A young woman's escape from a troubling family legacy hangs in the balance in Cursed Daughters by Nigerian British writer Oyinkan Braithwaite. With scenes set in the present and forays into the past capturing the generational scope of her story, Braithwaite (My Sister, the Serial Killer) blends satire and high drama to deliver a spectacular saga glowing with romance and otherworldly intrigue.
The women of the Falodun family of Lagos, Nigeria, have struggled under a curse for five generations. The malediction was originally placed on their beguiling ancestress Feranmi by her husband's scorned first wife, who warned that Feranmi's female descendants would never find lasting love, that "men will be like water in their palms." The curse seems to be working. The Falodun ancestral home is a refuge for those heartbroken by absconding husbands and weak-willed lovers.
For charismatic Monife, the pivotal center of Cursed Daughters, her failed relationship with Kalu, the love of her life, has as much to do with the curse as her fear of it. It doesn't matter if she self-sabotaged her relationship, though, because Monife is no more. Heartbroken over Kalu's betrayal, Monife drowns and then is buried on the very day her cousin gives birth to Eniiyi. The child's mother is practical, no-nonsense Ebun, the only person dismissive of the curse. Ebun seems to need no man, but then who is Mr. Osagie, the handsome air force pilot who hangs around the gate to their home? Eniiyi's startling resemblance to Monife leads to superstitious chatter about reincarnation, and her childhood is weighed down by the haunting shadow of her dead aunty. As a college graduate, Eniiyi pursues a career as a genetic counselor.
Braithwaite's stellar storytelling is boosted by her skillfully crafted characters, including the formidable Grandma West, who lives in the west wing of the Falodun compound. A school principal, she "flirt[s] with strange spirits" to lure her husband back from London. The house itself, with its creaky floors and flickering lights, is the keeper of many secrets over the years while Sango, Monife's ancient dog, bears witness to them all.
Curse or not, when love comes for Eniiyi, it does so with a force that leaves her smitten and leads to a long overdue collision course with mysteries from Monife's past. The fallout is devastating yet Braithwaite's masterful conclusion finds hope in the enduring power of love. --Shahina Piyarali
Shelf Talker: A young woman's escape from a troubling family legacy hangs in the balance in this satirical drama fueled by romance and otherworldly intrigue that's set in Lagos, Nigeria.