Cursed Daughters is full of humour, with a keen eye on the real issues at play. Observing family superstitions and generational differences, this book could easily be a critique of old ways and beliefs. Instead, it acts as a love letter to those who have come before us and a reassuring hand on the shoulder of those who care to break these curses. A vibrant and unique cast of characters, this book shines a light on their reasoning and experiences, offering understanding and respect. Braithwaite’s observations of family and love are unrivalled, following suit from her previous book, My Sister the Serial Killer, it would be no surprise to me if this hit the best sellers list.

I enjoyed "Cursed Daughters", devouring it in a couple of sittings. It's not as funny as "My Sister, the Serial Killer" but equally eye-opening in terms of Lagosian society and the role of women within it.

The book is divided into 11 parts, taking the viewpoint of three different characters: Monife; her cousin Ebun; and Ebun's daughter, Eniiyi. They are all members of the Falodun family, which is said to suffer from a family curse. Several generations previously, their ancestor Feranmi was cursed by a jealous wife, who foretold that all women in the family would be unable to keep a man. The prophesy seems to be self-fulfilling, with Eniiyi believing that she may be Monife reborn, and about to undergo a similar torment and fate as her late aunt.

The narrative moves backwards and forwards in time, jumping between the three main characters, with some chapters containing more details about the family curse and how it has affected the Falodun women. There's some witchcraft and juju involved, a nice mixture of contemporary and old-fashioned Nigerian values.

I guessed the big plot twist (not hard) and there were a few convenient developments that made the story work out. But those are minor quibbles - this is a compelling read, with strong female characters, and a real sense of place and social strata. Warmly recommended.

NO SPOILERS:

I really enjoyed Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer (it was wickedly humourous and superbly written) and I gather Braithwaite has stated she wanted to move away from it with her next book. But whilst I know many of you will love Cursed Daughters, for me, she has moved too far. It’s a fairly interesting tale, though not one which grabbed me, but it lacks Braithwaite’s empathy and previously evident skill of storytelling.

I understand a writer is not going to write the same book over and over just as a musician does not release more of the same (although the Rolling Stones could do this forever and I would adore them for it). However, I do want the essence of a writer to be maintained throughout their work. Perhaps it is I who have missed something here so please don’t let me put you off.

A heads up from the start - this is not the same genre as 'My sister, the serial killer', however it is very much a good read. This is a tale of women who struggle with hardship, weak men and society which does not value them. I zipped through it, intrigued by the intergenerational tales of disappointment and sorrow.
A top read.

This wasn’t as gripping as Braithwaite’s earlier novel, lacking the satirical bite of My Sister The Serial Killer, but I enjoyed the cultural themes, the setting and the depiction of strong, interesting women. The mediocre men: another matter!

I will read whatever the author comes out with next.

I own so many books that I haven't read that I've stopped taking advantage of the ARCs from NetGalley, to try to catch up on what I already have. However, I loved My Sister the Serial Killer so much that I immediately downloaded this ARC, and was thrilled to find this book even better.

It follows a family over two generations, who are torn between folklore and modern sensibility, their love for one another and frustration with their actions. The interweaving passages across time reveal the sometimes parallell lives of aunt and niece. The characters, setting and somewhat supernatural aspects bring to life a stunning story that, at the end, reduced me to tears. I highly recommend.