Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom

9 reviews

felofhe's review against another edition

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

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

inhaledmocha's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, Torture, Blood, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

solarel's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• 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

People suck. 

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. 

---

Content Warnings

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

alliecat1915's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

• 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death and Death of parent

cowbrotherx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

A fantastic take on the classic puritan witch story. Fantastic characterization of Samson, and I loved Abitha’s transformation throughout the book. Brom’s paintings are eerie and his way of storytelling sucked me in. I could not stop reading! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

rionstorm's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

This book is a bit sluggish and a bit repetitive - it could have been shorter and accomplished the same more effectively. 

It reminded me of The VVitch, so if you're in the mood for pilgrim themed horror that is not really scary you may enjoy.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Alcoholism

dragonaion's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

I thought this book would be more of a historical fiction, taking place in a real world scenario with hints of local folklore, and while technically true, it was not as accurate as I was hoping for. I also was hoping this to be a "witch/witchcraft positive story", which was not the case, and was more of a Christian horror fantasy. The ending was disappointing, as it painted witchcraft and "magic" still aligning with devilry and other evil Christian concepts, and how redemption was still needed and sought for, despite how contrary that was made earlier in the book. It is, however, a gripping horror fantasy and once I set my own (many) disappointments aside, enjoyed the read. Also, you will want a physical copy for the artwork included, they're absolutely gorgeous!  
----
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)... 

the description of the Pukwudgies, their antagonizing behavior towards humans, and the portrayal of the Hobomok (although perhaps not the "widjigo" being another name)

... one is ~75% related with another being arguable...

the word for "net maker" in Algonquin is mamunappeht, but only relates to a spider and there is not a folk entity named so. The mention of an opossum-based creature can be argued, as they are a totem animal of the Pequot, however the portrayal is not a perfect match with the traditional folklore

... and the rest appear to be a mix from other cultures around the world, including the Druidic faith...

the stag and horned god, however even this is misinterpreted as he is not a creature of life and death

... Greek... 

the river Lethe

... and Japanese. 

Creek is best described as a youkai, the Ningyo

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

Samson

and Slewfoot were two entities to start, and were combined into becoming the Devil, by his own words. Considering

Samson also declared himself as the horned god and a god of life and death in the same breath

, that is innacurate and is a choice the author made that is Christian-biased, not even out of ignorance. 

---

Content Warnings

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.

nchipp's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Mental illness, Rape, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, and Colonisation

the cat dies

aimeecdo's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

An incredible “good for her” story that dives beautifully deeper into the classic witch hunts of colonial America. You’ll find yourself in sympathy with the devil himself. Wonderful writing and somehow Brom keeps this story fresh 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Gore

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexism, and Torture