Review | The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

Immanuelle is a young woman who is treated with disdain because of her parents and the colour of her skin. She’s a devout follower of the Good Father but when she accidentally ventured into the forests of Darkwood, she discovers something that changes her life. As she tries to find out the truth behind her family history, her community is plagued by disasters. Will Immanuelle be the one to save her town – or will her secrets bring danger to her?

As for the girls like Immanuelle – the ones from the Outskirts, with dark skin and raven-black curls, cheekbones as keen as cut stone – well, the Scriptures never mentioned them at all. There were no statues or paintings rendered in their likeness, no poems or stories penned in their honor.

I can’t believe I waited so long to read this! I devoured The Year of the Witching in a day and it was delightful. The book is set in a puritanical society in the town of Bethel where faith is law, the Prophet is worshipped and women are treated like objects. It makes for a harrowing read in the way the characters have accepted the way they live, even to their own detriment. When we first meet Immanuel, she’s obedient and devout, trusting in the community and its way of life. But soon she starts questioning everything she has ever known. I liked watching her anger and dissatisfaction grow! I thought she’s an easy heroine to root for, and she handles everything that is thrown at her with aplomb. She meets an ally in the form of the Prophet’s son, Ezra, and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow. I also liked her relationship with her family, fraught as it is.

Although the storyline is a little familiar, it still has some surprises. I thought the origins of the witches are done well and they brought some creepy moments into the story. The setting of Bethel feels real and I could feel the weight of the oppression as the poor people in the community struggle under the shadow of the Prophet and his rule. The clashes between the old and the new builds up to an exciting conclusion.  It’s a brilliant feminist tale with a commentary on racism, tyranny and the seductive pull of power. This is an impressive debut and I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

The Year of the Witching is a fantastic addition to the witchy horror subgenre and one of my favourite books of the year.

CW: sexual abuse, child death, animal sacrifice

About the author: Alexis Henderson

Photo by Nicola Fioravanti