O Sinners! takes place in two timelines, one in the present following Faruq Zaidi, a non-believing Muslim journalist (haunted, naturally, by the deaths of his parents) who embeds with what he suspects is a cult called the nameless. The second timeline shifts perspectives (mostly) among a Black subgroup of an American troop in Vietnam, one of whom (this is implied, but never specified, and which one it might be is not clarified either, as military nicknames are used throughout) will become Odo, the leader of the nameless, after surviving (or maybe not?) the traumatic experience. On top of these narrative threads, the script of a documentary produced by one of his followers about Odo's and the nameless's legal entanglements unwinds in segments between chapters. I was bowled over by Cuffy's ability to portray the thoughts and feelings of several men in such disparate settings, not to mention the impeccably believable, Errol Morris-style documentary. Like Faruq, I began to buy into Odo's spiritual teachings and question whether the nameless was a cult or a religion. What indeed is the difference? And if people are giving freely of their time and money in support of a community, why not one that centers on seeing everyone and everything as beautiful, and living free of emotional boundaries and mortal fear? But destabilizing elements keep the tension (the uncertainty re: Odo's benevolence and true motives) high. I love when a character (& I) can't discern reality from insanity, and Cuffy includes a few teasing instances of this. Is there a wolf in the woods? Does Odo have eyes everywhere? Is the wolf itself Odo? Are the nameless's demonstrations tailored to trigger Faruq's psychic blocks, or is he just paranoid? For other reasons, the ending of Faruq's thread felt a bit incomplete, but that the book doesn't answer these and other questions is delectable. The Nam thread, though it had similarly unresolved questions, brought me to tears. I will definitely be picking up more of Cuffy's works and recommending O Sinners! widely.

O Sinners! is a literary fiction / suspense novel that seems to be disguised as a thriller. It will make you think about life, love, spirituality, and relationships. Faruq is a young journalist who has recently lost his father, with whom he had a complicated relationship. Faruq becomes interested in a group called the nameless and starts writing a story about them. He travels to the compound to meet the leader, Odo, and writes an in-depth story on the group. The novel is written from three perspectives: Faruq’s experience with the nameless, Odo’s time in Vietnam with his fellow Soldiers, and parts of a documentary about a conflict between the nameless and a church in Texas.

The heart of this story is relationships and how we find where we belong. The author weaves the stories in and out very well. The strongest portions of the book were the scenes from Vietnam. They were riveting, descriptive, and visceral. The portions from Faruq’s perspective were somewhat confusing at times, but that is to be expected, as that was his journey. I can’t say more without giving anything away. My least favorite part was the documentary section. I felt the sections were disjointed and confusing with regards to their structure at times. I didn’t find that they added much to the story. I would have preferred a perspective from someone else in the nameless or Faruq’s family. Sometimes the pace lagged a little for me and I wished it had been a little faster and other times I couldn’t put it down. However, this is a special book and I look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you to One World for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I loved Cuffy's first novel and was looking forward to this one with a cult background. Unfortunately it did not work to hold my attention and was confusing at times. I look forward to trying Cuffy's next work.

“O Sinners” is nothing like what you’d expect from the description (in a very, very good way). I went in thinking I was going to get a thriller about a journalist infiltrating an evil cult in the California redwoods and taking them down from within. Wrong. I was so wrong. It’s so much better than that.

I don’t want to give away too much. So I’ll impart some wisdom from “The Nameless”- strip yourself of distortion, see only beauty, seek the face of Mow Vutu and READ “O SINNERS!”

Thank you NetGalley and Nicole Cuffy for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Publishing for this early read. I loved this book, I think Cuffy did a great job at making the characters human. They were likeable, hateable, infuriating, endearing, all at once. I would suggest this to anyone who’s interested in the alluring nature of cults and personal growth.

This new novel, Cuffy's second (read Dances if you haven't yet!!), shows her incredible range and depth as a writer. Sure to be on the most anticipated books of 2025!

Told from three vantage points, O Sinners! confronts topics of belonging and finding meaning through examining the Vietnam War, religion, and family relationships. These three perspectives include: (1) Faruq Zaidi, an investigative journalist who has just recently lost his father. Struggling with the lack of grief he feels, he decides to investigate the new "cult" called the nameless (lowercase intentional); (2) A documentary titled "Nero", focusing on Nero as the antichrist and comparing the leader of the nameless to the antichrist; (3) The perspective of one team, mostly comprised of non-White soldiers, on the ground in Vietnam during the late Vietnam War. Faruq's perspective focuses on the present day and his investigation into belonging, the documentary focuses on the very recent past and the characterizations of the movement/cult in the media, and the war focuses on the distant past and the events that led to the creation of Odo - the leader of the nameless.

This won't be a book for everyone, but those who it is for will absolutely love this literary examination on what it means to be human. Cuffy does an excellent job distinguishing the three perspectives from one another, and in using them to create intentional confusion and unreliability in the characters. For example, was Minh-An raised Catholic or Buddhist? The documentary and the present-day perspective differ, creating controlled confusion for the reader as well as for Faruq. Similarly, the nameless' whole purpose is to fight distortion, yet the book itself uses the differing timelines and perspectives to distort the narrative as readers attempt to move forward. For example, which of the infantrymen is Odo meant to be? One of them? All of them? He's certainly not Brother Ned, but other than that our perspective as readers is constantly toyed with whether he's Bigger, Preach, Crazy Horse, or Silk right up until the end. One final thing I'll mention in this review is how well Cuffy creates a feeling of futility in this story. It doesn't matter what happens in any of the perspectives, there's this constant sense of futility that's pervasive and yet implicitly (sometimes explicitly) critiques society's reactions to our own existential priorities.

From a negative perspective, the main thing I want to raise is that I was left confused by the ending. I was left with more questions than answers, and with a sense of "wait, what just happened?". Essentially, for me personally, it felt anticlimactic compared to what I'd been experiencing in the rest of the book. However, I paradoxically think this is also the exact kind of ending this specific story needed. So, basically I disliked the ending, yet the ending was spot on for the story the book was telling. Take that however you decide to take it.

I think O Sinners! will be a big book in 2025. A story told in alternating vignettes of a documentary film script, a journalist's immersive experience at a commune, and the Vietnam War experience of the commune's cult leader, O Sinners! was a look at how grief and trauma draw people together.

Farouq, an acclaimed journalist, needs a break from his apartment and overbearing extended family, and takes that break in the form of infiltrating a "cult," The Nameless, for the sake of immersive journalism. Moving from NYC to the redwoods, Farouq becomes acquainted with Odo, the leader of the Nameless, while we the reader are reading Odo's military experiences and trying to figure out which one of a handful of characters becomes Odo in the end. Odo is mysterious and aloof, which frustrates Farouq, especially as he needles him about the death of both of his parents and what he's actively seeking in the forest. This was beautifully written, if a bit slow moving, but ended up as a poignant reflection on grief and self. As someone who can easily see herself getting sucked into a cult, I'd probably join the Nameless immediately because it sounded like a really zen environment IF you had yourself figured out. For Farouq, it was tense, mysterious, and kept him on edge until the very end.

4.5 -


Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this advance reader copy.

O Sinners! is a story told in three parts. We’re following Faruq, a young journalist processing the recent loss of his father, as he travels to redwood forest to live among a cult that goes by The Nameless led by Vietnam war veteran Odo. As the mysteries of The Nameless begin to unfold Faruq’s stay is extended as he learns more of the cults teachings and begins to grow closer to Odo himself. Alongside this story set in modern day, we’re also following a documentary script about The Nameless’ time in Texas and their clash with a fundamentalist church as well as following Odo’s service in the Vietnam war and the infantry he fought alongside.

Cuffy’s ability to weave these stories together seamlessly, while allowing each section to feel very much separate from the other was incredibly impressive. While a sharp change in story telling can sometimes pull me out of the plot, this did not occur during my time with this novel.

While I didn’t find this O Sinners! to truly be a thriller, there were often drawn out moments of uncomfortablity the reader is forced to sit and witness, which is a tactic in horror I always find myself enjoying.

An exploration of grief processing, how we grapple with the world and unknowns around us, longing for human connection, and overall desire for one’s life meaning. This story will leave you understanding and sympathizing how those who are lost after tragedy can fall into the togetherness that a group like The Nameless can provide.

I’ll be shocked if this isn’t one of the most talked about lit fic books of 2025.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Random House One World for the copy of O Sinners by Nicole Cuffy. I love books about cults, and I liked Faruq’s story, even though I didn’t really understand it all. I didn’t enjoy the Vietnam War story or the documentary transcripts because I wanted to know more about Faruq, and didn’t care about Odo, so much of the book didn’t catch my interest. If you want more of the backstory of the cult, you will love it though. I liked the descriptions of the cult and its members so that was a big plus. 3 stars

I genuinely can't stop thinking about this book. I've recommended it to everyone I know, saying "just WAIT until this comes out." The multiple perspectives are wholly unique from one another and unlike anything I've ever read. There is truly something waiting in Cuffy's writing for everyone.

3 stars.

Faruq Zaidi, a young journalist has recently lost his father, a devout Muslim; Faruq pretended to be observant for his father’s sake. He reacts to the death by investigating then becoming involved with a California cult called the nameless. The group is led by a Vietnam vet, Odo, and they follow the 18 Utterances as laid out by him.

The story is told from three perspectives: Faruq’s experiences with the nameless, Odo’s time in Vietnam alongside other Black soldiers and portions of a documentary that chronicles a clash between the nameless/Odo and a fundamentalist church in Texas.

The novel examines belonging and what we seek in those whom we admire, looking at Faruq’s relationships with both his father and Odo. The strongest parts of the book are those set in Vietnam; Cuffy does an excellent job with the futility of the fight and the ongoing, never ending, low level terror. Soldiers no sooner meet someone than he has died. Cuffy also uses an interesting conceit in the Vietnam section that I won’t spoil, but I quite enjoyed it.

This may not appeal to the wide masses, but if the description sounds good to you, give it a try.

O Sinners by Nicole Cuffy was a very intriguing and fascinating read. It follows two storylines and a documentary script. A Muslim journalist, Faruq, investigates a cult in the redwoods of California. Another being three men in the jungles of Viet Nam. The documentary script is about the cult. I found the characters very interesting and complex. Thank you to NetGalley for the electronic ARC.

O, Sinners! is the investigation and exploration of a chaotic cult. Combining elements of literary fiction and thriller, this story reads like a deeply layered, complex mystery. Overall, the reading experience was unique in that you could tell Cuffy made very intentional choices in establishing the context and the setting for this story.

I really was not sure what to expect going into this book but I overall enjoyed it. I’m fascinated with cults so I appreciated that aspect, and I really liked the buildup toward actually getting to the location. I also enjoyed the diversity of the characters and the relevant cultural aspects that played into the story as well.

"O Sinners!" is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that delves into themes of guilt, redemption, and the human condition. The author’s writing is rich and evocative, with vivid descriptions that create a powerful atmosphere. The characters are deeply complex, each struggling with their own moral dilemmas, which adds emotional depth to the story. The pacing is generally strong, with the plot unfolding at a steady, engaging pace. While some parts may feel heavy-handed, the overall narrative is compelling and thought-provoking. It’s a gripping read for fans of literary fiction, offering a raw and honest exploration of personal and spiritual conflict.

3.5 stars rounded up

O Sinners! is an interesting and winding look at religion, community, and family where a journalist travels to California to learn more about the nameless, who are very cult-like despite them claiming otherwise (insert that "y'all with the cult?" King of the Hill clip).

Faruq is an interesting character. He is traumatized from the death of his mother, and he is still living in the wake of the death of his father, with whom he had a very complicated relationship. A lot of Faruq's journey in this book is coming to terms with everything that happened with his parents. Though he doesn't get sucked in to the nameless, as Faruq spends time with them he is repeatedly forced to face the past that he is trying to avoid. I was scared for a minute that he was gonna join the cult, but he pulled through and left thank god.

Then there's Odo, the founder of the nameless. He's a Vietnam vet, and we get snippets of his past every other chapter in flashbacks. I wasn't a fan of the first two flashback chapters, but as I got further into the book my interest was piqued. I do think the author also managed to subtly slip in commentary of who tends to flock to these sort of new age religions (i.e., wealthy white people) and how some bigotry might seep its way in (see: Faruq's experience towards the end). The discussion of the similarities between the nameless' philosophy and those of other religions (Faruq immediately notices similarities to Islam), and even fairy tales put me in mind of discussions of white Wiccans appropriating deities and practices from religions like Hinduism. Also, in the wake of everything that Ruby Franke did, the use of the word "distortion" in this book was really interesting. I wonder if that was a coincidence or if Cuffy used that word as a purposeful reference.

I think one of my big hangups with this book is that there are a couple instances where Faruq catches the nameless in a lie, and those moments feel important, like they're going to come up again. I'm mainly thinking of Minh-An's religion, Faruq's belongings getting messed with, and the foals. The former especially is such an "aha!" moment that I thought Faruq would bring it up during one of his many verbal sparring matches with Odo. Instead, those things never get much consideration outside of the general "I think this cult is fucking with me" thoughts that run through the whole book. It made the ending feel more unsatisfying than it should've been for me.

There's also the fact that the reveal of Odo's former identity didn't really have much impact for me. Of the characters we're introduced to in the Vietnam flashbacks, I don't think we got much of a sense of Odo as he was then. It's possible that I missed something, but I can really only pick out one consistency between Odo of the past and the present. There just didn't feel like there was enough of a tangible through-line between these flashback and the present. When talking with Faruq in the present, Odo is very cryptic about his past, so I think I would have liked to see just a bit more to bridge that gap between the past and the present.

Overall, I liked this book and thought it was well-written, but it introduced a lot of different threads, and I don't think it fully tied some of the most important threads up by the end of the book.

An astonishingly expansive and ambitious novel, Nicole Cuffy masterfully weaves together three intricate storylines through flashbacks, first-person narratives, and creative use of transcripts, Instagram posts, and even music from a documentary. At its heart, the story revolves around Faruq, a highly respected journalist struggling to find his footing in the aftermath of his father’s death. Faruq attempts to channel his grief and focus his energy on investigating the enigmatic Nameless cult. His pursuit takes him deep into the Redwood Forest of California, where he begins a series of unsettling meetings with Odo, the cult’s infamous and magnetic leader.

Running parallel to Faruq’s narrative are two equally compelling storylines. One follows a group of soldiers in Vietnam, grappling with the physical and psychological tolls of war, as their paths intersect with the cult’s growing reach. The other storyline focuses on a tight-knit religious community in South Carolina determined to resist the colonization of their sacred land by the Nameless cult. These narratives converge in surprising ways, painting a rich tapestry of resistance, survival, and the human need for connection and meaning.

Cuffy’s ability to juggle these narratives is nothing short of extraordinary. Through the use of Instagram posts, transcripts, and other unconventional storytelling methods, she creates a vivid and immersive experience. The complex and deeply flawed characters breathe life into the novel’s exploration of grief, identity, purpose, and the dangerous allure of religion as an answer for all.

O Sinners! is a profound and daring exploration of the ways we cope with loss, seek purpose, and wrestle with the larger forces shaping our lives. With its intricate structure and bold storytelling, Cuffy delivers a novel that is both an emotional journey and a sharp commentary on contemporary issues. It is a story that lingers, asking questions about the nature of faith, the cost of devotion, and the price of redemption.

#randomhouse #osinners #nicolecuffy #cultfiction #literarythriller

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of O Sinners! by Nicole Cuffy.

This was a really interesting book, I've never read anything like it. It essentially has three sections.

A modern day journalist goes to seek information about a cult in the Redwoods called the Nameless.

A charismatic Black soldier fighting in the deepest trenches of the Vietnam war.

A documentary of the cult clashing with a fundamentalist church in Texas.

All three tie together, and are endlessly fascinating, especially Faruq's interactions with Odo, the cult leader of the Nameless, who consistently challenges him. It was interesting to see how Odo's wretched time in Vietnam shaped him, as well as the conflict displayed in the documentary. Overall, this was a fresh read, full of intrigue and conflict, but also a lot of heart.

Oh man, this book ended up really hooking me. It's slow and tense and I was never sure what was going to happen next but I really adored the main character and was rooting for him. Would have loved to have had more insight into the cult and its motives, but understand that leaving it more vague lent to the larger story. I almost wish I hadn't ready this as an ARC because all I want to do is talk to people about this book and watch interviews with the author and get into her head about the story.! Overall really fantastic writing and storytelling, I think it's a book that will be worth re-reading.

Thanks for the ARC NetGalley!