Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery

From the very first few pages, I was hooked, despite some reviews claiming it had a slow pace. Brom masterfully builds the atmosphere and setting, and this world-building sets the stage for a deeply engaging narrative. Abitha's character is richly developed, and while some reviews I read emphasized dislike for Brom's portrayal of a woman, I felt a strong connection to her. As a woman, I empathized deeply with her resilience, pain, anger, and desire to break free from societal expectations of femininity (from both men & women.) I appreciated her stubbornness and know that if our skulls were to clash like rams, neither of us would flinch. Brom's other characters, particularly his demons, are some of the most beautifully written and unique I've ever read. His illustrations breathed life into these characters, making each one memorable and endearing in different ways. The character-driven storytelling kept me hooked, even when I could foresee many plot developments. Despite knowing where the story was headed, I still couldn't put the book down and enjoyed the journey. This predictability humbled me as a reader, as it allowed me to appreciate the storytelling despite anticipating the plot—and Brom is a wonderful and original storyteller. My most disliked characters followed the paths I expected, and my anger towards them grew, remaining righteous even though I anticipated their actions. This aspect of the book made me appreciate Brom's ability to evoke strong emotions and create truly detestable antagonists. Although there were moments where I felt the dialogue between characters lacked depth, felt rushed, or became repetitive, these were minor flaws for me. The majority of this book's flaws, for me, were overshadowed by the book's strengths, particularly its evocative prose and artistic storytelling. I felt each cry, scream, moan, and smile—both the warm and the sinister. This was my first horror book, and Brom's vivid descriptions of his demons' exploits were masterfully done and highly visual. His world-building is immersive and impressive, and I eagerly look forward to reading more of his work. Thank you, Brom, for my absolute favorite witch book, and for a wonderful introduction to a new genre for me as a reader. 🩶🕷️