Very different book from what I normally read. Took a little bit to get into the cadence of the dialect but once I did the pace picked up. Definitely wasn't expecting the ending but really enjoyed it....devilishly delightful

Thank you Nightfire and NetGalley, for my copy! Wow, what a fantastic book! It had ALL the feels, from beginning to end...hatred, anger, peace, happiness, revenge. I finished with the awesome feeling of not wanting it to end.
This is, essentially, two stories expertly combined, so that you are in two different worlds. On one hand, we have the story of Abitha, a strong and mouthy woman living in a Puritan village, surrounded by godly and pious people. Her father sold her to be a wife to a man living in the village, but she has a hard time being the religious and devout woman the villagers expect. On the other, we have Samson, a beastly demon who is searching for his soul, wondering what his purpose is, sometimes in violent ways. These two beautifully developed characters come together in an amazing friendship, that tugs on the heartstrings, blows you away with the savagery and leaves you wanting more.

Knowing about the Puritan way of life and their views on anything ungodly, we can only expect that Abitha's way of life will be questioned and challenged. And this is the cornerstone of the story, how we see the hypocritical views of the "godly" Puritans and their disgusting solutions to the sins they see. Brom just blew me away with the fierceness of this story, the extremes one will go through to see righteousness win, and the purity of strong relationships, both familial and not. I just loved this and can't wait for more Brom!

4.5

Let me start by saying- I am not a fan of fantasy and I do not like historical books, but I am a huge fan of witches so my curiosity got the better of me-I am so glad that I gave it a chance because I absolutely adored this book.  This is the first Brom novel I've read and I am hooked, his writing and storytelling was brilliant.

Regardless of the genre, this was just a really good story-I loved Abitha and Samson (Father) so much.  Abitha is a real badass and her fiery personality was so infectious I couldn't help but to root for her.  Might I add the horror elements in this story were pretty brutal and very descriptive.  When reading I kept getting Pan's Labryinth vibes, the story line was not all similar, but I felt the same feels reading this book as that movie.

I didn't give this 5 stars, because at times the magical elements in this story felt a bit cheesy-I mean there was one scene in the book that reminded me of Aladdin/Jasmine on the magic carpet ride and I was like-really lol.  Nonetheless, I would highly recommend this book I will definitely be picking up a physical copy once this becomes available for order.

Thank you netgalley and Tor Nightfire for the opportunity to read and advanced copy and provide my honest feedback,

First off, HUGE thank you to the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this story in all of its formats. I was able to feast my ears upon the magic of the audiobook (which was AMAZING) as well as read from the physical book (which is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING).

I've had a few Brom books on my TBR for quite some time, but had not gotten around to reading them. That being said, I'm so glad that Slewfoof was my introduction to this wonderful author. This book was pure magic and nostalgia for me. It brought me back to my reading roots of witchy tales such as The Witch of Blackbird Pond, which gave me my love of reading to begin with. It also gave me that wondrous feeling of watching a movie inside my head and I could picture all the story and characters so vividly. I imagined the forest folk the way Henson portrayed the goblins in Labrynth. I was so imersed in this tale and I know this is one I will be revisiting time and again.

Brom has such an amazing talent of bringing the reader right into the world that he has so lovingly created. I could picture the town, the people and the way of life that was led back in that time. I could feel Abitha's anguish and need to prove herself and not have to live a life of servitude to her terrible brother-in-law. To be free of the rules and live a life that was meaningful for herslef. As the great Pierce Brown would say "I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war", the same was true for Abitha. No matter what, she would never live in peace during a time when women were of little worth without a man.

This story flashes from Abitha's story to the story of Slewfoot and the forest folk, which eventually meet up and intertwine. This is where I get the Labrynth vibes lol. When it flashes to the forest folk I picture the parts in the movie where the goblins are scurrying around and wondering "did she say it" hahaha. I loved these parts as this is where the magic comes into play and where we, the reader, and Slewfoot himself start to find out who he is and why he has been brought back after such a long slumber.

I loved the interactions and understanding that Abitha and Slewfoot had for each other, even if the townspeople and forest folk were both set against such things. Slewfoot was such an interesting character and I really enjoyed watching how Brom made the "devil" story his own.

I honestly could go on and on about this book, but I feel like it's best if I stop here so I don't ruin anything and let you feel the magic for yourselves. I HIGHLY suggest the physical book with all of it's illustrations, but I would also urge you to check out the audio for the book if that is your thing. The audio narration is perfection! The narrator does all the different voices, bringing every character to life. Between the narration and the writing itself, it creates such a special kind of experience for this book. I think it is safe to say I will be binging though Brom's other works as soon as possible!

I made it to about 25% then gave up. I was initially excited about this one because I was expecting an exciting witchy story. Sadly it was very slow and boring to me.

After an unexpected and tragic event Abitha finds herself with little power over her own life and the target of the residents of Sutton Village. She comes from a strong lineage of cunning women who know the old ways and worship the old gods. Strange things begin happening in Sutton Village and it seems the devil may have come to pay the town a visit.

Slewfoot is a slow burn but boy was it worth it. It’s set in 1666 and Brom did a brilliant job in firmly establishing Sutton Village as a Puritan society and creating a stifling sense of claustrophobia/fear. There was the perfect amount of magic, witchiness and dark fantasy in here. As a pagan I was impressed with the amount of research Brom has done for Slewfoot. He knows his stuff.

Although this is labeled as horror, lovers of historical fiction and dark fantasy will likely enjoy this. Practicing pagans and witches will likely love it too. It’s my favourite witchy story of the year for good reason!
Abitha is a bad ass protagonist. I loved that she never sacrifices her personal morals throughout the story. I found this a very empowering and feminist read.

I have pre-ordered this and can’t wait to see the hardcover with the stunning artwork Brom is well known for! I enjoyed Slewfoot so much. One of my top reads of the year.

So, this is a witch-themed horror novel. (Sorry, I like to start off many of my reviews with a casually obvious statement)

Books like these generally fall into one of two categories:

1. Salem-style: The "witch" in question has no powers and is persecuted unjustly.
2. Magic-everywhere-style!: Magic is thrown around nonchalantly and there are evil forces and good forces battling each other.

Well, Slewfoot is unique in that it's a combination of the two. Brom deftly manipulates the reader's expectations, which is one of the book's strong points. Another strongpoint is a well-defined, three-dimensional, sympathetic protagonist in Abitha. One minor complaint I have is that some of the supernatural passages are overly wordy and become slightly convoluted. This happens mostly in the first act, but is cleared up by the time the action ramps up, and the ending is very satisfying.

This is my second book from Brom (first one was Lost Gods) and I think this one is an improvement.

It will be released from Tor's Nightfire line on September 14th, and would be an excellent addition to your Halloween reads this year.

Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom
Pub date: September 14, 2021
Format: Audiobook and DRC
5 stars

I’ve been reading a bit about the Puritan witch trials lately and I am both appalled yet fascinated by this ghastly part of history. While Slewfoot has a deep root in history, there is a strong element of fantasy/horror prominent throughout. It is wholly unique, devastatingly dark and a monstrously beautiful tale.

To begin with, Abitha, the main character and narrator is a woman of great strength and resilience – she is, in short, a truly admirable character. Faced with the death of her husband and fighting a misogynistic community, she fights to overcome the constraints put upon her using intelligence and bravery.
Despite her strength of character, it is 1666 Colonial America and as we all know of this time, all it takes is one finger pointing and calling out ‘witch’ to bring a woman to the gallows. Abitha is no stranger to charms and potions, little things that are more to give confidence than to illicit any sort of magic. But these are dangerous times to be dabbling in charms and potions.

“Her mother, though, she’d been a true cunning woman, and it was through her teachings – teachings cut short upon her untimely death [….] That Abitha had gained the handful of remedies, charms and divinations she now possessed.”

Her meeting of and eventual relationship with the devil Slewfoot, who Abitha calls Samson, changes everything and watching their relationship evolve throughout the story is a thing of beauty. It took away from the God awfulness of humanity and balanced the dark nature of the story. The lore of the Wild Folk, Mother Earth and all things magical are the icing on the cake of this delicious piece of work.

This is an exceptional story that I highly recommend to fans of Hour of the Witch, The Witches-1692, The Manningtree Witches or any fan of the genre.

My thanks to @TorBooks for the gifted copies to review.

Slewfoot is perfectly spooky and bewitching. Filled with demons, magic, and spirits, this is full of ambiance.

A recently widowed Abitha is an outcast in her Puritan community. She is the constant victim to cruel Puritan pious rumors, and can turn to no one, or can she?

Who is Father of The Forest? Even Father doesn’t remember who he is or what his purpose is. He shares a very powerful and mysterious bond to Abitha. She is the only one he can turn to for help.

This is a new classic tale of terror. Slewfoot was unforgettable and will stay with me for a long time.


Big thanks to Brom, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

Publication date: 09/14/2021

It's that time of the year! That time when dozens of new horror novels hit the shelves, and I am here for it! The latest novel in my horror read-through is Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom.

Abitha was never built to live a Puritan life. She's strong-willed, stubborn, and not afraid to speak her mind. That has gotten her into a fair bit of trouble during her time in a new Puritan colony – as one might imagine.

However, that trouble pales in comparison to what she is about to face. A powerful spirit is about to wake up, and both Abitha and her colony will unintentionally lend a hand in helping this creature find its role in the universe.

“If it is a devil you seek, then it is a devil you shall have!”

If you love horror stories set in the time of witch hunts (and the nightmares that mere humans can create), then the odds are good that you're going to enjoy Slewfoot. This novel throws a heavy dose of supernatural horror into what is already a chilling setting – and then runs with it.

I've read I don't know how many novels set in this era, and I have to say that Slewfoot still managed to surprise me. This is an original take on something that I had (forgive me for saying) been getting tired of. However, Slewfoot revitalized my interest, for which I am grateful.

Slewfoot is a slow-burning horror. It takes a long time to truly set the scene, but everything picks up significantly once you pass a certain point. So if you're struggling while watching Abitha try to fit into the Puritan lifestyle – don't worry; this won't be the sole focus for long.

There are two parts that I loved more than anything else from Slewfoot: Abitha and the creature. Abitha is so spirited and stubborn (especially for the time), which I adored. Meanwhile, the entity is not your standard horror monster. Instead, its presence opens the door for debates regarding good versus evil (with clear parallels being drawn to the humans nearby). It was dark and fascinating, just not in ways I expected. In truth, I liked it better this way.

Long story short: I really enjoyed the unique take in Slewfoot, and I highly recommend this to all horror fans looking for something a bit different.

Yes I really like this book. It didn’t disappoint me at all. A fantasy based on history. Gray combination that I thoroughly enjoy. Characters with emotions and feelings that are still with me after reading the book. Thank you for providing this advanced copy to me

What an amazing novel! And the pictures (paintings, really. artwork, for sure) are so beautiful!
An ancient spirit awakens in a dark wood. The forest folk call him Father, slayer, protector. The colonists call him Slewfoot, demon, devil. To Abitha, a recently widowed outcast, alone and vulnerable in her pious village, he is the only one she can turn to for help. Together, they ignite a battle between pagan and Puritan – one that threatens to destroy the entire village, leaving nothing but ashes and bloodshed in their wake. This terrifying tale of bewitchery features more than two dozen of Brom’s haunting paintings, fully immersing readers in this wild and unforgiving world.

Having read Brom's previous books I knew I'd have a strong, unraveling story that slowly builds and doesn't disappoint in its delivery. I had a hard time going to bed without knowing what was going to happen next, you know just one more chapter. Interesting that the Puritans left England for religious persecution, and yet were worse to their neighbors and supposed friends. This takes place in Connecticut in 1666, witch trials were regular happenings, don't like something your neighbor did, claim witchcraft. We have an innocent woman trying to make her way when her husband dies and his brother decides he wants her land and everything they worked for to just be handed to him. The bad guys are truly bad people, greedy, plotting and used to getting their way, without restraints they go their own way to achieve everything they want, and is it ever enough? Along with the story of the new widows struggles we get a creature who's not sure who or what he is, and when the two join forces it is great story telling, I could easily picture it all in my head as I was reading. Unfortunately we don't get Brom's artwork with an ARC, but I thank NetGalley and the publishers for this preview, I really enjoyed it.

**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the prepublication copy**

I'm still processing this book. There is quite a bit going on here - Puritanical ridiculousness, witchcraft hysteria, the "Devil", Pagan imagery/folklore, actual magic...

I was uncomfortable with the characterization of indigenous people in this work, although I understand it coming from the colonizer, Puritan point of view. I'm also not sure how I feel about the characterization of some of the Pagan traditions that get included. The "smart woman as witch" story line is my favorite here, although I'm ambivalent on the way it ends.

There were points where it felt that the book was trying to make a much larger point than it succeeded in doing. There were also several typos/errors that I hope get edited before final publication.

I'm going to sit with this one a bit longer and see how I feel with some more time.

Effing Puritans. Zealots with pitchforks, mass hysteria, paranoia, men and women drunk with cruel power. Violence against women.

And, some good old sympathy for the devil.

The good - a historical fiction mixed with dark fantasy, very interesting plot, you sympathize with Abitha’s plight.

Overall, I found the storyline an intriguing one and found that once I had read the first half (which I found very slow), the story picked up and kept moving, leading up to a strong ending.

Thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for an eARC of this title. Opinions shared are influenced by nothing other than my reading experience.

This is a translated version of my spanish review posted on Goodreads:

Score: 3.5 Stars

First of all, thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC!

I think this book is the perfect description of a rollercoaster. At the beginning the author states clearly that throughout the pages this book will have a spooky ambience, with scenes that will leave the reader excited and expectant for what's coming.

However, the middle of the book is sooo passive. And yes, we know it is because Brom is telling us the events that will lead to the closure, but it still feels a little slow. The pacing decreases which will possibly demotivate some readers. However, if you're reading this book and you're in the middle HOLD ON!, the end will retake everything we loved from the beginning and will amplify it x10. I literally think that what happens at the end is what all readers would have loved to see since they started this book.

The characters are perfectly crafted. You can easily connect with them in both a positive and negatively manner. Especially with one of them, Wallace, who I'm sure every reader will hate. And believe me, he will reap what he sowed. And by the way, ABITHA IS THE BEST.

I liked the idea behind the demon and the ancient gods, the demonization of an old god. I also enjoyed how Brom addressed the topic of how humanity in self is in charge of demonizing its enemies, taking their humanity from them in order to destroy them without any charge of conscience. The saddest thing? This is not something that lays in the past, it still happens in the modern-day in multiple scenarios like politics.

At the beginning struggled a little with the vocabulary of this book. Since the story is placed a couple of centuries ago it contained words I never heard or read before, which made me go to Google translator to have a clear perspective of what was happening. For this reason, I wouldn´t recommend it for people that are starting to learn english.

I want to finish this review by saying that this was a very interesting read. As I said before: A rollercoaster. I recommend it to readers that love horror and the spooky feeling that some stories may have. Now that October is coming this may be the perfect book to get you in the Halloween mood.

SLEWFOOT is in many ways BEAUTY AND THE BEAST meets THE WITCH and that is the combination I didn't realize that I needed. But man, did it give me life. I loved so much about this story, from the characters to the atmosphere to the themes and how Brom parses out what being 'evil' really means, as well as the search for finding one's true self. Both Abitha and 'Slewfoot' (a name that our awakened forest spirit is given by some, as the community thinks he is a Devil, and Abitha wonders sometimes if that is, indeed, the case) are lost and isolated, Abitha because she is now widowed in a community that doesn't trust her, and Slewfoot because he has no memory of what he was before he is awakened from a long slumber. As they try to live up to the expectations of what they are 'supposed to be' (as defined by others), they are eventually drawn to each other and realize that their connection makes them all the more empowered. Abitha's arc was may favorite of the two, as I love me a 'rebellious woman standing up against puritanical misogyny and poisonous religious fervor' a whole lot. Her growth from satisfied but perhaps frustrated wife to empowered woman is great, and, of course, has the horrible bumps along the way you'd expect from a story that has greedy Puritan men always prowling. Slewfoot's story is also interesting, as it looks at how something seen as vengeful or villainous may not be so easily defined. I will say that there were some aspects of this tale that could have been a bit appropriative when it comes to representation and use of Pequot folklore, though Brom does have a note that talks about research and reaching out to actual members of the Pequot community. It's just something that should be noted in terms of using Indigenous tales for other purposes. And finally, yes, there are some horror elements to this book, and while I think I consider it more of a dark fantasy, the horrors of an oppressive community that will do horrifying things in the name of God is just as terrifying as some of the body horror and scares that are found throughout this book.

I really loved SLEWFOOT: A TALE OF BEWITCHERY. Fans of THE WITCH definitely need to check it out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy.

I hate the Puritans. If I had to live in that era I'd honestly go crazy from the oppression and unfairness and expectation of obedience. And I wish Brom had really leaned into that - Abby is a spirited woman who clashes with the expectations placed on her, but I didn't get the feeling that she was at a level of such deep and simmering rage. Does she live in a more relaxed Puritan town? She's allowed to skip church (once her husband dies but still), regularly talks back, and, in the end, goes around in public with her hair down/loose and without the requited clothes. She's allowed to speak up in her husband's stead, so I get a little bit of leniency, but Puritans really did not like independent women who didn't follow their rules. Brom really missed a chance to lean into the horror of the mundane.

The beginning was very long while not much happened. While it was interesting seeing Slewfoot's struggles with morality and evil, it wasn't the most compelling. About 2/3rds of the way in, when Abitha is accused of being a witch, is when it really picks up.

3.5 rounded up.

“𝗛𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝘂𝗺, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁, 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵, 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻, 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗿𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗺, 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁, 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴…”

Sutton Village, 1666.

Abitha finds herself sold off by her father and sent to a new land. Her husband, Edward, is a kind soul and for that she is grateful. But the customs are foreign, and the society is harsh. Lurking around every corner the devil is waiting, watching. Villagers search for cloven hoof prints in the dirt. And pray that you don’t have the devils mark upon you, or a hanging be in your future.

Abitha comes from a long line of cunning women who told of nature spirits, fairies, imps and forest gods. Who handed down customs and traditions for healing and protection. But she’s unsure of who God even is. And as fate would have it, Slewfoot does not remember who he is; destroyer or protector? Giver of life or does he bathe in blood?

Enter Slewfoot’s existential crisis.

This book is perfect for lovers of fantasy and historical fiction. For the ones who are called to nature, and answer when the pagan gods speak.

I LOVED Slewfoot. I loved so much about this book that I can’t even begin to put it into words. I loved the friendship between Abitha and Samson. I loved the magical moments. Just EVERYTHING.

Review will be posted on Goodreads and Instagram.

Thank you to Nightfire for this!

A fantastically creepy and magical tale of old times told through Brom's gorgeous prose and illustrations. There is not someone else out there who is achieving what Brom is. His illustrious prose mixed with the sketches really create something marvelous and memorable. Thank you for the e-arc.