Reviews with content warning for Animal death - Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery

This was such an incredible, emotional read. It definitely lives up to all of the hype!

If you’re a fan of the film The VVitch, this is an easy recommendation. Similar atmospheric horror with feminist rage and a deeply satisfying vengeful ending. Oh and you get to read the Devil’s perspective too. 😈

Abitha is a very likable character who you can’t help but root for. And GEEZ is she surrounded by just the WORST people ever (colonial Puritans amiright), so you can’t help but look forward to the gruesome ending foreshadowed on the first page. Samson and the other Team Mother Earth members are sympathetic and tragic and complicated. I thoroughly enjoyed reading how all of their relationships tangled together.

Samson is a fascinating character as well; I really enjoyed the duality of his nature and his struggle with accepting himself as both a harbinger of death and bringer of life, especially when faced with the strict dichotomy of Christianity. As a pagan myself I really enjoyed Brom’s take on religion and how Samson’s true nature is beyond the Puritanical Christian definition. I liked that this book talked about how nature and Mother Earth are neither all good nor all bad but an endless cycle of Life and Death. Very refreshing

All in all, I think this was a fantastic read. Very happy I read it during spooky season 🎃. Please be mindful of the warnings I added! This is not a lighthearted read and includes a puritan witch trial and all of the ick and yikes that comes with it.

Content Warnings

kjags's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Content Warnings

dale1997's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

forgedopulence's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The epitome of feminine rage.
The artwork in the physical book is also absolutely stunning.
I have so many good things to say that I can't even get them out. Highly recommend literally everyone read this.

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skilb's review against another edition

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4.25

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felofhe's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

erica_reads_things's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

One of my favorite reads of the year, by far! Very clear parallels to the Salem Witch Trials, but with it's whole one stories, incredibly compelling characters, and stunning fantasy elements. I really thoroughly enjoyed it. Honestly, the last quarter of the book

during/immediately after Abitha and Sarah's trial

was scarier and more tense than many of the horror novels I have read. Just the utter realness and knowing what truth it's based on left me with a pit in my stomach. Just so well done!

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