Dazzling

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What to expect

A bewitching and immersive Nigerian magic realist novel from an extraordinary literary voice.

Soon you will become the thing all other beasts fear.

Treasure and her mother lost everything when Treasure's daddy died. Haggling for scraps in the market, Treasure meets a spirit who promises to bring her father back - but she has to do something for him first.

Ozoemena has an itch in the middle of her back that can't be scratched. An itch that speaks to her patrilineal destiny, to defend her people by becoming a leopard. Her father impressed upon her what an honour this was before he vanished, but it's one she couldn't want less.

But as the two girls reckon with their burgeoning wildness and the legacy of their fathers' decisions, Ozoemena's fellow students at her new boarding school start to vanish. Treasure and Ozoemena will face terrible choices as each must ask herself: in a world that always says 'no' to women, what must two young girls sacrifice to get what is theirs?

(P) 2023 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

Critics Review

I am truly dazzled. Emelumadu has revealed surprising layers of our world and given me the eyes to see them.
Tracy Chevalier, author of GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING and A SINGLE THREAD
An otherworldly vision of Nigeria . . . lit up by wisecracks, folk wisdom, the idiosyncrasies of boarding-school life, and those quirky turns of phrase Nigerians have given to the rest of humanity.
Guardian
Rich in Nigerian mythology and treading into the sphere of magical realism, Dazzling is a deeply immersive, feminist read about heritage, girlhood, and justice. With a strong narrative and vivid prose, this new release is sure to keep you entranced from start to finish.
Bookstr
On starting Chikodili Emelumadu's Dazzling, I was immediately impressed by her virtuosic facility with language and fierce imagination. Enchanted by both Ozoemena and Treasure, I wondered how their parallel stories would come together. As the novel progressed, I became increasingly intrigued with its magical realism and folklore. The storylines converge in an unexpected, explosive, and deeply satisfying conclusion that had me turning right back to the beginning to appreciate all that I missed the first time round. Bravo! I envy other readers their first and subsequent reads.
Melissa Fu, author of PEACH BLOSSOM SPRING
Dazzling is a feast of shimmering , beautiful prose. Dark and humorous in places, it is an incessantly pleasurable read. Emelumadu has gifted us a thing of beauty.
Chika Unigwe, author of ON BLACK SISTER STREET and NIGHT DANCER
I struggled to come up with a line that captures the magic within. Emelumadu's singular debut is uncanny and affecting in equal measure.
T. L. Huchu, author THE HAIRDRESSER OF HARARE and THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD
A vibrant, immersive read that takes the reader on a dizzying journey through Nigerian mythology - Emelumadu does what I love best in this novel: she lays bare human weaknesses and celebrates female strength; she builds a world bursting with magic, bright and visceral; she has created two immensely memorable protagonists and woven a story that will linger in my mind for a long time.
Jennifer Saint, author of ARIADNE, ELEKTRA and ATALANTA
Chikodili Emelumadu has written one hell of a book. Dazzling is bold, funny, louche, smart, shocking and very, very addictive. It seizes you by the scruff of the neck & plunges you into a world packed with juicy characters, macabre magic and plotting to die for. I loved it.
Meg Clothier, author of THE BOOK OF EVE
This book is a masterful storm. The voices are so precise and clear they cut you. Reading through the pages took me deep into the dappled world of Ozoemena and her leopard, and I will never be able to leave.
Doreen Cunningham, author of SOUNDINGS
Dazzling is an erudite, original and beautifully written first novel. Chikodili Emelumadu is a writer to watch.
Christie Watson, author of THE COURAGE TO CARE: A Call for Compassion
Emelumadu's novel is a magnificent coming of age story, empathetic in its exploration of character and culture within a rich tapestry of African mythology and magic.
Cheries jones, author of HOW THE ONE-ARMED SISTER SWEEPS HER HOUSE
I've just turned the final page of Dazzling and my heart is still thumping. This is an absolute tour de force: rich and tender, tinged with fire. The characters are alive, every page is pulsing with magic, and it has a python-like plot, so coiled and clever. Prepare to be moved and gripped and utterly invested in the story of Treasure and Ozoemena. I'm desperate to see what Chikodili Emelumadu writes next...
Alex Hay, author of THE HOUSEKEEPERS
This book deserves its title; an extraordinary debut packed with supernatural wonders, human emotion and fiercely drawn, visceral characters. . . Gripping, otherworldly and unforgettable, this excellent novel means Emelumadu is definitely one to watch.
Cambridge Edition
An incredible debut novel about two girls on the cusp of womanhood in Nigeria. . . Vivid, compelling and original.
Big Issue
Chikodili Emelumadu is one of the brightest stars in the literary world right now. I loved Dazzling and can't wait to see her continue to ascend.
Kirsty Logan, author of NOW SHE IS WITCH
Evocative and a little mysterious, this literary fantasy is immersive and full of Nigerian mythology. Recommend this lustrous coming-of-age story to those who like to read across genres.
Library Journal

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