🩸 Horror Fiction

Futility

✍️ Nuzo Onoh
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$45.95
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A darkly comic story of revenge and body-swapping in Abuja.

Onoh crafts a narrative where betrayal fuels supernatural retaliation. Chia’s culinary reputation masks a darker truth, while Claire’s life unravels due to personal jealousy. Their interaction with a trickster spirit allows them to exchange bodies, turning their anger into action. The story examines how resentment can lead to chaotic outcomes when mixed with magical intervention. It offers a sharp critique of relationships and power dynamics through a lens of horror and humor.

Key Themes
body-swapping bloody vengeance African horror
Literary Context

The novel is set in Abuja, Nigeria, blending contemporary urban life with supernatural elements. Onoh draws on African horror traditions to explore themes of betrayal and revenge among women. The setting provides a backdrop for examining personal relationships and societal pressures within this specific cultural context.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Oyinkan Braithwaite · Bella Mackie
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Tantor 📅 2025 🌐 English 📔 MP3 CD ISBN: 9798228780729

📝 Description: Futility

Nuzo Onoh, recognized as the Queen of African Horror and a Bram Stoker Award recipient for Lifetime Achievement, presents Futility. This work targets readers who enjoyed My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite or How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie. The narrative follows two women betrayed by men in their lives who seek vengeance through a trickster spirit. Chia operates a top restaurant in Abuja, Nigeria, known for her beauty and hot pepper soup containing a secret ingredient. Claire, a fifty-year-old British woman residing in Abuja with her young Nigerian boyfriend and his cousin Shade, experiences jealousy that disrupts her organized life after visiting Chia’s establishment. The plot centers on body-swapping and bloody revenge driven by rage. The book suits those seeking dark comedy and supernatural fiction involving African horror traditions. It may not appeal to readers preferring traditional gothic settings or those uncomfortable with themes of betrayal and violence. Onoh uses these elements to create a gleeful tale of retribution.

💎 Our verdict on Futility

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Onoh delivers a darkly comic exploration of revenge, utilizing body-swapping as a mechanism for supernatural retaliation in Abuja. The narrative effectively juxtaposes Chia’s culinary prowess with Claire’s unraveling life, creating tension through their intersecting paths. By leveraging trickster spirit folklore, the author critiques relationship power dynamics with biting humor. This work suits readers who appreciate horror infused with satire and psychological depth. It avoids traditional gothic tropes in favor of a contemporary setting that feels immediate and visceral. The tone balances macabre events with comedic timing, making it accessible yet thought-provoking. Those comfortable with themes of betrayal and violence will find the story engaging and sharply written.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a sharp, satirical critique of power dynamics and toxic relationships will find this book particularly rewarding. It appeals to those who enjoy dark comedy mixed with supernatural elements, offering a unique perspective through African horror traditions. The story provides catharsis for audiences interested in themes of betrayal and vengeance, delivered with humor rather than pure dread. Fans of body-swap narratives or tales where societal expectations are subverted through magical intervention will appreciate the clever execution. It is ideal for readers who prefer character-driven plots that examine personal jealousy and resentment, allowing them to explore these heavy themes through a lens of gleeful retribution and chaotic outcomes.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Onoh delivers a darkly comic exploration of revenge, utilizing body-swapping as a mechanism for supernatural retaliation in Abuja. The narrative effectively juxtaposes Chia’s culinary prowess with Claire’s unraveling life, creating tension through their intersecting paths. By leveraging trickster spirit folklore, the author critiques relationship power dynamics with biting humor. This work suits readers who appreciate horror infused with satire and psychological depth. It avoids traditional gothic tropes in favor of a contemporary setting that feels immediate and visceral. The tone balances macabre events with comedic timing, making it accessible yet thought-provoking. Those comfortable with themes of betrayal and violence will find the story engaging and sharply written.

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