The Dance of Shadows: The Aldiss Award-winning epic fantasy inspired by West African myth and magic

WINNER OF THE 2025 ALDISS AWARD FOR WORLD BUILDING

A young magician fighting for liberation is drawn into a battle between the gods in this West African-inspired epic from an incredible new voice in fantasy . . .

Rumi and his family are Odu, stricken with poverty and disparaged by the other tribes. When ruthless agents of the Palmaine - the colonising nation that dominates the continent of Basmine - threaten to destroy the village market, Rumi takes it upon himself to liberate his family. Taking a place in the prestigious Golden Room, where earnings from his music offer a chance at freedom, he shoulders his pride and resentment in a bid to make it to the top.

On what should be Rumi's greatest night at the Golden Room, his life is turned upside down. A terrifying individual known as the Priest of Vultures attacks Rumi and his family. Before her death, Rumi's mother, Adunola, solicits the help of a dying god and saves Rumi, setting him on the path to become a Shadowwielder: warriors with the ability to use their shadow as a weapon. But Rumi's need for vengeance may be more important to him than the future of his people . . .

The Dance of Shadows is the award-winning first epic tale in the Song of Godhunters trilogy by Rogba Payne, set in a richly imagined world of West African myth, shadow magic and music. Perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie, S.A. Chakraborty and Patrick Rothfuss.

Reader reviews for The Dance of Shadows

'I loved everything about this book. The characters, the world building, the action scenes, the pacing, EVERYTHING' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Fantasy at its best' ' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Amazing characters, edge of your seat plot, fantastic and interesting magic and fascinating mythology all packaged together with a skill and finesse that blows my mind for a debut novel!' ' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐