DNFed at 42%.

I tried really hard with this book, as I try to always extend more grace and space to independent authors and debut authors; however, I found that I just didn't care enough about the story to keep reading. I'm always here for a good epic fantasy and was up for the hero's journey framing hunted at in the prologue; but the book just never quite delivered for me.

The story takes a very long time to get started; at 42%, it still felt like it had only barely begun. The core story (Nod's search for a magical tree to save his mother) has potential, but we get a lot of unnecessary expositional trappings before even finding out his mother is ill, and then again before he hears about the tree, and so forth - all of which serves to bog down the narrative and make it move much more slowly than it felt like it should, especially for a relatively short book.

There are also simply too many story lines, with the effect that none feels fully developed. The framing story of the grandfather telling Nod's adventures to his grandchildren (clearly inspired by The Princess Bride) introduces a really interesting human element but diverts attention and slows the book's pace considerably. I found the grandfather's family a lot more likeable, but their story didn't go anywhere (though I could see that it was starting to move in that direction); on the other hand, Nod's story has narrative and action but the characters didn't feel like they had any emotional depth. I really wish Majolagbe had chosen one story and focused on developing it completely and to its full potential.

Finally, the writing is quite stilted: nobody "says" anything, they all "utter"; rarely is anything "on" anything else, it is always "upon" instead. This could possibly have worked for the more mythical sections (though it would still get tiring there), but the same writing style is also used for the "real world" scenes in present-day Arizona. I understand the impulse here, but the writing style has the effect of further distancing me from characters in whose stories I was already struggling to stay invested.

In conclusion, the book's core ideas have potential, but the execution left a lot to be desired (for me personally), making this a miss for me.

Thank you NetGalley for gifting me a free copy of this book.

I really liked this book! The themes are prevalent, and I love the writing style. The storytelling was on point, the characters were flawed but well developed, and I would recommend it to anyone!

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in return for an honest review.

The Ballad of Nod is a story within a story. First there is the Ballad of Nod, which is a tale of selflessness and honour in fantasy historic Africa, and then there is the real life story of a family going through the wringer and trying to be as normal as possible for the sake of the children. At first I kind of got Princess Bride vibes from it, Grandpa telling the kids a story to distract from some negativity in their real life, but the more it went on the more it felt disjointed and clunky. The ending of Nod's story felt right somehow, leaving off in a private place, but the ending of the family story felt very Hollywood Happy Ending, which was a bit off putting.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The Ballad of Nod is a story of selflessness, friendship, wisdom and love. Nod’s story is told as a retelling by a grandfather to his grandkids. The way the story was written I kind of thought there would be a connection between Nod and the grandfather. Regardless, it was a sweet story highlighting the importance of finding your worth, the power of friendship and being willing to help others.

The Ballad of Nod is an endearing tale that preaches wisdom beyond the details of events that occur throughout. Singing praise of loyalty, friendship, kindness and compassion, this novel is a touching reminder to be grateful for what we have in our lives.

For the most part, I really enjoyed the narrative voice. The blend between a grandfather telling his grandchildren a story and the story itself was really lovely and the shifts were well-executed. The most enjoyable parts for me were slow paced and comforting, and lent the story a melodic ‘lullaby-esque’ feel which I think worked really well for the story.
Unfortunately at times, I found the pacing uncomfortable and clunky. A battle (which was important enough to turn the tide for the winning side) took place and a main character paid a sacrifice, yet I felt like I blinked and was told about it afterwards.
Repetition also weighed down the story quite a bit. Some ideas (such as the guard that Àdábá spoke to who neither regarded her with love or hate) were repeated multiple times but just worded slightly differently. This didn’t so much clear up anything confusing as it did make the prose clunky to read.

Overall, it was a heartwarming and endearing story to read and I did enjoy it. I think if the narrative was just a little more concise, it would help cut out the weight so that the feel of a soft, pillowy and sweet lullaby can fully flourish. Thank you very much Kehinde Majolagbe and NetGalley for letting me read!

Side note: I don’t know how many times I read the words ‘uttered’ or ‘pondered’ but some synonyms would have really helped!
Reviews are also published on Goodreads.

Thank you NetGalley! Dan and Eve live with their mother, Liezl, in Arizona. The father abandoned the family and Liezl’s father has come from South Africa to lend comfort. A great storyteller, he regales the adventures of Nod to his grandchildren. After the war Nod, armor Bearer to Prince Aire, returns home to find his beloved mother seriously ill, he sets out on a quest to aid her recovery. Deserts, mystical woods, a beast, a princess and a tree of life enthrall the children and the reader. My only objection to this book is the presentation. Italics were overused and the paragraph separators, although useful to a degree, did little to differentiate the storyteller and the story itself. I felt the difference between the two was not defined appropriately and caused the story to feel a bit choppy. The story itself, however, is a joy and will recommend!