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sdsmith80'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
5.0
I put this book on hold because it was a book club pick, although I didn't get it in time to participate. I'm always a fan of religious horror though, so was somewhat looking forward to this. My first thoughts with it were that Bethel has shades of the FLDS and other local sects that subjugate women. I was pretty sure that the author was going to make the point that women are oppressed to strip them of their power, and that the witches would ultimately be forces of good. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book has a level of nuance in its characters, and the battle between good and evil, that isn't normally seen. I'll let the author tell it in their own words:
"Some of them were innocent, others complicit; still more were caught in the gray between right and wrong. Few were wholly blameless, and none were free of sin."
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, and Xenophobia
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
chronicallyplotting'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? It's complicated
3.0
This book is a mix between a religious cult, meets witch trials, meets what darkness truly is and how people can become all-Consumed into it.
This book, although being outside my normal reading style, was very well written. I was lured into the magic and mystery of the Darkwood making this the perfect spooky season read. The ending did fall a little flat in an effort to wrap it up and leave room for a potential sequel. But overall this was a good recommendation I found in one of my Facebook book groups.
Moderate: Blood, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, and Sexual assault
chilivanilli28'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
3.5
Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Death
moodreadererin'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? No
5.0
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
hngisreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Animal death, Pregnancy, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
jdsquared'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
4.25
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Sexual assault
chichio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The writing in this book was unbelievable—so atmospheric and full of details without being unnecessarily convoluted. I could quite literally see all of the imagery in my mind’s eye, and there were very clear moments where I was able to watch characters move throughout the space as though I were watching a movie. On the topic of imagery, the horrific elements of this book were so creative and grotesque. I loved every single second of it.
Also, obsessed with our protagonist Immanuelle! Loved her so much. The author did an amazing job writing this character, to the point where even when she made decisions that I didn’t agree with, I still felt as though they were justifiable because of the kind of person she’d been crafted by the author to be.
The only reason why this isn’t getting the whole 5 stars from me is the pacing, namely near the very end of the book.
Still, this was a fantastic horror read for autumn written by a black author with a black protagonist! I enjoyed it all so much and will definitely checking out more from this author.
Graphic: Misogyny, Blood, Gore, Death of parent, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Sexism
Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse
kendall919'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault
thebakersbooks's review against another edition
- 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
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
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