The Maid and the Crocodile

September 1, 2024
After seventeen-year-old Small Sade ages out of her orphanage, her primary goal is to discover a home where she truly belongs. However, her physical appearance, marked by vitiligo and a maimed foot from a childhood accident that requires her to use a cane, sets her apart in a fantasy world that, like many societies, looks upon difference cruelly. But Sade possesses a unique gift -- the ability to perceive and cleanse malevolent spiritual energies. That gift leads her to unexpected encounters, including one with the enigmatic Crocodile God, who is afflicted by a seemingly unbreakable curse. Prophesied as his deliverer, Sade initially chooses her own path in Oluwan City, impressing the wealthy elite with her spiritual powers. However, her course pivots when she confronts the darker realities lurking beneath the surface of the city. Awakening to these realities and deepening ties with the Crocodile God, Sade realizes the imperative for social change not just for herself but for all who are marginalized and oppressed. This standalone novel, set within the same universe as Ifueko's Raybearer duology, offers a fresh narrative lens within that universe by prioritizing the perspectives of commoners over royalty. While familiar characters and settings are present, Sade's narrative enriches them, offering deeper insights into their complexities. First-person narrator Sade's distinct voice and her journey of discovery and transformation are likely to captivate readers. S. R. Toliver

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from August 19, 2024
Beauty and the Beast meets Howl’s Moving Castle in this exquisitely crafted standalone romance set some time after the events of Ifueko’s Raybearer series. Orphaned 17-year-old Sade, who has vitiligo and walks with a cane, is a Curse-Eater—someone born with the rare ability to not only see the mysterious “spirit silt” that coats everything like “cotton lining their throats,” but also cleanse its lingering effects. When an offering to an enchanted gecko accidentally bonds her to the strikingly handsome Crocodile God, she attempts to heal him from the curse slowly transforming him into his namesake. Despite the Crocodile God’s informing her of their connected fates, Sade leaves to work as the official Curse-Eater at an inn located in one of the city’s affluent districts. But the more Sade uses her abilities, the greater the cost, forcing her to choose between the security that being employed offers and the threat of becoming once again unhoused. Via Sade’s first-person POV, Ifueko delivers a complex and nuanced exploration of intersections between disability, economic inequity, and abuse of power. Sade’s relationship with the Crocodile God presents a thoughtful examination of power and consent without sacrificing tenderness or chemistry. Ages 12–up. Agent: Kim-Mei Kirtland, Howard Morhaim Literary.