Slewfoot by Brom

Set in Colonial New England, Slewfoot is a tale of magic and mystery, of triumph and terror as only dark fantasist Brom can tell it. Connecticut, 1666. An ancient spirit awakens in a dark wood. The wildfolk call him Father, slayer, protector. The colonists call him Slewfoot, demon, devil. To Abitha, a recently widowed outcast, alone and vulnerable in her pious village, he is the only one she can turn to for help. Together, they ignite a battle between pagan and Puritan – one that threatens to destroy the entire village, leaving nothing but ashes and bloodshed in their wake. “If it is a devil you seek, then it is a devil you shall have!” This terrifying tale of bewitchery features more than two dozen of Brom’s haunting paintings, fully immersing readers in this wild and unforgiving world.

This book is just...excellent
From the setting to the characters to the writing, this was just immaculate. I love this book and we stan Samson (he got some serious character development) and Abitha (she is an absolute badass). (we don't like Wallace tho). And the art is just gorgeous!

Also, what happened to Edward?

I think there's a quantifiable struggle amongst readers to pinpoint / express what makes us love a certain novel.

I'm finding that struggle here. Slewfoot completely transported me to a different time, different world, and every character was filled with emotional range and complexity. A joy of a gothic novel.

Merged review:

I think there's a quantifiable struggle amongst readers to pinpoint / express what makes us love a certain novel.

I'm finding that struggle here. Slewfoot completely transported me to a different time, different world, and every character was filled with emotional range and complexity. A joy of a gothic novel.

This book is a stunningly great read—a terrific melding of Old World paganism at odds with New World Puritanism. Some scenes include graphic violence but everything in service to the story.

Abitha found herself in this Puritanical village through her father's terribly choice of making her a mail-order bride to pay off debts. Her kindness is at odds with her own survival as she rediscovers her family's pagan roots in Mother Earth and nature.

Puritans hate all those ideas with a fiery passion—they don't know the meaning live and let live. They're set on everyone and everything fitting into their own little Christian box and killing anyone who doesn't.

Abitha tries to play by their rules but is sabotaged time and again, always falling short of expectation and attacked for it. I was rooting for her from beginning to end.

Honestly, what a poignant allegory about human cruelty when they choose to fear what they don't understand and the consequences just on the other side.