Scan barcode
chilivanilli28's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Death
moodreadererin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Pregnancy, Violence, Death of parent, Bullying, Hate crime, Murder, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Rape, Vomit, and Sexual assault
abhss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, Blood, and Child abuse
the_shelf_elf's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Animal death, Religious bigotry, Child death, and Death
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: descriptions of blood and gore, violence, death/murder, animal sacrifice, animal death, misogyny, scarification, self-harm, menstruation mention, sex, racism, domestic abuse, child abuse, child sexual abuse mention, torture, childbirth/medical trauma
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson is book 1 in the Bethel series. This is the first book about witches in a puritanical society I've read that features a black MC. This is the witch and Salem witch trial adjacent story I've been looking for! There is way more rep for black people in this book than I've seen for this time period other than slavery.
We follow Immanuel Moore, a mixed race black girl in land called Bethel, that is puritanical to its core. Women have no rights and they and the younger girls bear the burden of sin due to the belief in witchcraft. Except in Bethel, witches are real, and Immanuel's mother consorted with them. In Bethel, the only way to purge and purify a sinner such as a witch, means burning them on a pyre.
When Immanuel accidentally sets off plagues in Bethel, she realizes she's the only one that can stop the curse and save Bethel and all the innocent girls in it. Soon Immanuel realizes the threat isn't the witches, it's the system the Church and the Prophet created to harm and exploit women and girls, and the complicity bystanders who do nothing.
This was a very gruesome read, but fascinating nonetheless. Henderson examines themes around religious and patriarchal oppression as a means to gain power and control, the hypocrisy of the Church, and the endless cycle of violence. She examines how prolonged abuse and oppression can turn someone who used to be gentle into a violent, vengeful thing. She tells us that mercy is the only way to move forward and leave the violence behind. "Blood begets blood."
There were so many passages I tabbed, because the messages are just so good. It's nice to see a fresh take on puritanical witches and society. I will be reading the next book.
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson is book 1 in the Bethel series. This is the first book about witches in a puritanical society I've read that features a black MC. This is the witch and Salem witch trial adjacent story I've been looking for! There is way more rep for black people in this book than I've seen for this time period other than slavery.
We follow Immanuel Moore, a mixed race black girl in land called Bethel, that is puritanical to its core. Women have no rights and they and the younger girls bear the burden of sin due to the belief in witchcraft. Except in Bethel, witches are real, and Immanuel's mother consorted with them. In Bethel, the only way to purge and purify a sinner such as a witch, means burning them on a pyre.
When Immanuel accidentally sets off plagues in Bethel, she realizes she's the only one that can stop the curse and save Bethel and all the innocent girls in it. Soon Immanuel realizes the threat isn't the witches, it's the system the Church and the Prophet created to harm and exploit women and girls, and the complicity bystanders who do nothing.
This was a very gruesome read, but fascinating nonetheless. Henderson examines themes around religious and patriarchal oppression as a means to gain power and control, the hypocrisy of the Church, and the endless cycle of violence. She examines how prolonged abuse and oppression can turn someone who used to be gentle into a violent, vengeful thing. She tells us that mercy is the only way to move forward and leave the violence behind. "Blood begets blood."
There were so many passages I tabbed, because the messages are just so good. It's nice to see a fresh take on puritanical witches and society. I will be reading the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Misogyny, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, and Gore
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Sexual content
kendall919's review against another edition
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault
thebakersbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
In The Year of the Witching, author Alexis Henderson takes the ‘dark bad, light good,’ trope often seen in speculative fiction to its logical conclusion in order to dissect it. The story comes down heavily on themes of corruption and misogyny in (Christian) religious settings—I can’t say if it’s a discussion of a particular sect or denomination, since I’m not Christian. This was a tough, emotional read, but it was very skillfully written and the fantasy elements made the hard-hitting parts more bearable.
I’m going to let this book speak for itself on a few of the topics I thought it addressed really well.
- Misogyny in Christianity: “Bethel has placed its burdens on the shoulders of little girls for far too long.”
- Inaction in the face of injustice: “Good people don’t bow their heads and bite their tongues while other good people suffer. Good people are not complicit.”
- Anti-Blackness in western Christianity: “In all her sixteen years, Immanuelle had never seen any saints or effigies in her own likeness. None of the statues and paintings housed in the Prophet’s Cathedral bore any resemblance to her.”
- The church allowing men to take sexual advantage of children: “It was the sickness that placed the pride of men before the innocents they were sworn to protect. It was a structure that exploited the weakest among them for the benefit of those born to power.”
- White people not coming through for their mixed-race family: Main character Immanuelle’s white grandmother betrays her to the religious authority and Immanuelle later says, “She’s no kin to me.”
- Religious rhetoric being used to justify atrocities: “The Holy Scriptures had always made those conflicts seem like battle sands wars, but in actuality, it was just a massacre.”
This was an excellent book. I wouldn’t necessarily call it an enjoyable read at all times, but it contained lots of great social commentary built on a foundation of rich worldbuilding. I recommend The Year of the Witching to anyone who enjoys intense fantasy and won’t be disturbed by the religious commentary (or will be disturbed in a good way; western Christianity needs to be shaken up this way now and then, in my opinion.)
Content notes: mention of rape in a religious context; spousal abuse; religion-base misogyny; racism/colorism; blood/gore; ritual self-harm; ritual sacrifice of animals; religion-sanctioned child rape; on-page traumatic childbirth; death of birthing parent
I’m going to let this book speak for itself on a few of the topics I thought it addressed really well.
- Misogyny in Christianity: “Bethel has placed its burdens on the shoulders of little girls for far too long.”
- Inaction in the face of injustice: “Good people don’t bow their heads and bite their tongues while other good people suffer. Good people are not complicit.”
- Anti-Blackness in western Christianity: “In all her sixteen years, Immanuelle had never seen any saints or effigies in her own likeness. None of the statues and paintings housed in the Prophet’s Cathedral bore any resemblance to her.”
- The church allowing men to take sexual advantage of children: “It was the sickness that placed the pride of men before the innocents they were sworn to protect. It was a structure that exploited the weakest among them for the benefit of those born to power.”
- White people not coming through for their mixed-race family: Main character Immanuelle’s white grandmother betrays her to the religious authority and Immanuelle later says, “She’s no kin to me.”
- Religious rhetoric being used to justify atrocities: “The Holy Scriptures had always made those conflicts seem like battle sands wars, but in actuality, it was just a massacre.”
This was an excellent book. I wouldn’t necessarily call it an enjoyable read at all times, but it contained lots of great social commentary built on a foundation of rich worldbuilding. I recommend The Year of the Witching to anyone who enjoys intense fantasy and won’t be disturbed by the religious commentary (or will be disturbed in a good way; western Christianity needs to be shaken up this way now and then, in my opinion.)
Content notes: mention of rape in a religious context; spousal abuse; religion-base misogyny; racism/colorism; blood/gore; ritual self-harm; ritual sacrifice of animals; religion-sanctioned child rape; on-page traumatic childbirth; death of birthing parent
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
radlizareads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pregnancy, Child abuse, and Misogyny
stellenelcielo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Nowadays, I don't often give five stars to books, not out of a sense of superiority, but usually because there had been an element in the book that irked me enough that I couldn't.
This is not a case of that. I loved this book.
Immanuelle, while frustratingly forgiving and self-sacrificing, especially around the end, is still a very realistic take on a character whose had piousness drilled into her since she was born. Her empathy for her town (which I may add, do not deserve it in the slightest) was infuriating at times, but understandable. I loved the dark nature of this book, and how although there's the idea that the witches might be misunderstood throughout the story, it very soon becomes clear that they are not, but that they aren't necessarily in the wrong either.
Maybe the only gripe I would have with this book would be that Vera Ward was introduced so late into the story, but then again, it does say that this is book 1 of a series, so I am very hopeful to read more about Bethel, and it's characters. Would especially be interested in knowing more about the Outskirts, and their take on faith, which was described much differently than what Immanuel was accustomed to; as well as the story of Lilith and the other witches.
Since watching the 2015 film, The Witch (with Anya Taylor-Joy) I've been interested in puritanical-criticism/witchcraft theme, and it's always fun finding works that incorporate it. Anyhow, The Year of the Witching was a great book, great plot, characters, and just the right amount of fanatical horror.
Can't wait to get my hands on the next book.
This is not a case of that. I loved this book.
Immanuelle, while frustratingly forgiving and self-sacrificing, especially around the end, is still a very realistic take on a character whose had piousness drilled into her since she was born. Her empathy for her town (which I may add, do not deserve it in the slightest) was infuriating at times, but understandable. I loved the dark nature of this book, and how although there's the idea that the witches might be misunderstood throughout the story, it very soon becomes clear that they are not, but that they aren't necessarily in the wrong either.
Maybe the only gripe I would have with this book would be that Vera Ward was introduced so late into the story, but then again, it does say that this is book 1 of a series, so I am very hopeful to read more about Bethel, and it's characters. Would especially be interested in knowing more about the Outskirts, and their take on faith, which was described much differently than what Immanuel was accustomed to; as well as the story of Lilith and the other witches.
Since watching the 2015 film, The Witch (with Anya Taylor-Joy) I've been interested in puritanical-criticism/witchcraft theme, and it's always fun finding works that incorporate it. Anyhow, The Year of the Witching was a great book, great plot, characters, and just the right amount of fanatical horror.
Can't wait to get my hands on the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Misogyny, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Animal death, Body horror, and Sexual assault
There is brief reveal of past child sexual abuse of one of the characters.raptorq's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Religious bigotry, and Physical abuse
Minor: Child abuse