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iygatac_reads's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Ok, so. I was so hyped for this book. And by the end I did like it and I'll be checking out book 2 when it comes out. I guess how book 2 goes will determine whether this is a "I want it on my shelves" or a "I'll just borrow it from the library" read, but I really really thought this was going to be the former when I initially heard about The Year of the Witching last year. And part of this is a, it's on me thing.
I'd thought this was an adult book going in, so I was really thrown by the much more YA seeming feel when I started. I also think the last 60% of this book is stronger than the first 40%. Some of what threw me also was like, there were about 3 times that characters used turns of phrase in dialogue that just didn't feel right for the setting? Like it took me out of the story. But like I said, the second half of the book was stronger and so I ended it feeling pretty good about it. I also found some points being explicitly stated instead of left as implied to be kind of too much, but maybe that's because I went in expecting it to be a pure adult read and its more a crossover.
Bethel is a highly patriarchal, religious, and puritanical society that's basically ruled by the Prophet. From Penguin, "In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet’s word is law, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast her once-proud family into disgrace, so Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol [...] like all the other women in the settlement." But then Imanuelle has an encounter with the Darkwood that sets events into play and results in her questioning the society she lives in more than she ever has before.
I cannot help it so I was very into the romance here lol. Very, girl questioning authority and privileged boy who doesn't accept his father's vision, is rebellious, and wants to do good.
I'd thought this was an adult book going in, so I was really thrown by the much more YA seeming feel when I started. I also think the last 60% of this book is stronger than the first 40%. Some of what threw me also was like, there were about 3 times that characters used turns of phrase in dialogue that just didn't feel right for the setting? Like it took me out of the story. But like I said, the second half of the book was stronger and so I ended it feeling pretty good about it. I also found some points being explicitly stated instead of left as implied to be kind of too much, but maybe that's because I went in expecting it to be a pure adult read and its more a crossover.
Bethel is a highly patriarchal, religious, and puritanical society that's basically ruled by the Prophet. From Penguin, "In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet’s word is law, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast her once-proud family into disgrace, so Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol [...] like all the other women in the settlement." But then Imanuelle has an encounter with the Darkwood that sets events into play and results in her questioning the society she lives in more than she ever has before.
I cannot help it so I was very into the romance here lol. Very, girl questioning authority and privileged boy who doesn't accept his father's vision, is rebellious, and wants to do good.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
plantbasedbride's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
In The Year of the Witching Alexis Henderson imagines an alternate puritan history where witches are real and are hiding in the dark wood. And as much as I wanted to love this book, it just fell a flat for me.
The characters were bland, including our protagonist, Immanuelle. She, and all of the other characters, were younger than I expected and as a result, the book read like YA. Now, there's nothing wrong with YA, I've read several YA horror/thriller novels lately that continued to deliver on meaningful thematic content and engross me despite the young age of the main character(s), but this one felt too simplistic and lacking in depth for my taste.
I did love Immanuelle's lesbian grandma and would have LOVED to read this story from her perspective. Alas, she had a cameo at best.
While Henderson hinted at some interesting themes tying in race, purity, sexism, and misogyny within a religious context that scapegoats (and tortures) women for the sins of men, the commentary didn't quite land. Not only is Emmanuelle saved by a white man with power, the son of the most powerful man in their community, but the ultimate scapegoats - the witches in the wood - continue to be blamed for all of the evil done by misogynistic and violent men and are portrayed as evil until the last page. I kept waiting for the reveal that the witches were actually misunderstood and vilified as the women in the community continued to be, pushed out for the crime of being strong women who challenged the totalitarian power of men, but the book didn't go there.
All in all this book tried some interesting things, and I enjoyed the atmosphere, but its message was garbled and frustrating to read.
The characters were bland, including our protagonist, Immanuelle. She, and all of the other characters, were younger than I expected and as a result, the book read like YA. Now, there's nothing wrong with YA, I've read several YA horror/thriller novels lately that continued to deliver on meaningful thematic content and engross me despite the young age of the main character(s), but this one felt too simplistic and lacking in depth for my taste.
I did love Immanuelle's lesbian grandma and would have LOVED to read this story from her perspective. Alas, she had a cameo at best.
While Henderson hinted at some interesting themes tying in race, purity, sexism, and misogyny within a religious context that scapegoats (and tortures) women for the sins of men, the commentary didn't quite land. Not only is Emmanuelle saved by a white man with power, the son of the most powerful man in their community, but the ultimate scapegoats - the witches in the wood - continue to be blamed for all of the evil done by misogynistic and violent men and are portrayed as evil until the last page. I kept waiting for the reveal that the witches were actually misunderstood and vilified as the women in the community continued to be, pushed out for the crime of being strong women who challenged the totalitarian power of men, but the book didn't go there.
All in all this book tried some interesting things, and I enjoyed the atmosphere, but its message was garbled and frustrating to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Racism, Rape, and Violence
paytograce's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual assault and Adult/minor relationship
editorbrenna's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, and Torture
doomluz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Loved this historical, fantasy, horror mix. It reminds me of The VVitch film in aesthetic, but set in a world the author created. The themes were strong. I kind of get how it felt like a YA because of the love story, but I didn’t mind it. I like that it connects and explicitly talks about the menstrual cycle. It shows how women are seen through their fertility, but it also connects it to a curse.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Rape, Confinement, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
jenna0289's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Gore, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, and Domestic abuse
bookishbutch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Gun violence, Grief, and Confinement
Minor: Miscarriage and Self harm
loislane93's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is an interesting feminist tale about witches, religion, and family. It has so many good elements in it, a genuinely spooky/sometimes terrifying feel (perfect for October); POC main character, a fantastic grip on patriarchal societies and the horrors that it can bring. It also had some very frustrating parts as well, especially the latter half of the book as a whole. I felt the characterization of all the side characters was very strong, but the "witchy villians" to me felt very one note which was a real shame as they had so much potential. The ending in particular felt very rushed and unfulfilling to me, personally. I do think it's a great book for those who want to step out of the YA world and dip their toes into the broader (sometimes difficult to navigate) world of adult fiction.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Religious bigotry
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