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The good, in my opinion, was the quality of writing. Brom's talent with weaving a story that is both reflective of the era it is meant to represent, palatable to current era readers, and parsed in such a way that it doesn't compromise on the plot is what makes it so easy to read this book. There's also Abitha's plight, which any feminist would find great interest in, since I would best describe her story as one of feminine rage firstly (and a crisis of faith secondly, followed by a tertiary stress from loss). Something that I admire about Brom is that he does include pictures that he created for these stories, which I feel compound on an already great attention to detail when describing physical appearances and the scenery. As someone who has recently written and researched for an adjacent concept, I also was impressed by the accuracy/effort that went into crafting literary devices that served and hints to what might come next. It all tied well together. The last positive I have is that, because of all these strengths listed above, Brom is successful as leading the reader down multiple paths at once, making his distractions and diversions impactful - not because you couldn't predict them, necessarily, but because you couldn't decide which outcome would prevail as the story progressed.
The bad, for me, mostly comes in that I didn't find myself loving any characters. I rooted for characters, sure, but I was never totally over the moon about anyone, really. I also found myself struggling because this is a story about a woman and her path, despite the book being called Slewfoot, and in spite of the alternating limited perspective shifts between characters - and yet, in the end, she relies on a male character. No matter what she did in the story, she remained subservient to a man/male presented character. Edward, Wallace, Reverend Carter, Sheriff Pitkin, Father, and on and on with every man who has a hand in whether or not she gets to prevail in her efforts. It was disappointing that Abitha did not get to be her own hero or to have found heroes in the women around her.
I read this borrowed digitally from a library and my ultimate determination to settle on 3.5 instead of 3.75 was that I - 1) do not plan to seek out other Brom publications to read, at least to actively, and 2) do not feel that I enjoyed this story enough to purchase the book for my personal library.
This book is perfect for someone, I'm sure, but certainly not for me.
In regards to the Trigger Warnings, here's a breakdown of ones that I find at the most difficult to gauge when determining whether or not to pass on a book.
- Adult/Minor Relationship:
Abitha is sold by her father at 16 to be wed to Edward Williams, and she is 17/18 when she arrives. This story takes place while she is 19/20. - Incest: This isn't actual incest in the traditional sense.
After Abitha is widowed, is it suggested that she marry her nephew, whom is 14 at that time (and she is 19/20). It does not proceed further because Abitha refuses. - Stalking/Voyeurism:
Wallace, who is Abitha's brother-in-law, stalks Abitha as she runs the farm she inherits upon being widowed. There is a point in the story where he arrives with other men, including his minor son, and they all become aroused while watching her. - Animal Death:
This is widely varied, so it might be the usual animal death related to eating meat and the usual farming business. But it can also be a sacrifice, or even just a passing allusion. Either way, it varies widely, so it really is a proceed at your own risk. - Body Horror: Graphic is an understatement, I would say.
I think the driving force of this falling into the horror genre is only the body horror aspect. If the blood, guts, and fore were removed - there are no other elements of this story which feel a fit for the horror genre.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Confinement, Incest, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Death of parent, Colonisation, War
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Confinement, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Stalking, Classism
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Rape, Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Dysphoria, Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Car accident, Deportation
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, Classism
Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, Torture, Blood, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
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, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Death of parent
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, Injury/Injury detail
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.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Death of parent, Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism