First book read in 2025 and honestly, I would never ever found this if not for Goodreads where it got recommended to me and the title intrigued me enough to give it a try. It is also nice change of pace for me, to read something completely new and current instead of perpetually trying to catch up with classics or something I missed before. This was such gripping and enjoyable read that I finished the book in one week - started it on December 30 and would probably finished earlier if I had not forgotten my e-reader at home yesterday - so today I took my time in the middle of the day just to finish it.
As the title says, it is something about the place where dead brides gather. I won't go into any explanations or descriptions of the novel itself, because personally I dislike when others do it - it is enough to say this is a horror novel with a twist: its written from a completely unusual, original perspective of Nigerian authoress Nuzo Onoh who is an excellent storyteller. While the story itself is obviously combination of horror and fantasy, she frames it all in a very interesting African place and casually mentions wedding traditions, slaughter of sacrificial animals, eating breakfast while sitting on the straw mat, wearing traditional Bubu kaftan, etc, etc - the newness and originality of it all appealed to me a lot and this was such refreshing change from what we usually see, that it helped me to realise how my reading (and probably not just reading but movies, music, etc) is almost totally focused on world of West Europe and US - the world is so much bigger and there is so much talent and inspiration around! Not only this was a great read but it reminded me to open my eyes and ears a little bit more towards other voices and other parts of the world.
"“Amina-from-Enugu,” Mmuọ-Ka-Mmuọ said in her rumbling voice. She was the only one in the great hall still wearing my mother’s face. “Tell us, child, what did you discover about the bride known as Gisèle-from-Paris?”
A sudden silence descended in the hall at her words and all the guardians now watched me with an intensity that filled me with panic. My heart sank to my heels. An unpleasant feeling washed over me—Gisèle-from-Paris! What can I say about that horrible Ghost-Bride?
“Gisèle-from-Paris smells rotten like spoiled meat,” I said, my voice a low mumble.
“Is that all?” Mmuọ-Ka-Mmuọ asked.
“She speaks in a garbled tongue I can’t comprehend, unlike the rest of the Ghost-Brides whose languages I easily understand. She’s also the only bride that laughs. I don’t like her laughter.”
“Anything else?”
“Her eyes are different. They’re blue, while everyone else has silver-grey eyes. Also, she can’t fly like the rest. A vile green fume oozes from her body. It stinks. Nobody else sees it or smells her horrible odour, but I do and I hate it. I know she’s a Repentant, but I still don’t like Gisèle-from-Paris. She makes me want to run away from her.” I lowered my head, suddenly ashamed to have spoken so uncharitably about a Ghost-Bride, even one as unpleasant as Gisèle-from-Paris.
The sound of loud clapping and cheering snapped up my head. All the eight members of The Great Council of Guardians were applauding with great fervour, their cascading faces shimmering with blinding intensity.
Huh?
“Amina-from-Enugu, you have exceeded all our expectations and proved yourself a prodigy beyond par,” Mmuọ-Ka-Mmuọ boomed, beaming at me with immense pride. “You have encountered one of the cursed brides from The Wastelands and smelled her true corrupt soul. We deliberately let Gisèle-from-Paris into Ibaja-La to see if you would detect her. And while the rest of the brides only saw the visible signs of her difference, you saw the vile truth of her corrupt essence, hence your inability to comprehend her tainted words."
