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.*

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.

Having loved 'In the Shadow of the Fall', I was SO keen to dive into this sequel - and it did not disappoint.

Tobi's writing is beautiful, engaging and drawing the reader into their world. The slow rebloom of magic is enticing while very human characters grapple with the issues these bring; the hopefulness that the previous book left us with remains, but from the first moments, the reader is shown that returning the gods to the world will be a huge challenge, especially for our comparatively innocent protagonists.

This is a battle between very differing perspectives that brought to mind parallels with our world today, particularly regarding issues of race and belief. Sides are chosen and lines drawn, but the author ensures that nothing is clearly-cut. Humans and gods are fallible, egotistical and vengeful, and for decency to prevail it must tackle those challenges head on.

A beautifully fearless, brave and very relevant tale that I absolutely loved.

Picking up where In The Shadows of the Fall finishes At the Fount of Creation is a wonderful conclusion to the Guardian of the Gods duology. Once again we see the wonderful craftmanship of Ogundian in storytelling. Inspired by Yoruba mythology they have managed to create a tale that is filled with adventure and memorable characters as well. What I also liked is we got to see more of the antagonists side. Not to justify them but to show that it’s not as easy and good vs bad and so on. I have really enjoyed this duology and would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy with a rich world and wonderful storytelling.

As always thank you to Titan Books and Netgalley for the copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

This captivating conclusion to the Guardians of the Gods duology continues the journey of Ashâke, the living vessel of the remaining Orisha, as she confronts the soul-stealing Godkillers and their enigmatic leader, the Teacher.
The novel masterfully explores profound themes of faith, survival, and the fragile balance between deities and mortals. Tobi Ogundiran’s storytelling is vivid and evocative, painting a world on the brink of both recovery and collapse.
Ashâke's character development is particularly noteworthy. Her internal struggles and quest for allies to combat the Godkillers made her journey both relatable and inspiring.
The introduction of a new character brought a lot of depth and intricacy to the story, raising compelling questions about the worthiness of the Orisha's survival, challenging both the protagonist and readers to reflect on themes of redemption and legacy.
The intricate world-building and mythological references enrich the story, providing a layered and immersive experience. The fast-paced plot brims with action sequences that keep readers hooked from start to finish.
At the Fount of Creation is a masterful blend of action, mythology, and introspection.
It's a must-read for fans of African-inspired fantasy and those seeking a narrative that challenges the boundaries between the divine and the mortal.

It was easy to slip back into this story as it picks up from where In the Shadow of the Fall leaves off. Ashâke has a difficult path ahead of her, growing more dangerous by the day and with the Gods trying to direct her on her journey, she has to decide whether to listen to them or follow her own plans. Her enemies grow in number and power, and she's responsible for protecting the Gods she harbours, meaning the stakes are high and Ashâke doesn't know who, if anyone, she can trust. I enjoyed the unpredictability of this story, and seeing a protagonist who is imperfect and making mistakes but battling on. It didn't feel as though as much happened as in the first book, so I did find it a little harder to get into and struggled with the two different narratives from different points in time - though the backstory was useful to have. There were also fewer characters in this story, with the focus mainly on Ashâke and the Gods, with a few exceptions, so I think I missed that element from the first book. However, Tobi Ogundiran is skilled at crafting an interesting and unexpected story, with twists that will catch you off guard - and all in novella form! Despite the short length of this story, and the duology overall, Ogundiran packs a lot into it and also manages to round the story out well, providing a sense of closure that I sometimes struggle to find in novellas. It felt like we had a whole story without it being rushed, rather than a few chapters of a longer novel. I'm glad I gave this duology a go and look forward to whatever the author writes next.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

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.

At the Fount of Creation is the final book in the Guardians of the Gods duology, and it was one of my most anticipated reads. The story is inspired by Yoruba mythology, following Ashake's journey after the events of the first book as she seeks a solution to save the Orishas and trying to defeat the Godkillers. Alongside Ashake's narrative, the book includes interludes that explore a different storyline, revealing the mysterious Teacher's background. How he became who he is and the reasons for his deep hatred toward the Orishas. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, with its incredible twists and action scenes. I appreciated how everything came together in the end. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mythology and fast-paced stories. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. Thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll post my review closer to the publication date.

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 Netgalley and Titan Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

At the Fount of Creation is an expansive and fast-paced epic fantasy inspired by Yoruba mythology.

“She was merely a pawn in a long cosmic game.”

I really enjoyed the first book in The Guardian Of The Gods duology and this was a highly anticipated read for me. Tobi Ogundiran is a fantastic writer and I loved the non-linear narrative and multi-POV that provided a deeper insight into the motivations of the villain. I do wish the story had been longer or the pacing had been more steady; the middle of the story felt dragged out and the resolution to the conflicts happened incredibly quickly.

Overall, I had so much fun returning to this world and love how strong a main character Ashâke is. Watching the web unravel around the orisha was so well done. I would definitely recommend this to lovers of high fantasy and African inspired folklore,