MASQUERADE
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.
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.
- Forge Books
- Hardcover
- July 2024
- 352 Pages
- 9781250904294
Buy the Book
$27.99
- Forge Books
- Paperback
- July 2025
- 352 Pages
- 9781250904317
Buy the Book
$18.99
About O. O. Sangoyomi
O.O. SANGOYOMI is a Nigerian American author with a penchant for African mythology and history. During a childhood of constantly moving around within the U.S., she found an anchored home in the fictional worlds of books. Sangoyomi is a graduate of Princeton University, where she studied English and African American Studies. Masquerade is her debut novel.
Praise
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!
“A bewitching, thrilling and vibrant novel that had me enthralled with every twist and turn.” —Jennifer Saint, New York Times bestselling author
Discussion Questions
- Òdòdó’s status as a blacksmith causes her to be an outsider; it also results in her being frequently misunderstood and disbelieved. Has there been a time in your life where you have been misunderstood or disbelieved? Describe how those experiences affected you.
- For Òdòdó, home means being with her mother and the women in her blacksmith guild; she finds comfort, security, and solace in their company. What does home mean for you? Has your meaning of home changed over the years? If so, how?
- One of the central themes in Masquerade is adjusting to a change in status. We see Òdòdó’s social and political status rise and fall throughout the book. How did you respond to Òdòdó evolving from a blacksmith to a warrior queen? Which of her roles stood out the most to you? Why?
- Another significant theme in Masquerade is the role of women and all their complexities— women who fight, women who scheme, women who struggle, women who betray. Which female character was your favorite? Alternatively, which female character could you relate to the most?
- Òdòdós’s complex friendship with her sister, of sorts, Kọ̀lọ̀, significantly impacts her personal life as well as her social and political status within the royal court. What was your response to Kọ̀lọ̀’s character? How did you respond to Kọ̀lọ̀’s actions towards Òdòdó? How might Kọ̀lọ̀’s uncertain status at court have affected her decision-making?
- Òdòdó finds friendship and trust in fellow blacksmith Digi. What is the significance of the character of Digi? How does her life compare to Òdòdó’s? How is it different? Has there ever been a time in your life where you have found an unexpected source of support?
- What was your opinion of the character of Mama Aláàfin, who is overly protective and supportive of her son—the warrior king? How did you find her character might have influenced Òdòdó’s actions? Have you ever been protective of someone in your life? How so?
- Throughout Masquerade, Òdòdó could be considered both an inspiration as well as an instigator. In your own words, how would you describe Òdòdó, as both a blacksmith and as a warrior? What do you consider to be the most influential decision she made once she arrived in Ṣàngótẹ̀?
- The warrior king asks Òdòdó to make an impossible choice: to choose between him and her mother. How did Òdòdó’s life-changing decision impact you? How did this affect your opinion of the king? What would you have done if you were in Òdòdó’s situation?
- How did you respond to Òdòdó’s final decision at the end of Masquerade? What was your opinion of Òdòdó at the beginning of the book? How might have that changed at the end of the book? What events do you see in Òdòdó’s future? What would you like her next move to be?