Oooooohhhh I have such mixed feelings about that ending. Here's the thing: will I read book 4? Okay yes probably.

This was in the vicinity of 3.5 stars for me. I had the same issue with this one that I had with book 2... large parts of this book dragged (in this case, several hundred pages) but then the end went almost hard enough to make up for it. I say "almost," because I spent a lot of this book feeling confused about what the plan was. I understood the goal, and we get TJ's checklist throughout, but a lot of the time I did not understand what the characters thought they were going to achieve by taking their specific actions. I think if this had been tightened up a little, both in terms of cutting the repetition and trimming some of the side quests, I would have had an easier time following it, because there were times when my brain glazed over a bit.

So, for me, this plot wasn't fully effective. I am invested in the characters, though, and as long as I love the characters I can forgive a lot. Given the level of worldbuilding and background and thought that Bandele has clearly put into this world, I didn't feel like the plot was sloppy or ill-thought-out, I just didn't feel like I, the reader, had a clear handle on it at all times, and a bit of clarity in some places would have eased the way for me.

Ayo remains my favorite character, though Manny is pretty great, too. One thing I appreciate in this series is how the actions have consequences. Ayo develops a speech impediment, and TJ has a physical disability that he can compensate for with magic, but magic doesn't completely fix the problem. This compounds over the course of the novel, and Bandele has set up some really interesting conflicts for book 4 that are unique enough that I don't think I've read anything quite like it before. A large chunk of the book discusses the balance between tradition vs. social adaptation. There are some emotional consequences for TJ's parents, took, which is something many YA books in this genre skip over. (Or avoid entirely by featuring magical orphans.)

I read about a 3rd of this book in digital form, and then picked up the audio ARC from NetGalley to finish it out. Having started the series on audio, I was having a difficult time transitioning into print. I enjoy the narrator, and her range is great, though her Irish accent made me laugh every time. Bandele is really testing the audiobook narrators by tying in all these different pantheons!

I just read "Blood at the Root" and its sequel, and I saw a lot of folks complaining that those books center Black trauma. Given the similarities in the magic systems and the cultural traditions/faiths both books draw from, there's a bit of overlap, but I think it's worth noting here that while Bandele challenges these characters, the TJ Young books are abundant with Black joy, and racial trauma is absent from this series as far as I can recall. I can't help but compare these books to the Percy Jackson series and another certain boy-wizard, and I think they strike a similar tone and would appeal to an overlapping readership.

Thank you to Antoine Bandele and NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. While I wait for book 4 and/or the film adaptation (???), I'll have to delve into his books for adult readers. "The Hero's Equinox" also features some cameos from the tie-in series...es that are being released in the same expanded universe. The Bandeleverse? Yes, that's what I'm going with.

Fantasy series audiobooks for teenage listeners. If you can listen in order, the audiobooks are fun and well worth spending time in. TJ Young is back dealing with the Orishas, which ain’t easy as some of them are worse than squabbling three year olds except with a lot more power. Then there are the Keepers with their dark and dangerous ideas about things should be with the Deities and the human world. What a mess.
Of the three books so far, the narrative at the beginning, setting things up in this book, is not quite as much fun as when the action with TJ and his friends begins. However you learn things that are going to shock you. If you’ve been listening to the series you, like me, are going to want book 4!

(Also there is Orishas Among Mortals collection 1, three novellas - the third story helps set the scene for this book. The others add to books 1 and 2.)

Thank you to Bandele Books and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mind, freely given.

This was such a vibe happy series to read. It gave me all the feels I had as a teen reading the HP series but brought in mythology in such a compelling and engaging way. The character build up and slow increase of gods emerging in the world created made it so easy to follow the story (I was kind of worried I would get overwhelmed but that was not the case at all).

🎧 Audiobook Narration - fantastic (will note, in nearly 24 hours of recording, there were only a few moments of glitch). There are some sound effects at the beginning of chapters, not usually my thing, but for this genre it works.

I've really enjoyed what feels like Phase 1 of TJ's story and am excited to continue to Phase 2.

>> I've recommended it to my mom (a teacher) to add to her suggested summer reading list for her classroom (She's going to put this series in her former HP slot).

The Hero’s Equinox picks up right after the tidal wave disaster that TJ helped stop in the previous book. Now things are more complex, though. The Court of All, which is made up of gods from a bunch of different pantheons, are investigating TJ and Shango. They’re accused of being behind the death of Thor, and that sets the whole tone and backdrop for the story. It connects really well with Orishas Among Mortals and builds directly off the events from there.

What I’ve really come to enjoy with this series is how Antoine Bandele blends mythologies in a way that feels innovative to me. It’s creative and fun, and the liberties he takes with god lore, character dynamics, and worldbuilding make it something unique. Some people might not like how freely the mythos mix together or how it pulls from familiar figures and reworks them, but I think that’s part of the charm. The way these gods interact, and the story grows beyond the boundaries of one belief system, that’s what makes it feel big and interesting.

There’s definitely some wildness to it, especially in the YA parts. The romance and emotions sometimes felt a bit cliche or like something I’ve seen before, but the bigger moments still hit. There are scenes in this book that had real emotional weight, especially toward the end. And even through all the drama and massive power clashes, I liked how there were still moments, like TJ getting called 'honey bunny' by his mom, that made me grin. That contrasts works well for me.

The narration by Nekia Renee Martin was really well done. She gave a lot of variety in voice, whether switching between genders or accents, and even some characters doing impressions of others. That kind of range is what made the audiobook work so well for me. Some familiar voices came back, too, and if you’ve followed the series, those little returns feel like Easter eggs. Also, the music and sound between chapters adds depth to the setting and feel for the next chapter.

This book pushes the bigger mystery forward and sets up the next chapter in TJ and his friends' journey. I liked the blending of cultures and divinity here, and the ending leaves you on a cliffhanger. I’m definitely looking forward to what comes next and would recommend this series to anyone who is a fan of a YA hero's epic based in a cultural mythology.
Thank you to Bandele Books and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC!.

So I happen to request this not knowing it was the third book 😬
*I’ve listened to his three-story collection, which is like, small prequels— So I kinda got the gist of what’s going on, but not a full scope. So I am unable to fairly critique this, but I’ve enjoyed them!!

Antoine’s stories are full of all kinds of mythology, but richly revolves around Orishas— Which in my opinion is so intriguing!! It’s on the Teens & YA side of things, packed with a lot of action & adventure through different realms.

Definitely pick this up if you’re into:

• Heists
• Gods & Goddesses
• Realms
• Ancient Secrets
• Cosmic Trials