If you are looking for a witchy book in the vein of historical fiction involving puritans and witch hunts or Salem witch trials, mixed with some supernatural elements, this is the witchy book for you.
Keep reading to see our full book review of Slewfoot: Tale of Bewitchery by Brom – A witchy book review.
This is a book blog post featuring Slewfoot: Tale of Bewitchery by Brom – A witchy book review, with our full book review and discussion, plus book recommendations for other books we think you might enjoy.
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Slowprose Review Format
Slowprose is the book division of Slowestuff.
Generally speaking, we don’t think of ourselves as “serious” reviewers, so our format may be a little different. Here is what to expect when you are reading Slowprose book reviews:
- Cover Review – doing the cliche of judging a book by its cover.
- Book Blurb – we share the book jacket or Goodreads blurb about the plot.
- Intrusive Thoughts – these are the general thoughts and feelings we have about the book while reading it.
- Book review – our overall review and star ranking of the book
- Book aesthetics – this is how gorgeous we thought the pages of the book were, or how easy/hard it was to read, or how good the narrator was if it is an audio book.
- Book recommendations – we talk about the author’s other books or other books that remind us of this book in some form or fashion. Basically, this is our catch-all to talk about anything else that we want to.
To see our full review system, including our method of assigning and weighting stars, go here.
COVER REVIEW – Slewfoot: Tale of Bewitchery by Brom
This cover is absolutely stunning while also being foreboding. It tells so much to the viewer – many details of which I completely missed before I read this book.
Looking at it after I read the book, I was stunned how I missed these details the first time.
Beyond this gorgeous cover art, this is the PERFECT coffee table book if you have witchcore or a witchy vibe to your home decor. It goes without saying it would also be amazing during spooky season.
This beautiful work of pure imagination features more than two dozen of Brom’s haunting full-color paintings of the main characters, fully immersing readers in this wild and unforgiving world.
A blazing 5 Stars for this beautiful cover.
BOOK BLURB – Slewfoot: Tale of Bewitchery by Brom – A witchy book review
Given our extreme irrational fear of ever being a spoiler of an epic plot twist, we will just share the book insert or book blurb found on Goodreads to provide the information in terms of the plot:
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom
Colonial New England: Connecticut, 1666: An ancient spirit awakens in a dark wood. The wildfolk call him Father, slayer, protector.
The colonists call him Slewfoot, demon, devil. The indigenous people have their own names for him.
To Abitha, a young woman and recently widowed outcast, alone and vulnerable in her pious village, he is the only one she can turn to for help in this patriarchal society.
Together, they ignite a battle between pagan and Puritan community – one that threatens to destroy the entire village, leaving nothing but ashes and bloodshed in their wake.
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery – Intrusive Thoughts
Great way to start the book. A wee bit spooky. Good hook.
Ok ew at the young marriage.
Oh! Edward is nice! Ok I like that.
Love that she is so feisty. But I’m scared for her too.
This is ENRAGING.
Not sure I understand what is going on with these creatures.
No!
OMG she is trying so hard.
The creature storyline is a bit tedious. Crazy to think I just said that.
BLOOD BOILING
Ok…..not sure I totally understand what just happened there, but understand the gist.
Cruelty is the point.
Hell Hath No Fury.
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom – WITCHY BOOK REVIEW
Slowprose Star Rating – 4.5 Stars
This book is rich with characters, atmosphere, imagery and enchantment. I absolutely loved it.
Abitha’s story of how she became Edward’s wife, how they were treated regarding the farm, and how she was later treated by relatives and puritan culture in general absolutely ENRAGED ME. And scared me. Not in a horror story type of way, but in a chilling, this might be a current reality, kind of way.
The mystical elements of this story were super cool and original. The three small creatures featured (no spoilers!) were genuinely scary to think about. They were a wee bit annoying too, but a lot of that was because I didn’t understand what their purpose was. If they were good or bad.
The big creature was just confusing for me a lot of the time. There was a whole lot of “I don’t know what is going on” from him, which got tiresome to me, as a reader. I felt like this one small part of the book got a bit tedious. That is my only criticism of the book, and the reason it dropped down from a 5 star.
The story of Abitha earns no criticism, it was all around incredible. It evoked all the emotions. You are completely immersed in this world, and it is completely amazing. If you love a story with strong protagonists, Abitha fits that bill. She is fierce!
Once the big creature found his way, it too, was incredible. Brom is incredibly talented at creating imagery in his stories.
I wasn’t sure where the book was going to go about 3/4 of the way through, but WOW. I loved where it went and what happened!!! Super strong ending!
Beautifully written, fully flushed out story, full of everything that makes it a perfect spooky season read. Loved it!
Slowprose Star Rating – 4.5 Stars
BOOK AESTHETICS – Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery
We listened to the audiobook of Slewfoot and the narrator, Barrie Kreinik, was AMAZING. Her voice was perfect, her accent was incredible, and her narration enhanced our experience with this book.
This book is described as historical horror fiction with fantasy elements. Which is completely spot on. The majority of the book was historical fiction, with the fantasy elements woven throughout. The horror elements came forward primary towards the end of the book.
To me, the horror elements were perfectly suited to the story – not overdone or redundant. They were a smaller part of the whole story, but added that nuance when it was called for. I wouldn’t consider this a horror novel outright. It isn’t as in your face as what I think of as a horror book, so horror fans may not find it as hardcore as you are used to, but still respectable. It definitely goes with this imaginative tale.
I loved the whole style and vibe of this book, and will be looking for more books in this genre, and from this author in particular.
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
One author came to mind, rather than a book, when I was reading Slewfoot. Laini Taylor.
The first book of hers that I thought of was Daughter of Smoke & Bone.
Again, no spoilers, but it had the same fantasy type of elements, although in a more contemporary setting. This is book one of a trilogy and, to me, was the strongest of the three books. These stories are ones that will stay with you, there is nothing quite like them.
The Daughter of Smoke & Bone Trilogy Gift Set includes three hardcovers: Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Days of Blood & Starlight, and Dreams of Gods & Monsters.
From master storyteller and National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor comes a sweeping and gorgeously written modern fantasy series about a forbidden love, an ancient and epic battle, and hope for a world remade.
The other books by Laini Taylor that I thought of was the Strange the Dreamer duology, for the magical elements.
You were immersed you in the world created in these books, and made you feel as though you were a part of it, much like in Slewfoot. Absolutely loved these books.
The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around--and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared his dream chose poorly. Since he was just five years old, he's been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the form of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.
What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? And who is the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo's dreams?
You can find these and Slewfoot, as well as many more books in our storefront, Slowestuff Books From The Blog storefront.
Slewfoot: Tale of Bewitchery by Brom – A witchy book review
We hope you enjoyed this Slewfoot witchy book review. If you pick it up, let us know what you thought of it once you read or listened to it!
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[…] Slewfoot is top of our list this year! We want to make it our first book of the season, and can’t wait to dive into this witchy story. *UPDATED* THIS BOOK LIVED UP TO THE HYPE!!! Check out our full review here. […]