Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for letting me read an e-ARC of At the Fount of Creation by Tobi Ogundiran! The follow-up novella to In the Shadow of the Fall releases January 28, 2025, so you have lots of time to check out the first book before devouring this one right after!

“For four hundred years, the world’s remaining Orisha have fought to survive the rapaciousness of the soul-stealing Godkillers and the charismatic words of the singular, mysterious figure who leads them, known as the Teacher. Now they seek to kill the one person whose existence defies their very mandate.

Ashâke carries within herself the spirits of the surviving Orisha, and she is on the hunt for allies who can help her defeat the encroaching army of Godkillers. But their influence is everywhere, and no one is immune—not even Ashâke. If she is to succeed, Ashâke will need to answer the question the Godkillers pose—are the Orisha even worth saving?”

This was an absolutely wonderful return to our main character, Ashâke’s, world as the Guardian. Where I found the first installment occasionally tepid, this sequel and conclusion was white-hot and traveled at a breakneck speed. There was so much growth in the characters and everything about the world felt so much more fleshed out. In hindsight, honestly, the first book is mostly world-building and setup for this epic conclusion. The twists and turns kept me hooked and I loved the big reveal that comes out of the handful of interludes throughout the novella. The ending was unexpected (but, then again, I’m very bad at predicting plot - I just enjoy being along for the ride), but I thought it wrapped up the storylines nicely in a lovely bow, especially after such a brutal climax.

I would gladly read more novellas or a full-length novel about this world and our characters. I found them enthralling thanks to this second story. If you’re looking for a fast read or a great fantasy duology with lots of West African inspiration - I’d recommend this series!