Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery
Ratings111
Average rating4.4
Brom's Slewfoot is a dark, atmospheric novel that blends horror with folklore in a way that is both unsettling and captivating. Set in 17th century New England, the story follows Abitha, a woman who finds herself battling not only the oppressive forces of her Puritan village but also an ancient, supernatural evil. The tension between the natural world and the spiritual realm is one of the book's strongest elements, with Brom's hauntingly detailed prose bringing the forest and its sinister creatures to life.
The character of Slewfoot, a massive, malevolent entity with ties to the land and pagan rituals, is a standout. The complex relationship that forms between Slewfoot and Abitha is the emotional core of the novel, and Brom skillfully builds a sense of dread and fascination around it. There's a potent mix of body horror, psychological suspense, and eerie folklore that keeps the reader on edge throughout.
While the pacing in the middle section can feel a little slow, with some plot points meandering before converging towards a satisfying, albeit dark, conclusion, Slewfoot's atmosphere and world-building more than make up for it. Brom's signature dark art style also adds an extra layer of immersion, with the illustrations helping to visualize the novel's eerie and grotesque elements.
Brom delivers a story that is both unsettling and thought-provoking, exploring themes of power, vengeance, and the human connection to the natural world. Though the novel doesn't quite reach the level of a perfect 5-star read due to its occasional pacing issues, it is an evocative and chilling journey that will resonate with fans of folk horror and gothic fiction.
This was my first book from Brom and I loved it! Based around a Puritan society and injustices to women during this time has you following a main character in an arranged marriage who fights with everything she has. You'll really hate one character in particular that is constantly her adversary and is filled with his own self preservation.Now,add in an old folklore legend, dark creepy elements, great pictures from Brom and you have yourself a fantastic book.
I forgot to write a review of this, and it's receded into brain fog a little bit since, but here's what I wrote at the time in the book Slack channel at work:
“It was really good, but I think I was expecting to love it more than I did. The ending was fab, but I wish the first 2/3rds gave a bit more. 4 stars.”
Lately, I've really been enjoying horror of the “Good for her” variety (c'mon Midsommar!), so this definitely fit that vibe.
I guess I was hoping for The-Craft-but-make-it-pilgrim, with a bit more witchy-ness leading up to the climax. It was just little backloaded, which is great for the final set piece, but makes the lead up less compelling of a journey.
But the final set piece though? Ooooh! There were some genuinely affecting and disturbing moments that sets it off, and when the witchy-ness happens, it really ~ h a p p e n s ~. Good for her!
I bought the hardcover edition with a gift card, which was well worth it for the artwork alone, regardless of the story. It's absolutely STUNNING.
4.25 stars. A very well-paced story that excellently mixed historical fiction with magic and mysticism, and dug deep into extremely consistent and interesting themes of religion, the horrors of humanity, and the idea that every villain is the hero of their own story.
Another banger from Brom! I definitely enjoyed Krampus more but this is still a 5 star read for me. A lot more slow of a burn but I don't mean boring by any means.
The setting is 1666 Connecticut, by unfortunate circumstance Abitha must run a farm by herself and create enough corn to pay off her brother in law who will do whatever it takes for her to fail, for to fail means that he gets the farm. Abitha starts hearing whispers and seeing things lurking in the woods. Dealing with that, her brother in law trying to sabotage her, and the religious zealots who are trigger happy to call “witch” on anything they don't understand, she might just lose her farm. She ends up calling for the help of a dark woodland entity who is called by many names; Father, Protector, Slayer, Demon, Devil.....SLEWFOOT
80/100. Really solid story. The highlights are the folklore, the imagery given by Broms descriptions and a great protagonist. The story is one of revenge and it's a delight when it happens. Solid read. Check it out
Great imagery, somewhat predictable but still a great read. My one major regret was only listening to this on audible. I read later that there are illustrations in the physical copy. Worth the time!
Merged review:
Great imagery, somewhat predictable but still a great read. My one major regret was only listening to this on audible. I read later that there are illustrations in the physical copy. Worth the time!
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.
read for patreon book club march 2023
love the vibes and writing in this. it had so many things i love in horror and this went into a good for her revenge story which i didn't expect. this really played on the grayness of religion, actions, and morality.
Dark and perfect. There was nothing here that I could possibly critique or be disappointed by. Brom is a master storyteller
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Dark and perfect. There was nothing here that I could possibly critique or be disappointed by. Brom is a master storyteller
I was considering DNFing at about 30% cause I was bored. Let me just say I am so glad I pushed through because that was SO GOOD. Wow. Just wow.
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?
If you are like me, you may wonder if you want to finish this book at about the 50% mark because of where things seem to be going. Well, I ended up reading the epilogue at that point, because if it ended in the way it seemed like it might I knew I'd hate it very much. But after reading the epilogue I was calmed and happily finished and I'm glad I did. If you'd like to be calmed too,
Spoiler
This is very reminiscent of the movie vvitch in some ways. The main one being it is a slower build, much slower than I was expecting but you connect to Agatha quickly and that carries you through. It of course plays in the themes of the hypocrisy of religion and men playing at gods.
This is a bit triggering if you have religious trauma FYI. But also weirdly cathartic if you get past that. Overall, I am very pleased with how the story went because the ending was every bit what I wanted it to be. And definitely check for trigger warnings if you are sensitive!
Merged review:
If you are like me, you may wonder if you want to finish this book at about the 50% mark because of where things seem to be going. Well, I ended up reading the epilogue at that point, because if it ended in the way it seemed like it might I knew I'd hate it very much. But after reading the epilogue I was calmed and happily finished and I'm glad I did. If you'd like to be calmed too,
Spoiler
This is very reminiscent of the movie vvitch in some ways. The main one being it is a slower build, much slower than I was expecting but you connect to Agatha quickly and that carries you through. It of course plays in the themes of the hypocrisy of religion and men playing at gods.
This is a bit triggering if you have religious trauma FYI. But also weirdly cathartic if you get past that. Overall, I am very pleased with how the story went because the ending was every bit what I wanted it to be. And definitely check for trigger warnings if you are sensitive!
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.
Brom is a renowned artist, but I would say an under recognized writer and storyteller. I'm glad “The Child Thief” was my Brom introduction, because that book is perfection in my eyes. I had some minor pacing and other issues with this one, but Brom is a magical writer and I was fully engulfed in the characters and story. For those who like books that cover gray characters, Brom is your author. For those who want to read about devils, magical creatures, witches and Puritanism, I'd check this out.
Merged review:
Brom is a renowned artist, but I would say an under recognized writer and storyteller. I'm glad “The Child Thief” was my Brom introduction, because that book is perfection in my eyes. I had some minor pacing and other issues with this one, but Brom is a magical writer and I was fully engulfed in the characters and story. For those who like books that cover gray characters, Brom is your author. For those who want to read about devils, magical creatures, witches and Puritanism, I'd check this out.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of Slewfoot by Brom from Tor Nightfire via NetGalley. Slewfoot is the first book by Brom I've read, but I certainly don't think it will be the last. Slewfoot is set in seventeenth century America among the Puritans, where the widow Abitha is embroiled in conflict with her crafty brother in law over her land. Everything changes when Abitha meets a strange creature called Samson. Is he a forest god or the very devil, or perhaps both? Slewfoot is a story about oppression, injustice, hypocrisy, revenge, and redemption. It is brimming with magic, faith, and a wildness that I found utterly delightful. Some reviewers have complained that the majority of the book was slow, wishing that more pages had been as fiercely exciting as the novel's conclusion. I appreciate this, as it was a bit of a slow burn, but I think Brom has done a marvelous job of tracking Abitha and Samson's respective journeys. In order to create the fulfilling ending the reader may enjoy at the story's conclusion, we must experience the simmering boil from friction to inferno, perhaps even to the point of sympathizing with the devil...or even seeing that if the devil is present in these characters, it may not only be in the forest beast. I believe Brom's character development does just this. I am not a historian, and I cannot comment on the accuracy of Brom's portrayal of New England life, but it certainly felt grounded and fleshed out. I would highly recommend Slewfoot to fans of Eggers' The Witch, Miller's The Crucible, and of course Brom's previous works. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis: Abitha is new to the Puritan lifestyle, an outsider. She attends church and plays her role like a good Christian. But Abitha is also from a bloodline of Cunning women, more known as a Witch. After her husband mysteriously perishes, she is left alone to fend for her land in a patriarchal, misogynistic society that is hellbent on keeping witches and devils away from their land. Enter Slewfoot (Samson). Samson is unsure who he is, he is told he is “The Devil” but that doesn't feel right to him, he needs to know more. Together Abitha and Samson form a bond, using each other's gifts in a world where Witchcraft means a death sentence, desperate to discover their true nature.
“You think me worried about my soul? “ She laughed again, loud and fierce, locking blazing eyes on Samson. “I've no soul left,” she growled. “They've crucified my fucking soul!”
Let's talk Abitha our main character. I love her so much! Imagine that, characters written so well you become emotionally invested in them. She is a true badass. She speaks up despite the Puritan law, she takes no bs from any man, and she stands her ground at all times. Abitha is everything we want to see in a female lead. Strong, resourceful, brave, cunning, creative, intelligent and kind. Abitha's growth shines throughout the story, becoming one powerful being.
Characters in the book are fully developed with their own personalities and morals. Brom writes Samson so well, introducing a new image of “The Devil” in the readers mind. A God of Mother Nature with human thoughts and conundrums. Despite characters with strong, stubborn beliefs, some do show remorse and sadness for Abitha's fate, showing that not everyone was okay with the silly happenings of the church.
The story is beautifully written. The pacing starts slow, but stays interesting and engaging throughout. It's hard to talk about certain parts without spoilers but the parts about nature are written so descriptive it's like you're there spinning in a field of flowers, drinking in the sun and witnessing mother nature's growth and beauty. I specifically loved the wildfolk and the old gods. A certain bear that serves the beam may even make an appearance.
Merged review:
Synopsis: Abitha is new to the Puritan lifestyle, an outsider. She attends church and plays her role like a good Christian. But Abitha is also from a bloodline of Cunning women, more known as a Witch. After her husband mysteriously perishes, she is left alone to fend for her land in a patriarchal, misogynistic society that is hellbent on keeping witches and devils away from their land. Enter Slewfoot (Samson). Samson is unsure who he is, he is told he is “The Devil” but that doesn't feel right to him, he needs to know more. Together Abitha and Samson form a bond, using each other's gifts in a world where Witchcraft means a death sentence, desperate to discover their true nature.
“You think me worried about my soul? “ She laughed again, loud and fierce, locking blazing eyes on Samson. “I've no soul left,” she growled. “They've crucified my fucking soul!”
Let's talk Abitha our main character. I love her so much! Imagine that, characters written so well you become emotionally invested in them. She is a true badass. She speaks up despite the Puritan law, she takes no bs from any man, and she stands her ground at all times. Abitha is everything we want to see in a female lead. Strong, resourceful, brave, cunning, creative, intelligent and kind. Abitha's growth shines throughout the story, becoming one powerful being.
Characters in the book are fully developed with their own personalities and morals. Brom writes Samson so well, introducing a new image of “The Devil” in the readers mind. A God of Mother Nature with human thoughts and conundrums. Despite characters with strong, stubborn beliefs, some do show remorse and sadness for Abitha's fate, showing that not everyone was okay with the silly happenings of the church.
The story is beautifully written. The pacing starts slow, but stays interesting and engaging throughout. It's hard to talk about certain parts without spoilers but the parts about nature are written so descriptive it's like you're there spinning in a field of flowers, drinking in the sun and witnessing mother nature's growth and beauty. I specifically loved the wildfolk and the old gods. A certain bear that serves the beam may even make an appearance.