Orisha’s Among Mortals is a collection of short stories and novellas that are connected to the series: TJ Young and the Orisha. This is a new to me author and a new to me world. I enjoyed the audiobook and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the world and characters. Antoine definitely knows how to bring the world and the words alive. This was a solid 4 stars for me.

I would like to begin by saying that I understand that the whole idea with novellas like this is to give something more to the people, who are already interested in the series and they are not meant to be an introduction to the series, however, you are not required to read the series before reading the stories, so no one can really stop me.
I found some ideas expressed in the story rather uncomfortable, such as the expressed need to kill your enemies in a war. The impression from the stories is that the Godkillers (I assume it is written like that, as I only had access to the audiobook) are mindless creatures that just attack and might be controlled by something bigger, so we as readers should not feel for their losses, but if something is mindless, you can't have a war with it. My point being - this is a slippery slope.
Further on, there was discussion of how soldiers should follow order and not "venture out of their own volition" which is also a sentiment that is rather dangerous.
Both of the points above were from the last story, but there are also other things, that stood out to me in the other two stories as rather dangerous and problematic opinion. In the first story, we have not only the idea of making "the trickster" into an evil character, but we also have the villain of the story actively making someone go against their beliefs and opinions for their sake (even if in the end we are told that none of it was true, so there is no worry). Yes, I get that this helps to build him into a better villain, but while reading it just felt uncomfortable being in that situation. And in the second story we have amounts of sexism that the alpha male crowd is dreaming about.
In conclusion, this felt icky to read and made me push away from the idea of further reading this author. If you do not mind your author casually dropping some conservative takes - this is a good author to read, the writing is good and the mythology is interesting, but I guess I am just "too woke" for this.

This was my first time reading anything from this author and I loved the pacing and the stories kept me entertained about the TJ Young universe. It feels young and fun with lots of adventures.

This is a collection with two short stories and one a little bigger. What I loved the most was the blend from different mythologies with the West African gods. For a first step to the series this one offers a few spoilers, but all in all, it’s very well explained and fast paced. The narration was so good and had a few interludes that made it so much more.

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.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the review copy.

I enjoyed this collection of short stories, which works well as an introductory to the world of TJ Young and the Orishas. In this YA series Antoine Bandele has created a modern fantasy world that draws on East African Mythology.

I listened to this Audio thanks to netGalley and would recommend it. The narrators embodied the different characters they portrayed, and the incidental music and sound effects really helped to conjure up the rich world Bandele has created.

I liked the interplay of our modern world and technology with the ancient gods and there powers. while the main focus is on the East African god, they existed along side the pantheons of gods from other parts of the world. In "An Axe for a hammer" I particularly liked the bond between Shango and Thor from Norse mythology.

I look forward to continuing this series and know that as a teenager I would have devoured it. While my heritage is Caribbean, I am a part of the African diaspora and then as now appreciated reading African mythology and seeing myself reflected in the stories.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bandele Books for the ALC of Orishas Among Mortals.

4.5⭐️ - a note that i have listened to the whole collection of stories before reading the rest of the series.

This 3 story collection drew me in immediately and had me wanting to read the whole series! Following the African Gods and their adventures with Norse Gods, this is a thrilling and captivating ride.
The audiobook was fantastic! I loved the immersive quality and the traditional singing in between stories. I also appreciated the Author interludes to let us know that we should read certain books before moving onto the other stories.
My favourite story was that of Eshu and his trickster ways. I thought his character was very entertaining. I thought the length of ‘An Axe For A Hammer’ was slightly too long considering it made up about half of the book. I thought the other two were just small tasters compared to a much fuller third story.
This is a fantastic read for all ages, exploring African and Norse mythology and Gods. I can’t wait to read the rest. I highly recommend this to everybody.

These are fun stories that feature Orisha characters as mythological magical figures from the TJ Young Universe. This has Shango & Thor, Eshu & Obatala and Oya as characters on missions. This works as a fun and dynamic expansion of this story universe. These short stories also function as background to the overall series narrative but are also fully contained and interesting short stories on their own. I think this serves as a fun introduction to the series for new readers.

This audiobook is narrated by Nekia Renee Martin and John Joseph Rogers. These stories have slight sound effects between chapters. The Interludes offer explanations and background on the stories and are vpiced by the author. This is a high quality audiobook production which in my limited experience always makes these more accessible for children.

Thank you to Antoine Bandele, Bandele Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

3⭐ (for now)
This is an absolutely stunning world I've jumped into based on African mythology!

Although the author states you don't necessarily have to read the actual series first, I feel like this would've slapped 100x more if I had read the actual series first. (hence the "for now).

Will definitely be picking up Book #1 of this series soon.

*** the production of this audiobook was TOP TIER! I actually want to consume the whole series in audiobook format because *chef's kiss*

Thank you NetGalley, Bandele Books & Independent Book Publishers Association for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

Orishas Among Mortals
Antoine Bandele

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Back in March, I read a great little short story collection by this author - Tales From The Otherworlds - and although I was a little above the target age audience, I really enjoyed exploring this authors fantasy ideas.

This collection includes the 2 short stories and the longer novella which were written to accompany this author's TJ Young series of novels.
Now, these fantasy reads are not normally my go to reads, so I was particularly drawn to these shorter reads rather than the novels - and as such, I did not read these in tandem and haven't read any of the TJ Young series ......yet!

However, I could tell that these stories would fit brilliantly between the novels to add extra background and character development.
That said, I don't think that I was wholly hindered having not followed each with it's novel.

These stories took us to other realms and introduced the Orisha characters to us.
A diverse bunch of Gods based around West African mythology.

The first two short stories were super quick reads and I loved learning about each Orisha and seeing how they interacted both between themselves and also with us mortals.
This quick introduction was just enough to see the characters and little of what they could do - enticing us to read their full story.

I think my favourite story though, was the final novella, which being a longer read, really allowed us a greater insight into both the characters and the overall greater battles that the Orishas are facing.
I loved that this story brought together not only a mix of the Orisha Gods and mortals - but also combines Gods from other realms that we are more familiar with - Thor, who is prominent in this story, being one of my favourites - but we also see Greek and Egyptian Gods featured too.

These are really well written and interesting stories and I could easily fall into the TJ Young series having read these - but they are definitely chunky reads (which scare me slightly!) - one day, I'm determined to overcome this fear and head on in, so watch this space.....


💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

I must say that I truly enjoyed reading this collection of stories. I was captivated from the first page to the last. I must say An Ax For a Hammer was my favorite. The notion of two gods-- Thor and Shango, having a mutual respect for one another to fight together towards a common goal was great to see This was my first read from Antoine Bandele wrote in such a vivid manner that I felt like I was there. I was there when Thor was running out of steps, I was really drawn in; I felt as if I was on the sidelines cheering Thor on; not wanting him to run out of steps because it would mean his end.
Thank you Antoine Bandele and Netgalley for allowing me to review this ARC.

Okay, bear with me, because I do love this universe. I think there's an issue here that I specifically experienced and that might be an issue for other readers, though.

So, I read the first (super short) novella earlier this year. "The Mischief Maker" is supposed come before book 1 in the TJ Young book, but it contains a significant spoiler for that book. Based on that, I read book 2 before picking this up, and was confused because you do actually need to read "The Wind Speaks" for book 2 to make entire sense. And now, I'm about a third of the way through book 3, and I'm so glad that I went back and read "An Axe for a Hammer," because again, it's a bit of a struggle to follow the main novel without this context. I wish this was a little clearer, because even the audiobook suggests reading "Mischief Maker" first.

Especially in "An Axe for a Hammer," we spent a lot of time with the gods in these stories, and I found myself a lot less invested in the cosmic super-powerful god battles than I am in the human characters of the main series. I perked up when Ayo (my favorite character from the series, yesss) popped in for book 3, but the court case kind of dragged on. I understand why we need that for book 3 to make sense, but the pacing was a bit too slow and repetitive as a result.

However! I recommend the TJ Young series for readers of YA, and fans of things like Percy Jackson. This novella collection provided a larger peek at that ever-expanding universe. The audio production is also excellent; I've listened to a lot of audiobooks read by people who can't do different accents to save their lives, and the narrator of "Axe for a Hammer" (John Joseph Rogers?) really knocked it out of the park with the range of voices and accents required.

tl;dr, I do recommend this if you plan to read the main series. If you pick this one up on its own, I think you will be very, very confused. ;)

Thank you to NetGalley and Antoine Bandele for the audio ARC! Antoine's also working with several other authors on an expanded multiseries world in the style of Rick Riordan Presents, and I think TJ Young got optioned for... film? Streaming? Anyway, if this series isn't on your radar, check it out.

In Bandele's work, I thought the stories were well-written and fun to follow, but I felt there were too many interludes. The breaks felt unnecessary based on where they occurred in the story, even though the music and sound effects were unique. I also thought it was a strange choice to have some of the stories within this book be linked to other, separate works; there was a note from the author to stop and read another book before continuing forward. That said, the narration was well done, and I enjoyed the tales of the Orishas.

As a Yoruba woman, this book was very disappointing. The way the narrator was pronouncing the deities name wasn’t it at all, an indigene could have been used to narrate the story. The story has potential though I just couldn’t listen because of the wrong pronunciations.

I read and enjoyed part 1, but didn’t realize I would need to read a separate book to finish this one. I’ve requested it from my library (on hold) and will wire a complete review once I’m done with both books. I wish I knew that I would need to have book 1 of the series on hand before starting this.

POSTED:
I like how these novellas keep the TJ series from his POV but gives an expansion/BTS view of the world from other POV's.

🎧 The narrators were great

My only issues was that I didn't know I needed to have books 1 & 2 ready to complete this collection.

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.

I love that there were multiple narrators. The production was wonderful. The stories themselves were well done. They give you insights to the other stories that the author has done in this world. I like the use of the West African mythology. It felt immersive for the reader.

This was such a fun listen—I genuinely enjoyed it! Orishas Among Mortals feels like a welcome addition to the TJ Young universe, especially if you’re already familiar with the other books. But honestly, even if you’re new to the series, these stories are a great way to dive into the world. There are two shorter tales and one longer one, all packed with creative world-building and magic that really bring the setting to life.
I loved how much West African mythology shines through; it feels rich and vibrant, yet still super easy to follow (or listen to). The narrators? Amazing across the board. Each one brought their characters to life with their voices, and the little sound effects and music between chapters added a nice layer of atmosphere that made it easy to get totally immersed. The emotion and character embodiment through each narrator really helped me connect with the stories.
Honestly, I was most hooked by the first two stories. They’ve got that quick, adventurous vibe that’s reminiscent of other YA myth-based books I love, but still managed to feel fresh and rooted in this universe. The third story was a bit more serious and a little choppier in flow, but it was crucial for deepening the lore and tying things together from the main series.
One thing I really appreciated was how the author clearly shows where these stories fit into the larger TJ Young series—super helpful for newcomers and longtime fans alike. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this to anyone into YA fantasy with a rich mythos, great characters, and a world you’ll want to keep exploring.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5

You definitely need to read the other books in the Orishas Among Mortals universe to fully appreciate this collection. As a standalone, it was okay—interesting enough, but it didn’t quite hit as hard without the context. Still, a nice glimpse into the Orisha mythos and a solid introduction if you plan to continue the series.

This was a fun listen and I really enjoyed it! Orishas Among Mortals is a cool addition to the TJ Young universe and I think it adds a lot, especially if you've read the other books. But even if you haven’t, these stories are a solid way into the world. There’s two shorter stories and one longer one build on the magic and the world building in a really creative way.

I liked how much of the West African mythology came through—it felt rich but still super readable (or in this case, listenable). The narrators were great across the board. Each voice brought the characters to life and the little sound effects and music in between chapters were a nice touch. Really helped the atmosphere and made it easy to get pulled in. I think each of the narrators for each story did a great job with embodying the characters and the emotion that was be conveyed through scenes.

Honestly, I liked the first two stories the most. They had that fast-paced, adventurous vibe that reminds me of other YA myth-based books I’ve loved, but still felt fresh and grounded in this world. The third story was more serious and a bit choppier in flow, but it did deepen the overall lore and helped connect a lot of things from the main series.

Also, I appreciated how the author lets you know where this fits if you’re reading through the whole TJ Young series. That’s super helpful for any new listeners. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this to anyone into YA fantasy with a rich mythos and strong characters.

Thanks to Bandele Books and NetGalley for the audio ARC

Work of art. This book was so immersive and it felt like a broadway show. From the music to the narrators brought to life the whole story.

This is a creative and engaging collection that blends West African mythology with both modern and fantasy settings. It includes three main stories, plus a few short vignettes. Whether you’re already into the series or new to it, there’s a lot to enjoy.

The focus here is more on myth and world-building than action, but it’s still really entertaining.
I listened to this thanks to NetGalley and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t too long...just over 5 hours. I really liked the music in the background, and the dual narration helped bring most of the story to life.

That said, I did struggle a bit with the male narrator. His voice didn’t quite match the tone of the stories, and the audio sometimes sounded muffled, like there may have been mic issues. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did make it a little harder to stay fully immersed. I then got the book on kindle and tandem read, and it was much better to do both at the same time.

Overall, this is a solid and interesting listen!

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio!