This a novel that takes place in fifteenth century West Africa among the Yoruba. Ododo who lives in Timbuktu is of the blacksmith guild. The make all the metal instruments: spearheads, swords, pots and jewelry. Ododo s mother also works as a blacksmith. they are all women treated as outcasts and called witches.

Ododo is working on golden daffodils when the town is disturbed by a rough and ready group of soldiers who are  immediately attracted by the weapons. One soldier wants to see some knives. Ododos mother tells her to leave and to sell some of her metal work. She gets up and goes into the marketplace. And wham! She walks into a handsome man.

He’s Aremo the king of Sangote of Yorubaland; who has fallen in love with her. He abducts her and declares she is to be his wife. But Ododo is not only no one’s fool, but she is clever and intelligent. She does not want to be his wife, but declares if she does, she must have her mother at the ceremony. Aremo blithely agrees to her request.

And Ododo begins her new life. Not only is she surrounded by gorgeous cloth and gold and she has a huge hut of her own , she learns new skills: dancing fighting and riding. She also learns how to deal with Aremo's mother who doesn’t want to give up her power over her son to Ododo. Ododo makes some friends who also give her insights to life with Aremo and his council. I loved it, things ratchet up tighter and tighter and though Ododo is falling for Aremo…he still hasn’t brought her mother to the compound. Ododo works her way into Aremos inner circle, learning how power is played.

There is a revolt and other power struggles and Ododo is able to utilize her new skills and even persuade Aremo’s council that she has worth, even though she’s a woman. And the time for her wedding approaches. But where is her mother? Oh, things get really tense and the ending explodes with tension.

Not what I expected at all.

This is a terrific book giving us all a view of a unique, vibrant world. Sagoyommi is a fabulous author. ~~ Sue Martin