Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The Ballad of Nod is a story of selflessness, friendship, wisdom and love. Nod’s story is told as a retelling by a grandfather to his grandkids. The way the story was written I kind of thought there would be a connection between Nod and the grandfather. Regardless, it was a sweet story highlighting the importance of finding your worth, the power of friendship and being willing to help others.

The Ballad of Nod is an endearing tale that preaches wisdom beyond the details of events that occur throughout. Singing praise of loyalty, friendship, kindness and compassion, this novel is a touching reminder to be grateful for what we have in our lives.

For the most part, I really enjoyed the narrative voice. The blend between a grandfather telling his grandchildren a story and the story itself was really lovely and the shifts were well-executed. The most enjoyable parts for me were slow paced and comforting, and lent the story a melodic ‘lullaby-esque’ feel which I think worked really well for the story.
Unfortunately at times, I found the pacing uncomfortable and clunky. A battle (which was important enough to turn the tide for the winning side) took place and a main character paid a sacrifice, yet I felt like I blinked and was told about it afterwards.
Repetition also weighed down the story quite a bit. Some ideas (such as the guard that Àdábá spoke to who neither regarded her with love or hate) were repeated multiple times but just worded slightly differently. This didn’t so much clear up anything confusing as it did make the prose clunky to read.

Overall, it was a heartwarming and endearing story to read and I did enjoy it. I think if the narrative was just a little more concise, it would help cut out the weight so that the feel of a soft, pillowy and sweet lullaby can fully flourish. Thank you very much Kehinde Majolagbe and NetGalley for letting me read!

Side note: I don’t know how many times I read the words ‘uttered’ or ‘pondered’ but some synonyms would have really helped!
Reviews are also published on Goodreads.

Thank you NetGalley! Dan and Eve live with their mother, Liezl, in Arizona. The father abandoned the family and Liezl’s father has come from South Africa to lend comfort. A great storyteller, he regales the adventures of Nod to his grandchildren. After the war Nod, armor Bearer to Prince Aire, returns home to find his beloved mother seriously ill, he sets out on a quest to aid her recovery. Deserts, mystical woods, a beast, a princess and a tree of life enthrall the children and the reader. My only objection to this book is the presentation. Italics were overused and the paragraph separators, although useful to a degree, did little to differentiate the storyteller and the story itself. I felt the difference between the two was not defined appropriately and caused the story to feel a bit choppy. The story itself, however, is a joy and will recommend!