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Futility

Author Nuzo Onoh
Ebook (EPUB)
Titan | Titan Books
On sale Oct 21, 2025 | 288 Pages | 9781835414293
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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.
Praise for Futility:


“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


"An in-your-face story bursting with feminist rage... Amid the grimly humorous goop, gore, and murder, Onoh forces readers to think about how badly people often treat each other."
Library Journal


"A dark and witty tale that blends fun and substance for an entertaining read"
Grimdark Magazine


“You won’t read anything quite like Futility this year, with plenty of gore, laughs and foul-mouthed vengeance to fill a year’s worth of reading."
Bloody Flicks


“Futility is a bold, inventive, and utterly engaging novel. It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys their horror smart, culturally rich, and darkly humorous.”
Ginger Nuts of Horror


“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


“A total blast, a twisted original full of curses and sacrifice, and two women you absolutely do not want to piss off! Revenge is anything but sweet when magic and blood rituals are involved. If you’re looking for a horror story you haven’t read before, start right here!”
Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Birds and Road of Bones


“A visceral descent into the grotesque underbelly of desire, power, and ancestral wrath. Onoh conjures a story as culturally rich as it is deliciously depraved.”
Lindy Ryan, author of Bless Your Heart


“One of the best in the business! No one writes like Onoh, and this one ranks among her best.”
Brian Bowyer, Splatterpunk Award-nominated and Godless Award-winning author of Old Too Soon and Crazy Like You
Nuzo Onoh is an award-winning Nigerian-British writer of Igbo descent. She is a pioneer of the African horror literary genre. Hailed as the "Queen of African Horror”, Nuzo’s writing showcases both the beautiful and horrific in the African culture within fictitious narratives. Nuzo’s works have featured in numerous magazines and anthologies. She has given talks and lectures about African Horror, including at the prestigious Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, London. She has also appeared on many radio shows and podcasts, including BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. Her works have appeared in academic studies and been longlisted and shortlisted. She is a Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Nuzo holds a Law degree and Masters degree in Writing, both from Warwick University, England. She is a certified Civil Funeral Celebrant, licensed to conduct non-religious burial services. An avid musician with an addiction to Jungyup and K-indie, Nuzo plays both the guitar and piano, and holds an NVQ in Digital Music Production. She resides in the West Midlands, United Kingdom.
Nuzo Onoh View titles by Nuzo Onoh

About

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.

Reviews

Praise for Futility:


“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


"An in-your-face story bursting with feminist rage... Amid the grimly humorous goop, gore, and murder, Onoh forces readers to think about how badly people often treat each other."
Library Journal


"A dark and witty tale that blends fun and substance for an entertaining read"
Grimdark Magazine


“You won’t read anything quite like Futility this year, with plenty of gore, laughs and foul-mouthed vengeance to fill a year’s worth of reading."
Bloody Flicks


“Futility is a bold, inventive, and utterly engaging novel. It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys their horror smart, culturally rich, and darkly humorous.”
Ginger Nuts of Horror


“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


“A total blast, a twisted original full of curses and sacrifice, and two women you absolutely do not want to piss off! Revenge is anything but sweet when magic and blood rituals are involved. If you’re looking for a horror story you haven’t read before, start right here!”
Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Birds and Road of Bones


“A visceral descent into the grotesque underbelly of desire, power, and ancestral wrath. Onoh conjures a story as culturally rich as it is deliciously depraved.”
Lindy Ryan, author of Bless Your Heart


“One of the best in the business! No one writes like Onoh, and this one ranks among her best.”
Brian Bowyer, Splatterpunk Award-nominated and Godless Award-winning author of Old Too Soon and Crazy Like You

Author

Nuzo Onoh is an award-winning Nigerian-British writer of Igbo descent. She is a pioneer of the African horror literary genre. Hailed as the "Queen of African Horror”, Nuzo’s writing showcases both the beautiful and horrific in the African culture within fictitious narratives. Nuzo’s works have featured in numerous magazines and anthologies. She has given talks and lectures about African Horror, including at the prestigious Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, London. She has also appeared on many radio shows and podcasts, including BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. Her works have appeared in academic studies and been longlisted and shortlisted. She is a Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Nuzo holds a Law degree and Masters degree in Writing, both from Warwick University, England. She is a certified Civil Funeral Celebrant, licensed to conduct non-religious burial services. An avid musician with an addiction to Jungyup and K-indie, Nuzo plays both the guitar and piano, and holds an NVQ in Digital Music Production. She resides in the West Midlands, United Kingdom.
Nuzo Onoh View titles by Nuzo Onoh

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