A review by laurenleigh
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

dark reflective tense slow-paced
  • 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

4.0

I found myself rather bewitched by this book. I often had a hard time following the plot, but something about the prose style and the audiobook narration kept me listening. I originally read this for a “witches” reading challenge prompt, but then I realized it was a better fit for the “social horror genre” prompt. (Get Out is largely responsible I think for the renewed interest in this genre.) Henderson makes an important point with her plot. Doing nothing to challenge a status quo that actively harms part of a community is also harm itself. It’s easy to be complicit, which is partly why systems of oppression are upheld. I was interested in how the ending played out and how our protagonist didn’t pick one side, recognizing that both had their flaws. Love the spooky vibes, love the commentary even more.
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