3.5 stars

What do you have when you add Salem Witch Trials, plagues, cursed witches, polygamy, oppression of women, fantasy settings, racial commentaries, and religious allegories together? This book.

Writing: ★★★★
Concept: ★★★★
Pacing/Plot: ★★★
Characters: ★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★ 1/2

In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet’s word is law, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is blasphemy. A biracial girl in a town of only white people, her very existence brings shame to her family as it reminds the settlement of her dead mother's sins—and witchcraft.

The Prophet is a man (I bet you guessed) and the town of Bethel exists as a small, settlement-type town in the middle of Nowhere, Nowhere. Their town is surrounded by the Darkwood, and the Prophet's religious teachings warn of the wood's dangers and temptations. Lilith and her coven of witches live in the Darkwood and they live in sin, and if you let them tempt you you'll be lost forever.

Or at least, that's what the man says.

Like so many tales of oppressive male-dominated religious regimes, The Year of the Witching is highlighting issues of gender, power, and control—and how many of those bindings go hand in hand with some extreme conservative religions. The Prophet may be in charge and he may call himself holy, but his many many underage sister wives tell a different story by the bruises on their skin.

Combining issues of female agency and power, race and poverty, and a heavy dose of critical notes on religion, this tale was extremely representative and often sacrificed world building and plot for the sake of allegory. I'm not saying that it wasn't done well, but I definitely want to highlight that fact for other readers.

At the end of the day, I thought this was a solid debut. As someone who likes fantasy/horror speculative novels that go there and push the reader, I thought this fell short for my personal tastes. The messaging was fantastic, but the plot itself stopped its own progress by keeping it from going to that extra level. Things felt predictable—with the heart of the novel focused on the lofty concepts, it was harder for the characters to authentically reach their goals.

Without spoiling this particular novel, a good example of this would be like a book to movie adaptation. It's hard to be surprised when you go the theater to view an adapted movie from a book that you've read. You know the main plot points, you've read the book, so it's really a matter of relying on the adaptation to still surprise you with something new within the framework of something that you already know.

The Year of the Witching didn't have that extra oomph for me, but I think it did for other readers.

Thank you to Ace - Berkley via NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Year of the Witching

Author: Alexis Henderson

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Mixed race main character (it’s a bit fuzzy on what she’s mixed with but it does describe her as having darker skin)

Recommended For...: witches, historical fiction, paranormal, fantasy, horror

Publication Date: July 21, 2020

Genre: YA Paranormal

Recommended Age: 17+ (menstrual cycles, gore, animal death/slaughter, torture, death, sex mentions, domestic abuse, child sex abuse)

Publisher: Ace

Pages: 368

Synopsis: In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet’s word is law, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast her once-proud family into disgrace, so Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol, and lead a life of submission, devotion, and absolute conformity, like all the other women in the settlement.

But a mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still lurking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the journal of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood.

Fascinated by the secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Church and its history, she realizes the true threat to Bethel is its own darkness. And she starts to understand that if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her.

Review: I really loved this book! The story was intriguing and kept me hooked from the first page. The character development was well done for most of the characters, and I loved message behind the book. The book is basically commentary on how toxic communities can become if there is a leader left with unchecked power (sound like something familiar? Good). The book was also very open about the slight racism the main character faced (without calling it racism) and was open about menstrual cycles (win!). The book also touches slightly on whitewashing history, but it’s more like “hiding that our history comes from the very thing we are trying to kill”. The book also is very feminist!

However, I did feel like the pacing was a bit too slow for me and I wish that there was a bit more world building in the book. The book also didn’t paint either side as good or evil, which works for the book but leaves the reader a bit weird on siding with either side.

Verdict: It was a well done book! Highly recommend.

I had to give up on this one. The premise and intro were promising, but it all went downhill very quickly for me. I think I was expecting something else and unfortunately, this was not for me.

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

Immanuelle is raised by her grandparents in a strict, puritanical village after her parents die after being accused of witchcraft. She does her best to live a life above possible reproach. When a walk in the evaded woods leads to her finding her mother's journal which is full of pages about witches, plagues and madness.

Immanuelle is a kickass main character. She's strong, she's kind, she's loyal and she's willing to sacrifice for the greater good. This book has witchcraft, secret symbols, sweet romance, corrupted society and plagues. Not really sure what else you are looking for in a book.

It's the author's debut novel which impresses me to know end. She also has a beautiful instagram so I recommend you follow her here -> @lexish. I cannot wait to see what she writes next. (I saw on her IG she is working on a sequel which makes me SO HAPPY.)

Thank you @berkleypub and @NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

“To be a woman is to be a sacrifice.”


Immanuelle has become one of my favorite female leads after reading this book. I loved the fact that after EVERYTHING she went through she still did the right thing when it was all said and done. Immanuelle was considered an outcast because she was biracial and even though she lived with her White family members, she still had to keep her head down and her nose clean which was so frustrating at times. Then we have the Prophet who spews his venom and is the biggest sinner of them all but uses his holiness to justify his actions. Sounds about right.


This was a solid debut by Alexis Henderson. It covered certain topics without coming off like a public service announcement such as racism and sexism. It has a strong message about speaking up about what is right and not being complicit in certain situations. The story was fast paced and held my attention. Reading this book transported me to a different place and the whole time reading I felt like I was in the book watching the events unfold. I loved the way the book was wrapped up and there weren’t any loose ends. I do hope we get a sequel because I’m not ready to let these characters go.

I’ve never hidden the fact that I make a lot of my book buying decisions based first off the cover and then by reading the blurb. The Year of the Witching caught my eye in a Twitter thread about up and coming, new authors of color and as soon as I clicked on the link I knew I had to get my hands on a copy.

This is kind of a mash up of all the dystopian, religious cult like horror stories you’ve read… yet it feels fresh and is so very gripping. Readers are introduced to Immanuelle Moore who lives in a deeply religious, puritanical community where the words of the prophet are law and suspicions run deep towards outsiders and those who look different. She and her disgraced family live on the outskirts of town, just getting by, but remain loyal to the church and the prophet. Yet, Immanuelle is different, not only because of her mother and the circumstances of her birth, but because she is soon caught up in the battle between good and evil, the Mother and the Father, for the lives and souls of the town.

Once I opened my Kindle and started reading, I just couldn’t stop. This author has such a compelling voice and she weaves this tale of feminist resistance so effortlessly. I HAD to know what was coming next. I HAD to know if the prophet would get his comeuppance. I HAD to know how Immanuelle would overcome the ignorance and hypocrisy of Bethel to save them from themselves.

The Year of the Witching is not a light read. It is dark, intense, and deeply disturbing at times, but a very well written and easy to fall into for a day of reading. This author just jumped to the top of my auto-buy list and I can’t wait to read whatever she releases next.

CW– rape, sexual assault, violence

Final grade- B+

Included as a top pick in bimonthly July New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached).

I had to stop reading this one at 23%. The story just was not progressing and I found myself falling asleep constantly while reading. This one just could not hold my attention and I could not see where the story could possibly go.

Dark, captivating and atmospheric, The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson is perfect for historical and dark supernatural fantasy lovers. With its handmaidens vibe, I quickly found myself transported to the town of Bethel and the forbidden Darkwood.

Full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer on July 2oth. It will be uplifted on all social media. A review will cross post to Goodreads and Amazon. Link provided. Thank you.

I just have one question... who gave Alexis Henderson permission to write such a fabulous debut novel!? The Year of the Witching is a dark feminist fantasy that follows a young woman named Immanuelle as she learns of her mother's past and the forces that conspire against her. As Immanuelle discovers the truth of her settlement's history and the Church that runs it, she soon realizes that the biggest threat may just lie in their own past.

The Year of the Witching is powerful and engaging. It will keep you reading into the early hours of the morning just so you can see what happens next. The characters are well-rounded and likable. Even the villains are written in such a way that although you will hate them, you will never forget them.

The story itself flows so well with each event easily moving into the next. I didn't want it to end!

TW: rape, loss of a parent, gore, violence

WOW. Wow wow wow, I cannot say enough great things about this incredible fantasy horror. I am already a lover of all things witches, so this book was right up my alley, and Alexis Henderson D E L I V E R E D. The number of themes explored here without making anything feel bogged down is truly remarkable: feminism, race, classism, misogyny, religious fanaticism, identity. The light Father (male Prophets) versus the dark Mother (female witches). The white puritan residents of Bethel versus the Black outcasts on the Outskirts. Biracial Immanuelle tugged between two different ways of life, coming to terms with who she is meant to be. So much to talk about!

Henderson creates an atmosphere of foreboding throughout the novel, and the juxtaposition she creates between the puritan village and the eerie Darkwood kept me on edge, especially as the Darkwood continued to call to her. The author offered just the right amount of descriptive writing to give me some seriously powerful imagery, particularly of the witches.

The romance is super light in this book, and I very much appreciated that. The focus remained on Immanuelle and her identity throughout the novel, which made her choices really powerful. That being said, Henderson still spent time developing her secondary characters so that I was also very invested in their outcome. Immanuelle and Ezra were, for obvious reasons, my favorite relationship dynamic as they encouraged each other to carve their own paths and do what is right as opposed to what is expected. I adored them both as characters.

This story exudes empowerment. It also doesn't claim to have all the answers, which makes for a satisfying but open-ended ending. I would like to formally beg the author for a prequel or sequel or another story set in this enrapturing world of light and dark where evil doesn't necessarily lie where you think it does. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy horror, witchcraft, and un-put-downable books.

Summary
Immanuelle has never fit in, in Bethel. She is the child of an outsider burned at the stake, and a mother most considered mad. But Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father and follow Holy Law. She tries to live a life of submission and conformity like all women are expected to. But a mishap leads her into the forbidden Darkwood where 4 witches supposedly haunt. There Immanuelle encounters 2 spirits to gift her, her mother's journal.
This journal leads Immanuelle down a path of dark secrets, magic, and a way to change her world.

Overview
➸ POV: 3rd Person from Immanuelle's POV

➸ Immanuelle: 16, 2 younger sisters, Mother died in child birth, Best friend Leah, Never knew father, Raised by grandparents, Biracial, Cursed

➸ Content Warnings: Graphic Blood/Gore, Animal Death/Sacrifice, Sexism, Racism, Infertility/Miscarriage, Sexual Assault (of a minor)

My Thoughts
Wow this book... I want to start off by saying I've seen this categorized as YA and I strongly disagree with that placement. While this book follows a teenage main character, this book gets quite graphic and dark. So tread carefully, check TW's, and read reviews before going into this one (or handing it to a younger audience).

Now that's out of the way time for me gush about one of my new favorite reads of the year!! I'm keeping this really vague because one of the best things about this story is slowly uncovering the secrets of this society.

This book had so much packed into it. Every word and paragraph felt important and necessary to the story. Not only does this book tackle an immense amount of important topics but the characterization, atmosphere, and world building blew me away.

The history of this society, while fictional, parallels the real world so closely that it amplified the creepiness tenfold. This world is a dark patriarchal society that gave me chills and terrified me to my core. While the first part of this book is heavy on the history - it's ALL important! And once you hit the 20% point, the plot takes off and never slows down.

Alexis Henderson blew me away with their ability to balance magic, intertwining timelines, romance, poignant themes/messages, with an utterly haunting atmosphere. This book delved into racism, assault/consent, sexism, and what it means to be family. I describe my favorite genre as 'Dark & Magical Feminist Fiction' and this fits that to a T.

If you like very dark, slightly magical stories with intense feminist undertones, this is your book! But this book is not subtle. So if you're looking for a book that will leave you to gather your own opinions, this isn't it. This book is overtly about dismantling patriarchal societies and white supremacy, so please go in with the right expectations.

I swear I held my breath for the entire last 20% of this book. This story was so intense and climactic, it had me on the edge of my seat desperate to find how this would end. Overall I just couldn't get enough of this witchy, dark story. I loved the characters, themes, world, romance, everything. I absolutely cannot wait to see what Alexis Henderson writes next. I feel like this book was written for my exact reading taste.

This was a very interesting read! I don’t tend to read a lot of books that have cultish things in this one but I enjoyed it.
It was hard reading at times just because of how evil men where and how quick they were to judge others and especially women.
Overall I enjoyed it!

This one was really unique and original! It reminded me a bit of the Handmaid's tale but with supernatural vibes to it. It was a dark and haunting tale that was very well written. I really liked Immanuelle and Ezra’s characters! I would definitely recommend this to a friend.

What drew me to this book was the title because honestly, I have a weakness for witches. It turns out that it contains my other weakness, dark, religious cults. Putting my biases aside, what we have is a fantastic book. While it can be looked at as just a coming-of-age story with magical elements it is so much more. We are given feminist and racism commentary that we can relate to our own world. The character and relationship development is fantastic. The only thing I wanted more of was the world building. I want to learn more about what is surrounding Bethel which is basically me requesting a sequel.

An atmospheric tale which reminds me of The Handmaid's Tale and The Village (THAT M Night Shyamalan's movie if anyone still remembers it), scoring a solid debut for Alexis Henderson.

The Year of the Witching is exactly the kind of witchy goodness I look out for - creepy, haunting with a no-nonsense heroine. It's set in a puritanical society dripping in patriarchy - women have no say over their bodies, anyone talking against the Church is deemed a witch and burned, people with a different skin colour are kept to the outskirts - one could easily think this was exactly how things were in the past, but it's not that difficult to imagine a future where this is the reality with how things are going now in the world.
I really enjoyed this book for the most part - a strongly written female character, beautiful writing that conveys to the reader the atmosphere the author was going for and it satisfied my craving to read something dark and witchy. I also loved how the author managed to weave the topic of racism and social injustice into the plot. My only problem with the book was the ending. I felt it could've ended better and not in a convenient, YA fashion. I kept hoping we would see some change in the society and the patriarchy but sadly, that never happened.
Also, I'm not sure how I feel about the romance. Why do we feel the need to always have the most handsome guy as the love interest? Would have preferred it if they had remained as friends. Not every relation between a girl and a boy needs to lead to a romance, you know?

But overall, I really loved it. This book was deliciously dark and gothic!

Trigger Warnings for: rape (off-page) of a minor, gore, body horror, domestic abuse. I might have missed a few others.

The year of the Witching is the Salem Witch Trial version of Handmaid’s tale and although Handmaid’s Tale was something I didn’t like, this one I definitely did!!!
Immanuelle is the daughter of Miriam Moore who abandoned the Holy Scriptures to commune with the witches of the Darkwood. She has tried to lead a quiet life obeying the Scriptures but her one unexpected foray into the Darkwoods starts a chain of events that lead her to question everything she has been taught so far.
This was so beautifully atmospheric, dark, a bit weird at times (but good weird) and so chilling that certain passages gave me literal goosebumps! I felt strong and empowered and powerful after reading certain portions and that was just, such a high, I can’t even describe it. So I was getting geared up for an amazing punchy heart soaring end when it all started unravelling bit by bit.
Whereas the first 70-80% was strong, the last 20% felt a little wishy-washy for lack of a better word. It became diluted and a bit rushed. The climax felt more like a convenient wrap up than an exciting finale. I liked the hopeful note on which it ended but I needed... more. I can’t really quantity what more is but I just needed something extra 😅
But overall this is definitely a stunning debut and I am looking forward to reading more of Alexis Henderson’s works in the future.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone looking for a fast paced feminist witchy read!!!
Rating : 4 stars
P.S. Beyoncé’s ‘Run the World’ was running through my head the whole time I was reading this and it’s the perfect song for this book.

Oh my goodness I fully loved and enjoyed losing myself in this story. While in no way comparing this incredible book to any other it is relevant to say that the somewhat disappointed, ashy taste left in my mouth by my read of The Grace Year earlier this year was completely washed away by the magic and message of Alexis Henderson's debut novel. Yes, that's right, this searing and dystopian work of critical genius is a debut novel. Immanuelle was the perfect young heroine, and Bethel and the Dark Woods were the perfect atmospheric and creepy cultish settings. The female representation in this book was gorgeous and powerful. If you, like me, read The Grace Year and were left wanting, this little piece of witchy magic is undoubtedly what you seek.

Oh! I loved this. The story is woven with such intricate characters and details that I couldn't help being sucked into the world. The young woman we follow seems to have everything in the world thrown at her and yet, she continues to fight for herself and those around her. The love story is wonderful and subtle, and the back story really helps the flow of the words.

This story was like a twisted Salem Witch Trials with an actual dark secret. A wonderful read.

My review will be live on the Book Confessions blog on 7-14-20.

My three words: occult, single narrator, feminist

The Year of the Witching is the story of Immanuelle Moore, a young woman growing up in a strict puritanical society. Her town, Bethel, is ruled by the Prophet, whose word is the law. When Immanuelle starts to discover the secrets of her own past, she feels a pull toward the Darkwood, home of the witches. The choices she makes have dire consequences for herself, her town, and the strict, patriarchal society as a whole.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I loved the main character and thought she was very strongly written. She felt like a modern heroine placed in a Puritan setting. Not only that, but to have her be Black in a world that was ruled by white men was an extra level of deliciousness. Immanuelle and the other main characters (the Prophet, Ezra, etc) were the strong point of this story for me.

I almost wish this was touted as a YA book. It was really dark, but a lot of the solutions to her problems seemed coincidental and too simple for an adult horror story. I also wish that there was a little bit more going on beneath the surface... it was great as a simple societal commentary but I think there are themes that could've been better explored. For example, I don't want to spoil anything, but I would've gladly read more pages with Immanuelle wrestling with the choices between light and dark, etc.

Overall, I recommend this book to anyone that wants a creepy story with a strong female heroine. I liken this to The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible, but way darker and more modern.