In this three-story collection, you’ll find magical tales of deities among mortals from the Sky Realm, New York City, and Cosmic Planes too far to reach.
Find out if Eshu, the gatekeeping trickster, can hoodwink the creation deity, Obatala, to craft him a human body. If he fails, he may never get in contact with a mortal that needs his help.
Journey with Oya, the windweaving warrior, as she battles to communicate an important message to one of her divine children on Earth. If she can’t, doom will fall upon mankind.
War with Shango, the hero of lightning, who fights alongside Thor against an uncompromising mystic foe. If they can’t come together to face the dark, there may no longer be light for humanity. Can the Orishas succeed?
I went into Orishas Among Mortals without having read any of the main TJ Young books, and came out both entertained and intrigued enough to want to pick them up.
This is a collection of three stories set in that universe, and while they connect to the broader series, some stand on their own surprisingly well. The first story worked especially well independently. A fun, myth-infused tale featuring a trickster god who’s wily, conniving, and charming.
The second story was a bit less self-contained, and the third felt more like a lore-deepening interlude that probably lands better if you already know the series. That said, as someone who doesn’t mind spoilers or being dropped in the deep end, I still enjoyed all three.
What really stood out to me was how the third story blends West African and Greek mythology in a way I haven’t seen before. It’s a clever twist that adds texture to the worldbuilding, and Bandele, an BIPOC author, does a great job of making the mythologies feel both familiar and fresh.
I listened to the audiobook version and really enjoyed the narration. The performances were strong across the board, and the music was a subtle but effective touch. I don’t usually like music in audiobooks, but as short interludes between chapters, it worked well and added to the atmosphere.
This was a fun introduction to the world and a great taster for the series. I’m definitely curious to see what the full novels are like.
All in all a vibrant, myth-rich (African meets Greek) short story collection that makes for a great entry point into the TJ Young universe. With standout narration and immersive audio touches.
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.
Jennie Ivins