Guardian of the Gods

In the Shadow of the Fall

"Electrifying, terrifying, and tender."―Mark Oshiro, #1 New York Times bestselling author.

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 Suyi Davies Okungbowa.

Ashâke is an acolyte in the temple of Ifa, yearning for the day she is made a priest 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.

Praise for In the Shadow of the Fall

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.

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

At the Fount of Creation

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.

Now that Ashâke carries within herself the spirits of the surviving Orisha, 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?