Alexis Henderson – The Year Of The Witching

‘The Year Of The Witching’ by Alexis Henderson is a dystopian horror story that grabbed me by the throat and soon as I saw the cover! I really needed to read this book, then I read the blurb as well and that cemented my need. A twisted Handmaid’s Tale style story with its very own unique style and storyline.

The setting is a place called Bethel, a strict religious community with the Prophet, a leader that has plenty of young wives. Surrounding Bethel is the Darkwood, a place no one is allowed or wants to go. It is haunted by four witches that the first prophet killed.

Immanuelle is a sixteen-year-old girl, who lives with her maternal grandparents. She was born out of wedlock and her mother was executed for consorting with witches. Immanuelle struggles with the life she leads, seen as an outsider due to her colouring, and of course her mother’s actions. Immanuelle is a shepherdess and she has to take the animals to market to sell for the money towards everything the family need to pay for. One particular day she has to bring Judas, the ram back as he wasn’t sold. Judas decides to bolt and run, Immanuelle chases him and finds herself in Darkwood. She chances upon some witches and they present her with her mother’s diary, not something anyone in Bethel would be pleased with. Immanuelle knows this is a dangerous item to keep but cannot help herself and begins to discover knowledge that can help her on lots of ways…or help her on the funeral pyre.

This is a fantastically written book, with feminist themes and some disturbing imagery it creates a very detailed and intricate story. It does make you think as well due to the similarity of how women are treated differently and are the ones to take the blame more often than not. The characters of Immanuelle and Ezra are most definitely the two that have been created and brought to life within the book. I was most definitely with them as the story developed. The one character that creeped me out was the Prophet. A horrible man that wasn’t an out and out baddy just a sly, creepy man working for his own ends. Great characters that make the book what it is.

I found myself reading “one more chapter” time and time again! In fact, every time I picked up the book. I cannot believe this is Alexis Anderson’s debut novel, it is so well created. The world-building was fantastic, I could imagine Bethel and Darkwood from the off. Such a creepy place Darkwood is! I have read there will be a second book from Alexis. Well, I, for one hope it’s soon!

Many thanks to Random Things Tours and the publisher for my copy of the book for my review today.