A review by kmesserl
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • 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? It's complicated

5.0

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.
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