In the Shadow of the Fall - (Guardians of the Gods) by Tobi Ogundiran (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A cosmic war reignites and the fate of the orisha lie in the hands of an untried acolyte in this first entry of [a] fantasy novella duology by Tobi Ogundiran, for fans of N. K. Jemisin and Tomi Adeyemi. ... Ashãake 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, Ashãake 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 Ashãake into the center of a centuries-old war that will shatter the very foundations of her world"--

Book Synopsis

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 Quotes

"The most spectacular part of the book is. . .Ashâke herself: her anger at the silent gods, her slow journey to find out who she is without the temple, and finally her discovery of her own true power."--The Washington Post

"The novella of the year has arrived! Ogundiran's story of an acolyte's lost faith is electrifying, terrifying, and tender all at the same time. There's more wonder and creativity packed into these pages than a book five times its length, and I'm already aching for the next chapter in Ashâke's adventure."--Mark Oshiro, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"A lost priestess, magic storytellers, godkillers, and a secret that could upend the world. Tobi Ogundiran has woven together a masterful fantasy epic of lost faith, found family, and a cosmic war--with hints of more to come. This is one to add to your reading list!"--P. Djèlí Clark

"Ogundiran unveils a world that is both in recovery and on the cusp of collapse, a brilliant tension that he reinforces with a propulsive plot, dynamic imagery, and a protagonist who holds within her the seeds of hope. I'm already looking forward to book two."--Moses Ose Utomi

"Immersive, entertaining, and well-crafted, with an atmospheric tone and an intriguing cast of characters, In the Shadow of the Fall is a small African epic fantasy with big scope and big stakes, and I look forward to its conclusion."--Wole Talabi, Locus

"Ogundiran keeps the action humming while still managing to probe impressive emotional depths, and a cliffhanger ending sets things up nicely for a sequel. Fans of mythic fantasy drawing from non-Western traditions will want to snap this up."--Publishers Weekly

"A sure hit for fans of Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Moses Ose Utomi, and N.K. Jemisin."--Booklist

Praise for Jackal, Jackal

"Alive with witches, griots, restless spirits, and an unfailing capacity for surprise, Ogundiran's superb weird-fantasy fictions have in recent years dazzled readers." --Publishers Weekly, Summer Reads 2023 pick

"Jackal, Jackal is a great showcase of Ogundiran's consistency and strengths of a storyteller and dark fabulist. Forget logic. These are stories you are meant to feel. Think Grimm by way of Amos Tutuola. Stephen King meets Cyprian Ekwensi." --Wole Talabi

"Ogundiran's tales revel in small moments that create big ripples. Jackal, Jackal is a collection of such stories, characters grasping at a wish in their own unique, earnest way. An exciting yet intimate collection from a writer who continues to surprise and delight." --Suyi Davies Okungbowa

"An astonishing debut collection with real teeth." --Priya Sharma

About the Author

Tobi Ogundiran is the award-winning author of Jackal, Jackal, a collection of 18 dark and fantastical tales. He has also been nominated for the British Science Fiction Association, Nommo and Shirley Jackson awards. His short fiction has been featured on the hit podcast LeVar Burton Reads, but also appears in journals such as Lightspeed, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and in several Year's Best anthologies. Born and raised in Nigeria, he now lives and works in the US South.