M.H. Ayinde storms onto the epic fantasy scene with A Song of Legends Lost, a debut that refuses to play by the established rules of the genre. This is fantasy writing that dares to center the working-class perspective in a world where nobles summon ancestral spirits, where techwork mingles with magic, and where revolution simmers beneath the surface of an ancient war. The result is a narrative that feels both familiar and startlingly fresh, marking Ayinde as a significant new voice worthy of serious attention.
Set in the Nine Lands, where only those of noble blood can invoke the spirits of their ancestors, the story follows Temi, a commoner from the slums of Lordsgrave who accidentally summons a powerful spirit. This premise alone could have sustained a conventional fantasy novel, but Ayinde uses it as a launching pad for something far more ambitious: a deep examination of class, power, and the myths societies tell themselves to justify inequality.
The Heart of Rebellion: Character Development and Social Commentary
Temi: A Hero for Our Times
Temi Baker stands as one of the most compelling protagonists to emerge in recent epic fantasy. Unlike the typical chosen one narrative, Temi’s journey feels earned through struggle rather than birthright. Ayinde takes considerable care in establishing her working-class roots, showing us her family’s bakery, their illegal techwork smuggling operation, and the constant threat of conscription that hangs over their heads. When Temi begins hearing the voice of Vunaji, the mysterious spirit, her initial skepticism and fear feel authentic rather than contrived.
The author’s decision to ground Temi’s power in practical knowledge—her understanding of techwork learned from her grandfather’s programming background—creates a refreshing alternative to the usual “hidden royal bloodline” trope. Temi’s abilities emerge from the intersection of technology and spirit work, suggesting that true power comes from understanding how things actually function rather than from inherited privilege.
Supporting Cast: Depth Beyond Expectation
Father Boleo emerges as perhaps the most intriguing secondary character, embodying the moral complexity that runs throughout the novel. As Ayinde herself notes, he’s “snarky and grumpy and has a ruthless streak, but he’s also tenacious, loyal, and quick-witted.” His role as a monk who understands the true nature of techwork places him in a fascinating position between the religious establishment and the revolutionary potential of forbidden knowledge.
The various members of Temi’s extended family in Lordsgrave feel lived-in and authentic, each with their own distinct voice and concerns. Ayinde avoids the common fantasy pitfall of making working-class characters either noble victims or criminal stereotypes, instead presenting them as complex individuals navigating impossible circumstances with intelligence and agency.
World-Building: Where Science Fantasy Meets Social Realism
The Nine Lands: A World in Transition
Ayinde’s world-building demonstrates remarkable sophistication in its blend of fantasy and science fiction elements. The concept of techwork—ancient technology that attracts dangerous greybloods—creates a fascinating tension between progress and survival. The fact that this technology is forbidden to common people while secretly used by the nobility adds another layer of social commentary that feels particularly relevant to contemporary discussions about technological access and inequality.
The invoker system, where only descendants of the nine founding warlords can summon ancestral spirits, serves as an elegant metaphor for hereditary power structures. Yet Ayinde subverts this system by suggesting that the barriers between “noble” and “common” blood may be more artificial than anyone realizes. Vunaji’s insistence that “there is no such thing as noble blood” challenges the fundamental assumptions upon which the Nine Lands’ society is built.
Lordsgrave: A Masterclass in Setting as Character
The slum district of Lordsgrave represents perhaps Ayinde’s greatest world-building achievement. Rather than depicting poverty as either romantically noble or inherently criminal, the author creates a community with genuine depth and complexity. The neighborhood has its own economy, social structures, and cultural practices that feel organic rather than imposed by plot necessity.
The description of Temi’s family bakery, with its hidden techwork operations and multi-generational household, provides a perfect microcosm of how ordinary people adapt to survive within oppressive systems. When greybloods eventually attack Lordsgrave and the authorities seal the district to contain the threat, the sequence becomes a powerful metaphor for how marginalized communities are abandoned during crises.
The Magic System: Technology as Liberation
Techwork and Spirit Summoning
One of the novel’s most innovative aspects is its treatment of magic as technology that has been deliberately mystified by those in power. The revelation that monks use “thinking jewels” that communicate with other techwork devices, rather than wielding supernatural forces, reframes the entire magical system as a form of advanced technology that has been restricted to maintain social control.
Temi’s water votives—devices that purify water but also attract spirits—represent a fascinating intersection of practical utility and mystical power. The fact that these devices improve people’s lives while simultaneously challenging the established order makes them perfect symbols for the novel’s themes of liberation through knowledge.
The Ancestral Realm: Questioning the Nature of Spirits
Ayinde’s treatment of the ancestral realm and spirit summoning raises profound questions about the nature of consciousness and identity. Vunaji’s claim that he is not actually Temi’s ancestor, combined with hints about the true nature of the spiritual realm, suggests that the entire cosmology may be more complex than anyone realizes. This ambiguity adds philosophical depth to what could have been a straightforward magical system.
Narrative Structure and Pacing
Multiple Perspectives: Strength and Challenge
The novel employs multiple point-of-view characters, including Jinao Mizito, the “soulbarren” son of a deceased general, and Runt, a young woman connected to the criminal Chedu family. While this approach allows Ayinde to explore different aspects of her world, it occasionally creates pacing issues as the narrative shifts between storylines.
The strongest sections focus on Temi’s journey and her growing understanding of her abilities. The sequences in Lordsgrave, particularly the family dynamics and the eventual greyblood attack, demonstrate Ayinde’s skill at balancing intimate character moments with larger dramatic tensions. However, some of the political maneuvering among the noble clans feels less immediate and emotionally engaging.
Building Toward Revolution
The novel’s structure mirrors its thematic concerns with revolution and social change. Rather than following a traditional quest narrative, the story builds toward multiple simultaneous upheavals: Temi’s growing power, the mysterious conspiracy involving various warlords, and the escalating greyblood threat. This approach creates a sense of mounting tension while emphasizing that meaningful change requires action on multiple fronts.
Writing Style: Authentic Voices and Vivid Imagery
Dialogue and Voice
Ayinde demonstrates remarkable skill in creating distinct voices for her characters. Temi’s dialogue feels authentically working-class without relying on stereotypical dialect, while the various nobles speak with the formal cadences appropriate to their positions. The author’s background and multicultural influences show in the richness of the world’s linguistic texture, with terms like “agbada,” “gele,” and “ogogoro” creating cultural specificity without overwhelming readers with unfamiliar vocabulary.
The internal voice of Vunaji, rendered in brackets, creates an effective sense of otherworldly presence while maintaining clarity about who is speaking. This technique could easily become confusing, but Ayinde handles it with sufficient skill to make the dual consciousness feel natural rather than gimmicky.
Descriptive Passages and Action Sequences
When describing the physical world, Ayinde strikes an effective balance between vivid detail and narrative momentum. The greyblood attack sequences demonstrate particular strength, creating genuine tension while maintaining clarity about what is happening to whom. The author’s experience with video games shows in these action scenes, which unfold with a visual clarity that makes them easy to follow despite their complexity.
Themes: Power, Identity, and Social Justice
Class Consciousness and Revolution
Perhaps the novel’s most significant achievement is its unflinching examination of class-based oppression. Unlike many fantasy novels that pay lip service to social inequality while focusing on elite characters, A Song of Legends Lost keeps working-class concerns at its center throughout. The conscription subplot, where common families must sacrifice members to fight in a war that primarily benefits the nobility, provides a clear parallel to real-world military recruitment patterns.
Temi’s journey from reluctant participant to potential revolutionary feels organic rather than imposed by plot requirements. Her growing understanding that the invoker system may be based on lies rather than natural law mirrors real-world revelations about how power structures maintain themselves through manufactured scarcity and artificial barriers.
Identity and Authenticity
The question of what makes someone “noble” versus “common” runs throughout the narrative, challenging essentialist notions of identity. Vunaji’s revelation that noble blood is meaningless suggests that the barriers preventing common people from accessing power are artificial rather than natural. This theme resonates particularly strongly in contemporary discussions about meritocracy and inherited privilege.
Critical Assessment: Strengths and Areas for Growth
What Works Exceptionally Well
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its successful integration of social commentary with compelling fantasy elements. Ayinde never allows her political themes to overwhelm the story, instead weaving them organically into the world-building and character development. The result feels like fantasy that has something meaningful to say about power and justice without becoming preachy or didactic.
The world-building demonstrates remarkable consistency and depth, with small details like food, clothing, and architecture creating a lived-in feeling that many debut novels struggle to achieve. The blend of fantasy and science fiction elements feels natural rather than forced, suggesting a author with a clear vision of how these genres can complement each other.
Areas for Improvement
While the multiple perspective structure serves the story’s thematic goals, it occasionally creates pacing issues. Some storylines feel more urgent and emotionally engaging than others, leading to sections where momentum slows. The political machinations among the noble clans, while important to the overall plot, sometimes lack the immediate personal stakes that make Temi’s storyline so compelling.
Additionally, while the novel does an excellent job of establishing its world and characters, some plot threads feel underdeveloped by the conclusion. This is understandable given that this is the first book in a trilogy, but certain revelations about the nature of the ancestral realm and the origins of the greyblood threat could benefit from more thorough exploration.
Cultural Impact and Genre Significance
Representation and Voice
A Song of Legends Lost joins a growing movement of fantasy novels that center non-European cultural perspectives while addressing contemporary social issues. Ayinde’s inspiration from precolonial cultures creates a fantasy world that feels fresh rather than derivative, while her focus on working-class characters provides representation that remains rare in epic fantasy.
The novel’s treatment of technology as mystified rather than genuinely magical offers a sophisticated critique of how knowledge is controlled and restricted. This approach feels particularly relevant in an era of increasing technological inequality and information gatekeeping.
Influences and Innovation
Ayinde cites N.K. Jemisin as a major influence, and the connection is clear in both authors’ willingness to center marginalized perspectives and challenge genre conventions. However, A Song of Legends Lost establishes its own distinct voice and concerns, particularly in its integration of science fiction elements and its focus on class-based rather than racial oppression.
The novel’s blend of Final Fantasy-inspired summoning mechanics with serious social commentary creates something genuinely unique in the current fantasy landscape. This combination of gaming influences with literary ambition suggests exciting possibilities for the genre’s future development.
Looking Forward: Expectations for the Series
Unanswered Questions and Future Potential
The novel raises numerous questions about the true nature of the ancestral realm, the origins of the greybloods, and the ultimate goals of the various conspiracies at play. Based on the author’s comments about the sequel, readers can expect these mysteries to receive more thorough exploration while the action and world-building continue to expand.
The promise of Temi and Runt’s storylines intersecting offers particular excitement, as both characters represent different aspects of resistance to the established order. Their eventual meeting could provide the catalyst for the larger revolutionary changes the first novel sets in motion.
Similar Reads and Recommendations
Readers who appreciate A Song of Legends Lost should consider:
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin – For its innovative magic system and social commentary
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – For its epic scope and strong female characters
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison – For its focus on political intrigue and class dynamics
The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter – For its African-inspired fantasy setting and intense action
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang – For its unflinching examination of war and power
Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee – For its blend of fantasy and modern elements with family dynamics
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri – For its South Asian-inspired world-building and political complexity
Final Verdict: A Promising Beginning
A Song of Legends Lost announces the arrival of a major new talent in epic fantasy. While not without minor flaws, the novel succeeds brilliantly at its most important goals: creating compelling characters, building a rich and believable world, and using fantasy elements to explore meaningful themes about power, class, and social justice.
M.H. Ayinde has crafted a debut that feels both accessible to genre newcomers and sophisticated enough to satisfy experienced fantasy readers. The novel’s combination of innovative world-building, authentic character development, and thoughtful social commentary marks it as essential reading for anyone interested in the current state and future direction of epic fantasy.
This is fantasy writing that refuses to accept the genre’s traditional limitations, instead using the freedom of speculative fiction to imagine better ways of organizing society and distributing power. A Song of Legends Lost deserves its place alongside the best contemporary fantasy novels, and leaves readers eagerly anticipating how Ayinde will develop these themes and characters in future volumes.
The revolution Temi begins in Lordsgrave feels like the start of something larger—both within the world of the Nine Lands and within the fantasy genre itself. For readers seeking epic fantasy that dares to dream of fundamental change rather than merely restoring old orders, A Song of Legends Lost provides exactly the bold vision they’ve been waiting for.