry of a new epic fantasy novella duology by Tobi Ogundiran, for fans of N. K. Jemisin and Tomi Adeyemi.
“The novella of the year has arrived!”—Mark Oshiro, #1 New York Times bestselling author
A Most Anticipated Pick for The Millions | Book Riot | Gizmodo | IGN
Ashâke is an acolyte in the temple of Ifa, yearning for the day she is made a priestess and sent out into the world to serve the orisha. But of all the acolytes, she is the only one the orisha refuse to speak to. For years she has watched from the sidelines as peer after peer passes her by and ascends to full priesthood.
Desperate, Ashâke attempts to summon and trap an orisha—any orisha. Instead, she experiences a vision so terrible it draws the attention of a powerful enemy sect and thrusts Ashâke into the center of a centuries-old war that will shatter the very foundations of her world.
Review: In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran
Ashâke is a woman with ambition. She wishes to summon and bind an Orisha, and the story starts with her attempting to do so in the Sacred Grove. Ashâke is a priestess in training, and the final part of her journey is to be visited by an Orisha as have all the others she’s studied with. It just hasn’t happened for Ashâke yet, but she’s determined to force the interaction if she has to. Inexplicably, the ritual goes wrong. Ashâke is visited by visions of fire and burning. She failed, but she doesn’t know how badly she’s failed. Yet. In fact, she’s nearly turned away from the temple. Only through the interaction of the High Priestess does she stay. Her punishment doesn’t sit well with her though, and Ashâke decides to escape the temple. Out in the world, she meets Griots, travelers and storytellers. But Ashâke is in danger, and her very presences has put the Griots in danger. For her failure with the Orisha signaled to an ancient enemy that the temple has been weakened. The time for this enemy to destroy the temple and rid the world of the Orisha may be at hand.
In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran is a third person fantasy novella about hidden potential, secret intentions, and fitting in. It’s a fast paced, lovely story that ends a bit too soon for my tastes. While there is a conclusion to the story, it doesn’t feel like a conclusion. I don’t mean that it ends on a cliffhanger; it just sort of ends at a point that feels like mid-way in other stories. To be fair, In the Shadow of the Fall is being sold as a duology with At the Fount of Creation, which arrives on January 28th, 2025. The story, itself, leading up to the ending is fun and interesting; so, I think despite the ending it’s definitely worth reading.
Worldbuilding
Ogundiran has created a world worth exploring, and the structure of the novella does just that. We begin the novel focused in on Ashâke, alone, and soon expands to the temple. From there, Ogundiran takes us out of the temple, and we, along with Ashâke, get to experience the world outside. Ashâke has spent so much time in the temple that she doesn’t know much of the outside world; so, we get to experience the wonder of it through her. And there is wonder. I enjoyed Ashâke’s encounters with the Griots. They were joyful and playful in way that Ashâke seemed to need.
Next, the enemies of the temple get their own point of view during interludes in the story. Ogundiran does a good job making the enemies feel not-quite-human and menacing while still adaptable enough to blend in. I look forward to learning more about then in At the Fount of Creation.
Conclusion
Tobi Ogundiran’s In the Shadow of the Fall starts off the duology with an interesting and inventive world. The ending feels a little lackluster, but overall this is a story worth reading. I’m looking forward to the conclusion, and I’m sure you will too.
In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran is available from Tor.com now.
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