A review by corabookworm
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Slewfoot isn't really, as the summary implies, about a "battle between pagan and puritan." Rather, it is about a young woman named Abitha, struggling against her evil brother-in-law and the puritan village that supports him. So just keep your expectations less "big religious war" and more "badass woman."

I really really enjoyed this book. It had elements of horror but was almost more of a thriller, with every page seeped in tension and suspense. I was captivated both by Abitha's battles against evil religious men and by Samson's pursuit of his true identity. And the way it all tied together in a fireball of rage and magic and creepy creatures... perfection.

If you like stories about weird forest monsters, feminine rage, and witches, you'll enjoy this one. I highly recommend it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Gun violence, Self harm, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Colonisation

SPOILERS AHEAD >> CW Descriptions >> Takes place in Colonial America: Indigenous people are referred to as "Indians" and sometimes as "savages" by side characters >> Lots of death and fire and injuries all around >> Cat is killed off-page but body is described and mocked >> Village is Puritan, big emphasis on organized religion, they have a clear hierarchy of men over women and rich over poor >> "Self harm" refers to characters being forced to wound themsleves or willingly giving blood sacrifices >> At one point a character suggests Abitha should marry her underage nephew-in-law (she doesn't)