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sarahelyse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Gaslighting
Minor: Xenophobia, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
spookology's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Ableism and Racism
klsreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Consider checking the cws/tws. The art in the book is super spooky and cool. I think it added a lot to the experience!
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
ellornaslibrary's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
2.0
However, the story moves so slow and the satisfaction I was hoping to find in this new possible story presented was short-lived as it turned into the usual predictable story. It was at least going to be a 3 or 3.5 star book though until the blatant ableism right at the end. Literal magic in this book, used multiple times throughout to do amazing things, and then we get to this part and just. . . it was insulting and offensive so now it's a 2 star book and I don't know if I'll pick up another book from this author anytime soon.
CW Ableism details:
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
gudrqa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I might've enjoyed it more if I didn't pick up an audiobook version. I didn't like the voices the lector was making.
I couldn't really care for the characters except one
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death
solarel's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I’m conflicted a bit. While I enjoyed the main two characters, Abitha and Samson, I found the plot as a whole to be very… typical?
Samson’s story was by far the most interesting plot line. I enjoyed watching him struggle to find who he really is. Is he the monster or the savior? Abitha however, her story felt not just predictable but inevitable. The last third of the book is pure torture porn, and she did not grow as a character. She is merely an instrument of a vengeance arc.
I saw a lot of reviewers say this story was very white. And I think I see what they mean. I don’t know what the author’s religious background is, but this read as a very Christian framed story. People said this was a horror novel. I didn’t find it scary, only sad. People were the villain. Puritan culture was the villain. And yet it still felt like it was still validating their beliefs in the end with what was supposed to be the “horror”.
I don’t know if that makes sense, but “pagan” aspects were not rooted in lore beyond that of Christianity. I guess that’s what made it feel like more of a fantasy masquerade of a pagan story of blurred good and evil.
Stars for ambiance and entertainment only.
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
storyorc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The plot owes its bite to its human villain, Wallace. It was such a delight to hate that man that I had no choice but to root for Abitha. However, I was surprised to see 50% of the book remaining at the point I felt ready to round up.
Without a Wallace for the half of the plot surrounding 'Slewfoot's' identity crisis, it dragged. It also reminded me how horror films lose something when you see the whole monster. Perhaps that half would have felt more vital if it also involved Abitha (by some Pequot heritage? Since they
Still, this book does deliver well on both the chills and Good For Her/Support Women's Wrongs fronts. (Although, if ever there were a time for
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Blood, and Colonisation
The book does not condone the subjects of these content warnings, though there may still be some room for improvement with the portrayal of natives.litematcha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Sexism, Torture, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Ableism
People with trypophobia may be squicked out by several scenesdragonaion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
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Only two examples in the story are 100% accurate to the Native American/Indian folklore of the Pequot (which are referenced and are the local tribe the Puritan village takes place near)...
... and the rest appear to be a mix from other cultures around the world, including the Druidic faith...
... Greek...
... and Japanese.
Looking for references of Slewfoot as well, what pops up as a primary example is this book. So considering the harshness of the very real Puritan mindset and the reality of the world they were living in, having almost every page be wild fantasy was disappointing.
The botany was at least a little more accurate, but not by much; the Pequot tribe were in the Connecticut area, where the pawpaw tree and mountain ash (rowan) can actually grow together. The irony, however, is the pawpaw and rowan trees in folklore was used for protection against witches, so the folklore attached to the botany is also inaccurate.
As a practicing Wiccan, I also find the examples of witcraft and "magic" (arguably not magick at all) to be biased with a Christian lense, such as the year the story takes place in 1666 (666, a little stereotypical), the snake being used as a symbol of the temptor and a sexual metaphor (while also being Mother Earth) and flying on a broom, to the point of being fantastic "flights" of pure fantasy.
In all, a good spooky read, but I would not put any stock on it being an accurate story.
Edit: Review lowered from 4.0. I reviewed the artwork and realized the characters
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Body horror, Cursing, Genocide, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Excrement, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury
This is a heavy Christian-based novel, discussing the norms of the Puritan lifestyle, which include a lot of moments that would displease a feminist reader. There is also gore, blood work in witchcraft, horror, and other darker themes.femmeofswords's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment