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3.5 

The Year of the Witching

By Alexis Henderson
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

A young woman living in a rigid, puritanical society discovers dark powers within herself in this stunning, feminist fantasy debut.
 
In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet's word is law, Immanuelle Moore's very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast her once-proud family into disgrace, so Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol, and lead a life of submission, devotion, and absolute conformity, like all the other women in the settlement.

But a mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still lurking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the journal of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood.

Fascinated by the secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Church and its history, she realizes the true threat to Bethel is its own darkness. And she starts to understand that if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her.

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5042 Reviews

3.5
“I absolutely LOVED this book. It reminded me of Slewfoot by Brom and I can never resist a tale of witchcraft, raw feminine rage, and religious trauma. The narrative was wonderfully dark and eerie, filled with haunting imagery and a sense of dread and impending doom. I found the writing to be quite beautiful, despite it being a fairly quick and easy read, and I connected deeply with several quotes throughout the novel. I will say that as much as I enjoyed this book, I do have some mixed feelings about the ending. I had anticipated a different outcome and was surprised by the direction taken in the final chapters. I really admire the main character, yet I found myself hoping that she would grow to embrace the darker aspects of her journey and “prophecy”, if you will. Perhaps she is simply a better person than I am, because if I were in her position with the knowledge she had during the final scene, I sincerely doubt I would have shown the same level of mercy. All in all, I found the book engaging from start to finish. While I had hoped for a different final scene, I still feel reasonably pleased with the ending.”
Smiling Face with Heart-Eyes“I could not put this book down. If I wasn't listening to it, I was thinking about it, and if I wasn't thinking about it, I was talking about it. A cross between The VVitch and Exodus, this story left me begging for more at every turn.”

About Alexis Henderson

Alexis Henderson is the author of Goodreads Choice Awards finalists The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger. When she's not writing, you'll find her hanging out with her cats or nursing a hot cup of tea.

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