The writing is lovely and easy to read. The theme is perfect for the current political climate. I stopped after chapter 1 (5%) but this seems like a solid four stars for the target audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

4.5 stars

I loved this book, it was written wonderfully. I was absolutely overtaken with the whole story and all of the characters and the history. It is great mystery bordering on a stunning horror novel. I hope to see a lot more from this author soon.

An engaging thriller sprinkled with morsels of horror! This is story is a well-written supernatural tale that also covers a range a heavy topics, from colonialism to abortion to sexual assault and gender politics. I do want to note that there should probably be a warning to readers about these topics. They are handled very well, but Jayatissa does not shy away from the nature of these real-world horrors. Overall, I would highly recommend this to fans of Jayatissa's other books, as well as those looking for an international thriller rooted in Sri Lankan culture.

Island Witch is a twisty supernatural thriller set in the jungles of colonial Sri Lanka. I found it to be a delightfully creepy and suspenseful read, although that ending threw me for a loop! It's a quick read but not necessarily a light one – themes addressed in this book include colonialism, religious moral superiority, the abuse of women at the hands of men they love, and what happens when one of those ill-treated women is finally pushed too far. Trigger warnings include violence, sexual assault, domestic abuse, bullying, and abortion.

The descriptive writing in this book is fantastic. It's easy to feel as if you're there in late nineteenth century Sri Lanka with Amara as she investigates the multiple vicious attacks on men in her village. Are the attacks the work of a single person or is something supernatural occurring out in the jungle?

The plot is original and clever, and I enjoyed watching Amara's transformation from innocent young girl to rage-filled woman. Well, perhaps “enjoyed” isn't the right word since it's not exactly a happy story, but I was definitely invested in the outcome and was anxious to discover how it would all play out.

The ending was a tough one for me. Are Amara's actions justified? Probably. Was it inevitable? Perhaps. Was it the ending I hoped for? Absolutely not. I was horrified watching it unfold and yet understanding of why things needed to play out the way they did. Kudos to the author for writing such a shocking and complex conclusion to this novel – I never saw it coming.

Final rating: 3.85, rounded up. If you like creepy, gothic, and/or feminist tales set in exotic lands, you'll likely enjoy this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.

Island Witch picks you up, takes you to a most uncomfortable place full of twists and turns and has a mind blowing end.

Set in the late 19th century in Sri Lanka, a father is a gifted and respected witch. Until murders begin and he us blamed.

His daughter, Amara, has inherited his skills and works to find the killer and free her father from suspicion.

A gothic horror, this book is a feminist perspective on crowd mentality, the time between childhood and becoming fully grown. The book looks at what happens when a woman's rage is unleashed.

I most heartedly recommend this book