Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon, Wole Talabi
Note: This was a NetGalley ARC.
Wole Talabi has woven a fascinating story that is based in Nigerian Yoruba traditional mythos, updated with a very modern twist. Talabi's a strong writer and effectively creates a layered story with some interesting twists.
Shigidi is a disgruntled minor deity, the god of nightmares, who's drifting aimlessly from one low rent faith-inspired hit job to the next in service to a spirit company. And I do mean "company" -- once an invincible creature of the dark, Shigidi is an underappreciated cog in a dying corporation. The spirit company is a re-imagined pantheon, organized to capture spiritual resources (faith) for the benefit of the members -- but complete with a board of directors, middle management, and a corporate culture that's slowly destroying what passes for Shigidi's soul.
Our nightmare-bringer meets a succubus, Nneoma, who has her own issues. The two partner up and go independent. This brings new problems, and the two eventually are hired to carry out a heist. The job: retrieve a sacred brass head containing an aspect of the Yoruba sky god from the spirit-world version of the British Museum. This obviously doesn't go smoothly or well, and quickly becomes a question not of success, but survival.
Shigidi having apparently an average day.
Underneath this part of the story is another layer, in which Shigidi and Nneoma struggle with inner tumult and angst. Making a living isn't the only part of divinity which turns out to be tougher than you'd think. Their inner lives as just as turbulent, and Talabi's exploration of them lends a level of sophistication and depth to the story. Shigidi's struggle is not just to survive and prosper, but to figure out who and what he is -- think of a living nightmare with a bit of an existential crisis overlayed on a deadly game of divine cops and robbers.
I enjoyed Talabi's style, and found his writing evocative and vivid. The Yoruba cultural aspects took a little bit of time to get a grip on, but added flavor to what otherwise might have been a standard and pretty one-dimensional plot. The interaction of different pantheons and traditions is well-done and fun; this reminded me a little of Dion Skye's "The God Market", but a bit deeper and more sophisticated. Altogether, a great debut novel from a talented author.
Smirk factor: All clear: 2 pts (2 smirks, both from Nneoma, which sounds right.)
Immersion factor: Chest-high: 1.5 pts
Writing quality: Above-average: 1.5 pts
Character/plot development: High: 2 pts
Innovative/interesting: Above-average: 1.5 pts
Total: 8.5/10 (4.25, rounded to 5)