“You never go into those woods, you hear? There’s evil in them.”

Immanuelle is a shepherdess who lives in Bethel with her family. She was raised by her grandparents, Abram and Martha, having never known her parents. Also living in the home are Anna, Abram’s second wife, and their two children, Glory and Honor.

The Moore family follow the Prophet and the Holy Scriptures faithfully, although their fellow Bethelans will never forget what Immanuelle’s mother, Miriam, did. Her sin continues to cast a shadow over her entire family.

Bethel is a community where polygamy is the norm, the Prophet’s power is absolute and indiscretions, actual or perceived, can be punished by pyre. Men have taken and abused their power, but some of the women are also complicit. Faith is polluted by fear and repression.

Bordering Bethel is the Darkwood, the home of Lilith and her coven of witches, a place to be feared and avoided at all costs. Except the Darkwood is calling Immanuelle and if she heeds the call she will be putting both her life and soul on the line.

“Even now, their ghosts still haunted the Darkwood, hungry for the souls of those who dared to enter their realm.
Or so the stories said.”

There will be blood.

Once upon a time I spent several years studying the Bible and one of the things that fascinated me at the time was discovering the original meaning of specific words I was reading. Sometimes it wouldn’t make a difference but there were also times where the entire meaning of a passage could change once I knew one word’s origin. Why am I telling you this in the middle of my review? Well, I’m glad you asked.

As I was reading I kept noticing specific names whose etymology seemed perfectly matched to their characters and while I could be wrong, it felt intentional. I won’t go into all of the connections by brain made while I was reading here but I will mention a couple that stood out to me.

Bethel may mean ‘house of God’ but the current Prophet is anything but godly. In a sea of biblical names, the current Prophet’s name is Grant. Revered by his followers, this Prophet claims to speak for the Father. Visions of the Prophet are treated as gospel and given how isolated Bethel is, there aren’t outside influences challenging the status quo.

Given his predilections, perversion of power and the ‘I want to punch that guy’ urges I experienced as I got to know him, it felt right that Grant wasn’t named after someone in the Bible, or anything associated with biblical teachings, like Glory and Honor.

Ezra, the name of the Prophet’s son and successor, means help or helper.

In what was quite possibly my favourite association, Immanuelle stepping foot in the Darkwood was Judas’ fault. Naturally.

Now, I acknowledge I could be seeing things here that were not intended but I also noticed that, prologue and epilogue aside, this book contained forty chapters. Forty in the Bible usually denotes a period of testing, trial or probation.

“Blood. Blight. Darkness. Slaughter.”

I really enjoyed this book but, although I was sure I was becoming emotionally invested in the characters as I was getting to know them, I don’t think I really did. Although the characters experience a lot of high stress situations I never felt the urgency. I didn’t worry about them when they were in danger and when they experienced something that could have triggered an ugly cry I was left unaffected.

There were accused witches, girls and women who broke some arbitrary rule set forth by man and/or religion, and those that maybe didn’t break a rule at all but were accused of a crime.

“To be a woman is to be a sacrifice.
- From the writings of Teman, the first wife of the third Prophet, Omaar”

Then there were the actual witches, the characters I was most looking forward to getting to know, whose dark presence casts a shadow on the apparent light of this religious community. The Unholy Four make an impact when they appear but they didn’t get nearly as much page time as I had hoped they would. I didn’t feel I got to know them at all.

This book nudged up against one of my pet peeves, where someone who has recently obtained new powers doesn’t need to spend weeks, months or years in training learning how to wield them. While the character I’m referencing here doesn’t entirely violate this pet peeve, there was definitely some instinctual knowing how to use them involved.

I wondered why the events that activated the final two plagues were different than the first two. I may have missed something or not have thought about it enough but it seemed to me that the first two were forming a pattern.

“Why did the forest call to her?”

I’ll be look out for this author’s future releases.

Content warnings include animal sacrifice, grooming, immolation, paedophilia, physical abuse, racism, scarification and sexual assault. Readers with emetophobia may struggle with some scenes.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bantam Press, an imprint of Transworld Publishers, Penguin Random House, for the opportunity to read this book.

Sadly, this just was not the book for me. I'd recommend it to anybody who loved The Handmaid's Tale and who would like to delve into a more speculative side of fiction.

From the outset, I just couldn't connect with Immanuelle. I couldn't ignore the similarities between so many different aspects of this book and Handmaid -- it was practically a carbon copy, with the addition of some attempted spookiness. I am tempted to say that the 'horror'/speculative aspects of the book lean more so towards young adult-esque, but that seems to be a push, for me. The speculative scenes were few and far between and didn't particularly feel substantial enough to me.

Perhaps this is one for people who don't read much horror/speculative fiction, or who enjoy the dystopian narrative that so many have tried to copy from Margaret Atwood. For reference, I did not enjoy The Handmaid's Tale -- perhaps that explains a lot!

I was hooked instantly but this book. The Year of the Witching pulls off something really impressive, Henderson creates a darkly atmospheric world alongside a strong and fast paced plot. I really loved the decision to set this in a fictional society which was reminiscent of 17th century America instead of using a historical setting such as the Salem witch trials as this really gave the author freedom to tell the story she wanted to tell.

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publisher for giving me this ARC

Before I get into my review, I'm going to say that The Year of the Witching has been added to my top 10 reads of 2020 so far. This book pulled me in and spat me out in a heap at the end. The stunning prose along with the succulent metaphors brought Bethel to life on the page and I was transported to a place and time that felt so real. For me, this was a story of finding yourself and uncovering who you truly. Packed with action, adventure, treachery, danger, suspicion, and discovery, Immanuelle's story is one that will stay with me for quite some time.

Immanuelle is an orphan. Her father burned on the pyre for witchcraft, her mother died giving birth to her. She is raised by her grandparents Martha and Abram to live by the Prophet's rules and to obey. But the Darkwood calls to Immanuelle whispering on the wind and coaxing her to disobey. It is here in the woods that Immanuelle is given her dead mother's diary and her quest for answers and truth begins.

When a curse is unleashed on Bethel, first blood, then blight, Immanuelle knows that if she doesn't find a way to stop it darkness and slaughter will follow. This is what's written in her mother's journal and the only way to find a way to stop it for her to escape Bethal and find her paternal grandmother, the only living Ward remaining. Ezra, the prophet's son and the next in line to succeed seems to be the only person to see Immanuelle for who she is and not just the daughter of outcasts. But can she trust him?

This book is a page turner and one that will have you on the edge of your seat and peeking at the pages through the gaps in your fingers as you meet the four witches of the Darkwood and hold your breath during some tense and gripping action scenes. The author built a believable world with characters that you will love and hate. It is definitely worthy of 5 stars and the ending although complete still leaves things open for a follow up book too.

I was in the perfect mood for this and raced through the first half. I did start to slow down after that, it’s a slow burn that gets slightly too slow after the first half. The writing and the atmosphere were basically flawless and it kept me going back for more.

The writing is excellent and the characters are well fleshed out and relatable. Henderson explores the setting and the scenery vividly and I had no issues placing myself right there in Immanuelle's world. I also found the magical elements very believable and at times I was impressed that she went that dark (but the dark elements are very few and far between).

The only issue I had was that I did feel the book had a predictable and usual way about it, I would have liked to see something more unpredictable or different for this standalone, but it was overall a very enjoyable read for anyone in the mood for some light gothic horror.

To begin, I’d like to thank Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for inviting me to read an ARC of this book, and to NetGalley for facilitating. And a huge round of applause to Alexis Henderson for writing this!

As always there will be no spoilers in this review.

Well now. What to say? Firstly, Alexis Henderson, how on earth is this your debut?! Amazing things to come from this author, mark my words!

This is exactly the book we’ve been waiting for. Where so many in this genre go too far (or not far enough) this one hits all the right notes in all the right places and it SINGS! Oh my goodness was it delicious!

It wasn’t The Handmaids Tale... nor was it Salem. This was a book in its own right. Unique enough to stand on its own without references to hugely popular books, and maybe one day people will compare other debuts to this.

The Year of the Witching would, however, hit the spot for fans of the aforementioned books - As well as fans of The Crucible, The Vine Witch, Charmed... you get the idea. This is a mature witchy book (no Sabrina here, thanks!). As well as the supernatural theme this book is also a mature look at religion, cult behaviour, the occult, segregation, sexism, racism, human rights, women’s rights. But none of it was in your face preaching. It was a subtle undertone throughout the book. Woven so carefully that you hadn’t really realised the message at times until you thought back hours later.

Immanuelle and Ezra are by far the stand out characters in the book, and they are written so wonderfully that the empathy and investment in their wellbeing comes early and naturally. Obviously the Prophet is also a main feature and I loved that he wasn’t written as a cheesy “baddy”. Strangely he reminded me of Frollo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney - obvs). He was very well written and my skin did crawl whenever he slunk onto the page. So bravo for eliciting such strong responses to the characters.

My only downside was that it ended. Not because it was premature or not well finished (it finished very well and with the right pace)... just that it had to end at all
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A very very easy 5 stars from me!

Alexis Henderson has burst onto the scene with a stunning debut. "The Year Of The Witching" is an invigorating read with some fabulously feisty female characters. Henderson has shown herself to be an excellent world-builder. I look forward to hearing more from her.

This was a really good debut. It grabbed my attention from the first pages. The pacing was very good, and the setting of Darkwood was very interesting.
Witches, curses and the cults make it a very interesting and exciting read too.
Overall, very good debut, I'd read from this author in the future.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

I was a bit out of my comfort zone here as I have a hit and miss affair with fantasy books but I’m really happy to say I loved this one.
Set in the land of Bethel whose leader is the Prophet we have a fantastic lead character in Immanuelle whose mother was was cast out disgraced and her father was burnt at the stake, not a good beginning for our feisty and thoroughly likeable heroine. Whilst Immanuelle struggles to fit in on a journey back from the market she suddenly finds herself in the forbidden Darkwood and witnesses some strange events leading to the gift of her mother’s journal.
Well what a start in a thrilling and fast paced story, with curses, witches and very creepy signs it’s in an excellent read and one I can recommend. As I have said this genre for me is not always a success but this one was a step above the norm and it made a damn good read !!
My thanks to Alexis Henderson I loved the book.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam Press for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

‘The Year of the Witching’ is an atmospheric dark fantasy novel about a secretive cult. The land of Bethel is ruled by the Prophet, blessed with visions from the Father. Immanuelle is a true believer, but will never be fully accepted because her father was an outsider, and her mother burnt as a witch. One day, Immanuelle dares to step outside of the confines of Bethel and into the forbidden Darkwood – but her adventure sets off a chain of events that could alter the fate of Bethel forever.

Immanuelle is a delightful protagonist – feisty yet caring, outwardly compliant but inwardly with a spark of rebellion. Her friendship with Leah is sweet and the difficulties of her outsider status well portrayed. I also liked how intricately the novel explored Immanuelle’s relationship with her family – as an outsider and a reminder of her mother’s mistakes, Immanuelle was both a beloved daughter and granddaughter and a curse upon their fortunes and reputation. Immanuelle and Martha especially had a complicated relationship that was deftly dealt with.

Ezra’s character arc was predictable but that didn’t make him unlikeable – there was little about him not to like. The son and heir apparent of the Prophet, Ezra’s future is set in stone – and there’s no place in it for an outsider like Immanuelle. But those with conscripted futures like to bend the rules – and Ezra is no exception. His character was a little too shallow for my liking – I would have liked to see more of his interactions with his mother and the Prophet and learn a little more about his motivations – but nonetheless he kept me rooting for him throughout.

The setting of Bethel is very intriguing, especially the Darkwood. The religion followed shares aspects with Christianity – such as Lilith, mother of all evil – but is subtly different to any existing religion that I’m aware of. The version of witchcraft explored is also interesting, with power only accessible to those of certain bloodlines and by using distinct sigils carved onto objects or skin. However, neither the root of this power nor the origins of the religion and Bethel are ever explained. In many ways this works well – it cuts out any slow exposition at the start of the novel, instead launching straight into Immanuelle’s life – but I find myself wanting to know more. Why has no-one in Bethel ever tried to do anything about the Darkwood, this version of Hell that sits right on their doorstep? Why does everyone hate witchcraft? What exactly are Lilith and her kin? I love the idea and creativity, but wish Alexis Henderson had included some basic answers.

The writing is lovely – simple, with no excess description, but evocative and atmospheric, transporting you to Bethel and the eerie Darkwood. It’s also exceptionally easy to read – I breezed through this in a couple of hours. If you’re looking for a quick novel to take you somewhere else for a while, this makes a compelling choice.

Overall, I enjoyed this. It’s not perfect, but as the author’s debut it’s a solid work with likeable characters and a highly intriguing setting. I suspect many people will love this – I just wanted a little more exposition to reach five stars.