Masquerade - by O O Sangoyomi

About the Book

"áOdáodâo's hometown of Timbuktu has been conquered by the warrior king of Yoráubâaland. Already shunned as social pariahs, living conditions for áOdáodâo and the other women in her blacksmith guild grow even worse under Yoráubâa rule. Then áOdáodâo is abducted. She is whisked across the Sahara to the capital city of Sáangâoteáe, where she is shocked to discover that her kidnapper is none other than the vagrant who had visited her guild just days prior. But now that he is swathed in riches rather than rags, áOdáodâo realizes he is not a vagrant at all; he is the warrior king, and he has chosen her to be his wife"--

Book Synopsis

PEOPLE MAGAZINE BEST NEW BOOK
NAACP IMAGE AWARD NOMINEE
GOODREADS CHOICE NOMINEE
AUDIBLE BOOK OF THE YEAR
INDIE NEXT PICK

Selected for best-of lists from Book Riot, Kirkus Reviews, Ms. Magazine, Electric Lit, Bookbub, and She Reads, PBS, Audible, Readers Digest, Amazon, and more!

Set in a wonderfully reimagined 15th century West Africa, Masquerade is a dazzling, lyrical tale exploring the true cost of one woman's fight for freedom and self-discovery, and the lengths she'll go to secure her future.

"A bewitching, thrilling and vibrant novel that had me enthralled with every twist and turn." --Jennifer Saint, New York Times bestselling author

Òdòdó's hometown of Timbuktu has been conquered by the warrior king of Yorùbáland, and living conditions for the women in her blacksmith guild, who were already shunned as social pariahs, grow even worse.

Then Òdòdó is abducted. She is whisked across the Sahara to the capital city of Ṣàngótẹ̀, where she is shocked to discover that her kidnapper is none other than the vagrant who had visited her guild just days prior. But now that he is swathed in riches rather than rags, Òdòdó realizes he is not a vagrant at all; he is the warrior king, and he has chosen her to be his wife.

In a sudden change of fortune, Òdòdó soars to the very heights of society. But after a lifetime of subjugation, she finds the power that saturates this world of battle and political savvy too enticing to resist. As tensions with rival states grow, revealing elaborate schemes and enemies hidden in plain sight, Òdòdó must defy the cruel king she has been forced to wed by reforging the shaky loyalties of the court in her favor, or risk losing everything--including her life.

Loosely based on the myth of Persephone, O.O. Sangoyomi's Masquerade takes you on a journey of epic power struggles and political intrigue which turn an entire region on its head.

Review Quotes

"A bewitching, thrilling and vibrant novel that had me enthralled with every twist and turn."
--Jennifer Saint, New York Times bestselling author

"With sweeping romance, an incredible setting, and a heroine who will stop at nothing to have the life she deserves, Masquerade is a triumphant blend of history and folklore that will keep you glued to the page."
--Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author

"Mixing political intrigue and slow corruption with a captivating heroine and gorgeously rendered setting, Sangoyomi delivers an incisive examination of gender, temptation, and the lengths people will go to hold power--a magnificent debut!"
--Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author

"A richly drawn world and tenacious heroine made this utterly transportive debut impossible to put down. I eagerly await any story O.O. Sangoyomi decides to tell next."
--Genevieve Gornichec, national bestselling author

"An immersive, one-of-a-kind story."
--People Magazine

"Bristling with court intrigue and treachery."
--Seattle Times

"A historical epic full of political intrigue, corruption, and self-discovery."
--Paste Magazine

"Richly detailed worldbuilding and inspiration from the Persephone myth all lend to a layered, immersive storyline in Sangoyomi's debut."
--Library Journal, starred review

"[Masquerade] paints a vibrant picture of the people, the colors, and the sights of the era for the reader. And nothing is better imagined than the character Òdòdó, a female blacksmith by trade...Her growth into a leader is the highlight of the novel."
--Booklist, starred review

"A page-turning blend of historical fiction with a retelling of the story of Hades and Persephone, deftly interweaving West African culture with mythology in a way that keeps a familiar tale feeling fresh and new."
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

About the Author

O.O. SANGOYOMI is a Nigerian-American author. During a childhood of constantly moving around, she found an anchored home in the fictional world of books. She is a graduate of Princeton University, where she studied literature. Her debut novel, Masquerade, was an Indie Next Pick and has been featured in media outlets such as PBS, People Magazine, and more. She was named a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree for 2025.