Atlantic Books has announced the acquisition of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s second novel, Cursed Daughters, set to be published on 25th September 2025.
Cursed Daughters tells the story of Eniiyi, a young woman who resembles her late aunt and grapples with a family curse that has plagued generations. After saving a handsome boy from drowning and falling in love with him, Eniiyi must confront whether she is destined to repeat the cycle of heartbreak or if she can break free from the curse that shaped her aunt’s tragic fate.
The novel, which explores themes of love, generational trauma, and superstition, will be released in hardback, trade paperback, and e-book formats. James Roxburgh, publishing director for Atlantic Fiction, secured UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada and Nigeria) from Clare Alexander at Aitken Alexander.
In a statement, Braithwaite expressed her gratitude to her team, calling agent Clare Alexander her “fairy agent mother” and editor James Roxburgh a “tall wizard.” She described the novel as a story of “love, generational trauma, and superstition,” and celebrated the collaborative journey behind its creation.
Roxburgh, who also edited My Sister, the Serial Killer, praised Cursed Daughters as a significant step forward for Braithwaite. He highlighted its technical sophistication, humor, and exploration of female relationships, love, and the intersection of modernity and traditional Nigerian culture.
In his words he says:
“If I died tomorrow, my publishing obituary would probably read: ‘Tall man, acquired My Sister, the Serial Killer’. So, I’ve long felt that I have a particular stake in Oyin’s follow-up. Fortunately, it is every bit as mordantly brilliant and original as its predecessor – technically sophisticated, funny and moving on female relationships, perceptive on love and heartbreak, sharp on the meeting point of modernity and an older cultural Nigeria. We think this is a huge step up from Oyin and a huge publication for Atlantic Fiction.”
About Oyinkan Braithwaite
Oyinkan Braithwaite is a Nigerian author and editor whose debut novel, My Sister, the Serial Killer, catapulted her to international acclaim. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Braithwaite studied law in the UK and creative writing in the United States before returning to Nigeria, where she worked as an assistant editor at Kachifo Limited, a Nigerian publishing house. Her writing is celebrated for its sharp wit, dark humor, and incisive exploration of contemporary Nigerian society.
My Sister, the Serial Killer, a satirical thriller about sibling rivalry and moral ambiguity, became a global bestseller, translated into numerous languages and earning accolades such as a Booker Prize longlisting and the Crime and Thriller Book of the Year at the British Book Awards. Braithwaite’s unique voice and ability to blend humor with profound social commentary have established her as one of the most exciting literary talents of her generation.
For more information about the acquisition, click here.
Congratulations Oyinkan Braithwaite!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
