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hunkydory's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury
mari1532's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
This is one of those books when you start reading it you immediately want to know everything that is about to happen and also do not want to read/listen to it too quickly. The nail-biting aspects of this story that Henderson achieves in her writing made it nearly impossible for me to draw myself away from the story.
The mix of religious fervour in the town of Bethel and myth made the story feel a bit like it might have happened in real life at some point in history.
Synopsis: Immanuelle is a teenage girl, coming of age in a society dictated by religious doctrine. In a society where women are property and physically marked upon marriage, Immanuelle has no desire to give up her independence. To complicate matters more her parents broke all the rules of Bethel and she is marked with the stain of their sin. As Immanuelle tries to find herself she must come to terms with her familial legacy and to do that she might just end up breaking all the rules.
The way Henderson writes her characters is so good. I truly hated several people in this book because they were just so awful and there were others who switched from hating to loving. The complexity made the story even richer and more engrossing. I cannot wait for the second book.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault and Child abuse
gingerale06's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexism, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Death, and Domestic abuse
goldenslug's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Violence, Misogyny, Death, Rape, Religious bigotry, Murder, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
theologize's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Violence, Death, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Gun violence
suz_n_van's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Emotional abuse
nieenkee's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Child abuse, Death, Racism, Child death, Misogyny, Murder, Body horror, Rape, and Blood
oesterzwamsnack's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Death, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Rape, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"The Year of the Witching" follows a young woman named Immanuelle. Immanuelle has struggled with her identity her whole life because her father was an outsider of her mother's very strict and puritanical society. Immanuelle has always tried to do good and be her best self, but the society is still hyper critical. During an unfortunate accident, Immanuelle finds herself in a dark forest and she stumbles upon witches and a journal that is somehow connected to her deceased mom. Now, Immanuelle is determined to uncover how her mother could be connected to witches and what this means for herself.
This book is dark, creepy, and atmospheric, and I highly recommend reading it during the short fall days. Unfortunately, I felt like this book was very okay. It did not do necessarily anything that I did not like, but it also did not wow me. I was curious about Immanuelle's story, but I never felt invested.
There is something I do really enjoy about Alexis Henderson's writing, so I will be eager to give her another try in the future!
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
erkietheturkey's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Violence, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual assault, and Confinement
Minor: Medical content