Futility- Blog Tour

 

Author: Nuzo Onoh

Publisher: Titan Books

Publishing Date: 21st October 2025 

Many thanks to the publishing team and Zooloos BT for my digital copy and a spot on the tour

Blurb 

Chia runs one of the best restaurants in Abuja, Nigeria, and is renowned among the male clientele for her captivating beauty—she is every man's dream woman—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 and blinded to the poisonous tendencies of her beloved son, after a night out at Chia's infamous restaurant, Claire's carefully organised life spirals into chaos…

Both women seethe with rage and bitterness, and when a trickster spirit offers them revenge on those who have wronged them, they cannot resist...

Crackling with wit, this is a blood-soaked, expletive-laden, vengeance-filled horror story. Satirical, twisty and murderous, this is bloody, deadly fun from a writer at the top of her game.

My Thoughts 

This cover!!! Absolutely perfect Halloween and thriller vibes. If they ever release a special edition, I’ll definitely be buying it!

The premise of this book felt fresh — it took an unexpected turn to highlight some deeper issues, which made it an intriguing and layered read.

I do think the characters won’t connect with every reader; some aspects of their personalities might make that difficult. However, both women — who start off as complete opposites — are ultimately bound by the same demons: lust and greed. Their paths intertwine in dark, fascinating ways.

We meet Chia, the wealthy Nigerian owner of a restaurant that specializes in pepper soup. Her life is filled with challenges: betrayal from her brother, best friend, and boyfriend, plus deep struggles with self-esteem and mental health. With the influence of a demon, she spirals into a journey of self-destruction — one she mistakes for empowerment. Chia is bold, forceful, and full of pain, and I found her to be a compelling character to follow.

Claire, on the other hand, is a former British officer with strong (and often very wrong) views. It’s been a while since I’ve actively disliked a character — but that’s exactly the point here. You’re not meant to like Claire or Chia, and that’s what makes the story so interesting.

Both women are driven by intense hatred and selfish ambition, and while they sometimes come across as shallow, they’re relentless in pursuing what they want. The author weaves in dark humour beautifully, which really lifts the tone and gives the story a unique flavour.

The book flows well and isn’t a long read, which made it all the more enjoyable. And since this is apparently the author’s second book — I’ll definitely be hunting down the first one next!