I’ve read several books by Nuzo Onoh, Queen of African Horror, and I’ve enjoyed them all. “Where the Dead Brides Gather” has been on my TBR list for over a year. When Jonny suggested it as a buddy read, I jumped at the chance.

11-year-old Bata lives in her family compound in a village in Nigeria in the 1970s. She lives with her mother, older sister Ada, her father’s second wife Ola, and Ola’s three sons (called collectively Ejima), as well as her distant father.

When Bata is possessed by a bride sentinel to save her cousin from an evil dead bride on the eve of her wedding, Bata’s life changes forever. While her abilities earn her new friends in death, it ostracises her from her family in life.

“Where the Dead Brides Gather” is a coming-of-age tale that deals with the dualities of life. Child and adult, truth and lies, educated and uneducated, town and country, men and women, Catholicism and paganism, dead brides and the living.

Bata is a believable innocent child. I loved how she idolised Ola, with her pancake face and shelves of Mills and Boon books. She is a prisoner of the whims of the adults in her life, as well as the pagan deities that use her to protect the dead brides. I found her relatable. Her relationship with her family, especially her father, was very well described. I felt for Bata, with her nightmares and terrifying experiences, never knowing if her father would send her away to be a servant in the city or be the apprentice of the village medicine-man.

Ola is perhaps the most complex character in the book. Educated in Lagos, and mother to triplet boys, her biggest contribution to the family is to look pretty. She has a great love-hate relationship with Ada. Ola’s influence over Bata – she calls Bata her ‘mini-me’ – and how their story intertwines is probably the heart of the book.

The writing style is simple, in keeping with the thoughts of Bata. There is some repetition, as Bata is frequently scared and upset – either by the preternatural things happening to her, or her fear of what her father will do to her because of the paranormal activity surrounding her. This made sense to me, given the character, but I know other readers found it annoying.

The story touches on many themes. I may be stretching here, but I think the main theme concerns Bata and Ola. Bata doesn’t want to be tied to protecting the traditions of her people, which is something Ola can’t escape, despite her education and longing to live in Lagos City.

The setting of 1970s Nigeria is well described. I felt I was sitting down at the food mat to eat with the family and sheltering from the sun with Bata in her bedroom. I loved the little aspects of family life that were so well described.

Part of the book takes place in the after life of Ibaja-La. Unfortunately, I didn’t relish that setting as much as Bata’s village. In fact, I almost stopped reading the book. However, I can see why Bata might be enamoured with Ibaja-La, even if I was not.

The book falls into three distinct parts. The beginning, which concerns Bata’s possession by the bride sentinel. The middle, where Bata travels to Ibaja-La. And the last part, where Bata returns to her family.

The pacing is very different in each part, almost as if they were three separate stories. The opening is exciting, scary, and action packed. It lives up to the author’s other horror books. Ibaja-La is a more fantastical setting, and the pace is much slower. Bata’s experiences there feel like it is an interlude from a book for much younger readers. The final part of the book continues the more languid pace. It is more a coming-of-age family drama, with some fantasy elements.

I felt for Bata and her misfortunes, but I found the book changed directions too many times for me to form an emotional connection with her or any of the characters.

I loved the beginning of the book, the 1970s Nigerian setting, and the elements of folklore.

Unfortunately, the journey to Ibaja-La almost made me DNF, and the rest of the book was so far from my expectations of a Nuzo Onoh horror book that I found it unsatisfying.

If you are looking for a Nigerian set horror novel, I would recommend “The Sleepless” or “Futility” by the same author.

One response to “Book Review: Where the Dead Brides Gather by Nuzo Onoh”Valinora TroyNovember 19, 2025

Great review! What a shame it was so disjointed! The themes sound great. Definitely interested in a Nigerian horror that you recommend, so I will check them out. Thanks for sharing!

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