Reviews with content warning for Sexism - The Year of the Witching

So many things I'd like to say. Most of them opinion based, which I don't typically share, but one I feel is important enough to mention.

This writer keeps brushing past any and all trauma. It happens, or you hear about it, then it never or almost never gets mentioned again. Your only friend gets raped at 13? How awful, but I have to talk with the rapist's son real quick. Let me abandon you in this hallway, byebye. And the next time I see this rapist? I don't even think once about the abuse my best friend suffered... I mean, what? Immanuelle is supposed to really care about the innocents, that's her entire motivation for everything, so I have to assume weird writing. Especially because this happens with all the tragedies.

The plot for this book was really intriguing, so I'm open to giving this first time author a second chance, I can see her becoming better at her craft. Just, more on emotion on the page, please!

Content Warnings

mandkips's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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bibliofilth's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book started off super strong, but the middle and ending really didn't stick the landing. The beginning is very atmospheric, slow and tense until it evolves into a more standard YA plotline of "just gotta defeat the big bad" and a romance that felt unnecessary. I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel - I'll wait for reviews to see if it has the same pacing/tone issue. However considering this IS a debut novel, it's not unforgivable and I'm still interested in seeing what more this author can produce. It just wasn't as strong near the end as it was in the beginning.

Trigger warnings/squicks: Extremely patriarchal society/sexism (women have no power in society, only purpose are to marry and have children), extremely oppressive religion, racism, death, gore, violence, torture, disturbing scenes
Representation: Main character is mixed race (white and Black), a sapphic side character. Author is black

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doomluz's review against another edition

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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.

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nerdybirdy101's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

3.5

I had high expectations for this book on the hype that it received during its release and the number of posts that were dedicated to it by book influencers. I think my high expectations did impact my reading of the book because I wanted more to happen and I thought some scenes were understated to my expectations. I did enjoy it and like the book, but I wanted more.

Basically, this book features a society that is basically a religious cult where they have the leader the Prophet who basically governs and dictates life. The Prophet is always a man, he apparently has visions, and he can have multiple wives. This cult has whites men in power and that women are treated as tools and objects. The Prophet can have multiple wives who he frequently abuses. Wives are branded with a symbol in the middle of their forehead to showcase they belong to their husbands. The cult is supposed to follow their Bible that has a bunch of religious practices and beliefs where they should not sin. There were witches in the cult’s past where these witches who were women had drama with the town, which has long-lasting impacts. Now anyone who is considered or found guilty of witchcraft is burned. The witches are rumored to still reside in the dark woods and people, especially women, are warned to stay out. Our main character, Immanuelle’s, mother was found guilty of witchcraft and was burned. In this story, we follow Immanuelle in her struggle to understand her mother and her mother’s action, where Immanuelle is going to try to reverse a big evil plaguing the cult’s town. There is an attempt at romance in this book, which I am intrigued if it is going to continue in the sequel.

I gave this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars because I definitely think that it is better than average (3 stars) but it does not exceed the ideal of being a great read (4 stars). I liked the plot and many of the twists the author made, but I think they could have been executed a little bit better. I do wonder if this book could be good to be adapted as a TV series because there are cases where I wished there were more details in a scene that could be filled if adapted.

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bookishbutch's review against another edition

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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

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alyse's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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