The Turning of Sally-Mae by Nuzo Onoh

(Thank you Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

A historical African-Wild West horror story of supernatural vengeance and terrifying occultic magic from the winner of the Bram Stoker Award® for Lifetime Achievement. Two fearsome deities battle each other for the souls of white twins destined to either bring vengeful devastation or salvation to their community in Texas, USA, for a great injustice done to their mother.

When Sally-Mae Jenkins is violated and impregnated by the twin scions of a wealthy rancher, she’s sent to join the African missionary ship as a widow. Pregnant and terrified, Sally-Mae vows vengeance on all those who abused her and her family. 

Amara is a young woman with the body and face of an old hag. The village outcast, Amara can ‘eat’ the diseases ravaging the villagers and cure the most deadly ailments. But her powers drain her youth and her strength and the only help she has is the fearsome entity that claimed her soul, the spirit known as Aja-Mmọ, the death-giver and physician of the dead.

When Sally-Mae arrives in Amara’s village, her unborn twins become the focus of both the Python-Goddess, Asata, who wants the twins dead, and Aja-Mmọ, who wants the twins alive in her service, just like Amara. And suddenly, Sally-Mae finds the boys, with their unearthly and fearsome powers, have become the weapons of her vengeance against the unsuspecting citizens of her home town back in Texas….

A gripping tale of supernatural horror, bitter revenge and battling deities, suffused with Onoh’s trademark thrilling storytelling, wit and dark humor.

my thoughts:

Whoa! The Turning of Sally-Mae by Nuzo Onoh is a unique and compelling read. I fell in deep with this story the more pages I read. I found myself utterly captivated by the characters - fascinating, strong, and powerful. Oh, and the story itself was mesmerizing with its distinctive take on African folklore, the  supernatural, magic, and vengeance. I wound up sitting down with this book and not getting up until I finished the very last page - there was just no way I was going to put this book down for anything. It was just too damn good. 

The writing was top notch. Onoh's talent is clear right from the start - her ability to write horror with a bit of a comedic bent showcases her storytelling prowess. She can make the gruesome beautiful and touch on triggering topics in a clever way. Plus, her characters are truly the heart of the story and their individuality is on display, making their story unputdownable. I loved this book to bits!

I would happily recommend The Turning of Sally-Mae to fans of Onoh and to anyone looking for their next great read - you are going to love this one! Make sure to grab a copy ASAP! 

Thank you Titan Books for provindg me with a copy of this book!