For readers of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister the Serial Killer and Bella Mackie’s How to Kill Your Family, this is a monstrous, gleeful, bitingly funny tale of murder, body-swapping and bloody vengeance from the recipient of the Bram Stoker Award® for Lifetime Achievement and ‘Queen of African Horror’.

Crackling with wit, this is a monstrous, gleeful, bitingly funny tale of murder, body-swapping and bloody vengeance from the recipient of the Bram Stoker Award ® for Lifetime Achievement and ‘Queen of African Horror’.

Betrayed by the men in their lives, two women seethe with rage and bitterness. When a trickster spirit offers them the gift of revenge, they cannot resist. 

Chia runs one of the best restaurants in Abuja, Nigeria, and is renowned among the male clientele for her captivating beauty and delicious hot pepper soup. But her hot pepper soup has a secret ingredient, and her beauty is not what it seems.

Claire is a 50 year-old British woman living in Abuja with her young Nigerian boyfriend and his beautiful cousin, Shadé. Consumed by jealousy and resentment, Claire’s carefully organised life spirals into chaos after a night out at Chia’s infamous restaurant.

BIO

Nuzo Onoh is a Nigerian-British writer of speculative fiction and pioneer of the African horror genre. Hailed as the ‘Queen of African Horror’, her narratives showcase both the beautiful and horrific in African culture. A Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, her works have featured in numerous magazines, podcasts, and anthologies.

REVIEWS

“Exhilarating twists and turns, artful moments of extreme gore, and a dose of revenge make this a fun, blood-spattered tale… Lush with folklore, body horror, and dark humor, this will leave readers both wincing and cackling.” -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Gleefully demented and simmering with such wit and verve, Futility by Nuzo Onoh is an unpredictable and fiercely inventive literary entrée centred around retribution and punishment. Onoh’s masterful prose is so unique, so captivating. She remains a singular voice in horror fiction, impossible to imitate.” -- Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke

“Vengeance has never been so thrilling. Feminist rage at its finest and so darkly funny you’ll laugh until your stomach hurts.” -- Neena Viel, author of Listen to Your Sister

“A dark and twisted tale permeated with African spirits and horror. Nuzo Onoh brings the vivid beauty of Nigerian folklore and culture to life, alongside chilling vengeance and justice rendered. This is one book I’ll be thinking about for a very long time.” -- Del Sandeen, author of This Cursed House

[P]  Titan Books  /  October 21, 2025

0.8" H x 7.8" L x 5.9" W (0.45 lbs) 288 pages