Not as chilling as I thought it would be but still a fun, good witchy book. I was definitely looking for more horror. While it works for my 'witches' prompt, I don't think it will work for the basis as a horror novel. Nothing horror about it! I mean, aside from how suspected witches were treated, of course.

This book was written incredibly well. I don’t typically enjoy period pieces that are set before 1960. And this was several centuries prior. While this book might feel uncomfortable to read for a Christian or someone who grew up in Christianity, I think it drives a deeper question about what it means to be religious and how you use your faith.

A lot of this book felt like sympathy for the devil (literally, not the song), but I think it was a larger testament to the good and bad is us all, and consideration of who has power and how they use it.

So much of this story is infuriating, starting very early on with Abitha being threatened with punishment for speaking up about something within her own household. The ire grew from there, as she was basically shunned for being a grieving widow. I will say I was incredibly surprised by those who became her allies and those who spoke out against her.

What was most frightening about this book wasn’t the fictional horror set within its pages, but the direct parallels I could see in this story compared with actual present day current events - the way folks used religion to literally sentence people to suffering and death, the patriarchal ideals about a women’s place in society, the coercion faced to tell the story the way it’s expected, even if it’s not the truth.

I was just very impressed with this book. It took my several chapters to really get into, because again, I don’t love books set in such early times, but I warmed up to it and enjoyed the experience of seeing how it all would play out. And I must say I was surprised with how everything ended.

Long book, and longer library wait, but worth it.

Slewfoot by Brom is a dark, atmospheric horror novel that blends folklore with unsettling gothic elements. Brom’s vivid, haunting illustrations elevate the chilling narrative, drawing readers into a world of suspense and supernatural terror. The character development is rich, with Abitha’s internal struggle against both human and supernatural forces driving the plot forward. While the pacing can feel slow at times, the atmospheric tension and eerie, unpredictable twists make it a compelling read for fans of dark fantasy and horror.

So fun! I knew I would enjoy this one and I'm mad it took me so long to read. I think I was worried that the historic timeline would make for a challenging read that would bog me down, but it was great.

I loved Abitha as a main character and how the nature of society turned her to Slewfoot in such a fair and realistic way. Abitha has such a righteous anger that makes you mad along with her.

The setting was very atmospheric, but as I said, not in a way that got bogged down by the language or descriptions of an ancient time period.

Such a great read!

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.

This was the first book by Broom that’s I’ve read and it won’t be the last. I loved how Slewfoot took place in Colonial New England 1666, I mean that’s legit the time of witches. Slewfoot was about revenge and the vengeance of women. The atmosphere was dark and it gives off the right Fall/Halloween vibes. The photos half way were super creepy but they tied up the description of the story. I would recommend this witchy book to anyone who loves historical fiction, Horror and anything with witches.

Not me procrastinating reading Slewfoot & then ending up absolutely LOVING IT. 10/10 recommend. Now, watch me as I binge read all of Brom’s books 😅.

Slewfoot is written so beautifully; it was hard NOT to devour this so quickly. I’m not usually a historical fiction girly, but this one had me wrapped around its horns. & the vibes felt so so so fitting for the Autumn season.

Slewfoot had me so upset at times (men 😤 Wallace 😤😤 also, tw: animal death) but also had me shouting out SLAYYYYY (good for her!!!). I loved Abitha. I loved Samson. Slewfoot was phenomenal.

Uh. Ma. Zing. I’ve never read a Brom book I didn’t like & this one was no different! I’ve read a lot of witchy books in my time—historical & fantasy & urban fantasy fiction—& honestly it’s a subgenre that can be more difficult to “get right” than I think authors, publishers, & readers appreciate. I had to more or less stop reading them for a while both because a) they just got SO repetitive, b) the violence was often gratuitous & way too triggering, c) the villains were flat, & d) witches started to become code for white feminists. But Brom’s book was none of these things. It was incredibly well written, the characters were all interesting & complex, the philosophy was sound, & the story was extremely satisfying. And that’s all I’m going to say about it. Go read it!

I didn't anticipate such an exceptional piece, but it turned out to be just that! This book exceeded all my expectations and checked all the boxes. I absolutely adored it!

Everything I've ever wanted in a horror book! Vicious, bloody but not gratuitous gore. It has an overwhelming and growing sense of dread, yet it also manages to be steeped in nature, hope and light. I loved the audiobook production, the narrator was phenomenal, but now I need a physical copy so I can see Brom's gorgeous artwork. One of my favorite reads of the year so far and I'd definitely recommend it if you love vibes, buildup of tension and a satisfying climax! Brom knows how to write a satisfying ending. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC copy!

Slewfoot was an interesting and atmospheric story. I enjoyed the first half of it as the tension was built up, but was let down by the predictable ending. The cover and overall story were captivating but it failed to wow me or prove itself to be anything new. I will definitely be reading more stories by Brom though, as the subjects they choose are intriguing and in general I enjoy their writing.

This book seems like it should have ticked all the boxes for me, but there's was something that just didn't work. I can't even put my finger on why I didn't enjoy it, but I only got through about 30 pages before I put it down.

I can't believe I never reviewed this. I read it when I received a free arc literal years ago (thanks muchly to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc lol) and I loved it. I've read more than a few of Brom's titles and Slewfoot easily eclipsed my love for my previous favorite, The Plucker.

I've reread it once since then around Halloween last year. It was an easy winning formula for me. Religious zealots make my angry and angry, vengeful women doing angry, vengeful women things make me happy. I support women's rights but I also support women's wrongs, as the saying goes. It's sensationally nuanced and deliciously atmospheric. A million reviews have already pointed it out but if you're a fan of Anya Taylor-Joy's The Witch or colonial era horror in general, this has all the vibes.

Highly recommend to Brom fans, and if this is your introduction to him, congratulations. You're starting strong.

"If it is a witch they want," she hissed, "then a witch they shall have.”

I wanted to love this one - it just wasn't for me. If you love tales of witches during puritan times, than this story is one you should try! If you like a little fairytale with your horror, you might also give this a try. If that cover grabs you, then go ahead, crack the pages and see what you think!

This one just didn't work for me. I was hoping the bad guy would be a little less over-the-top evil. And I struggled with some of the more descriptive flowerly wording and descriptions. And even though I found Edward to be very sweet, I didn't much like the MC. I was surprised by her more modern attitude even though this took place in time of puritans. I did like the vengeance and the twists near the end. Like others, the last 20% was very thrilling and kept me flipping the pages quick.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I enjoy Brom, and I like the unique spins that he takes on his novels. The artwork is beautiful. I preferred the writing that was from the viewpoint of Abitha. I could relate to her and the struggles that she was enduring. However, I didn't enjoy the stylistic narrative of Slewfoot. I appreciate what Brom was doing with the dual narrations, but it wasn't my cup of tea. It was an enjoyable read for October into November. I think it's a particularly good read for November with Thanksgiving on the horizon as this story takes place within an early Protestant community in the colonies of America. I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy Brom, as well as people that like historical horror.

I'll be honest. I haven't read this one yet and I wish I would have based on all the other reviews. It sounded so interesting when I downloaded it from NetGalley. Now I've missed out, and will have to purchase the book because I think I never downloaded it. But because it's rated so highly, I'm excited to check it out. Part of my issue was realizing audiobooks are a better media means for me so I struggled to finish the books I received early for review.

Cheers.

[going back and reviewing some titles I didn't get around to reviewing from a few years ago. this book in particular I didn't get around to reading in time and then went back and read in March 2023]

Did a great job with suspense and storytelling, along with some really gruesome moments so I think it worked really well as a horror book. Something about the pacing was off to me and in general there were some moments that just didn't work for me, especially toward the beginning. The ending was really strong though and made the whole book worth it! Loved the illustrations especially.

Haunting and enchanting. The mixture of folklore and legend in a patriarchy was so interesting. I was hooked and weirded out in the best way possible.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to read this early. Review has been posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

If you want to feel throughly spooked and creeped out while still hearing an amazing fairytale, Brom and this book are for you. Brom has this wonderfully disturbing way of writing and this book is exactly what I had hoped for. It’s lush, creepy, beautifully descriptive, and will leaving you wanting to pick up everything else they’ve ever written.