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The Dance of Shadows

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The Dance of Shadows

By: Rogba Payne
Narrated by: Kevin Mathurin
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About this listen

 Rumi and his family are Odu, stricken with poverty and disparaged by the other tribes. When ruthless agents of the Palmaine - the colonising nation that dominates the continent of Basmine - threaten to destroy the village market, Rumi takes it upon himself to liberate his family. Taking a place in the prestigious Golden Room, where earnings from his music offer a chance at freedom, he shoulders his pride and resentment in a bid to make it to the top.

On what should be Rumi's greatest night at the Golden Room, his life is turned upside down. A terrifying individual known as the Priest of Vultures attacks Rumi and his family. Before her death, Rumi's mother, Adunola, solicits the help of a dying god and saves Rumi, setting him on the path to become a Shadowwielder: warriors with the ability to use their shadow as a weapon. But Rumi's need for vengeance may be more important to him than the future of his people...©2024 Rogba Payne Action & Adventure Epic Fantasy World Literature

Critic reviews

An engrossing saga of magic and music, which painfully illustrates how someone's true purpose in life can be knocked off course by oppression and war
with this very entertaining debut, joins the likes of Nnedi Okorafor and Tade Thompson in bringing a refreshing Afrocentric perspective to genre tropes
A rich, detailed and (be warned) visceral take on high fantasy that leaves you impatient for sequels
All stars
Most relevant
I’m at a loss for words. I usually never go for books without reviews, but in a lack of other books to listen to I took a chance. The book explores a land, inspired by west africa, conquered by an empire from across the sea, fast forwarded to years after. It discusses topics like slavery, love, war and filosophy, about fitting in and being a stranger on your own soil. The language is adjusted to the world and its culture, with similies that fits just right. The characters in turn are alive, all with their own agenda and backstories. The worldbuilding shows how much the author has invested in the story. I can feel the inspiration it has drawn from throughout the history of man. While the primary focus is vengeance, the underlying topic is about living life – of what it means to be alive, to be true to yourself, and of meeting and understanding emotions. It was a joy to read. My only critique would be a few things left slightly unexplained, which I hope to be tackled in the next book.

My best fantasy read 2024

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Just absolutely brilliant. The depth of worldbuilding, the arc of the story, the impeccably observed similes… this book deserves to be huge!

A stunning debut

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