A glorious, beautiful tale of magic and revolution. I have not read the companion series and it did not hurt my enjoyment in any way. The audio version is amazing.

The Maid and the Crocodile is an instant new favorite of mine! It's reminiscent of Howl's Moving Castle while being something entirely its own. I was enchanted by the expansion on the worldbuilding from Raybearer from the beginning and I was so happy to see disability representation so well executed! The messages around community, wealth, and power were also incredibly poignant. I can't wait for Ifueko's next work!

Ifueko writes such wonderful stories. Her characters are endearing and become special to readers as they hold some characteristic that reaches beyond the page. We return to the world of Raybearer, but get a whole different view of the society and its people outside the walls of the palace. These new characters swiftly make their way into our heart and we root for them to succeed.

What a sweet and touching book. Ifueko with this third novel makes it known that she will continue to tell the stories of those who are used and abused by the ones who should appreciate them and how they grow into their own through their intuition and strength.

Small Sade is the embodiment of many young girls whose story has been written wrongly, privileged hands hiding their potential and power. Yet when she decides to stand for herself and push back to fight for her dreams, to use her voice to share her ideas; how satisfying it is to see.

Can we please get more incredible stand alones please?! This was fun, sweet and lush! I read this on audio and it was so immersive I couldn’t put it down. The narrator truly brought the characters and story to life and it was such a great listening experience.

The world we were brought into which was inspired by West Africa was super unique and fun to read about.

The romance? Swoon worthy! I love a MMC that is heads over heels for the FMC and just loves her for who she is and not just her looks. The found family aspect in this book? PERFECTION! It reminded me so much of the characters all coming together from Howl’s Moving Castle. The writing? BEAUTIFUL! The prose and imagery swept me away in the story.

This is definitely going to be one of my top reads of the year!

Set in the world of the Raybearers, Small Sade is a servant, reliant on the whims of her “betters” for work, sustenance, a home. She knows she is different - her skin and disfigured leg both prove that. But she also knows she is special, imbued with magic that changes fates by cleaning houses. She accidentally binds herself a the Crocodile - a cursed being with an unknown history that will unfold as she learns about him… but can she break his curse AND live the life she deserves?

I LOVE the idea of the magic Small Sade has. A “sin eater”, she can take on the transgressions of others as she literally cleans their houses, and alter the rest of their lives. The idea is at once completely wild, but makes so much sense. Ifueko weaves a gorgeous tale here, heartening a bit back to Tarisai and her crew from Raybearer, but giving Snall Sade a tale fully her own. Even the Crocodile, trickster though he is, sees redemption before the end. There are so many good lessons and diverse reps woven in that I can’t possibly mention them all, but suffice it to say it almost reads like a fable, but in a GREAT way.

I should also note that I listened to it, and I HIGHLY recommend it. The narrator is PERFECT and adds so much to the story (and she sings!)

Ifueko has a forever reader in me!!

Okay, so hear me out. I see how this book could be a 5 star for a lot of people, it just wasn't a 5 star for me.

This is a slow, quiet fantasy about self-worth, discrimmination and the struggle of living in a world that was not shaped for you. And add some Beauty & the Beast vibes in there.

I loved the message in this, the representation and how the different themes were tackled but I'm a fast-paced book girlie, so for the most part I felt like nothing was going on. Also, I wanted more of the romance (very cute) but I understand that the idea was that the romance would not overshadow the rest of the themes in this.

I went the audiobook route for this and it took me a little to get into because of the slow pace but also because the narrator's accent didn't allow me to fully get absorbed into the story (I understand why it was there given the setting but as a non-native english speaker it took me a while to get used to).

This is the kind of book I'd call a 'quiet fantasy'. It's not all battles and quests and world-shattering romances. It's gentle and small scaled but nonetheless impactful.

It's a wonderfully vibrant and emotional story of self worth and inequality and the huge difference 'small' people can make in the world. With a whimsical, almost folktale-esque narration, rich world building, unique magic and a warm and lovable MC, this was a treat of a read and reminded me just how fantastic a writer Ifueko is.

I went into this book ONLY having read Raybearer, not Redemptor. I was missing some context but had quite a lot from the first book to help me understand the world better. It IS a standalone but it's in the same world.

5 stars. The romance fell a bit flat but the book was so good I don’t even care.

Audiobook was amazing, I highly recommend it as the singing adds to this book's charm.

I promise to prioritise Redemptor now :P

Audiobook copy provided by BRmedia/Recorded books via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was a wonderful addition to the world created by Jordan Ifueko. The characters were beautifully written and the magic is truly compelling. I hope there are future books that explore other parts of this world!

Thank you NetGalley and Recorded Books for this ARC Audio Copy!

I absolutely loved every minute of this book and highly recommend reading on Audio if possible. The story of an orphan as she ages out of an orphanage and has to go out into the world to find work. Instead of finding work she finds the crocodile god and must find a way to save him. I loved the world, characters, and the storytelling in this book and the narrator did such a great job immersing you int the world.

Book Rating 5⭐️ Audiobook Performance 5⭐️

This book is one of my favorite books of all time. I first read it at the begging of July as an e-ARC and I was blow away. Jordan Ifeuko is a master storyteller and an immensely talented writer.

But then, you combine Jordan’s fantastical world with Adetinpo Thomas’s acting and you get one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to. My love for The Maid and the Crocodile on audio rivals my love for Harry Potter performed by Jim Dale. It is an out of this world performance and one I will be adding to my yearly rotation.

Adetinpo Thomas brings Sade and all the characters of The Maid and the Corcodile to life - often when I listen to an audiobook after first reading via print there are a least a few things that differ from my internal narrator but with this performance there was not a single thing I would change. Plus she sings, like actually sings!

100/10 would recommend.

I was thrilled to find out Jordan Ifueko had written another story set in the world of the Raybearer duology, and even more excited to receive an audio ARC of the book. This is technically a standalone, but does spoil some major events of the duology, and honestly, the Raybearer books are too good to skip. The Maid and the Crocodile gives us a different perspective on this world through the eyes of Small Sade, which I really appreciated. The world-building is excellent, and it was great to get to see how the world has changed after the events of the Raybearer books.

The Maid and the Crocodile is shelved as young adult, and is absolutely appropriate and recommended for teens, but I think adult readers (even those like me who are picky about YA) will also find it enjoyable. Ifueko addresses some difficult topics, and certainly has a strong point of view, so I have to commend her on the skill with which the messages were integrated with the story and the characters, especially Small Sade. Sade is a complex, interesting character with a strong character arc, and she is accompanied by a cast of great secondary characters, including a few reappearing from the Raybearer duology.

The audiobook is read by a new narrator, and I thought she did an excellent job. I especially enjoyed the way she sang whenever there was signing occurring in the book, as not all narrators do this.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an audio ARC - my first, and such a wonderful way to start!

I’ll definitely consider reading Raybearer at some point because Jordan Ifueko’s writing style was absolutely amazing! It truly felt like reading a folktale at times and the atmosphere of the world and the city were truly palpable. However I think this should’ve been maybe 50 pages longer because the author would just hit the pacing marks too soon, and it felt overall a bit rushed and underdeveloped in some aspects, notably the romance. I liked the perspective on activism but that made me not root for their romance when hearing how he perceived her work as a maid. The ending focused too much on what they achieved and not how they did it, and I wished we’d seen more of Crocodile once he had actually changed and learned, to make me root for the romance. Aside from that, I really liked the messaging of the overall story and it’s quite funny because it parallels what I am currently studying in German literature class, with the revolutionary artistic movements of the 19th century. Trump fangirls will tell you this is commie propaganda. 3.75 stars

This was one of the most spellbinding audiobook narrations ever, I loved listening to every second. Immersive, fantastical, and amazing! I love that this story tackles a variety of challenging topics in a way that is really accessible, including disability representation and classism. I loooooved the character of small shade, so endlessly herself and so well developed. Cannot recommend the audiobook enough, it was so well done.

Thank you to RBmedia and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this audiobook production

I loved The Maid and the Crocodile. I didn’t realize at first that it was part of the Raybearer universe, but fortunately, it works perfectly as a standalone novel—you don’t need any prior knowledge to enjoy it. The audiobook was beautifully produced, and I especially appreciated the trigger warnings provided at the start. The story immediately pulled me in, and I finished it within two days. The magical system was intricately woven into the narrative, adding a deeper emotional resonance. Overall, it’s a captivating young adult fantasy that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to RBmedia and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook.

Thank you Net Galley and Abrams Kids (Amulet Books) & RB Media for sending this book ( audio arc) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The Narrator was fabulous and brought the story to life. I could imagine my self in Small Sade's world. I loved the characters and the slow burn romance. Ifueko tackles some heavy topics in this book but in a beautiful story of hope and one girl's strength. This is a great fantasy book that isn't heavy on the romance.

A really lovely fantasy. Sade is a likeable and believable protagonist and the plot and pacing are very solid. Ifueko has not really mastered romance yet though and the subplot isn’t very satisfying. The audiobook is delightful thanks to the narrator singing the appropriate parts and decent vocal characterizations.

This review is in exchange for an ARC Audiobook from NetGalley

Genuinely so good! I remember reading Raybearer and enjoying the story, but that was a while ago. Listening to this brought me right back to the world. I loved getting to experience this world from the viewpoint of a common person. Both main characters were endearing, likable, and relatable. I am really glad the author chose to add to this world and touch on tough topics.

I left reviews on both goodreads and amazon.

This was such an adventurous read, and also one that's going to stick with me for a lot longer! I've read the Raybearer dualogy when it was released and it's one of my all time favourites, so I was extremely excited for this standalone set in the same world. And I can assure you that Jordan Ifueko does it again!

"The Maid and the Crocodile", while being marketed as a romantasy is definitely more than that. We follow Small Sade, who starts her job as a maid in one of the inns in the city, and the book focuses on her journey of self discovery and growth. Because of an unfortunate incident in her previous workplace, Sade has an injured leg and has to rely on a cane for walking. While many look at her as a weak person, she never lets any of it get to her! She works diligently and even questions the wrongness of the society as the plot progresses. I liked how assertive and strong she was in her opinions!!

On the other hand, we follow Crocodile who's cursed to turn into a beast and Sade might be the only one who can cure his curse. From the moment we are introduced to him, it's so obvious that he's not the "murderous beast" everyone portrays him to be! He's intelligent, caring and also highly observant! He never intends to ask Sade to help him but instead helps her in every step of the way. He makes her see the value in herself, and I loved that about him.

The book heavily focuses on the aspects of revolution and the need for a world where everyone has equal rights and freedom to do what they want. The idea that people should not be bound by where they're born, and should be allowed to follow their passion and should not be looked down even if it's something so menial is highlighted in the novel. There's a lot of trigger warnings too, so I'd advise looking them up before starting it.

The narrator did a wonderful job of portraying the characters of the novel, and the emotional scenes were particularly well-done in my opinion. And it was noteworthy that Sade sings throughout the novel as it's part of her job and the audiobook narrator did not just read the lines but sung them perfectly! It added to a more pleasant experience of listening to the audiobook.

Overall, this was such a well-rounded YA fantasy that I'd highly recommend it for people looking for more than romance in their fantasy books! Also it's perfect for readers who love "Howl's Moving Castle" and "Half A Soul."

Huge thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for sending me the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved how effortless the author made the worldbuilding seem. Little details and facts about the world and setting were incorporated throughout the exposition and dialogue in a way that created an immersive experience without infodumps or feeling forced. The story and events were creative and intriguing, and I found myself completely engaged.

Something else the author excelled at were the characters. Even the secondary characters were well developed and felt like they were there for more than just decoration or support of the protagonist. I loved the character growth that occurred and how meaningful it was. This facet alone made the ending of the story even more impactful.

This work is a companion to the Raybearer series, and I’m going to have to read it now. Thankfully, you don’t have to have any prior knowledge of the series to enjoy this one. However, I did see after I read this that this book has some pretty major spoilers for the series (oops), so if you want to read the series, DO NOT read this first. I listened to the audiobook version of this work, and the narrator was fabulous – she did many voices that added much to this experience.

While this work is YA, it was only YA in the best of ways (suitable for younger readers, dealt with difficult topics in a way that was age appropriate, etc.). If you like fantasy set in a fascinating world with strong characters, this is a must read. Many thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.