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Guardians of the Gods #2
At the Fount of Creation: Guardians of the Gods, Book 2
The fate of the Orisha will be decided in the concluding volume of the Guardians of the Gods duology by award-winning author Tobi Ogundiran.
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?
“Those who have loved the African-inspired epic stories of lies, secrets, and powerful tricksters found in the works of Moses Ose Utomi and Nnedi Okorafor will be thrilled to add Ogundiran to their lists of must-reads.”—Library Journal
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?
“Those who have loved the African-inspired epic stories of lies, secrets, and powerful tricksters found in the works of Moses Ose Utomi and Nnedi Okorafor will be thrilled to add Ogundiran to their lists of must-reads.”—Library Journal
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First published January 28, 2025
About the author
Tobi Ogundiran
29 books129 followersTobi Ogundiran is the award-winning author of the Guardian of the Gods duology (In the Shadow of the Fall, At the Fount of Creation) and the critically acclaimed collection, Jackal, Jackal. His work has appeared in several Year's Best anthologies, and on the hit podcast LeVar Burton Reads. Originally from Nigeria, he now lives and works in the US South.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
November 30, 2024
4/5
This was a great sequel to In the Shadow of the Fall, I think I enjoyed it even more! I love the West African-inspired world and the influences of Yoruba mythology woven into it. It's a fascinating take on a world of gods and mortals, and how the two intersect.
I'm glad this instalment was longer than the first, it really allowed enough time to feel situated in the story and completely immersed. This is a well fleshed-out yet bite-sized read that you can easily read in one sitting, but that offers a vast and sprawling story.
I adored the interludes and other perspectives that brought a lot of depth and intricacy to the story. I very much appreciated them and loved the mystical settings we were able to explore through them.
My only gripe with this story was that I found Ashâke, our main character, to make some idiotic and frustrating decisions at times. She never completely emerged for me to entirely connect to, although I definitely feel more strongly about her now than I did at the end of the first book.
This is a tale of gods and mortals, of what it means to be alive, to be made, and what it means to be unmade. This is a great novella series that makes for an incredibly fun and easy read.
Thank you Titan Books for an arc.
This was a great sequel to In the Shadow of the Fall, I think I enjoyed it even more! I love the West African-inspired world and the influences of Yoruba mythology woven into it. It's a fascinating take on a world of gods and mortals, and how the two intersect.
I'm glad this instalment was longer than the first, it really allowed enough time to feel situated in the story and completely immersed. This is a well fleshed-out yet bite-sized read that you can easily read in one sitting, but that offers a vast and sprawling story.
I adored the interludes and other perspectives that brought a lot of depth and intricacy to the story. I very much appreciated them and loved the mystical settings we were able to explore through them.
My only gripe with this story was that I found Ashâke, our main character, to make some idiotic and frustrating decisions at times. She never completely emerged for me to entirely connect to, although I definitely feel more strongly about her now than I did at the end of the first book.
This is a tale of gods and mortals, of what it means to be alive, to be made, and what it means to be unmade. This is a great novella series that makes for an incredibly fun and easy read.
Thank you Titan Books for an arc.
November 10, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
A strong conclusion to this duology! At the Fount of Creation continues Ashâke's story, drawing on West African mythology. She is caught up in an epic battle between powerful beings- the Orisha and the godkillers. I don't want to say too much because of spoilers, but this installment was action packed and included some interesting twists and revelations, leading up to a very satisfying conclusion. Definitely recommend both books and would read more from this author in the future! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
A strong conclusion to this duology! At the Fount of Creation continues Ashâke's story, drawing on West African mythology. She is caught up in an epic battle between powerful beings- the Orisha and the godkillers. I don't want to say too much because of spoilers, but this installment was action packed and included some interesting twists and revelations, leading up to a very satisfying conclusion. Definitely recommend both books and would read more from this author in the future! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
August 18, 2024
1. In the Shadow of the Fall ★★★
“We are tools at the hand of the universe,” Eshu whispered. “We are all merely actors in a cosmic play.”
After the end of the first book, I wanted to know how this duology would end. But after a fairly action-packed start where the orishas gain more weight, the story loses steam as this novella progresses. Or at least, it lost my interest. I think the author did a good job of giving context to why the villain wants to kill the orishas and showing the selfish side of them. But in the end, everything is resolved in a rush and the villain goes from being a father seeking justice to a rather flat character.
I was also confused by the fact that there is a new character introduced at the beginning of this novella who has scenes told from his point of view during the first half, but who is then completely relegated to the background and barely appears in the second part.
Overall, I felt a little underwhelmed with this last installment. But I have to say that Ashâke, the protagonist, has an interesting development, especially when we take into account how her adventure began at the beginning of In the Shadow of the Fall. And once again, my favorite aspect was the way the author includes Yoruba mythology in the story.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2025
➳ 4.5
This was fantastic.
I said this with the first installment, but it bears repeating: the diminutive size of this novella should be a mark against it, while instead Tobi Ogundiran uses the short amount of pages to build a story that is both fast-paced and masterfully crafted.
Not a single page is wasted, which makes this story all the more interesting. Even the smallest of conversations are used to expand the world, the mythology, characterization, and the religious system. All of this paired with rich, dynamic characters and an incredibly satisfying conclusion, this duology deserves so much praise.
Highly recommend.
This was fantastic.
I said this with the first installment, but it bears repeating: the diminutive size of this novella should be a mark against it, while instead Tobi Ogundiran uses the short amount of pages to build a story that is both fast-paced and masterfully crafted.
Not a single page is wasted, which makes this story all the more interesting. Even the smallest of conversations are used to expand the world, the mythology, characterization, and the religious system. All of this paired with rich, dynamic characters and an incredibly satisfying conclusion, this duology deserves so much praise.
Highly recommend.
November 29, 2024
What a beautiful and empowering conclusion to this duology. This sequel is seamlessly woven together and incredibly well-paced. The orishas' presence and personalities are really felt on the page, and I absolutely enjoyed the character dynamics. At the start, I found myself wanting more from Ashâke's perspective, but, by the end, each of the characters' storylines proved necessary. Thank you NetGalley and Tor/Forge for this ARC!! 4.5 / 5.0 ⭐️
November 30, 2024
3.5 stars.
This would've been a 4-star read for me if the first half wasn't so focused on random characters who were wronged by the orisha. It made it a bit of a drag to read, even though this is a novella and not a full-length novel. Truth be told, my mind was starting to wander and I kept putting this book off in favor of other reads.
The second half delivered on the action and high stakes that I wanted a lot more of. I was seated and ready for Ashâke's story and her fate ever since book 1 ended. While her hero's journey in the first half of this book felt meandering, the story really tightened up by the halfway mark and brought my interest back.
I really liked how the orishas reminded me of the stories of the Norse gods (the mythological version and the Marvel version). They're fickle and petty and funny, and I'd like to read a spin-off with their stories.
Overall, this duology was a quick and entertaining read. I'd definitely recommend if you're interested in Yoruba mythology and don't mind adult reads that read more YA.
Thank you to Tordotcom and NetGalley for this arc.
This would've been a 4-star read for me if the first half wasn't so focused on random characters who were wronged by the orisha. It made it a bit of a drag to read, even though this is a novella and not a full-length novel. Truth be told, my mind was starting to wander and I kept putting this book off in favor of other reads.
The second half delivered on the action and high stakes that I wanted a lot more of. I was seated and ready for Ashâke's story and her fate ever since book 1 ended. While her hero's journey in the first half of this book felt meandering, the story really tightened up by the halfway mark and brought my interest back.
I really liked how the orishas reminded me of the stories of the Norse gods (the mythological version and the Marvel version). They're fickle and petty and funny, and I'd like to read a spin-off with their stories.
Overall, this duology was a quick and entertaining read. I'd definitely recommend if you're interested in Yoruba mythology and don't mind adult reads that read more YA.
Thank you to Tordotcom and NetGalley for this arc.
December 14, 2024
3.5 stars
My thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley for the free eARC of "At the Fount of Creation" by Tobi Ogundiran.
The conclusion to the "Guardian of the Gods" duology continues the adventurous tale inspired by the Yoruba mythology.
Here we see more behind the antagonist's motivations and it created more reflection on what is actually right and what is wrong or if there is a clear cut line.
I enjoyed learning about this world and I am sure that we can expect great things from this author in the future.
My thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley for the free eARC of "At the Fount of Creation" by Tobi Ogundiran.
The conclusion to the "Guardian of the Gods" duology continues the adventurous tale inspired by the Yoruba mythology.
Here we see more behind the antagonist's motivations and it created more reflection on what is actually right and what is wrong or if there is a clear cut line.
I enjoyed learning about this world and I am sure that we can expect great things from this author in the future.
May 20, 2026
8/10✨ Esta segunda parte va muy en la línea de la primera en cuanto a que es una historia que te mantiene interesada y que te genera necesidad de seguir leyendo para ver qué ocurre, en cambio, esta parte es algo más dura ya que hay más violencia y momentos que te hacen sentir mal.
El libro iba a llevarse 5 estrellas, pero no me ha gustado como ha resuelto el final el autor, ya que en principio está intentando hacernos reflexionar un poco sobre el bien, el mal y las ansias de poder, y finalmente considero que hace una mala elección en cómo culminarlo todo.
Aún así, es una historia que me ha gustado y me ha atrapado muchísimo y aunque el final me haya fallado un poco, es de valorar el resto y todo lo bueno que tiene este libro.
El libro iba a llevarse 5 estrellas, pero no me ha gustado como ha resuelto el final el autor, ya que en principio está intentando hacernos reflexionar un poco sobre el bien, el mal y las ansias de poder, y finalmente considero que hace una mala elección en cómo culminarlo todo.
Aún así, es una historia que me ha gustado y me ha atrapado muchísimo y aunque el final me haya fallado un poco, es de valorar el resto y todo lo bueno que tiene este libro.
August 3, 2026
2.5
Está.. bien? La verdad que después de leer el primero, tenía un poco más de expectativas en este libro. Empieza muy bien y es cierto que en primera instancia sí que estaba muy dentro del libro. Tiene algo más de subtrama y plantea nuevos dilemas para la prota, pero creo que le falla la estructura. Para cuando ocurre un momento de gran revelación para la protagonista, tú como lector ya lo sabes porque te lo han contado en un interludio y se siente un poco repetitivo. Un par de momentos de aprender o llegar a una conclusión aparentemente porque sí y un cierre que me dejó un poco frío, aunque bastante épico, hacen que, aunque me haya gustado el libro, no haya sido tanto como esperaba después de leer la primera parte.
Está.. bien? La verdad que después de leer el primero, tenía un poco más de expectativas en este libro. Empieza muy bien y es cierto que en primera instancia sí que estaba muy dentro del libro. Tiene algo más de subtrama y plantea nuevos dilemas para la prota, pero creo que le falla la estructura. Para cuando ocurre un momento de gran revelación para la protagonista, tú como lector ya lo sabes porque te lo han contado en un interludio y se siente un poco repetitivo. Un par de momentos de aprender o llegar a una conclusión aparentemente porque sí y un cierre que me dejó un poco frío, aunque bastante épico, hacen que, aunque me haya gustado el libro, no haya sido tanto como esperaba después de leer la primera parte.
February 12, 2025
Definitely a 4.5.
What a thrilling conclusion to this duology. I definitely went into this with high expectations because the first novella was great despite being so short. And I’m glad this one too lived up to my expectations.
This one dives even more into the Yoruba mythology, giving us well fleshed out characters of some of the orishas; we learn more about how Ashake is handling being the guardian, forever being chased by the godkillers; and the uneasy dynamic they all share. But I really thought the best part were the interludes, giving us a peek into the origins of the antagonist, and this context made the story so much more richer. There were twists and revelations and a thrilling but unexpected climax, which left me feeling extremely satisfied; though I would have loved an even longer epilogue.
If you love reading fantasy novellas or mythology inspired books, you just can’t go wrong with this duology. The compelling storytelling makes for two unputdownable reads and I would highly recommend reading the two books back to back.
What a thrilling conclusion to this duology. I definitely went into this with high expectations because the first novella was great despite being so short. And I’m glad this one too lived up to my expectations.
This one dives even more into the Yoruba mythology, giving us well fleshed out characters of some of the orishas; we learn more about how Ashake is handling being the guardian, forever being chased by the godkillers; and the uneasy dynamic they all share. But I really thought the best part were the interludes, giving us a peek into the origins of the antagonist, and this context made the story so much more richer. There were twists and revelations and a thrilling but unexpected climax, which left me feeling extremely satisfied; though I would have loved an even longer epilogue.
If you love reading fantasy novellas or mythology inspired books, you just can’t go wrong with this duology. The compelling storytelling makes for two unputdownable reads and I would highly recommend reading the two books back to back.
February 25, 2026
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
I read both books, starting and finishing this duology, in the same month. If you know me, a standalone reader who takes years to continue a series, then you realize that this is NOT a series to sleep any longer on!
In this continuation/finale following the events of In the Shadow of the Fall, Ashâke has the fate of the world on her shoulders. Meanwhile, the Teacher and his ilk are closing in. They can kill the gods, and they are immortal...or are they?
I gave the first book 5 stars, and this sequel gets a well-earned 4.5 stars. I think Ogundiran did an excellent job wrapping up the storyline, and the series is definitely re-readable in my eyes. If I were to give Guardians of the Gods a series rating, it would be 5 stars. That means I fully plan on buying the duology for my shelves at home, and I will 100% keep an eye out for Ogundiran's next project!
P.S. Did I mention that I find myself in a bit of a fantasy reading slump in the last month? You couldn't tell with this series!
I read both books, starting and finishing this duology, in the same month. If you know me, a standalone reader who takes years to continue a series, then you realize that this is NOT a series to sleep any longer on!
In this continuation/finale following the events of In the Shadow of the Fall, Ashâke has the fate of the world on her shoulders. Meanwhile, the Teacher and his ilk are closing in. They can kill the gods, and they are immortal...or are they?
I gave the first book 5 stars, and this sequel gets a well-earned 4.5 stars. I think Ogundiran did an excellent job wrapping up the storyline, and the series is definitely re-readable in my eyes. If I were to give Guardians of the Gods a series rating, it would be 5 stars. That means I fully plan on buying the duology for my shelves at home, and I will 100% keep an eye out for Ogundiran's next project!
P.S. Did I mention that I find myself in a bit of a fantasy reading slump in the last month? You couldn't tell with this series!
November 28, 2024
Continuing where In the Shadow of the Fall left off, At the Fount of Creation is a fantastic conclusion to this duology that delivers on the series commitment to nuanced characters, and their motivations and machinations. Ogundiran delivers the right combination of direct prose with the right inflections of magic to draw the reader in and make such an intricate story feel justified in such a small page count. I recommend this to readers seeking a fast-paced, character-focused, moral journey navigating the influence of gods and higher-powers.
I am incredibly interesting in seeing what Ogundiran can do in a full length novel, or a series of novels.
I am incredibly interesting in seeing what Ogundiran can do in a full length novel, or a series of novels.
February 18, 2025
I don't know what it was but I was more into the first one than this. I think this was just a case of bad timing for me but it's overall still very interesting. For such a short novella it was confusing for me to have the added POVs when we spent the first book with just Ashake so I just got in my head too much trying to figure stuff out. There were good twists in this and like Ashake's growth after the realization of who/what she is in the first one. I struggle a bit with novellas because I always think there should be more but despite the page count, I think both the novellas serve well in their respective bindings a the length they are.
February 14, 2026
En realidad, creo que lo he leído en mal momento porque me dispersaba mucho, pero tenía curiosidad por el desenlace. Me ha parecido muy interesante el papel de los dioses, sus conflictos con los humanos y las diferentes lealtades, consecuencias y decisiones que se toman.
Es una buena biología.
Es una buena biología.
September 6, 2024
thank you to Tordotcom for providing me with an eARC!
The first novella in this duology was one of my favourite fantasy reads of the year, so it’s easy to say I was extremely excited for this finale to the story. In many ways, this installment feels a lot different from the first, where it’s a story of discovery, this novella is a lot more about following through, and it manifests in a very different way. The action starts immediately, but not exactly where the last book left off, as seasons have passed and the tension between the Orisha and the Godkillers is stronger than ever. And while Ashâke is still the protagonist, the story has a lot more narrators, and dives more into the lore of the Orisha in this world, and that of the Teacher. I think it’s a look at grief and motivation, as well as an exercise of power from many different angles. The story does have an ending, but it also felt like it wasn’t truly over because I don’t think there’s a singular answer for the questions that Ogundiran brings up in this series. While I found the first novella to be more compelling, I do think this is a fantasy duology that’s definitely worth reading.
The first novella in this duology was one of my favourite fantasy reads of the year, so it’s easy to say I was extremely excited for this finale to the story. In many ways, this installment feels a lot different from the first, where it’s a story of discovery, this novella is a lot more about following through, and it manifests in a very different way. The action starts immediately, but not exactly where the last book left off, as seasons have passed and the tension between the Orisha and the Godkillers is stronger than ever. And while Ashâke is still the protagonist, the story has a lot more narrators, and dives more into the lore of the Orisha in this world, and that of the Teacher. I think it’s a look at grief and motivation, as well as an exercise of power from many different angles. The story does have an ending, but it also felt like it wasn’t truly over because I don’t think there’s a singular answer for the questions that Ogundiran brings up in this series. While I found the first novella to be more compelling, I do think this is a fantasy duology that’s definitely worth reading.
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February 27, 2025Picking up right where the first book left off, we are once again swept up in a fantastical journey of gods and mortals as our characters wrestle with decisions of freedom and obligation.
The first book heightened the tensions by letting us see through the antagonist's eyes and know his plans. This book took that a step farther, by introducing more characters on different sides of this cosmic battle, and exploring the motivations of each. We see why characters would choose different sides, and the complicated and waring emotions of doing so.
Even our main character, Ashâke faces conflicting emotions about who is right in this grand power struggle spanning centuries. While Ashâke feels honored that she was chosen for an important task as the guardians of the gods, the weight of it wears on her, and she struggles with her lack of choice in the matter. She longs for freedom and the ability to choose her own path in life, but knows that comes with the cost of killing the gods she is meant to protect.
This duology makes great use of its short format, making every detail feel important, and keeping the story moving at a quick pace.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley
The first book heightened the tensions by letting us see through the antagonist's eyes and know his plans. This book took that a step farther, by introducing more characters on different sides of this cosmic battle, and exploring the motivations of each. We see why characters would choose different sides, and the complicated and waring emotions of doing so.
Even our main character, Ashâke faces conflicting emotions about who is right in this grand power struggle spanning centuries. While Ashâke feels honored that she was chosen for an important task as the guardians of the gods, the weight of it wears on her, and she struggles with her lack of choice in the matter. She longs for freedom and the ability to choose her own path in life, but knows that comes with the cost of killing the gods she is meant to protect.
This duology makes great use of its short format, making every detail feel important, and keeping the story moving at a quick pace.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley
December 1, 2025
At the Fount of Creation is the conclusion to the Guardians of the Gods duology of fantastical-mythological novellas. I’ve enjoyed how the orisha come to life in the story, and in this installment protagonist Ashâke’s relationships with the orisha whom she carries within her are really well developed. Overall, I think that Ogundiran has struck a great balance with the length of the novella – it feels neither too compressed (like it should’ve been longer) nor as if it’s drawn out needlessly: every detail here matters.
What didn’t quite work for me in this installment was the pacing. In a few places, the action was a bit hard to follow with jumps in what was happening leaving me unclear on how we had gotten from point A to point B. These instances were, however, few and far between.
Note that this sequel is very much a sequel, and would not work as a standalone.
Content warnings: violence, blood, murder, death, animal cruelty, animal death, grief, suicide
What didn’t quite work for me in this installment was the pacing. In a few places, the action was a bit hard to follow with jumps in what was happening leaving me unclear on how we had gotten from point A to point B. These instances were, however, few and far between.
Note that this sequel is very much a sequel, and would not work as a standalone.
Content warnings: violence, blood, murder, death, animal cruelty, animal death, grief, suicide
January 3, 2025
I liked this so much more than the first one! The strongest part for me was the characters, I loved seeing their journeys. It was also mythology that was new to me and made it all the more exciting. If you read In the shadow of the Fall and weren't sure if you should continue, do it! This was so much fun.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for a fair and honor review!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for a fair and honor review!
August 30, 2026
If you're looking for a story where the FMC is far from perfect and you want to smack them a time or two, in a good reading way, then this is the book for you.
So glad I was able to finish this one and although it didn't entirely like the way it all went, I did like the ending and the story that brought us there It was a little imperfect and messy making it all the better in the end. I would recommend this novella duology and would pick up more by the author.
So glad I was able to finish this one and although it didn't entirely like the way it all went, I did like the ending and the story that brought us there It was a little imperfect and messy making it all the better in the end. I would recommend this novella duology and would pick up more by the author.
August 16, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
i fucked it up :/ read 80 pages of this before realizing there was a previous book 😭
honestly i feel like i pretty much got it. the ending wasn’t super satisfying, and the action elements were written in a style I don’t really love. 🤷🏻♀️
not the first time and surely not the last time i get duped into a reading a sequel first
i fucked it up :/ read 80 pages of this before realizing there was a previous book 😭
honestly i feel like i pretty much got it. the ending wasn’t super satisfying, and the action elements were written in a style I don’t really love. 🤷🏻♀️
not the first time and surely not the last time i get duped into a reading a sequel first
February 6, 2025
3.75/5☆
February 17, 2025
As the duology picks back up, Ashake serves as the Guardian for all the remaining Orisha. The godkillers are hunting for her, knowing that if they can eliminate her, the battle for control of humanity will be over. Strong duology based in West African mythology. Excellent world building and good pacing.
February 28, 2025
4⭐️
I loved how the story and world expanded in book two, and thought it had a wonderful conclusion!
I loved how the story and world expanded in book two, and thought it had a wonderful conclusion!
April 16, 2026
"There are only choices, and the consequences of our choices" Everything all wrapped up in a bow.
August 30, 2025
La reseña completa en https://inthenevernever.blogspot.com/...
«Estamos aquí por un motivo. Eso es algo en lo que no han pensado los asesinos de dioses. Si morimos, el mundo muere con nosotros».
¿Qué pasaría si aquello que creías sobre los dioses y sobre ti misma era mentira? ¿Y si la supervivencia de los orishas dependiera de ti? ¿Qué harías si el destino de la fe está en tus manos? Y lo más importante, ¿de verdad los dioses merecen ser salvados? A estas preguntas y a muchas más encontraremos respuestas en el libro que les quiero recomendar hoy: La Fuente de la Creación, de Tobi Ogundiran. La segunda y última parte de la Saga de la Guardiana de los dioses. Una alucinante bilogía de fantasía épica llena de deidades y una guerra cósmica que amenaza con destruirlo todo.
«Estamos aquí por un motivo. Eso es algo en lo que no han pensado los asesinos de dioses. Si morimos, el mundo muere con nosotros».
¿Qué pasaría si aquello que creías sobre los dioses y sobre ti misma era mentira? ¿Y si la supervivencia de los orishas dependiera de ti? ¿Qué harías si el destino de la fe está en tus manos? Y lo más importante, ¿de verdad los dioses merecen ser salvados? A estas preguntas y a muchas más encontraremos respuestas en el libro que les quiero recomendar hoy: La Fuente de la Creación, de Tobi Ogundiran. La segunda y última parte de la Saga de la Guardiana de los dioses. Una alucinante bilogía de fantasía épica llena de deidades y una guerra cósmica que amenaza con destruirlo todo.
June 19, 2024
Dear Readers,
Today is release day for AT THE FOUNT OF CREATION, and I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to complete this story, which started with IN THE SHADOW OF THE FALL. My heartfelt thanks to you for coming on this journey with me. Below is a little appendix for the curious, which elaborates on the nature of Orisha and griots and the creative liberties I took in representing them in the duology.
****
Authors Note
ORISHA
The orisha are Yoruba gods. Yoruba tradition says that there are 400 + 1 orisha, which is associated with a sacred number. 400 + 1 is akin to the English phrase “a thousand and one”, which basically means, countless. Some say there are as many orisha as there are grains of sand on a beach.
In Yoruba culture, as in Catholicism, it is possible for mortals to be deified/canonized. A prime example of this is Shango, the god of thunder and fire and lightning, who was the fourth ruler of Oyo and so powerful he became a god upon his death and departure from the physical realm. As a matter of fact the religion Candomblé and Santeria developed in this manner, with the syncretization of Yoruba beliefs and Roman Catholic elements by slaves who had to practice their religion in the face of oppression.
While I have made use of these real-world deities, I do not always represent them in a true sense, rather I have taken great creative liberties in their representation to better serve the story, as you will see. I have also created original orisha of my own, giving them necessary powers and characteristics as the story demands. It is important to note that orisha worship is still very much practiced in modern day Nigeria as well as Brazil, Cuba and some other Latin American countries (transplanted by slaves) and therefore has not wholly become mythology as in the case of Greek and Norse gods. It is my hope that these books encourage you to seek out actual texts and sources who represent these orisha without the color of creative license.
To that end, I will offer a brief description of the orisha featured in my books, including those who I have created.
Real Deities
Olodumare: Supreme Being
Olodumare is the lord of all. The Supreme Being, and Creator of the world. All the orisha are his children, each of them representing one aspect of him, and ruling over a select portion of creation. I say “him,” but in reality Olodumare is a gender-neutral deity. Neither male nor female. This makes sense, as all gods who are either male or female spring forth from Olodumare and represent various aspects of his existence. I should also note that there are no gendered pronouns in the Yoruba language, and therefore when Olodumare is refered to, it is neither as male nor female. However, for the purposes of my story, I chose to ascribe masculinity to Olodumare, calling him the Supreme Father.
Shango: God of Thunder and Fire and Lightning
Perhaps the most popular of the orisha, Shango rules over lightning, thunder, fire, the drums and dance. He is a warrior orisha with quick wits, an even quicker temper, and he is the epitomy of virility. He is an extremely hot blooded and strong-willed orisha that loves all the pleasures of the world: dance, drumming, women, song and eating. It is said that when one sees the quickness with which lightning makes short work of a tree or the speed with which a fire consumes a vast field, one has witnessed the temper of Shango in action. His colors are red and white and he recognises himself in the numbers four and six. He is most often represented by a double headed axe.
Ogun: God of War and Metalworking
Ogun is a powerful orisha of metalworking. He is also a powerful warrior. He is the patron deity of hunters and blacksmiths and warriors and all who use metal in their occupations. He is also the orisha of rum and rum-making. The Yoruba believe Ogun to be fearsome and terrible in his revenge and for anyone who breaks a pact made in his name, swift retribution will follow. As witnesses are asked to swear upon the Bible in Western courts, in parts of Nigeria to date the worshippers of Ogun choose to swear upon a cutlass before they testify in court. In my books, I have made him the brother to Shango.
Yemoja: orisha of seas and fertility
Yemoja is the orisha of the seas and lakes where she dwells. She dresses herself in seven skirts of blue and white and like the seas and profound lakes she is deep and unknowable. Yemoja is also the orisha of fertility and maternity as she is the Mother of All. Her name, a shortened version of Yeyé Omo Eja means "Mother Whose Children are the Fish" to reflect the fact that her children are as uncountable as the fish in the sea. To that end, in my books I have made her not only the mother of all orisha, but the mother of all living beings.
Oya
Oya is the ruler of the winds, the whirlwind that uproots even mountains. She was the wife of the Shango and like her husband is a fierce warrior who rides to war, sharing lightning and fire with him.
Eshu
Eshu Elegba (also referred to Eleggua or Elegguá) is the owner of all roads and doors. He is the repository of ashe, which is the diving energy that animates all things. The colors red and black or white and black are his and codify his contradictory nature. In particular, Elegba stands at the crossroads of the human and the divine, as he is messenger between the two worlds. Nothing can be done in either world without his permission. Elegba is always propitiated and always called first before any other orisha as he opens the door between the worlds and opens our roads in life. This is why, at the very beginning of In the Shadow of the Fall, Ashâke attempts to summon him, to deliver her message to the orisha. Eshu represents chaos and uncertainty, and can often be seen wreaking havoc for the simple fact that he enjoys it. This led to early Christian missionaries to take him for the devil, and to this day the word “Eshu” in the Yoruba language is taken to mean “Satan”. But it is important to note that he is not, in fact, an analogue for the devil. I’ve embellished Eshu’s appearance in my books, ascribing features he does not possess in the real world: He has two faces, with the first one having ruined eyes and lips sewn shut with copper threads.
Shopona: God of Smallpox
Shopona is the god of smallpox, but for the purposes of story I have rendered him the god of all diseases and maladies. The priests of Shopona discovered early on the infectiousness of the dried pox scrapings from the infected and would often infect people who earned their displeasure with these. So feared was this god and his priests that his name was never invoked in conversation, and he was referred to instead by various pseudonyms.
Story Deities
Arewa: God of beauty, wine and debauchery
The Yoruba do not have a god of beauty, and so I created one. “Ewa” means beauty in Yoruba, and “arewa”, attractive. One can liken him to the self-loving, self-obsessed Greek god Narcissus. In the story, he provides a much-needed counterpoint to Yemoja’s seriousness.
Afonja: Lord of trolls, stone men and other denizens of the deep forest.
The Yoruba believe that the deep forest is a place alive with all manner of supernatural things. I created Afonja to reflect this idea.
Koriko:
Korika the goddess of trees and everything that has roots. She is the goddess of herbalists and medicine men. Trees are one of the oldest things that exist in this world and she controls them.
GRIOTS
A griot is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, and/or musician. West African history before interruption by colonizing forces was largely oral, and griots were trained to remember events long into past. They had numerous memory tricks to help them recall such vast histories—repetition, but most importantly through song.
Historically griots only form an endogamous group, which means they marry each other and pass on the storytelling tradition down the line. All kings had griots who served as record keepers and praise singers, and all griots had kings. The relationship is a symbiotic one. Most villages also had their griots, who could relate a series of topics, including births, deaths, marriages, etc. Because of the respect and reverence accorded griots, warring parties often did not attack them, which made them a useful mediator in wartime. You could also find griots at weddings, singing the praises of the groom and bride, accompanied by their instruments.
I’ve taken real world griots and made them even more fantastical in my story. Yes, they tell stories and recall history, but they do so in such a way that literally transports the listener into the event. The close-knit relationship between griot families remains. But the griots in these books differ from their real-world counterparts in fundamental ways: Anyone can become a griot. They welcome outsiders and outcasts. Because they don’t belong to any one kingdom or king, but are rather a clan of roving nomads offering their services to people, they welcome anyone to join them. Therefore a “griot” is an identity that can be assumed, as surely as one can naturalize to become a citizen of another country. But within these griot clans are Singers, those blessed with the gift of Singing, who in their recounting of history transport the listener into a replay of events. The outsiders, of course, do not possess this gift, and therefore cannot Sing, but that does not make them any less of a griot.
Today is release day for AT THE FOUNT OF CREATION, and I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to complete this story, which started with IN THE SHADOW OF THE FALL. My heartfelt thanks to you for coming on this journey with me. Below is a little appendix for the curious, which elaborates on the nature of Orisha and griots and the creative liberties I took in representing them in the duology.
****
Authors Note
ORISHA
The orisha are Yoruba gods. Yoruba tradition says that there are 400 + 1 orisha, which is associated with a sacred number. 400 + 1 is akin to the English phrase “a thousand and one”, which basically means, countless. Some say there are as many orisha as there are grains of sand on a beach.
In Yoruba culture, as in Catholicism, it is possible for mortals to be deified/canonized. A prime example of this is Shango, the god of thunder and fire and lightning, who was the fourth ruler of Oyo and so powerful he became a god upon his death and departure from the physical realm. As a matter of fact the religion Candomblé and Santeria developed in this manner, with the syncretization of Yoruba beliefs and Roman Catholic elements by slaves who had to practice their religion in the face of oppression.
While I have made use of these real-world deities, I do not always represent them in a true sense, rather I have taken great creative liberties in their representation to better serve the story, as you will see. I have also created original orisha of my own, giving them necessary powers and characteristics as the story demands. It is important to note that orisha worship is still very much practiced in modern day Nigeria as well as Brazil, Cuba and some other Latin American countries (transplanted by slaves) and therefore has not wholly become mythology as in the case of Greek and Norse gods. It is my hope that these books encourage you to seek out actual texts and sources who represent these orisha without the color of creative license.
To that end, I will offer a brief description of the orisha featured in my books, including those who I have created.
Real Deities
Olodumare: Supreme Being
Olodumare is the lord of all. The Supreme Being, and Creator of the world. All the orisha are his children, each of them representing one aspect of him, and ruling over a select portion of creation. I say “him,” but in reality Olodumare is a gender-neutral deity. Neither male nor female. This makes sense, as all gods who are either male or female spring forth from Olodumare and represent various aspects of his existence. I should also note that there are no gendered pronouns in the Yoruba language, and therefore when Olodumare is refered to, it is neither as male nor female. However, for the purposes of my story, I chose to ascribe masculinity to Olodumare, calling him the Supreme Father.
Shango: God of Thunder and Fire and Lightning
Perhaps the most popular of the orisha, Shango rules over lightning, thunder, fire, the drums and dance. He is a warrior orisha with quick wits, an even quicker temper, and he is the epitomy of virility. He is an extremely hot blooded and strong-willed orisha that loves all the pleasures of the world: dance, drumming, women, song and eating. It is said that when one sees the quickness with which lightning makes short work of a tree or the speed with which a fire consumes a vast field, one has witnessed the temper of Shango in action. His colors are red and white and he recognises himself in the numbers four and six. He is most often represented by a double headed axe.
Ogun: God of War and Metalworking
Ogun is a powerful orisha of metalworking. He is also a powerful warrior. He is the patron deity of hunters and blacksmiths and warriors and all who use metal in their occupations. He is also the orisha of rum and rum-making. The Yoruba believe Ogun to be fearsome and terrible in his revenge and for anyone who breaks a pact made in his name, swift retribution will follow. As witnesses are asked to swear upon the Bible in Western courts, in parts of Nigeria to date the worshippers of Ogun choose to swear upon a cutlass before they testify in court. In my books, I have made him the brother to Shango.
Yemoja: orisha of seas and fertility
Yemoja is the orisha of the seas and lakes where she dwells. She dresses herself in seven skirts of blue and white and like the seas and profound lakes she is deep and unknowable. Yemoja is also the orisha of fertility and maternity as she is the Mother of All. Her name, a shortened version of Yeyé Omo Eja means "Mother Whose Children are the Fish" to reflect the fact that her children are as uncountable as the fish in the sea. To that end, in my books I have made her not only the mother of all orisha, but the mother of all living beings.
Oya
Oya is the ruler of the winds, the whirlwind that uproots even mountains. She was the wife of the Shango and like her husband is a fierce warrior who rides to war, sharing lightning and fire with him.
Eshu
Eshu Elegba (also referred to Eleggua or Elegguá) is the owner of all roads and doors. He is the repository of ashe, which is the diving energy that animates all things. The colors red and black or white and black are his and codify his contradictory nature. In particular, Elegba stands at the crossroads of the human and the divine, as he is messenger between the two worlds. Nothing can be done in either world without his permission. Elegba is always propitiated and always called first before any other orisha as he opens the door between the worlds and opens our roads in life. This is why, at the very beginning of In the Shadow of the Fall, Ashâke attempts to summon him, to deliver her message to the orisha. Eshu represents chaos and uncertainty, and can often be seen wreaking havoc for the simple fact that he enjoys it. This led to early Christian missionaries to take him for the devil, and to this day the word “Eshu” in the Yoruba language is taken to mean “Satan”. But it is important to note that he is not, in fact, an analogue for the devil. I’ve embellished Eshu’s appearance in my books, ascribing features he does not possess in the real world: He has two faces, with the first one having ruined eyes and lips sewn shut with copper threads.
Shopona: God of Smallpox
Shopona is the god of smallpox, but for the purposes of story I have rendered him the god of all diseases and maladies. The priests of Shopona discovered early on the infectiousness of the dried pox scrapings from the infected and would often infect people who earned their displeasure with these. So feared was this god and his priests that his name was never invoked in conversation, and he was referred to instead by various pseudonyms.
Story Deities
Arewa: God of beauty, wine and debauchery
The Yoruba do not have a god of beauty, and so I created one. “Ewa” means beauty in Yoruba, and “arewa”, attractive. One can liken him to the self-loving, self-obsessed Greek god Narcissus. In the story, he provides a much-needed counterpoint to Yemoja’s seriousness.
Afonja: Lord of trolls, stone men and other denizens of the deep forest.
The Yoruba believe that the deep forest is a place alive with all manner of supernatural things. I created Afonja to reflect this idea.
Koriko:
Korika the goddess of trees and everything that has roots. She is the goddess of herbalists and medicine men. Trees are one of the oldest things that exist in this world and she controls them.
GRIOTS
A griot is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, and/or musician. West African history before interruption by colonizing forces was largely oral, and griots were trained to remember events long into past. They had numerous memory tricks to help them recall such vast histories—repetition, but most importantly through song.
Historically griots only form an endogamous group, which means they marry each other and pass on the storytelling tradition down the line. All kings had griots who served as record keepers and praise singers, and all griots had kings. The relationship is a symbiotic one. Most villages also had their griots, who could relate a series of topics, including births, deaths, marriages, etc. Because of the respect and reverence accorded griots, warring parties often did not attack them, which made them a useful mediator in wartime. You could also find griots at weddings, singing the praises of the groom and bride, accompanied by their instruments.
I’ve taken real world griots and made them even more fantastical in my story. Yes, they tell stories and recall history, but they do so in such a way that literally transports the listener into the event. The close-knit relationship between griot families remains. But the griots in these books differ from their real-world counterparts in fundamental ways: Anyone can become a griot. They welcome outsiders and outcasts. Because they don’t belong to any one kingdom or king, but are rather a clan of roving nomads offering their services to people, they welcome anyone to join them. Therefore a “griot” is an identity that can be assumed, as surely as one can naturalize to become a citizen of another country. But within these griot clans are Singers, those blessed with the gift of Singing, who in their recounting of history transport the listener into a replay of events. The outsiders, of course, do not possess this gift, and therefore cannot Sing, but that does not make them any less of a griot.
December 27, 2025
Los relatos que se basan en mitologías antiguas tienden a provocar tanto admiración como fascinación en los lectores, sobre todo cuando consiguen combinar esas historias ancestrales con cuestiones actuales acerca de fe, identidad, resistencia y poder. LA FUENTE DE LA CREACIÓN, segunda entrega de la duología GUARDIANA DE LOS DIOSES, supera ampliamente esta promesa. La novela, escrita por Tobi Ogundiran, no solo brinda un final vibrante a la historia que se comenzó en DESPUÉS DE LA CAÍDA sino que además expande los límites de la fantasía contemporánea al inspirarse directamente en la cosmovisión de las comunidades de África Occidental y en la tradición yoruba.
Si habéis leído la primera entrega, recordaréis que la trama giraba en torno a Ashâke, una joven que debe asumir una gran carga. Nada más y nada menos que ser guardiana y contenedora de los Orisha, entidades divinas que han perdido su poder y subsisten a través de su conexión con ella. En esta segunda parte, comprobaremos que se halla en el centro de un conflicto titánico entre los dioses y sus adversarios mortales, conocidos como los asesinos de dioses. Y la tensión se intensifica con la llegada del enigmático Maestro, un personaje que podría tener en sus manos la esperanza de liberación de los hombres pero que a la vez representa el mayor peligro para la existencia de los Orisha.
Es claramente evidente que la esencia fundamental de la duología es la reinterpretación de la tradición de los Orisha. En el universo yoruba, estas divinidades son las que representan las fuerzas de la naturaleza y algunos aspectos de la vida humana. Shango encarna el trueno y el fuego, Yemoja es madre de la fertilidad y de los mares, Ogun rige la guerra y el metal, mientras que Eshu es el guardián de los caminos y mensajero entre mundos. Son solo unos pocos de los que conoceremos en estos dos libros.
Atendiendo a ello, el autor reconoce que se ha tomado libertades creativas al momento de representarlos: ha inventado nuevos dioses para llenar huecos narrativos y ha modificado aspectos de los reales para adaptarlos a la trama. Sin embargo, lo hace con respeto, recordando que, a diferencia de los panteones griego o nórdico, el culto a los Orisha sigue vivo en Nigeria, Brasil, Cuba y otros lugares de la diáspora africana. En este sentido, la duología no busca sustituir la tradición religiosa, sino que ayuda a despertar en el lector la curiosidad por conocerla aún más, aunque en la historia que reseñamos hoy se encuentra especialmente adaptada como leímos en las notas del autor de la primera entrega.
La presencia de los Orisha en la novela es imponente: aparecen como figuras caprichosas, a veces crueles y contradictorias, pero también cercanas en sus pasiones y debilidades. Esto los hace especialmente humanos, en la línea de otros panteones mitológicos, aunque con un sabor cultural propio que diferencia esta obra de gran parte de la fantasía de corte occidental.
Ashâke continúa siendo el eje narrativo de la historia. Su viaje le concierne en una doble disyuntiva, ya que lucha contra adversarios reales que la persiguen constantemente, pero también se encuentra con el peso de ser un medio para dioses que esperan obtener de ella sus propios intereses.
Disfruta de la reseña completa en nuestro espacio web: https://distopolis.com/resena-de-la-f...
Si habéis leído la primera entrega, recordaréis que la trama giraba en torno a Ashâke, una joven que debe asumir una gran carga. Nada más y nada menos que ser guardiana y contenedora de los Orisha, entidades divinas que han perdido su poder y subsisten a través de su conexión con ella. En esta segunda parte, comprobaremos que se halla en el centro de un conflicto titánico entre los dioses y sus adversarios mortales, conocidos como los asesinos de dioses. Y la tensión se intensifica con la llegada del enigmático Maestro, un personaje que podría tener en sus manos la esperanza de liberación de los hombres pero que a la vez representa el mayor peligro para la existencia de los Orisha.
Es claramente evidente que la esencia fundamental de la duología es la reinterpretación de la tradición de los Orisha. En el universo yoruba, estas divinidades son las que representan las fuerzas de la naturaleza y algunos aspectos de la vida humana. Shango encarna el trueno y el fuego, Yemoja es madre de la fertilidad y de los mares, Ogun rige la guerra y el metal, mientras que Eshu es el guardián de los caminos y mensajero entre mundos. Son solo unos pocos de los que conoceremos en estos dos libros.
Atendiendo a ello, el autor reconoce que se ha tomado libertades creativas al momento de representarlos: ha inventado nuevos dioses para llenar huecos narrativos y ha modificado aspectos de los reales para adaptarlos a la trama. Sin embargo, lo hace con respeto, recordando que, a diferencia de los panteones griego o nórdico, el culto a los Orisha sigue vivo en Nigeria, Brasil, Cuba y otros lugares de la diáspora africana. En este sentido, la duología no busca sustituir la tradición religiosa, sino que ayuda a despertar en el lector la curiosidad por conocerla aún más, aunque en la historia que reseñamos hoy se encuentra especialmente adaptada como leímos en las notas del autor de la primera entrega.
La presencia de los Orisha en la novela es imponente: aparecen como figuras caprichosas, a veces crueles y contradictorias, pero también cercanas en sus pasiones y debilidades. Esto los hace especialmente humanos, en la línea de otros panteones mitológicos, aunque con un sabor cultural propio que diferencia esta obra de gran parte de la fantasía de corte occidental.
Ashâke continúa siendo el eje narrativo de la historia. Su viaje le concierne en una doble disyuntiva, ya que lucha contra adversarios reales que la persiguen constantemente, pero también se encuentra con el peso de ser un medio para dioses que esperan obtener de ella sus propios intereses.
Disfruta de la reseña completa en nuestro espacio web: https://distopolis.com/resena-de-la-f...
February 9, 2025
I think I’m going to have to talk ‘around’ this story before I can get to talking ‘about’ this story because that’s the problem I had with reading the story and, as it turns out, with writing this review.
For a short book, it took me a rather long time to get into it, and it’s only now that I can see why that happened as well as what made it work in the end.
The first book in the Guardians of the Gods duology, In the Shadow of the Fall, drove me batty because it didn’t feel like a complete story with a beginning, middle and end. And even though it was clearly part one of a duology, that part still needed an ending – which it didn’t feel like it got.
I expected a cliffhanger, but instead the book read like it fell off a cliff – and took the reader right along with it.
It was a LOT of setup – necessary as background but frustrating in the character development. Then suddenly both Ashâke and the reader learn that everything she was taught was a lie and that all of her actions based on that lie were a deadly and dreadful mistake.
Now, in the duology’s conclusion, we learn the truths behind the lie that Ashâke was taught, the cost of her mistaken belief, not just to herself but to her entire world, and the revelation of the trick that lay behind it all.
In this particular story of discontented trickster gods and the manipulations they wield to get their way, it’s still a bit of a two-man grift – even if both are deceiving each other as much, or more, than they are the world at large.
Escape Rating B: For this reader, just as with the first book, it felt like the beginning of this half of the story was drifting rather than moving forward. After finishing, I realized that the story felt like it was drifting because the protagonist, Ashâke, was herself in a state of drift.
She’s not acting, she’s reacting, and she’s reacting to the drives and whims of the four active gods, for whom she is the combination of guardian, avatar, and only living channel. She was taught to see the gods, called Orisha in the West African myths in which this story is rooted, as all-powerful over the individual aspects that each individual Orisha represents.
And they ALL exploit that belief mercilessly because they have, in truth, lost control and are desperate to maintain some semblance of it.
Meanwhile, the social and political situation is out of control. The Orisha – and Ashâke – have been reduced to desperate straits because a charismatic ‘teacher’ has swayed the hearts and minds of the people who once worshiped the Orisha. Ashâke and the gods she guards are on the run and running out of room in which to keep running.
No one makes good decisions in such conditions – not even gods.
The final confrontation is huge and cathartic and is a truth that sets the people and even the Orisha free. Everyone, it seems, but Ashâke herself, who finally takes the position that was always meant to be hers. All she needed to do was rise to it in spite of all the things and people and even gods that stood in her way.
Originally published at Reading Reality
For a short book, it took me a rather long time to get into it, and it’s only now that I can see why that happened as well as what made it work in the end.
The first book in the Guardians of the Gods duology, In the Shadow of the Fall, drove me batty because it didn’t feel like a complete story with a beginning, middle and end. And even though it was clearly part one of a duology, that part still needed an ending – which it didn’t feel like it got.
I expected a cliffhanger, but instead the book read like it fell off a cliff – and took the reader right along with it.
It was a LOT of setup – necessary as background but frustrating in the character development. Then suddenly both Ashâke and the reader learn that everything she was taught was a lie and that all of her actions based on that lie were a deadly and dreadful mistake.
Now, in the duology’s conclusion, we learn the truths behind the lie that Ashâke was taught, the cost of her mistaken belief, not just to herself but to her entire world, and the revelation of the trick that lay behind it all.
In this particular story of discontented trickster gods and the manipulations they wield to get their way, it’s still a bit of a two-man grift – even if both are deceiving each other as much, or more, than they are the world at large.
Escape Rating B: For this reader, just as with the first book, it felt like the beginning of this half of the story was drifting rather than moving forward. After finishing, I realized that the story felt like it was drifting because the protagonist, Ashâke, was herself in a state of drift.
She’s not acting, she’s reacting, and she’s reacting to the drives and whims of the four active gods, for whom she is the combination of guardian, avatar, and only living channel. She was taught to see the gods, called Orisha in the West African myths in which this story is rooted, as all-powerful over the individual aspects that each individual Orisha represents.
And they ALL exploit that belief mercilessly because they have, in truth, lost control and are desperate to maintain some semblance of it.
Meanwhile, the social and political situation is out of control. The Orisha – and Ashâke – have been reduced to desperate straits because a charismatic ‘teacher’ has swayed the hearts and minds of the people who once worshiped the Orisha. Ashâke and the gods she guards are on the run and running out of room in which to keep running.
No one makes good decisions in such conditions – not even gods.
The final confrontation is huge and cathartic and is a truth that sets the people and even the Orisha free. Everyone, it seems, but Ashâke herself, who finally takes the position that was always meant to be hers. All she needed to do was rise to it in spite of all the things and people and even gods that stood in her way.
Originally published at Reading Reality
June 1, 2025
I admit, I am rather disappointed by this book. I really enjoyed the first book and felt the story it told deserved more space to grow, so I was excited knowing there was a sequel. Sadly it was not the growth I was looking for.
I think a recap was needed at the start otherwise it is necessary to read the books back to back. I found I got a little lost as to where we were and what had transpired, and a couple of quick mentions early on could have clarified this very easily. I wonder if it would not have made more sense as a single volume, except for the current market for duologies?
Rather than staying with Ashâke, the action dots around between multiple players, which might work in a longer novel but steals pacing space in this shorter novella. Ashâke feels like a bit player in her own story, constantly running from one thing or another with no real agency, following friends, foes and gods until the finale where she... follows someone else and becomes supreme god? Actions made to seem like hers are all engendered by others, she has no agency in most of what happens, which is disappointing after the previous book, a stepping back rather than a moving forward.
There were also moments I felt were lessened by editing choices. Shouting in all caps is a pet hate of mine, and it occurred frequently. There was also a crucially emotional moment totally undercut by the need to write out a character's busted nose lisp, excruciating for the wrong reasons.
Now I did continue to really enjoy the Yoruba mythology setting, it makes a refreshing change from Greek and Celtic mainstays in fantasy. The characters of the orisha are fascinating and could have done with more space to exist, rather than being side quest ghosts mostly along for the ride. My issue, and it may be down to my lack of familiarity with the mythology, is that... well, I kinda agree with the villain.
His reasons, which started well and seemed to get conveniently terrible to keep him the villain, made sense and the flashbacks did the orisha zero favours in rehabilitating their image. The only thing they did in this story was complain, mess with Ashâke and try to hurt her for not doing what they wanted, then die. It was very hard to sympathise with them, and the supposed fear of world collapse were they to all die is never given even tension to feel like a real threat. That they go and the resolution happens with maybe five pages to go and nothing happens takes the wind out of the sails quite dramatically. *A lot* of people died in this book and the last, ostensibly for nothing. Bit of a low to end on.
So yes, I can't say I enjoyed this book. h
However, I do find Ogundiran's writing easy and entertaining when he gives it space to do so, and I would still consider more of his work in future.
*Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
I think a recap was needed at the start otherwise it is necessary to read the books back to back. I found I got a little lost as to where we were and what had transpired, and a couple of quick mentions early on could have clarified this very easily. I wonder if it would not have made more sense as a single volume, except for the current market for duologies?
Rather than staying with Ashâke, the action dots around between multiple players, which might work in a longer novel but steals pacing space in this shorter novella. Ashâke feels like a bit player in her own story, constantly running from one thing or another with no real agency, following friends, foes and gods until the finale where she... follows someone else and becomes supreme god? Actions made to seem like hers are all engendered by others, she has no agency in most of what happens, which is disappointing after the previous book, a stepping back rather than a moving forward.
There were also moments I felt were lessened by editing choices. Shouting in all caps is a pet hate of mine, and it occurred frequently. There was also a crucially emotional moment totally undercut by the need to write out a character's busted nose lisp, excruciating for the wrong reasons.
Now I did continue to really enjoy the Yoruba mythology setting, it makes a refreshing change from Greek and Celtic mainstays in fantasy. The characters of the orisha are fascinating and could have done with more space to exist, rather than being side quest ghosts mostly along for the ride. My issue, and it may be down to my lack of familiarity with the mythology, is that... well, I kinda agree with the villain.
His reasons, which started well and seemed to get conveniently terrible to keep him the villain, made sense and the flashbacks did the orisha zero favours in rehabilitating their image. The only thing they did in this story was complain, mess with Ashâke and try to hurt her for not doing what they wanted, then die. It was very hard to sympathise with them, and the supposed fear of world collapse were they to all die is never given even tension to feel like a real threat. That they go and the resolution happens with maybe five pages to go and nothing happens takes the wind out of the sails quite dramatically. *A lot* of people died in this book and the last, ostensibly for nothing. Bit of a low to end on.
So yes, I can't say I enjoyed this book. h
However, I do find Ogundiran's writing easy and entertaining when he gives it space to do so, and I would still consider more of his work in future.
*Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2026
3.25 stars
At the Fount of Creation was, in many ways, just as immersive and thoughtfully constructed as the first book. The world remains rich, layered, and deeply rooted in its mythology, and the story continues to explore themes of faith, power, and legacy with the same level of care.
This time around, the narrative leans more heavily into the origins of the world and the forces shaping it, expanding on the lore in a way that feels both ambitious and deliberate. I found myself especially drawn to the shifting perspectives on divinity and authority. The portrayal of the gods here made them feel distant, flawed, and at times frustratingly passive, which only deepened the tension within the story.
What stood out most to me was how compelling the Teacher became in this instalment. Seeing more of his motivations and reasoning added a layer of complexity that I really appreciated. While I did not agree with his ultimate choice, I found myself understanding him far more than I expected, and at times even empathising with his cause. His presence carried a weight that made the conflict feel more grounded, even when it operated on a larger, almost cosmic scale.
That said, I did feel that his defeat came a bit too easily, especially given how formidable and ideologically driven he had been built up to be. It slightly undercut the tension that had been so carefully established.
Despite that, I was consistently engaged whenever I picked the book up. The writing still carries that reflective, almost atmospheric quality that allows the themes to settle in without feeling forced.
If I am being honest, the 3-star rating is more reflective of my current reading pace than the book itself. I have been quite distracted, and I do not feel like I gave this story the level of attention it deserved.
This is a duology I will absolutely be revisiting. There is too much depth here, both in the world and the characters, for me not to return to it with a clearer head. I have a feeling it will land even stronger the second time around.
At the Fount of Creation was, in many ways, just as immersive and thoughtfully constructed as the first book. The world remains rich, layered, and deeply rooted in its mythology, and the story continues to explore themes of faith, power, and legacy with the same level of care.
This time around, the narrative leans more heavily into the origins of the world and the forces shaping it, expanding on the lore in a way that feels both ambitious and deliberate. I found myself especially drawn to the shifting perspectives on divinity and authority. The portrayal of the gods here made them feel distant, flawed, and at times frustratingly passive, which only deepened the tension within the story.
What stood out most to me was how compelling the Teacher became in this instalment. Seeing more of his motivations and reasoning added a layer of complexity that I really appreciated. While I did not agree with his ultimate choice, I found myself understanding him far more than I expected, and at times even empathising with his cause. His presence carried a weight that made the conflict feel more grounded, even when it operated on a larger, almost cosmic scale.
That said, I did feel that his defeat came a bit too easily, especially given how formidable and ideologically driven he had been built up to be. It slightly undercut the tension that had been so carefully established.
Despite that, I was consistently engaged whenever I picked the book up. The writing still carries that reflective, almost atmospheric quality that allows the themes to settle in without feeling forced.
If I am being honest, the 3-star rating is more reflective of my current reading pace than the book itself. I have been quite distracted, and I do not feel like I gave this story the level of attention it deserved.
This is a duology I will absolutely be revisiting. There is too much depth here, both in the world and the characters, for me not to return to it with a clearer head. I have a feeling it will land even stronger the second time around.
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