I was provided an ARC of this book via the Berkley Besties program and Netgalley, I did however end up listening to the final production version of the audiobook. As always all opinions are my own.

This is a bit of a genre mashup. It blends folklore, historical fiction, feminism, horror and more all into one package. Set in 19th century Sri Lanka when the traditional religious practices and beliefs are being overtaken by the influence of the British Colonizers, Amara and her family are seen as outcasts. Her father's role as Capuwa was once respected, and his practices are being twisted into something sinister. Amara is constantly accused of practicing witchcraft, which leaves her frustrated and isolated. When the men in her village are attacked, her father is immediately the suspect. Amara knows he would never hurt anyone, but when she begins having odd dreams and waking up in strange places she is determined to sort out what really happened.

I really enjoyed how the author blended the historical colonization of Sri Lanka and the lore into the storyline. Amara tries to be a dutiful daughter, but her family situation and the loss of her home and traditions have so much to do with what is going on in the storyline. She is 18, and at times she reads very young as her parents have kept her sheltered, this leads to her being impulsive and irresponsible at times. There are other times when she is very mature, sticks up for herself and her family because she believes in doing what is right not what is expected and polite. The build up is slow but it leads to an explosive ending when she discovers what is at the center of the attacks and when she finally embraces her own trauma and unleashes her rage on the world. Amara's character development is at the center of the story as she comes to learn of betrayal and broken trust.

Overall, this was an unsettling book. If you are looking for a slow burn, coming of age, folklore laden novel with a feminine rage horror twist give this a go. I'd check trigger warnings before picking this up because it mentions some pretty heavy topics and it is pretty dark.

Short synopsis: Amara is the daughter of the village demon-priest accused of witchcraft. She’s trying to find answers to the attacks in her village.

My thoughts: I was immediately drawn to this one by the cover alone. But the story just didn’t captivate my attention the was I was hoping.

I was mostly bored throughout, it could totally have been a me issue. But I just didn’t feel drawn to any of the characters or the storyline.

That being said, I know lots of people have really loved it. I just must not have been in the mood for a slow burn.

Read if you love:
- Slow burns
- Folklore
- witchcraft and demon priests
- historical fiction and horror

Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa is powerful and emotional. From the very beginning, the novel drops you right into the culture, immersing you in Amara’s world and the authentic life of the historical time. The details of the culture and their beliefs will keep you captivated as you are drenched in the pain and horror that Amara struggles with as she attempts to find out why she and the village seem to be haunted. And it becomes clear that the story is all about the horror of both the real world as much as the supernatural. 

I love the way Amanda Jayatissa blends the real with the fantastic, the supernatural horror with the horror of man as Amara attempts to regain her own power as a woman in a world that allows women very few choices. The story does an excellent job of revealing the rich history of Sri Lanka, the culture and both the positive and negative aspects of how women were treated during the time. That blend of real and supernatural will hold you spellbound until the end, the horror never ending as you realize all that Amara is subjected to in the pursuit of her truth and her own power.

If you like historical supernatural horror, this is the novel for you. It will immerse you in the culture and history of Sri Lanka, keeping you engaged and caught up with Amara as she delves into the supernatural attacks around her. The story is so absorbing you will struggle to put it down and the ideas will resonate with you long after you finish the novel.

I have to start with this beautiful cover. Am I right? That sunset and her eyes. I was a huge fan of My Sweet Girl, so even though this is a departure from that genre, I picked this up. I really enjoy her writing style and that doesn’t hold true for just one genre.

This is an atmospheric tale of a witch in the Sri Lankan jungle. It’s twisty and supernatural and had me wondering what the heck was going on. I am always a fan of culture and this one is brimming with it.

Amara and her family live in a village on the edge of the jungle in Sri Lanka in the 19th century. Her father is a demon-priest and Amara is of the age she should be married. Something in the jungle is attacking men and Amara is having strange dreams. I was sure I knew where this one was headed. While I was partially right, I was also far off from guessing the ending.

But I’ll be honest, this one is not just about the plot, but the picture the author paints. The history, the atmosphere, the culture. I was caught up in it all. It had a gothic eerie feel that lasted through the entire book.

And when I listened, Isuri Wijesundara’s voice was perfect for the story. I loved her accent. It was easy to listen and I never had trouble understanding what she said as I sometimes do with accents. It really added to the mood set by the words.

I was not familiar at all with Sri Lankan folklore so this was all new to me. Amara is the daughter of a demon priest and accused of witchcraft. There is mysteries, violence and rage on this island but who is really to blame. I don’t want to say too much here but this was a unique one.
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Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you like creepy gothic suspenseful stories set in the 19th century this might be a book for you. It was a different plot for me and it was tough at times but I had to see what happened. The book address’ a lot of things that happened to women back in the 19th century and how they were treated so at times it was hard to read. I am still thinking about the ending if I liked it or not. Give it a go and see what you think

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Island Witch is a supernatural thriller that kept me on my toes with all of their creepy and suspenseful vibes. That ending was insane. There were topics of colonialism and religious moral superiority that were addressed in this book. I think the author did very well in addressing these harder topics.

Overall, I enjoyed all of the creepy, gothic vibes and the tales of feminism within this book. Would definitely recommend.

I really liked this book. I loved the way it was told and it felt very unique. The setting being in Sri Lanka was a first for me and I loved it. Such a good and unique story. Highly recommend.

*Thank you netgalley and Berkeley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What I enjoyed most about Island Witch was how it examines a changing community. The impacts of colonialism and the intersections of belief and witchcraft. At the same time it also examines female rage, revenge, and the ways fear is drilled into women. The idea of sin, religion, and guilt all merging with 'Christianity' and colonialism. With these ideas swirling around, for Amara where will she stand?

This book kinda reads like a young adult folktale. There’s a booger in the jungle that is attacking men. The main character dad just happens to exorcise demons from the town people.
After the attacks go on the people all think the dad is at fault.
Weaved in the story is an underlying feminine rage.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

This was a definite change of pace for me and I am glad I read it. I appreciate being pushed out of my comfort zone and this did just that.
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This book has dark themes that are hard to read sometimes, but the author didn’t just throw them in gratuitously. She told a beautifully written tale of horrible things, demons, religious shaming, the effects of colonialism, and the way women were used and abused among them.
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This story takes place in the late 19th century in Sri Lanka, where the British have colonized the island. Amara is a young woman whose father drives out demons. The people in her village bully her for this and the suspected witchcraft they accuse her of doing. However she isn’t the one they need to fear. Something is in the jungle seizing men and causing terror. The dreams that haunt Amara somehow connect her to the darkness.
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This was quite unusual with an ending I did not expect at all. Thanks #BerkleyPublishing for my advanced ecopy of this chilling book.

Amara, the daughter of a village demon-priest, lives at a time when people are being influenced by practices of a new religion brought by the British. Accused of being a witch when mysterious attacks occur, Amara tries to discover who is behind it all.

This book is based on the folklore of Sri Lanka. It was a bit of a departure from Jayatissa's other books and an uncomfortable read for me. But it was well-written and researched.

Content Warnings: sexual assault, violence against women and abortion

This was totally out of my comfort zone. I was expecting this to be a horror revolving around spirits and the supernatural world, but it was much darker than that. This was my first book by this author, and I can appreciate her writing style and the cultural relevance tied to the trigger warnings referenced in the author’s note. I just wish those trigger warnings had been included with the synopsis because had I known, I wouldn’t have requested this book knowing that it would not be for me. This was too dark and heavy of a book for me.

I’m still giving this book 4 stars because the author’s writing was lovely and I respect her decision to include the include the type of experiences women in Sri Lanka have endured.

If I had to describe Island Witch in one sentence: A dark, gothic, feminist slow-burn with lots of gore and horror. Definitely putting an emphasis on “slow-burn” because this one took awhile to really hook me. The last 20% of this book was insane and I don’t know if I wanted this book to a be a bit shorter, or for the pieces to start coming together sooner.

This book would have been 5 stars for me if the beginning had hooked me a bit more. I’m glad I stuck it out though, because this ended up being super creepy and the ending absolutely destroyed me.

I haven’t read anything else by this author but am definitely interested in checking out her book You’re Invited.

Check this one out if you like gothic horror, Sri Lankan folklore, feminist lore, gore, and strong female characters

**Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for the eARC of this title!!**

Thanks to @berkleypub for the eARC of the book. All thoughts are my own.

The premise of this book really intrigued me so I wanted to give this book a try. It’s definitely not in my usual genre of romance books, but why not change things up a bit?

The author’s writing is extraordinary: her descriptions place you right in the scenes; the tension is palpable, as is the fear of the unknown, mysterious attacker.

This is a book of fiction, but the history of colonization in Sri Lanka (and elsewhere) is very real. I really admire by how the author wove the impacts of colonization and spread of Christianity into the book so that we understood it at individual, familial, and community levels.

Unfortunately, I decided to DNF as friends warned me of forthcoming scenes and I knew they would be too triggering for me. I strongly advise reading the authors note closely (which I failed to do) and make the best decision for you.

I will definitely keep this author on my radar for future reads, though!

In nineteenth century Sri Lanka, daughter of the village Capuwa (demon priest), Amara, tries to solve the mysterious attacks that have been happening around her village. Most of the villagers around the island have been influenced by the new religious practices brought in by the British Colonizers, but that doesn’t stop them from still calling on Amara’s dad whenever supernatural occurrences happen. But now, someone (or something), is viciously attacking the men and instead of asking for Amara’s father’s help, the villagers begin accusing him for it.

Amma is used to keeping to herself - the relentless bullying and accusations of witchcraft are never ending. She sets out to try and clear her father’s name herself, but begins being haunted by dreams that predict dark forces, that also leave her waking up in random places throughout the island as she sleepwalks. She can’t shake the feeling that all of this is connected to the night weeks ago - when she was recovering from a strange illness and woke up scared and confused, to her mother frantically saying, “No one can find out what happened”.

I don’t read horror that often, but after reading the marketing promos for it and seeing it was both based on Sri Lankan folklore and had “female rage finally being unleashed” as a highlight point, I was sold. And this didn’t disappoint.

The storyline of watching Amara from an innocent young girl turned to a rage filled woman was impressive and believable. It made the ending of the story a bit complicated because you both saw where she was coming from and kind of had to take a step back and go, “Whoa”. I haven’t read anything from Amanda Jayatissa before, but I will be adding her other two to my ever growing TBR list.

As I said before, horror isn’t my forte, but I think those who are looking for a unique and page turning, historical Sri Lanka horror, will greatly appreciate this one. There are some gory moments, but nothing that I thought was super crazy or intense, especially for a horror novel.

*Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Highlights:
✨Mystery: I enjoyed uncovering the mystery of the vicious attacks. However, the twists occurred a little late, making the middle feel a tad longer. One twist in particular takes a dark turn, so if you have trigger issues, please read the trigger warnings before starting.
✨Religious Divide: Jayatissa's historical research is impressive as she realistically portrays the struggle of Sri Lankans between their traditional Buddhism/Hinduism and the Christianity that the British enforced. This conflict extends beyond religion and into daily life. Jayatissa subtly weaves these themes throughout her story. While the story's horror elements may overshadow this historical context, as a lover of both horror and historical fiction, I appreciate how Yatissa's extensive research shines through in her writing.
✨Sri Lanka: I love all the elements that bring Sri Lanka to life: the vivid setting, the gorgeous language written in the local dialect, and the creepy folklore. Jayatissa skillfully blends the Sri Lankan native language with English, making it an excellent experience on audio. However, I found that the folklore, which serves as a medium to explore female rage, is better understood in print as I could highlight the passages and reflect on them. I suggest pairing audio and physical/ebook versions for an immersive experience.

Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa is a compelling story that blends Sri Lankan folklore and horror, set in late 19th century Sri Lanka. It follows Amara, a demon-priest's daughter, as she investigates into mysterious attacks on her village, facing accusations against her family amid a backdrop of shifting cultural and religious views, highlighting themes of female empowerment and resilience.

Island Witch was my most anticipated read this month! I was really excited to read this because I loved the author's previous work and I was intrigued by the setting in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka was more than just a backdrop; it was a vibrant character, rich in culture, folklore, and a complex colonial history, offering enlightening insights that captivated me. The storyline was engaging, full of unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout. However, the main issue I had with the book was the main character, Amara whose decisions and personality I found frustratingly difficult to empathize with. Additionally, the pacing of the book was extremely slow burn, interspersed with graphic content. The book strived for female empowerment but occasionally veered into despair. Horror isn’t really a genre I pick up and I initially thought this would be a thriller like her other novels so take my review with a grain of salt.

I loved Amanda Jaytissa’s debut MY SWEET GIRL and I enjoyed her sophomore book YOU’RE INVITED. Island Witch did not work for me.

Island Witch focuses on Amara, the daughter of the local demon-priest who is having a difficult time in their Sri Lankan town as the British have moved in and tried to push organized religion over local religious beliefs. Amara is also secretly meeting with a local boy whose family is more respected than her own, and her best friend is shunning her for other more reputable girls. And Amara’s mother seems to have it out for Amara.

Local men have begun to be attacked and the locals are pointing the finger at Amara’s father…..until he becomes a victim. Amara is trying to figure out what is going on, while having increasingly troubling dreams about the attack.

I appreciate that Jayatissa was trying to weave in folklore and mystical elements in a story set in Sri Lanka at the time of colonization. Unfortunately, I found the story very repetitive and I struggled to finish the book.

Island Witch is a haunting tale steeped in folklore and the supernatural that follows a young woman on the path of coming into her own power… consequences be damned.

The prose is lush, and the pacing slow for the first half that then begins to ramp up to its inevitable conclusion. Author Amanda Jayatissa deftly sprinkles breadcrumbs for readers to follow as she elucidates Amara’s story. Those who are paying attention will not be surprised at the revelations found in the story, though that does not make them any less impactful and horrifying. This book adeptly deals with the effects of colonialism, misogyny, and violence against women through the lens of horror, and does so to great effect.

Though the ending is jarring and perhaps a bit bleak, the tone and purpose of the story is clear from the beginning. And readers will be left thinking about this book for a long time after reading the final words on the page. I know I will.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC.