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Where the Dead Brides Gather
A powerful Nigeria-set tale of possession, malevolent ghosts, family tensions, secrets and murder from the recipient of the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement and 'Queen of African Horror'.
Bata, an eleven-year-old girl tormented by nightmares, wakes up one night to find herself standing sentinel before her cousin's door. Her skin, hair, and eyes have turned a dazzling white colour, which even the medicine-man can't heal. Her cousin is to get married the next morning, but only if she can escape the murderous attack of a ghost-bride, who used to be engaged to her groom.
Through the night, Bata battles the vengeful ghost and finally vanquishes it before collapsing. On awakening, she has no recollection of the events. And when the medicine-man tries to exorcise the entities clinging to her body as a result of her supernatural possession, Bata dies on the exorcism mat. There begins her journey. She is taken into Ibaja-La, the realm of dead brides, by Mmuọ-Ka-Mmuọ, the ghost-collector of the spirit realm. There she meets the ghosts of brides from every culture who died tragically before their weddings; both the kind and the malevolent. Bata is given secret powers to fight the evil ghost-brides before being sent back to the human realm, where she must learn to harness her new abilities as she strives to protect those whom she loves.
Bata, an eleven-year-old girl tormented by nightmares, wakes up one night to find herself standing sentinel before her cousin's door. Her skin, hair, and eyes have turned a dazzling white colour, which even the medicine-man can't heal. Her cousin is to get married the next morning, but only if she can escape the murderous attack of a ghost-bride, who used to be engaged to her groom.
Through the night, Bata battles the vengeful ghost and finally vanquishes it before collapsing. On awakening, she has no recollection of the events. And when the medicine-man tries to exorcise the entities clinging to her body as a result of her supernatural possession, Bata dies on the exorcism mat. There begins her journey. She is taken into Ibaja-La, the realm of dead brides, by Mmuọ-Ka-Mmuọ, the ghost-collector of the spirit realm. There she meets the ghosts of brides from every culture who died tragically before their weddings; both the kind and the malevolent. Bata is given secret powers to fight the evil ghost-brides before being sent back to the human realm, where she must learn to harness her new abilities as she strives to protect those whom she loves.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published October 22, 2024
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March 5, 2025
If you’re an avid horror reader and haven’t read African-set horror before, then you need to get onto it. Nuzo Onoh has been dubbed the Queen of African Horror and Where the Dead Brides Gather proves why.
My much younger self tried to watch The Exorcist movie, but I got freaked the hell out and noped out of there fast. And since then, I’ve kinda given most exorcism and supernatural possession horror stories a wide berth. However, this one I could handle. And I loved it.
Because it’s told from the perspective of Bata, a 10-year-old girl who brings innocence, levity and a bit of cheek to a tale that could otherwise be terrifying. And at first, I thought, Oh, okay, light horror-fantasy. A little eerie, but manageable.
But don’t let Bata’s young age fool you. The darkness creeps in fast. Family secrets. Corruption. Supernatural horror. Trigger warnings galore (which I’ll list at the end because you’ll need them).
So, what’s Bata’s deal? Well, after falling into a ravine as a kid, she had something akin to a near-death experience (NDE) and since then, she’s been plagued by horrifying night terrors.
Bad news: The malignant ghosts she sees in her nightmares are very real.
Good news: Now, she can see and fight evil ghost brides: spirits of women who died before their weddings and are pissed about it. Think Scott Pilgrim vs. the World vibes, but instead of evil exes, we’ve got homicidal, undead brides who have pent-up wedding rage and malevolent intentions. And Bata is the only one who can stop them.
But that’s just the beginning of events. Her training to fully realise her evil dead bride slaying skills takes her to Ibaja-La, the most lush, diverse world where the spirits of the unwed dead gather. And I know they’re all technically dead, but the representation here is stunning and the descriptions are opulent. Every culture’s version of a bride gets a seat at the table, as well as male-male bride representation.
But this book isn’t just about spectral wedding drama, it’s also a tale of family tension, secrets, betrayals, corruption and lies. It’s about power, gender double standards (which made me shake my fist at the patriarchy, y'all know I love doing that) and the way society treats women. The adults in this story are a mess. But in a complex, morally grey way, where you’ll see the layers. Even the dead brides aren’t just plot devices, they each have a backstory that makes them feel nuanced, and not caricatures or generalisations. I love the themes of real family and found family in this one too, and the reveals satisfied my twist-loving heart.
The ending was perfection. It sticks the landing with a slightly campy, yet very satisfying flair plus a heart-warming epilogue.
This is highly original, unsettling, twisted, fun horror-fantasy brimming with Nigerian culture that was the perfect shake-up to my reading list. Highly recommend!
My heartfelt thanks to Ms. Nuzo Onoh for reaching out and sending me a review copy. I’m in awe and can’t wait to see what she does next!
Trigger warnings I caught: Animal cruelty, animal death, murder, gore, supernatural possession, physical abuse, emotional abuse, mental illness, suicide, abortion, teenage death (off-page/mentioned), pregnancy
♦️♦️♦️
Nigeria-set horror with murder and evil dead brides? Love that for me.
My heartfelt thanks to Ms. Nuzo Onoh for reaching out and sending me a review copy.
My much younger self tried to watch The Exorcist movie, but I got freaked the hell out and noped out of there fast. And since then, I’ve kinda given most exorcism and supernatural possession horror stories a wide berth. However, this one I could handle. And I loved it.
Because it’s told from the perspective of Bata, a 10-year-old girl who brings innocence, levity and a bit of cheek to a tale that could otherwise be terrifying. And at first, I thought, Oh, okay, light horror-fantasy. A little eerie, but manageable.
But don’t let Bata’s young age fool you. The darkness creeps in fast. Family secrets. Corruption. Supernatural horror. Trigger warnings galore (which I’ll list at the end because you’ll need them).
So, what’s Bata’s deal? Well, after falling into a ravine as a kid, she had something akin to a near-death experience (NDE) and since then, she’s been plagued by horrifying night terrors.
Bad news: The malignant ghosts she sees in her nightmares are very real.
Good news: Now, she can see and fight evil ghost brides: spirits of women who died before their weddings and are pissed about it. Think Scott Pilgrim vs. the World vibes, but instead of evil exes, we’ve got homicidal, undead brides who have pent-up wedding rage and malevolent intentions. And Bata is the only one who can stop them.
But that’s just the beginning of events. Her training to fully realise her evil dead bride slaying skills takes her to Ibaja-La, the most lush, diverse world where the spirits of the unwed dead gather. And I know they’re all technically dead, but the representation here is stunning and the descriptions are opulent. Every culture’s version of a bride gets a seat at the table, as well as male-male bride representation.
But this book isn’t just about spectral wedding drama, it’s also a tale of family tension, secrets, betrayals, corruption and lies. It’s about power, gender double standards (which made me shake my fist at the patriarchy, y'all know I love doing that) and the way society treats women. The adults in this story are a mess. But in a complex, morally grey way, where you’ll see the layers. Even the dead brides aren’t just plot devices, they each have a backstory that makes them feel nuanced, and not caricatures or generalisations. I love the themes of real family and found family in this one too, and the reveals satisfied my twist-loving heart.
The ending was perfection. It sticks the landing with a slightly campy, yet very satisfying flair plus a heart-warming epilogue.
This is highly original, unsettling, twisted, fun horror-fantasy brimming with Nigerian culture that was the perfect shake-up to my reading list. Highly recommend!
My heartfelt thanks to Ms. Nuzo Onoh for reaching out and sending me a review copy. I’m in awe and can’t wait to see what she does next!
Trigger warnings I caught: Animal cruelty, animal death, murder, gore, supernatural possession, physical abuse, emotional abuse, mental illness, suicide, abortion, teenage death (off-page/mentioned), pregnancy
♦️♦️♦️
Nigeria-set horror with murder and evil dead brides? Love that for me.
My heartfelt thanks to Ms. Nuzo Onoh for reaching out and sending me a review copy.
December 4, 2024
On the verge of her cousin Keziah's marriage, Bata, a girl who lives in a small Nigerian town with her family, has a kind of episode during which she steps into another dimension and, dressed as an awesome warrior-bride, kicks the ass of an evil ghost bride, who apparently formerly was engaged to her cousin's groom.
See, Bata has been different all her life, suffering from nightmares which keep the whole household awake - and make them resent her a little bit. Before she is subjected to an exorcism by the town's medicine man Dibia, she is snatched by a magnificient spirit who takes her to Ibaja La, the land of ghost brides, and informs her that she is a sort of chosen-one, and she has a paranormal mission she needs to fulfill as a Bride-Sentinel. Of course, for a ten year old girl coming from a family in which things are less than ideal, a household divided into itself, a house in which she always has been the odd one, to arrive in a sort of wonderland of young women in love wearing the most beautiful dresses and wedding cake galore, is a sort of dream. The question is, is a child is up to this task?
I'm not lying when I say that I haven't read anything quite like this book before. There were so many unconventional facets, so much food for thought to this novel, and so genuinely terrifying ghost descriptions that of course it got me completely and immediately immersed.
For me, the setting, a small town in Nigeria, and everything that entails, was equally, if not more compelling than reading about Ibaja La. The family structure and the way the women of the house arranged their lives under the circumstances, the way language and the way people refer to each other reflects their reality in a way that makes absolute sense (like referring to triplet brothers as one entity, Ejima), rice plates with goat meat and Fanta and peanuts, the mix of religions, from the Church of Christianity to local pagan religions with medicine men and masks - Where the Dead Brides Gather offers a true clash of traditions. I absolutely love that Nuzo Onoh takes a kaleidoscopic approach especially in terms of religion and shows the complexities of each side, although it is quite obvious which way Bata will go, at least for me it was.
And that takes us to another interesting point, which was that this book features a main character who is a child, and actually acts like a child. In parts, I really just wanted to console little Bata, because everything happening would be so overwhelming for anyone, let alone a child. I really appreciate an author finally not writing about a child like they're some kind of mini adult, so the course of the book, and the shift of the focal point to another character later in the story one hundred percent makes sense.
On a final note, I can't pass by without mentioning the wonderful humor of Onoh which made me chuckle and even laugh out loud many times, such as at the mention of "the German success walk", which is the kind of fast walk a man from her village has adapted when he went to Germany to study and become an engineer, and all the town trying to imitate him, but struggling, because people are used to walk in a much more relaxed way, hah!
I can't wait to see if there will be a sequel, as Bata, as a main character was a little young for my personal taste, but I'll be totally up to keep reading what happens in later stages, even though the reader knows at the end of the book where her life leads her. I really enjoyed reading about the always hungry Ejima too, I thought especially the younger characters, along with step mother Ọla were very vividly, convincingly painted. I absolutely adored the spectacular battle scenes which were so kick-ass!
My thanks go to Ms. Nuzo Onoh for reaching out and sending me a review copy. You have won a fan in me!
See, Bata has been different all her life, suffering from nightmares which keep the whole household awake - and make them resent her a little bit. Before she is subjected to an exorcism by the town's medicine man Dibia, she is snatched by a magnificient spirit who takes her to Ibaja La, the land of ghost brides, and informs her that she is a sort of chosen-one, and she has a paranormal mission she needs to fulfill as a Bride-Sentinel. Of course, for a ten year old girl coming from a family in which things are less than ideal, a household divided into itself, a house in which she always has been the odd one, to arrive in a sort of wonderland of young women in love wearing the most beautiful dresses and wedding cake galore, is a sort of dream. The question is, is a child is up to this task?
I'm not lying when I say that I haven't read anything quite like this book before. There were so many unconventional facets, so much food for thought to this novel, and so genuinely terrifying ghost descriptions that of course it got me completely and immediately immersed.
For me, the setting, a small town in Nigeria, and everything that entails, was equally, if not more compelling than reading about Ibaja La. The family structure and the way the women of the house arranged their lives under the circumstances, the way language and the way people refer to each other reflects their reality in a way that makes absolute sense (like referring to triplet brothers as one entity, Ejima), rice plates with goat meat and Fanta and peanuts, the mix of religions, from the Church of Christianity to local pagan religions with medicine men and masks - Where the Dead Brides Gather offers a true clash of traditions. I absolutely love that Nuzo Onoh takes a kaleidoscopic approach especially in terms of religion and shows the complexities of each side, although it is quite obvious which way Bata will go, at least for me it was.
And that takes us to another interesting point, which was that this book features a main character who is a child, and actually acts like a child. In parts, I really just wanted to console little Bata, because everything happening would be so overwhelming for anyone, let alone a child. I really appreciate an author finally not writing about a child like they're some kind of mini adult, so the course of the book, and the shift of the focal point to another character later in the story one hundred percent makes sense.
On a final note, I can't pass by without mentioning the wonderful humor of Onoh which made me chuckle and even laugh out loud many times, such as at the mention of "the German success walk", which is the kind of fast walk a man from her village has adapted when he went to Germany to study and become an engineer, and all the town trying to imitate him, but struggling, because people are used to walk in a much more relaxed way, hah!
I can't wait to see if there will be a sequel, as Bata, as a main character was a little young for my personal taste, but I'll be totally up to keep reading what happens in later stages, even though the reader knows at the end of the book where her life leads her. I really enjoyed reading about the always hungry Ejima too, I thought especially the younger characters, along with step mother Ọla were very vividly, convincingly painted. I absolutely adored the spectacular battle scenes which were so kick-ass!
My thanks go to Ms. Nuzo Onoh for reaching out and sending me a review copy. You have won a fan in me!
April 16, 2025
African horror is a breath of fresh air as it doesn't draw on the same genre conventions as American horror, so everything is surprising and new. This story of a young girl getting mixed up with supernatural deities is no different. What I felt was interesting was that the horror was not only supernatural in origin. The protagonist is constantly in fear of her family members and members of the community to the point that the supernatural world is more comforting at times.
September 15, 2024
3.5 Stars
I always love finding horror stories written from different perspectives so I was very excited to learn about this one. I typically love possession stories but can struggle with
ghost stories. I liked this one but wished I had been more engrossed. Personally, I think it would have worked better as a novella because I found that this novel went on too long for my tastes.
I would still recommend it to horror readers looking to experience a story from a different perspective.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I always love finding horror stories written from different perspectives so I was very excited to learn about this one. I typically love possession stories but can struggle with
ghost stories. I liked this one but wished I had been more engrossed. Personally, I think it would have worked better as a novella because I found that this novel went on too long for my tastes.
I would still recommend it to horror readers looking to experience a story from a different perspective.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
September 9, 2024
ARC for review. To be published October 22, 2024.
I had not heard of this author, despite the fact she is apparently well known, winner of the Bram Stoker award for Lifetime Achievement and known as the “Queen of African Horror.” This wonderful book is set in Nigeria and gives an interesting mix of Catholicism/folk traditions and supernatural horrors particular to women, as well as small looks at both traditional and worldly aspects of village life (for example, Bata’s father has a television, but there is seldom any electricity in the village to run it.).
Bata, who is ten, has terrible nightmares, and she wanders in her sleep. One morning she wakes up apparently standing guard in front of her cousin Keziah’s bedroom door; Keziah is to be married to a rich man in the morning, but first she has to escape an attack by a ghost-bride who used to be engaged to Bongo, her groom.
Bata becomes possessed and manages to defeat the ghost-bride. Her family attempts an exorcism at the hands of Dibia, the local witch doctor, but a powerful spirit intervenes and she is sent to Ibaja-La, the realm of the ghost-brides where she resides for a time and where she re wives secret powers to defeat them. She is then sent back to the human world to defend her family.
I wasn’t sure I would like this book; it seemed to skew hard into fantasy which is not a genre that is usually for me, but I loved it. The author showed how Nigeria is changing, even for women (how lucky that Dibia intervened so quickly and saw exactly what Bata’s powers were/could be. Otherwise she might have been sent away and in earlier days would likely have suffered a worse fate.).
Even still, Bata’s road is not an easy one. When she is not in the wonderful Ibaja-La she is generally being ostracized by her family. The chief’s daughter will be shamed for what has befallen her even though it was not of her doing. The hose who commit infidelity suffer greatly. But overall I loved the book and would like to read more from this author. Highly recommended.
I had not heard of this author, despite the fact she is apparently well known, winner of the Bram Stoker award for Lifetime Achievement and known as the “Queen of African Horror.” This wonderful book is set in Nigeria and gives an interesting mix of Catholicism/folk traditions and supernatural horrors particular to women, as well as small looks at both traditional and worldly aspects of village life (for example, Bata’s father has a television, but there is seldom any electricity in the village to run it.).
Bata, who is ten, has terrible nightmares, and she wanders in her sleep. One morning she wakes up apparently standing guard in front of her cousin Keziah’s bedroom door; Keziah is to be married to a rich man in the morning, but first she has to escape an attack by a ghost-bride who used to be engaged to Bongo, her groom.
Bata becomes possessed and manages to defeat the ghost-bride. Her family attempts an exorcism at the hands of Dibia, the local witch doctor, but a powerful spirit intervenes and she is sent to Ibaja-La, the realm of the ghost-brides where she resides for a time and where she re wives secret powers to defeat them. She is then sent back to the human world to defend her family.
I wasn’t sure I would like this book; it seemed to skew hard into fantasy which is not a genre that is usually for me, but I loved it. The author showed how Nigeria is changing, even for women (how lucky that Dibia intervened so quickly and saw exactly what Bata’s powers were/could be. Otherwise she might have been sent away and in earlier days would likely have suffered a worse fate.).
Even still, Bata’s road is not an easy one. When she is not in the wonderful Ibaja-La she is generally being ostracized by her family. The chief’s daughter will be shamed for what has befallen her even though it was not of her doing. The hose who commit infidelity suffer greatly. But overall I loved the book and would like to read more from this author. Highly recommended.
October 4, 2024
Review in the October 2024 issue of Library Journal
Three Words That Describe This Book: Strong sense of place, women power, folklore
Draft Review:
Bata is a typical 10 year old in her village outside Lagos living with her father, his two wives, and her siblings. Typical, that is, until the evening before her cousin gets married when Bata wakes from a nightmare, has turned completely white, and grows to an impossible height all to fight off the evil ghost bride who is trying to destroy her cousin. The next morning, Bata is tired, but has no recollection of what happened. Now a Bride-Sentinel, possessed with the power to protect brides from harm, Bata is sent to the magical land of the Ghost Brides to learn their ways and hone her own powers. When Bata returns, she is confused, caught between her old life as an overlooked little sister and her new place as a powerful, otherworldly being, tasked with protecting her family, even when doing so is dangerous to herself and those she loves. Based on the lore of the ghost bride, a figure that appears in cultures across the globe*, Onoh crafts a moving, creepy and gripping tale that will hold readers rapt with its beauty, imagination, and hopeful message.
Verdict: This dark allegory about the power inside young women no matter where they come from or how insignificant they appear, will delight fans of dark fantasy-horror blends such as In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran or The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. It also makes for a fascinating companion read when paired with the critically acclaimed Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw.
This is a Nigerian set dark fantasy based on the folklore of the ghost-bride. Bata is 10-11 during the bulk of the story. She is the narrator of the book. It opens giving readers quickly glimpse into Bata's world during a pivotal moment- the evening before her cousin is about to married-- Bata turns white all over, grows to an enormous size, and fights off the evil ghost bride sent to destroy her cousin and her marriage.
Shocking everyone, Bata has very little recognition of what she did or how she did it, but the local medicine man helps understand that she has become a powerful bride-sentinel, possessed with supernatural powers to protect brides from harm. He send her to visit the world of the ghost brides, where she meets ghosts brides from all over the world and is trained to be the great powerful bride sentinel she is destined to become.
The parts of the book in the world of the ghost brides were very cool. It allows the story to go from being very much centered on a village outside of Lagos, expanding it to be about brides all over the world. The female empowerment as Bata figures it out was a great addition to the story.
And then when she returns, Bata is forced to work out complicated family drama and betrayal, but with a new understanding. She must complete her work before she can be let go of the spell and allowed to begin living for herself.
Again, while it is very much a narrow story about Bata, clearly there is a larger point here about the power inside even young girl. It will be a struggle to grab it and use it to make something of yourself, but you can do it. Maybe you don't have to fight evil spirits and be trained by the elder ghost brides, but it can still feel like you need super powers to get there. Onoh's dark fantasy provides the strength for its readers to fight for themselves and the women around them.
Readalikes-- Tobi Ogundiran is one of my favorite new voices to come out of Nigerian Horror and dark fantasy and his novel In the Shadow of the Fall is a great readalike here. Fans of the dark fantasy-horror The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo will also like this. It would also pair very well with Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Strong sense of place, women power, folklore
Draft Review:
Bata is a typical 10 year old in her village outside Lagos living with her father, his two wives, and her siblings. Typical, that is, until the evening before her cousin gets married when Bata wakes from a nightmare, has turned completely white, and grows to an impossible height all to fight off the evil ghost bride who is trying to destroy her cousin. The next morning, Bata is tired, but has no recollection of what happened. Now a Bride-Sentinel, possessed with the power to protect brides from harm, Bata is sent to the magical land of the Ghost Brides to learn their ways and hone her own powers. When Bata returns, she is confused, caught between her old life as an overlooked little sister and her new place as a powerful, otherworldly being, tasked with protecting her family, even when doing so is dangerous to herself and those she loves. Based on the lore of the ghost bride, a figure that appears in cultures across the globe*, Onoh crafts a moving, creepy and gripping tale that will hold readers rapt with its beauty, imagination, and hopeful message.
Verdict: This dark allegory about the power inside young women no matter where they come from or how insignificant they appear, will delight fans of dark fantasy-horror blends such as In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran or The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. It also makes for a fascinating companion read when paired with the critically acclaimed Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw.
This is a Nigerian set dark fantasy based on the folklore of the ghost-bride. Bata is 10-11 during the bulk of the story. She is the narrator of the book. It opens giving readers quickly glimpse into Bata's world during a pivotal moment- the evening before her cousin is about to married-- Bata turns white all over, grows to an enormous size, and fights off the evil ghost bride sent to destroy her cousin and her marriage.
Shocking everyone, Bata has very little recognition of what she did or how she did it, but the local medicine man helps understand that she has become a powerful bride-sentinel, possessed with supernatural powers to protect brides from harm. He send her to visit the world of the ghost brides, where she meets ghosts brides from all over the world and is trained to be the great powerful bride sentinel she is destined to become.
The parts of the book in the world of the ghost brides were very cool. It allows the story to go from being very much centered on a village outside of Lagos, expanding it to be about brides all over the world. The female empowerment as Bata figures it out was a great addition to the story.
And then when she returns, Bata is forced to work out complicated family drama and betrayal, but with a new understanding. She must complete her work before she can be let go of the spell and allowed to begin living for herself.
Again, while it is very much a narrow story about Bata, clearly there is a larger point here about the power inside even young girl. It will be a struggle to grab it and use it to make something of yourself, but you can do it. Maybe you don't have to fight evil spirits and be trained by the elder ghost brides, but it can still feel like you need super powers to get there. Onoh's dark fantasy provides the strength for its readers to fight for themselves and the women around them.
Readalikes-- Tobi Ogundiran is one of my favorite new voices to come out of Nigerian Horror and dark fantasy and his novel In the Shadow of the Fall is a great readalike here. Fans of the dark fantasy-horror The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo will also like this. It would also pair very well with Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw.
July 25, 2025
Rounded up to 4 stars on the strength of the audiobook's narrator.
Set in the 1970s, in rural Nigeria, Bata is plagued with night terrors. At 10 years old, she wants nothing more than to be as beautiful and educated as her father's second wife. She fears though, that her troublesome behaviour at night will eventually enrage her father enough to follow through on his threat to send Bata away. To hire her out as a maid to a wealthy, big city family. At her cousin's wedding, Bata goes through a horrifying transformation that turns her pure white, and stretches her body to be longer and wider than their family home. She is thrust into brutal combat with a malevolent entity intent on harming the bride-to-be. It is the creature from Bata's nightmares: not a figment of her imagination, but an evil ghost bride seeking vengeance.
When listening to this, I was struck at how different it is to be the 10 year old protagonist of a middle grade book vs an adult horror. Although Bata gets some of the fantasy staples thrown her way: she's the specialest chosen one, she's also completely without agency to do anything independent of the adults in her life. She only knows one 'swear' word, Oh Mother Mary, and she runs it into the ground. Much like the kid in Josh Malerman's Incidents Around The House, this is a story that happens to Bata, one she endures, not one she drives.
What I liked about the child POV is the raw honesty you get with kids. Bata has no frame of reference for the society she is growing up in. She doesn't try to justify or explain the infuriating double standards at play because to her they just are. The narrative presents us with Bata's reality. It's a reality where men who do bad things are rarely punished. Many prosper. As the bride sentinel says, it is not her place to punish the groom. That is not her role. But it left me unsatisfied.
Set in the 1970s, in rural Nigeria, Bata is plagued with night terrors. At 10 years old, she wants nothing more than to be as beautiful and educated as her father's second wife. She fears though, that her troublesome behaviour at night will eventually enrage her father enough to follow through on his threat to send Bata away. To hire her out as a maid to a wealthy, big city family. At her cousin's wedding, Bata goes through a horrifying transformation that turns her pure white, and stretches her body to be longer and wider than their family home. She is thrust into brutal combat with a malevolent entity intent on harming the bride-to-be. It is the creature from Bata's nightmares: not a figment of her imagination, but an evil ghost bride seeking vengeance.
When listening to this, I was struck at how different it is to be the 10 year old protagonist of a middle grade book vs an adult horror. Although Bata gets some of the fantasy staples thrown her way: she's the specialest chosen one, she's also completely without agency to do anything independent of the adults in her life. She only knows one 'swear' word, Oh Mother Mary, and she runs it into the ground. Much like the kid in Josh Malerman's Incidents Around The House, this is a story that happens to Bata, one she endures, not one she drives.
What I liked about the child POV is the raw honesty you get with kids. Bata has no frame of reference for the society she is growing up in. She doesn't try to justify or explain the infuriating double standards at play because to her they just are. The narrative presents us with Bata's reality. It's a reality where men who do bad things are rarely punished. Many prosper. As the bride sentinel says, it is not her place to punish the groom. That is not her role. But it left me unsatisfied.
October 20, 2024
This Nigerian-set fantasy-horror started full-throttle and (almost) did not stop. Eleven-year-old Bata is horrified to discover that, after a possession earlier in her childhood, she has become the Bride-Sentinel: her job is to stop evil ghost-brides attacking women on the eve of their weddings. But when her powers overwhelm her, the local medicine man sends her spirit on a sojourn to the realm of dead brides, Ibaja-La, where Mmuọ-Ka-Mmuọ, who collects the ghosts of ghosts, will help her to fight the ghost-brides.
I hoped Nuzo Onoh's Where The Dead Brides Gather might be a little like Zen Cho's brilliant 'The Terra-Cotta Bride', and it does have that same edge of absurd humour, in places, as it deliberately embraces melodrama. I especially enjoyed a manifestation of fiery, flying geladas [a type of baboon] to which the villagers react in chorus: 'People gathered outside, staring with horror at the band of gurgling, glowing baboons whirling over our house in their diabolical flight... "How in God's heaven can baboons fly? This is evil sorcery beyond human powers. Oh, Jesus!"'. The voice, however, often did not land for me; Bata is written as very young for her age, and her internal monologue can be grating. The baboon scene would have been even funnier if Bata was able to regard the villagers with a level head, but she's always in the same register ('Oh, my cursed luck! I know this foul smell!')
The weakest section of the novel ended up being the one I was most looking forward to: Ibaja-La. Unlike Cho's brilliant tongue-in-cheek portrait of the Chinese afterlife, Ibaja-La just seemed silly to me, full of frothy fake weddings and dumb brides, and it's where the book veers into feeling most like children's fiction (though it's definitely not). I didn't feel truly engaged by Where The Dead Brides Gather until Bata returns from Ibaja-La and is drawn into the centre of a family conflict when she realises, to her dismay, that she can now read minds. But this new power - which ends up being the key driver of the book - feels only very tenuously linked to the ghost-bride material. Having said all this, though, I'd rather read an exuberant mess than yet another bland soulless cookie-cutter novel, and this definitely delivers. 3.5 stars.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
I hoped Nuzo Onoh's Where The Dead Brides Gather might be a little like Zen Cho's brilliant 'The Terra-Cotta Bride', and it does have that same edge of absurd humour, in places, as it deliberately embraces melodrama. I especially enjoyed a manifestation of fiery, flying geladas [a type of baboon] to which the villagers react in chorus: 'People gathered outside, staring with horror at the band of gurgling, glowing baboons whirling over our house in their diabolical flight... "How in God's heaven can baboons fly? This is evil sorcery beyond human powers. Oh, Jesus!"'. The voice, however, often did not land for me; Bata is written as very young for her age, and her internal monologue can be grating. The baboon scene would have been even funnier if Bata was able to regard the villagers with a level head, but she's always in the same register ('Oh, my cursed luck! I know this foul smell!')
The weakest section of the novel ended up being the one I was most looking forward to: Ibaja-La. Unlike Cho's brilliant tongue-in-cheek portrait of the Chinese afterlife, Ibaja-La just seemed silly to me, full of frothy fake weddings and dumb brides, and it's where the book veers into feeling most like children's fiction (though it's definitely not). I didn't feel truly engaged by Where The Dead Brides Gather until Bata returns from Ibaja-La and is drawn into the centre of a family conflict when she realises, to her dismay, that she can now read minds. But this new power - which ends up being the key driver of the book - feels only very tenuously linked to the ghost-bride material. Having said all this, though, I'd rather read an exuberant mess than yet another bland soulless cookie-cutter novel, and this definitely delivers. 3.5 stars.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
August 18, 2024
I absolutely adore dark fantasy and this story with its roots in African folklore was unlike anything I've ever read before. I love those books that spur you to research- to better understand the roots of the story. "Where the Dead Brides Gather" follows Bata an eleven year-old girl from a small village. We watch as she discovers she has the powers of a 'bride sentinel' which is essentially a protector to brides from the vengeful spirits of 'ghost brides.' The story was ride with haunting imagery and a truly fascinating progression.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy dark folklore such as Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy dark folklore such as Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid.
October 26, 2024
Nuzo Rules!
I'm a huge Onoh fan, and with this dazzling novel, the Queen of African Horror delivers possibly her best work yet. WHERE THE DEAD BRIDES GATHER is simply brilliant, filled with haunting imagery and otherworldly terrors that will linger somewhere in my mind forever. Highly recommended to all fans of great horror and amazing fiction!
I'm a huge Onoh fan, and with this dazzling novel, the Queen of African Horror delivers possibly her best work yet. WHERE THE DEAD BRIDES GATHER is simply brilliant, filled with haunting imagery and otherworldly terrors that will linger somewhere in my mind forever. Highly recommended to all fans of great horror and amazing fiction!
October 22, 2024
Review originally on JamReads
Where the Dead Brides Gather is an African horror novel, written by Nuzo Onoh, and published by Titan Books. A powerful story that mixes together Nigerian traditions and Catholicism, in a story that accurately portrays the eclectic contrast between traditional and modern aspects of life in the village, all woven around a supernatural horror that affects to women.
Bata, a ten-year-old girl, experience terrible nightmares, and wanders in her sleep; one night, she wakes up standing in front of her cousin Kezia's bedroom door, who is to be married the next morning. However, a ghost-bride is to attack Kezia; Bata is possessed and defeats the ghost-bride. The family, fearing for the worse, takes Bata to be exorcised by Dibia, a local witch doctor; but a spirit intervenes and takes her to Ibaja-la, the realm of ghost-brides, where she resides for a time and is given some powers to use in her new role as Bride Sentinel, meant to protect brides from those dangerous ghost-brides. Upon returning to the world, she's meant to protect her family, but at the same time, she will experience the cold disdain from many of her relatives, ostracising her in a Nigeria still rooted on tradition.
Bata's journey is not an easy one, and Ozoh chooses to represent it by using Bata's own voice as the narrative one; the reader can feel the struggles and the doubts experienced by her, and how she's afraid of losing those that she appreciates as a consequence of a condition she didn't ask to suffer. As a young girl, we can also see her naivety and how that will put her into a complicated situation at Ibaja-la; overall, Ozoh's characterization work is simply excellent.
The setting is one about contrasts: the modernity that is slowly reaching the village against the traditions that are firmly rooted in the people; we can also see how Nigerian people are divided among traditional religion and Catholicism, leading to some conflicts in their beliefs (such as we can see between Bata's parents). Ibaja-la itself is an interesting place, where we learn more about Nigerian folklore, while also introducing modern notions such as queer acceptance; feminism and women's empowerment is a recurring theme in this novel.
Where the Dead Brides Gather is an excellent piece of African horror, perfect if you come from a fantasy background or want to experience something different from the classical western horror; Nuzo Ozoh pretty much nailed it, and I can't recommend it enough.
Where the Dead Brides Gather is an African horror novel, written by Nuzo Onoh, and published by Titan Books. A powerful story that mixes together Nigerian traditions and Catholicism, in a story that accurately portrays the eclectic contrast between traditional and modern aspects of life in the village, all woven around a supernatural horror that affects to women.
Bata, a ten-year-old girl, experience terrible nightmares, and wanders in her sleep; one night, she wakes up standing in front of her cousin Kezia's bedroom door, who is to be married the next morning. However, a ghost-bride is to attack Kezia; Bata is possessed and defeats the ghost-bride. The family, fearing for the worse, takes Bata to be exorcised by Dibia, a local witch doctor; but a spirit intervenes and takes her to Ibaja-la, the realm of ghost-brides, where she resides for a time and is given some powers to use in her new role as Bride Sentinel, meant to protect brides from those dangerous ghost-brides. Upon returning to the world, she's meant to protect her family, but at the same time, she will experience the cold disdain from many of her relatives, ostracising her in a Nigeria still rooted on tradition.
Bata's journey is not an easy one, and Ozoh chooses to represent it by using Bata's own voice as the narrative one; the reader can feel the struggles and the doubts experienced by her, and how she's afraid of losing those that she appreciates as a consequence of a condition she didn't ask to suffer. As a young girl, we can also see her naivety and how that will put her into a complicated situation at Ibaja-la; overall, Ozoh's characterization work is simply excellent.
The setting is one about contrasts: the modernity that is slowly reaching the village against the traditions that are firmly rooted in the people; we can also see how Nigerian people are divided among traditional religion and Catholicism, leading to some conflicts in their beliefs (such as we can see between Bata's parents). Ibaja-la itself is an interesting place, where we learn more about Nigerian folklore, while also introducing modern notions such as queer acceptance; feminism and women's empowerment is a recurring theme in this novel.
Where the Dead Brides Gather is an excellent piece of African horror, perfect if you come from a fantasy background or want to experience something different from the classical western horror; Nuzo Ozoh pretty much nailed it, and I can't recommend it enough.
Read
September 24, 2025I'm out.
I was hesitant to read this because it seemed a little too close to fantasy for my tastes, but according to her Goodreads profile, Onoh is hailed as "the queen of African horror" so I decided to give it a shot.
And then on page 13, the (alleged) queen of African horror uses a slur for little people in a moment that was supposed to be cute and funny and that was the sign I needed to tap out.
This is the 2nd book I've read published within the last year that uses this slur. I so desperately wanted this to be a translation mistake, but it appears Onoh's novels are written in English, in which she is fluent. She also has a law degree and a master's so...
...this is just your garden variety, head-in-the-sand ableism.
And with the power of the internet these days, there just is NO excuse for this. Disabled people have been advocating for the discontinuation of that word since the 70's and 80's. SO STOP USING IT.
And this isn't just on Onoh. This is also on the editors and publishers of this book. Y'all should be ashamed and embarrassed!
From the Little People of America:
Period.
I was hesitant to read this because it seemed a little too close to fantasy for my tastes, but according to her Goodreads profile, Onoh is hailed as "the queen of African horror" so I decided to give it a shot.
And then on page 13, the (alleged) queen of African horror uses a slur for little people in a moment that was supposed to be cute and funny and that was the sign I needed to tap out.
This is the 2nd book I've read published within the last year that uses this slur. I so desperately wanted this to be a translation mistake, but it appears Onoh's novels are written in English, in which she is fluent. She also has a law degree and a master's so...
...this is just your garden variety, head-in-the-sand ableism.
And with the power of the internet these days, there just is NO excuse for this. Disabled people have been advocating for the discontinuation of that word since the 70's and 80's. SO STOP USING IT.
And this isn't just on Onoh. This is also on the editors and publishers of this book. Y'all should be ashamed and embarrassed!
From the Little People of America:
Language matters - it shapes the way we view and treat each other. For us, this slur is
demeaning and has no place in any setting, particularly those intended for learning,
community, and investment for future generations. (lpaonline.org)
Period.
January 3, 2025
I am always up for a good horror story. This does not disappoint. One of the best parts of reading , for me, is to be able to travel to these countries with traditions and customs that we do not have here and this book does exactly that. There is a reason why this author is the Queen of African Horror. As soon as the stage was set I knew I couldn’t sleep. Amazing. !!
August 22, 2025
this was amazing, gripping and heartwarming.
but one Thing bothered me....
why did ola do it and was unpunished?! thats weird.
other than that this perspective was very clear and pushed through. I believed everything
but one Thing bothered me....
why did ola do it and was unpunished?! thats weird.
other than that this perspective was very clear and pushed through. I believed everything
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2024
I’m obsessed with this cover but that is where the obsession ends with this one sadly. The story is a bit all over the place and I personally feel this would’ve been better as a novella. Sometimes it’s okay to take out the things that don’t work. The actual premise of the book is so intriguing but it just gets lost in this authors writing style which is a bit clunky.
November 7, 2025
In all honesty, I would classify this as YA, or mature middle grade, rather than adult, as the story is narrated by an eleven year old girl.
This story feels like a coming-of-age tale stitched with the strange humor of a dark romcom and the shiver of a PG-13 ghost story. It moves between the living and the dead, where guardian goddesses watch over restless spirits, and a ten-year-old girl named Bata—who once died herself—can see what others cannot. She’s a tender soul, one who meets even the so-called evil brides with a kind of aching sympathy.
The ghost brides are women who died before their wedding days. They drift in a place that is half-heaven, half-haunted ballroom—a world of endless feasts and white dresses, forever waiting for the next ceremony that never comes. When their grooms remarry, the brides are given a choice: possess the new wife and speak the vows they never could, or release their longing and move on to their next life. Some let go. Others refuse, clinging to love or bitterness until they become something crueler.
Through Bata’s eyes, the story unfolds in 1970s Nigeria—a land divided between the Christian faith of her mother and the old gods her father still honors. Bata herself is the proof that those gods have not gone quiet. She sees the world through a child’s hunger for sweetness: good food, fine clothes, and the simple wish not to be taken by ghosts. Her innocence blinds her at times, creating quiet rifts with her mother, her sister, and her father’s second wife.
The writing is strong and vivid, its world—both spiritual and earthly—carefully built and deeply felt. There’s a brush of gore here and there, but it’s handled with restraint. It could sit comfortably on a YA shelf, yet it carries enough depth to draw in older readers too.
This story feels like a coming-of-age tale stitched with the strange humor of a dark romcom and the shiver of a PG-13 ghost story. It moves between the living and the dead, where guardian goddesses watch over restless spirits, and a ten-year-old girl named Bata—who once died herself—can see what others cannot. She’s a tender soul, one who meets even the so-called evil brides with a kind of aching sympathy.
The ghost brides are women who died before their wedding days. They drift in a place that is half-heaven, half-haunted ballroom—a world of endless feasts and white dresses, forever waiting for the next ceremony that never comes. When their grooms remarry, the brides are given a choice: possess the new wife and speak the vows they never could, or release their longing and move on to their next life. Some let go. Others refuse, clinging to love or bitterness until they become something crueler.
Through Bata’s eyes, the story unfolds in 1970s Nigeria—a land divided between the Christian faith of her mother and the old gods her father still honors. Bata herself is the proof that those gods have not gone quiet. She sees the world through a child’s hunger for sweetness: good food, fine clothes, and the simple wish not to be taken by ghosts. Her innocence blinds her at times, creating quiet rifts with her mother, her sister, and her father’s second wife.
The writing is strong and vivid, its world—both spiritual and earthly—carefully built and deeply felt. There’s a brush of gore here and there, but it’s handled with restraint. It could sit comfortably on a YA shelf, yet it carries enough depth to draw in older readers too.
October 23, 2025
Where the Dead Brides Gather started off so strong for me, I went into work the morning after starting it and told them I was OBSESSED.
Unfortunately, that feeling didn’t last the whole way through and it ended up being pretty mid for me.
Meet Bata, a 10yr old girl living in a small Nigerian town… who also happens to have the terrifying job of fighting evil Ghost Brides: the spirits of women who kicked the bucket before their wedding day, and they have a nasty habit of haunting living brides on the eve of their big day. Luckily, Bata is the town’s Bride Sentinel, which basically means she’s a supernatural bodyguard protecting brides from ghostly wedding crashers.
There is some genuinely interesting parts, like the realm of dead brides, Ibaja-La and the head honcho Mmuọ-Ka-Mmuọ who collects ghosts of ghosts and has a really cool long beard.
I went in expecting a horror, but it was too close to fantasy for my liking. Nothing about it feels dark or horrifying, and coming from the perspective of a child, perhaps that is to be expected. The ending wrapped up a little on the “happily ever after side” (I couldn’t help but picture the party at the end of Star Wars: A New Hope with the ceremony and dancing), but I did enjoy the epilogue, it was nice to see Bata on the eve of her own wedding.
The concept sounded amazing, and I think it had the potential to be a truly wonderful horror, but for me, it just missed the mark.
Big shout out for the cover art, absolutely stunning!
Unfortunately, that feeling didn’t last the whole way through and it ended up being pretty mid for me.
Meet Bata, a 10yr old girl living in a small Nigerian town… who also happens to have the terrifying job of fighting evil Ghost Brides: the spirits of women who kicked the bucket before their wedding day, and they have a nasty habit of haunting living brides on the eve of their big day. Luckily, Bata is the town’s Bride Sentinel, which basically means she’s a supernatural bodyguard protecting brides from ghostly wedding crashers.
There is some genuinely interesting parts, like the realm of dead brides, Ibaja-La and the head honcho Mmuọ-Ka-Mmuọ who collects ghosts of ghosts and has a really cool long beard.
I went in expecting a horror, but it was too close to fantasy for my liking. Nothing about it feels dark or horrifying, and coming from the perspective of a child, perhaps that is to be expected. The ending wrapped up a little on the “happily ever after side” (I couldn’t help but picture the party at the end of Star Wars: A New Hope with the ceremony and dancing), but I did enjoy the epilogue, it was nice to see Bata on the eve of her own wedding.
The concept sounded amazing, and I think it had the potential to be a truly wonderful horror, but for me, it just missed the mark.
Big shout out for the cover art, absolutely stunning!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2025
I thought this was similar to Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, but it's not even close to the premises that this book promised.
Short summary : Her cousin only can get married if Bata is able to escape and battling from the murderous and vengeful ghost-bride, who is engaged to the groom. The medicine-men tries to exorcise the supernatural entities clinging and possessing her body, resulting in her death.
Bata is given secret powers by the ghosts of brides from every culture who died tragically before their weddings in the spirit realm; to fight the evil ghost-brides before being sent back to the human realm, where she must learn to harness her new abilities as she strives to protect those whom she loves.
✍️ Review : Boring. The writing and the concept is good but the flow and how the premise is written is a bit dull and ordinary. Nothing feels dark or horrifying. It is just a ghostly ghost story, the element has been dulled. So disappointing since I am excited about this and enjoy her easy English vocabulary. She only possessed, fighting and suddenly plummeted to the ghost realm to achieve her missions as a ghost sealer or something. I mean, that’s it. The element of whatsoever is missing.
Short summary : Her cousin only can get married if Bata is able to escape and battling from the murderous and vengeful ghost-bride, who is engaged to the groom. The medicine-men tries to exorcise the supernatural entities clinging and possessing her body, resulting in her death.
Bata is given secret powers by the ghosts of brides from every culture who died tragically before their weddings in the spirit realm; to fight the evil ghost-brides before being sent back to the human realm, where she must learn to harness her new abilities as she strives to protect those whom she loves.
✍️ Review : Boring. The writing and the concept is good but the flow and how the premise is written is a bit dull and ordinary. Nothing feels dark or horrifying. It is just a ghostly ghost story, the element has been dulled. So disappointing since I am excited about this and enjoy her easy English vocabulary. She only possessed, fighting and suddenly plummeted to the ghost realm to achieve her missions as a ghost sealer or something. I mean, that’s it. The element of whatsoever is missing.
September 24, 2024
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and publisher.
This book was so utterly fantastic. It felt like a really unique and original story. A great blend of horror and folklore, I just loved it and couldn’t put it down.
This is a Nigerian set horror-fantasy novel set around the folklore of Ghost Brides. We see a conflict between modern religion and folklore within the community and our main character’s family.
This was a roller-coaster of a read where I never knew what to expect. It was often emotional, quite scary at times. Our main character experiences some terror herself as she starts to learn more about her fate and what’s happening to her. She travels to another place at one time and this was just mesmerising. This was so strange, cool and incredible the way the world was presented and the impact it had on our character.
We explore themes of hypocrisy in this. Particularly around men and the way they value women only by what they can provide to the men themselves. Our main character’s father is cold and distant and dismissive until his daughter’s new state starts to bring him prestige within his town. However, as his estimation grows, the rest of the family become more frightened of her, forcing her into a life of increased obedience and isolation as she is desperate not to be sent away. We see further exploration of the unfair treatment of women and the imbalance of power.
An excellent novel! Unique and fascinating.
This book was so utterly fantastic. It felt like a really unique and original story. A great blend of horror and folklore, I just loved it and couldn’t put it down.
This is a Nigerian set horror-fantasy novel set around the folklore of Ghost Brides. We see a conflict between modern religion and folklore within the community and our main character’s family.
This was a roller-coaster of a read where I never knew what to expect. It was often emotional, quite scary at times. Our main character experiences some terror herself as she starts to learn more about her fate and what’s happening to her. She travels to another place at one time and this was just mesmerising. This was so strange, cool and incredible the way the world was presented and the impact it had on our character.
We explore themes of hypocrisy in this. Particularly around men and the way they value women only by what they can provide to the men themselves. Our main character’s father is cold and distant and dismissive until his daughter’s new state starts to bring him prestige within his town. However, as his estimation grows, the rest of the family become more frightened of her, forcing her into a life of increased obedience and isolation as she is desperate not to be sent away. We see further exploration of the unfair treatment of women and the imbalance of power.
An excellent novel! Unique and fascinating.
Read
December 5, 2024Author interview @ the BBC:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct...
September 8, 2025
Was this reallly African horror or just magical realism? Either way, it was so so so so goooooood. I really enjoyed this and it was a page turner. Sometimes I wondered where the plot was going, but the author made everything make sense at the end. It’s different from what I usually read and I’m glad I randomly saw this at my library.
December 16, 2024
This was my first read by this author and so I had no clue what to expect at all.
Also the fact that I never read blurbs beforehand, meant that I was going into this one totally blind and what an experience.
It was the title and the amazing front cover that initially attracted me to this - with all the skulls, I wondered whether it would be murder and death related - and the flowers and temple symbol told me this was going to be somewhere exotic.
First of all, this was so, so beautifully written that I just couldn't help but become immersed in this right from the off.
That combined with the rich cultural content and the horror genre - I honestly struggled to put this down and read late into the evenings.
This gave me a chill down the spine and was so creepy in places that I don't even think I was breathing at one point.
I loved Bata instantly and spent the whole book fascinated by her determination and ability to put others above herself even when navigating things she had little knowledge of.
I was quite emotional rooting for her to get through this and for things to work out well in the end.
I love the folklore element and have been reading a couple of books with this theme recently - I love to learn about all the legends and how they impact on daily lives.
But here, we also experience the rich culture of the community too.
The writing was so good and it was so easy to visualise everything clearly in my mind.
I think this is what made me so on edge whilst reading - but this is always a good thing!
Onoh is definitely an author that I'd love to read more of in the future - runs to check wishlist...
Also the fact that I never read blurbs beforehand, meant that I was going into this one totally blind and what an experience.
It was the title and the amazing front cover that initially attracted me to this - with all the skulls, I wondered whether it would be murder and death related - and the flowers and temple symbol told me this was going to be somewhere exotic.
First of all, this was so, so beautifully written that I just couldn't help but become immersed in this right from the off.
That combined with the rich cultural content and the horror genre - I honestly struggled to put this down and read late into the evenings.
This gave me a chill down the spine and was so creepy in places that I don't even think I was breathing at one point.
I loved Bata instantly and spent the whole book fascinated by her determination and ability to put others above herself even when navigating things she had little knowledge of.
I was quite emotional rooting for her to get through this and for things to work out well in the end.
I love the folklore element and have been reading a couple of books with this theme recently - I love to learn about all the legends and how they impact on daily lives.
But here, we also experience the rich culture of the community too.
The writing was so good and it was so easy to visualise everything clearly in my mind.
I think this is what made me so on edge whilst reading - but this is always a good thing!
Onoh is definitely an author that I'd love to read more of in the future - runs to check wishlist...
October 6, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the advance digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.
Plagued with nightmares, 11-year-old Bata believes she is nothing but a burden to her family. Her older sister and mother worry about her attention-seeking, her step-mother and the triplets are kind but distant, and her father is a force to be feared. That is until one night, while Bata believes she is having yet another nightmare, she has actually begun transforming into a Bride-Sentinel - a defender of brides from the ghosts of brides who were not. This is the instigating scene for Where the Dead Brides Gather. After learning what she did was real, Bata panics and her father takes her to the traditional spiritual advisor for the village - against her Christian mother's wishes. There the giant spirit Mmuọ-Ka-Mmuọ appears and takes Bata to the spirit realm to visit Ibaja-La, the realm of the dead brides. She spends thirty days here - a mere three hours on the mortal plane - learning how to detect good bride ghosts from evil bride ghosts. She succeeds and is given the eight faces - tools to pacify or destroy ghost brides who attack living brides. This isn't a boon, however much the ten villages believe her to be a new protector, as this makes her home life far, far worse.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book as much as I expected or hoped. It feels like the book has significant potential to be a great story, but that it just wasn't ready to be pushed to publication yet.
The main reason for this feeling is that a large part of the middle of the book has nothing to do with the dead brides - instead focusing on the suffering this duty has brought to Bata. At the same time, though, there's not enough explanation on some of the powers. For example, it turns out she's able to read minds once she's back in the realm of the living, but it isn't explained where this came from (since it wasn't mentioned as one of the gifts from the spirits in Ibaja-La). This particular gifts shifts the book from one about protecting from dead brides to one of using an 11-year-old as a spy within her own family. The prose also bothered me. On the one hand, it was simultaneously trying to sound like a scared 11-year-old, but also having much of the dialogue sound almost like High English speakers (despite mentioning several times that only Ola is university educated). Along with this, the prose is also questionable. For example, there's insensitive language (e.g. using "Eskimo" or describing "male brides" as requiring the same lipsticks and dresses as women brides), seemingly no women like each other (and can't talk about each other without talking about men), and the women are all talked about as being interchangeable but the men are individuals (e.g., the bride-sentinel not being allowed to harm a groom, or the groom being able to have a multitude of marriages throughout his reincarnations but brides only have one true marriage to which they belong).
Plagued with nightmares, 11-year-old Bata believes she is nothing but a burden to her family. Her older sister and mother worry about her attention-seeking, her step-mother and the triplets are kind but distant, and her father is a force to be feared. That is until one night, while Bata believes she is having yet another nightmare, she has actually begun transforming into a Bride-Sentinel - a defender of brides from the ghosts of brides who were not. This is the instigating scene for Where the Dead Brides Gather. After learning what she did was real, Bata panics and her father takes her to the traditional spiritual advisor for the village - against her Christian mother's wishes. There the giant spirit Mmuọ-Ka-Mmuọ appears and takes Bata to the spirit realm to visit Ibaja-La, the realm of the dead brides. She spends thirty days here - a mere three hours on the mortal plane - learning how to detect good bride ghosts from evil bride ghosts. She succeeds and is given the eight faces - tools to pacify or destroy ghost brides who attack living brides. This isn't a boon, however much the ten villages believe her to be a new protector, as this makes her home life far, far worse.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book as much as I expected or hoped. It feels like the book has significant potential to be a great story, but that it just wasn't ready to be pushed to publication yet.
The main reason for this feeling is that a large part of the middle of the book has nothing to do with the dead brides - instead focusing on the suffering this duty has brought to Bata. At the same time, though, there's not enough explanation on some of the powers. For example, it turns out she's able to read minds once she's back in the realm of the living, but it isn't explained where this came from (since it wasn't mentioned as one of the gifts from the spirits in Ibaja-La). This particular gifts shifts the book from one about protecting from dead brides to one of using an 11-year-old as a spy within her own family. The prose also bothered me. On the one hand, it was simultaneously trying to sound like a scared 11-year-old, but also having much of the dialogue sound almost like High English speakers (despite mentioning several times that only Ola is university educated). Along with this, the prose is also questionable. For example, there's insensitive language (e.g. using "Eskimo" or describing "male brides" as requiring the same lipsticks and dresses as women brides), seemingly no women like each other (and can't talk about each other without talking about men), and the women are all talked about as being interchangeable but the men are individuals (e.g., the bride-sentinel not being allowed to harm a groom, or the groom being able to have a multitude of marriages throughout his reincarnations but brides only have one true marriage to which they belong).
December 30, 2025
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But Like, Why? -- 🕸️Race to Finish Wicked Reading's Horror Bingo🕸️
Okay uh, this just didn’t really match what I went into it expecting? This really felt more like a fantasy novel with more adult topics and a few gory scenes rather than a horror. The first half of the book is driven by this role as the Bride Sentinel, but the second half focuses more on family drama that Bata discovers because of her new abilities that come with being the Bride Sentinel, without ever really acting as such?
I liked the idea of this sort of story through the eyes of a ten year old, it definitely amped up the fear at times, but her voice started to become grating since, again, rather than being focused on her role as the Bride Sentinel, we got wrapped up in family drama. It just felt as though the story was very loosely tied to the supernatural as the story continued. Bata was often more fearful of what her father would do to her or how her other family members were seeing her than anything to do with her new found powers in regard to the supernatural after the halfway point of the book.
The world building was really interesting and I enjoyed learning about Ibaja-La, the land of the Dead Brides. I wish we’d spent more time there. Of course, I really enjoyed the battling between Christian faith and more pagan beliefs that Bata was stuck between. The scenes where the Sentinel took over Bata’s body were always engaging and had me glued in, but a lot of the connecting scenes in this story were rather boring and lost my attention. I wish the horror would have been utilized more. I almost wonder if I would have enjoyed this more if it’d been a novella?
But Like, Why? -- 🕸️Race to Finish Wicked Reading's Horror Bingo🕸️
Okay uh, this just didn’t really match what I went into it expecting? This really felt more like a fantasy novel with more adult topics and a few gory scenes rather than a horror. The first half of the book is driven by this role as the Bride Sentinel, but the second half focuses more on family drama that Bata discovers because of her new abilities that come with being the Bride Sentinel, without ever really acting as such?
I liked the idea of this sort of story through the eyes of a ten year old, it definitely amped up the fear at times, but her voice started to become grating since, again, rather than being focused on her role as the Bride Sentinel, we got wrapped up in family drama. It just felt as though the story was very loosely tied to the supernatural as the story continued. Bata was often more fearful of what her father would do to her or how her other family members were seeing her than anything to do with her new found powers in regard to the supernatural after the halfway point of the book.
The world building was really interesting and I enjoyed learning about Ibaja-La, the land of the Dead Brides. I wish we’d spent more time there. Of course, I really enjoyed the battling between Christian faith and more pagan beliefs that Bata was stuck between. The scenes where the Sentinel took over Bata’s body were always engaging and had me glued in, but a lot of the connecting scenes in this story were rather boring and lost my attention. I wish the horror would have been utilized more. I almost wonder if I would have enjoyed this more if it’d been a novella?
November 10, 2024
Fantastic piece of storytelling using child to raise the horror stakes but also introduce a complex society and attitudes towards women. Strongly recommended
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
October 23, 2024
a little too juvenile for my taste. i can only roll my eyes so much. 2 stars for the folklore.
October 20, 2024
Is there a place where dead grooms gather?
Thank you to Titan Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Tormented night after night with images of ghastly white women, 11-year-old Bata awakes from one of her hellish nightmares in an unusual place. Not her home, she shares with her parents and siblings. No, she finds herself standing sentient in front of her cousin bedroom door, a cousin that's supposed to marry the next morning. Something even more strange, from head to toe her usual ebony skin is stark white and glowing. From that night forward, she was thrust into the world of spirits and capricious adults when she was granted the title and powers of Bride Sentinel. Young Bata must now fight malevolent ghost-bribes that return to forcefully reclaim their grooms in the living realm, and protect the innocent living brides from the ghastly scorned women in white. Can she handle the pressure and responsibility of such an important task, all the while those around her want to use her powers for their own greedy sake?
It was hard at times to get into or stay in the emotions of the scenes. Possibly because the emotions Bata felt switched sometimes three times in one paragraph, going from frightened, to in-awe, to crying and back again, not really giving the reader time enough to adjust to new emotion before the next one is thrown into the pot. Yet other times the vibe was well-detailed and felt for all the chills and fright the scene deserved. However, the overall atmosphere of this book was fantastic and perfect for spooky season.
The POV (point of view) is first-person, and most of the time, it doesn't really feel like an 11-year-old speaking. Many of the words used are above an 11-year-old's rank, which makes a lot more sense as the story goes on and nears the end. However, reading it for the first time took me out of the story at times because I was trying to figure out how a not-fully literate girl knows such mature language.
The diversity of Ibaja-La, the land of dead brides, was wonderful, not just African brides, but women from all over the world from the USA, France, South Korea, Quebec, and so on. Also, the Commodore of the bribes there was beautiful, excusing the malevolent brides of the Wastelands. But the world-building of Ibaja-La and the Wastelands was amazing, I loved every second when the pages shared that land, and like Bata, I wish I could go back there too.
All in all, this was the first horror novel that left me satisfied and wanting more! I am definitely looking up more of Nuzo Onoh's works. The action and suspense had me at the edge of my seat, craving the next page. She's a horror author I have to have more books by!
Check out my bookstagram! @Witchy.Otaku
Thank you to Titan Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Tormented night after night with images of ghastly white women, 11-year-old Bata awakes from one of her hellish nightmares in an unusual place. Not her home, she shares with her parents and siblings. No, she finds herself standing sentient in front of her cousin bedroom door, a cousin that's supposed to marry the next morning. Something even more strange, from head to toe her usual ebony skin is stark white and glowing. From that night forward, she was thrust into the world of spirits and capricious adults when she was granted the title and powers of Bride Sentinel. Young Bata must now fight malevolent ghost-bribes that return to forcefully reclaim their grooms in the living realm, and protect the innocent living brides from the ghastly scorned women in white. Can she handle the pressure and responsibility of such an important task, all the while those around her want to use her powers for their own greedy sake?
It was hard at times to get into or stay in the emotions of the scenes. Possibly because the emotions Bata felt switched sometimes three times in one paragraph, going from frightened, to in-awe, to crying and back again, not really giving the reader time enough to adjust to new emotion before the next one is thrown into the pot. Yet other times the vibe was well-detailed and felt for all the chills and fright the scene deserved. However, the overall atmosphere of this book was fantastic and perfect for spooky season.
The POV (point of view) is first-person, and most of the time, it doesn't really feel like an 11-year-old speaking. Many of the words used are above an 11-year-old's rank, which makes a lot more sense as the story goes on and nears the end. However, reading it for the first time took me out of the story at times because I was trying to figure out how a not-fully literate girl knows such mature language.
The diversity of Ibaja-La, the land of dead brides, was wonderful, not just African brides, but women from all over the world from the USA, France, South Korea, Quebec, and so on. Also, the Commodore of the bribes there was beautiful, excusing the malevolent brides of the Wastelands. But the world-building of Ibaja-La and the Wastelands was amazing, I loved every second when the pages shared that land, and like Bata, I wish I could go back there too.
All in all, this was the first horror novel that left me satisfied and wanting more! I am definitely looking up more of Nuzo Onoh's works. The action and suspense had me at the edge of my seat, craving the next page. She's a horror author I have to have more books by!
Check out my bookstagram! @Witchy.Otaku
November 18, 2025
I really wanted to love this book, but after reading it I'm on the fence.
Young Bata lives in a small Nigerian village with her family. She's always dealt with horrible nightmares, and one night something unbelievable happens. Her entire body has turned white in her sleep. Desperate to remedy her bizarre condition, her family takes her to a medicine man, where she is told by a powerful spirit that she must become a Bride Sentinel, an entity that protects brides to be from malevolent spirits.
What I liked most about this novel was the folklore and setting. I enjoyed the uncomplicated atmosphere of the small village Bata lives in and the culture I got to absorb. The folklore was new to me and refreshing. I especially enjoyed Bata's journey through the mystical land called Ibaja-La. The rich detail of this magical place captivated me.
I had my pros and cons with Bata. On one hand, she has moments of courage that I liked, but overall I felt that she didn't progress enough. Her inner thoughts seemed too much the same throughout the novel and she came off as a scared little girl rather than a young woman on the cusp of adolescence. I wish that she would have shown more bravery throughout and questioned the powers that be.
The plot was a bit hit and miss with me. The parts of the book that explored Ibaja-La were really interesting, but after that things felt less interesting and a bit stagnant.
I'm not sure if I truly enjoyed this read, but if you give it a chance I hope you enjoy it!
Young Bata lives in a small Nigerian village with her family. She's always dealt with horrible nightmares, and one night something unbelievable happens. Her entire body has turned white in her sleep. Desperate to remedy her bizarre condition, her family takes her to a medicine man, where she is told by a powerful spirit that she must become a Bride Sentinel, an entity that protects brides to be from malevolent spirits.
What I liked most about this novel was the folklore and setting. I enjoyed the uncomplicated atmosphere of the small village Bata lives in and the culture I got to absorb. The folklore was new to me and refreshing. I especially enjoyed Bata's journey through the mystical land called Ibaja-La. The rich detail of this magical place captivated me.
I had my pros and cons with Bata. On one hand, she has moments of courage that I liked, but overall I felt that she didn't progress enough. Her inner thoughts seemed too much the same throughout the novel and she came off as a scared little girl rather than a young woman on the cusp of adolescence. I wish that she would have shown more bravery throughout and questioned the powers that be.
The plot was a bit hit and miss with me. The parts of the book that explored Ibaja-La were really interesting, but after that things felt less interesting and a bit stagnant.
I'm not sure if I truly enjoyed this read, but if you give it a chance I hope you enjoy it!
June 7, 2025
Where The Dead Brides Gather is unlike anything I've read before. I totally see why Nuzo Onoh is called the Queen of African Horror! Admittedly, I haven't read much horror compared to other genres, and what I have read has probably all been American or British horror, so this truly stood out. It was deeply tied to Nigerian culture and was as fascinating as it was eerie. Maybe because African horror is completely new to me, or maybe it's just the author's creativity, but this story was so unpredictable. It just surprised and amazed me every step of the way.
The protagonist is a ten year old girl, and there's a humour to the book during some of the low-horror moments that somehow works so well alongside the supernatural horror. When it's not funny or scary, it also manages to make you angry on behalf of poor Bata, for how she's treated by her family on top of everything else that she's dealing with. All the side characters are vivid, distinct and definitely flawed and there's so humour and realism in the character studies. Look, I don't know how the author managed it, but it just works. It was eerie, emotional, sad, and scary in places and just an overall surprise.
The protagonist is a ten year old girl, and there's a humour to the book during some of the low-horror moments that somehow works so well alongside the supernatural horror. When it's not funny or scary, it also manages to make you angry on behalf of poor Bata, for how she's treated by her family on top of everything else that she's dealing with. All the side characters are vivid, distinct and definitely flawed and there's so humour and realism in the character studies. Look, I don't know how the author managed it, but it just works. It was eerie, emotional, sad, and scary in places and just an overall surprise.
September 13, 2024
4.5 ARC reader
This is my first time reading a Nigeria-set horror tale and I truly enjoyed reading it so much. This is not a style of book I would normally pick up myself but the idea of a Bride sentinel sounded so interesting and made me grab an arc of this book. And I am so glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone to give this book a read. I would happily look at reading some more books that the author has written.
I found the story to be well written and no issues with following any of the information in which is provided within the book. I enjoyed learning about what they thought of possession and their own gods. The possession part of the story was well written throughout the book. I like the difference of Bata skin turning colour when she is facing a vengeful spirit. It gives you a chance to fully understand what her family and others are seeing. You can picture the true horror in which the family and Bata are experiencing.
I enjoyed reading about the different brides who are waiting to be reincarnated and learning about the brides in which they have been sent to the wastelands (sorry if not the correct word). The author does an amazing job of presenting the difference between the two ghost bride types.
It makes you feel a lot of emotions for poor Bata for everything in which she is going through. You see how the family treats her and how eventually it ends with our wife sadly becoming a soul in which needs her help. This was a very interesting twist to see what happened to our wife and how it ended with her taking over the role from Bata.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and would happily recommend people to read this when it is released in October.
This is my first time reading a Nigeria-set horror tale and I truly enjoyed reading it so much. This is not a style of book I would normally pick up myself but the idea of a Bride sentinel sounded so interesting and made me grab an arc of this book. And I am so glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone to give this book a read. I would happily look at reading some more books that the author has written.
I found the story to be well written and no issues with following any of the information in which is provided within the book. I enjoyed learning about what they thought of possession and their own gods. The possession part of the story was well written throughout the book. I like the difference of Bata skin turning colour when she is facing a vengeful spirit. It gives you a chance to fully understand what her family and others are seeing. You can picture the true horror in which the family and Bata are experiencing.
I enjoyed reading about the different brides who are waiting to be reincarnated and learning about the brides in which they have been sent to the wastelands (sorry if not the correct word). The author does an amazing job of presenting the difference between the two ghost bride types.
It makes you feel a lot of emotions for poor Bata for everything in which she is going through. You see how the family treats her and how eventually it ends with our wife sadly becoming a soul in which needs her help. This was a very interesting twist to see what happened to our wife and how it ended with her taking over the role from Bata.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and would happily recommend people to read this when it is released in October.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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