This was a haunting, atmospheric horror- don’t let the beautiful cover fool you! I would particularly recommend this for readers looking for horror with supernatural elements. As a bonus, it’s based on Sri Lankan folk lore!

Thank you so much Netgalley & Berkely!

2.5 stars from me. This writing felt very YA-- pacing, tone, character, all of it. The main character is 18, so that makes sense, but it's not marked as YA anywhere; readers who don't enjoy the writing styles dominating books for that age group right now are likely to be a bit put off.

I really wanted to like this, because of the author's background and the book's setting. I don't know that I've ever read a book set on Sri Lanka!

In addition to the pacing and tone not working for me, I found much of the narration mind-numbingly repetitive. The main character ruminates on a very few points over and over without making any progress or realizations. It's hard to empathize with her as an overwhelmed, sheltered girl when she frequently seems too oblivious, even more than what her circumstances would dictate.

Maybe older teens, New Adults, or readers with crossover interests would enjoy this more?

eARC from NetGalley.

I enjoyed Jayatissa’s previous two books, so i was excited for this even though it’s a bit different for her, and seemed a little out of my comfort zone. it’s a bit more horror leaning and includes a lot of folklore/fantastical elements. I enjoyed it for what it was, but it was definitely something outside of my usual preferences so i think readers more in board with the storyline will really love this!

"Island Witch" by Amanda Jayatissa is a captivating blend of magic and mystery set against a lush, tropical backdrop. The novel’s atmospheric setting and intricate plot weave together themes of enchantment and intrigue, creating a spellbinding reading experience. Jayatissa's vivid descriptions and compelling characters draw readers into a world where secrets and supernatural elements collide. It's a mesmerizing and imaginative tale that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages.

I loved Jayatissa’s first two novels so I was curious about her take on historical horror. I wanted this to have the suspense of her first book My Sweet Girl with the immersive historical components of Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas but unfortunately this book fell flat for me. It wasn’t bad, just didn’t live up to my expectations.

As a fan of Amanda Jayatissa's previous thrillers, I was intrigued to see her venture into historical horror with "Island Witch." While I typically gravitate towards contemporary settings, I found myself captivated by the lush and atmospheric portrayal of 19th century Sri Lanka in this novel.

Jayatissa weaves together elements of folklore, colonialism, and female rage into a dark and compelling narrative. The protagonist, Amara, is a complex and fascinating character, both victim and perpetrator, whose journey is both horrifying and strangely empowering.

The exploration of Sri Lankan folklore and mythology added a unique flavor to the story, enriching the horror elements with cultural depth. The way Jayatissa intertwined these traditional beliefs with the encroaching influence of British colonialism created a powerful allegory for the clash between tradition and modernity, and the often devastating consequences of cultural erasure.

While I enjoyed the atmospheric prose and the rich cultural backdrop, the pacing felt a bit uneven at times. Some sections were slow-burning and suspenseful, while others felt rushed, leaving me wanting more development in certain areas. However, the ending was undeniably impactful, leaving me with a lingering sense of unease and a deeper understanding of the complex themes explored in the novel.

As a reader who is often drawn to stories about women navigating difficult circumstances and reclaiming their power, "Island Witch" resonated with me on a personal level. Amara's journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of unimaginable trauma and oppression. "Island Witch" is a haunting and thought-provoking novel that will stay with me long after finishing it. While it may not be for everyone due to its graphic content and slower pacing, I found it to be a rewarding and ultimately satisfying read that delves into the dark underbelly of colonialism and the enduring power of female rage.

A dark and sinister slow burn of a novel.

I've been a fan of Amanda Jayatissa since her debut and this was a departure. The writing was strong and there were a lot of interesting characters. I think she did a great job painting the atmosphere and bringing us into this world. While I enjoyed the core story I did struggle a bit with the pace.

I will continue to read whatever she writes. She delves into complex, complicated characters and I always love a flawed character trying to navigate their situation. This book does goes dark and is weightier in subject matter, but think it was an achievement, mixing folklore and history with some supernatural feels.

While this is at its core a historical fiction set in a Sri Lankan village undergoing the consequences of British colonialism, there is a lot more at play here. Following Amara, the daughter of of Capuwa or “demon-priest”, we see the clash between the local religion and the rise of Christianity, coinciding with a slew of vicious attacks, leading everyone to blame her family. That’s already a lot to digest, but there’s additionally a lot of interpersonal and inner turmoil that Amara is dealing with. There’s a growing distance between her and her father, she’s waiting for her secret boyfriend to propose, and she herself has been feeling uneasy. And the way events unfold…my god. This might be one of the most depressing third acts I’ve ever read in my life, made even worse by how naïve and trusting Amara is (there were also not TWs listed at the beginning of the book). Every traumatic thing I could think of was revealed and, while I could see what the author was going for, I personally didn’t find the ending cathartic, which I think is a lot of the appeal of books like this.

I still think there was a lot of compelling story here, especially the focus on topics surrounding the effects of colonialism. The shame, blame, and community destruction centered in the story was so unsettling but very much relevant (and relatable). For that alone, I’m still glad I read this.

***I received both an ARC and finished review copy from Berkley Publishing for free and am leaving an honest review***

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this e-ARC! I do my reviews on my social media platforms. I am currently working on getting through my reviews so stay tuned! Leaving a rating as a placeholder for me and to not effect the books rating in order to post this. Thanks again!

Amara is the daughter of the village Capuwa, who was once respected by the village but is not villainized due to the influence of British Colonizers and their religion. Her father is the first one to blame when men start getting attacked in the jungle. Amara is both trying to clear her father’s name, and fighting terrible dreams that seem to be predicting the terrible things happening around the island. Nothing has been right since she woke up from an illness that no one will tell her what happened.

Thank you Netgalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the creepy feeling setting of this story. I really felt like I was in the jungles of Sri Lanka as we learn about the country’s culture and the effects of colonialism. Watching Amara grow in the story was also a joy and that ending! It wasn’t what I was expecting.

This book and I were a bad match. I didn't connect with the writing style. I can't stand when the main character is literally the only good person in existence, and every male is evil. I was just too bored to continue on.

DNF

3.5 Rounded up.

Hmmm.. This is an interesting one because I both did, and did not, like it. For what it was I think its a good story, but booooy did I want more! So much potential, and I do think it scratched the surface but I wish it pushed it farther. I did find the idea to be pretty enticing especially the more we learned about the specific attacks happening that this family is being blamed for, along with the different questionable things around our main character and the secrets of her family. I really liked the conversations that it had and I did like the direction that it went in the end and ended up liking it overall.

The issues that I have with it is mainly that I wanted more from it, and honestly I was a little bored with the set up. I don't know if the pacing was off or if we didn't get enough focus on the parts I thought would be more interesting, but I wasn't as gripped as I wanted to be, so parts of it felt a little slow. Fortunately I stuck around cause I did like the idea and where the book went.

Spoilers on Goodreads

Luscious environment and strong tradition. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of old beliefs vs the new church. The reveal was sad.

Island witch is a great horror suspense thriller. Wasn't able to finish on time but the initial chapters are very engaging.

"Set in 19th century Sri Lanka and inspired by local folklore, the daughter of a traditional demon-priest—relentlessly bullied by peers and accused of witchcraft herself—tries to solve the mysterious attacks that have been terrorizing her coastal village."

Set in Sri Lanka, I loved the richness of culture that this story embraces. The atmosphere is dark and eerie, written so well that you can feel it come to life. The mystery was interesting and I enjoyed following the main character, Amara, throughout the story. However, this is a really slow burn. I found myself tuning out at times due to the pacing, but the premise kept me intrigued enough to continue on.
I typically enjoy a fast paced and action packed story full of shocking twist and turns. This one is definitely not that, and that's okay. While not the typical story that I gravitate toward, I'm so glad that I read this one and the ending is so worth the slow burn ride it takes to get there.
If you enjoy a rich story with great atmosphere and characters, but don't mind a slow burn, than this is a great choice.

***This book covers some heavy topics such as (but not all listed here); domestic violence, bullying, and the overall mistreatment of women, so please be sure to read the trigger warnings before reading.

Thank you to @netgalley @PRHaudio and @berkleypub for the gifted copy of this book.

3.5/5!

I love when horror takes a nod from folklore and allows readers to not only experience an interesting story, but also learn some historical details along the way. Jayatissa does this in the pages of Island Witch by exploring Sri Lankan folklore. These elements, blended with the British colonization of the island, give a setting where worlds are colliding and our main character, Amara, is caught in the midst.

Getting to follow Amara’s experience is heartbreaking and frustrating all at once. Her experience trying to find her place amongst a mother and a village that don’t seem to want her leaves her isolated and the target of bullying. As Amara tries to understand who she is and why she has been made to feel the way she does, her full rage comes to the forefront giving the readers an explosive ending.

The plotting and the course to get to this ending is a slow burn. This book took me until the halfway point to become fully invested. Not every book needs to be a thrill ride, but I do think it’s important to know before starting this one because I think it could be easy to become disconnected with the book.

I look forward to checking out Jayatissa’s backlist in the future!

This is a villain origin story. It's ripe with history, filled with religious assimilation, misogyny, stolen innocence, unhinged female rage, and vengeance.

I was in my feelings with this book. It showed the ugliness of enabling evil, the power of man, and the betrayal of those you trust the most. But like most villain stories the MC isn't always completely innocent and there were definitely moments I wanted to scream and shake her as well.

Content Warnings - SA, Forced Abortion, Extreme Bullying, Domestic Violence, and Selfish, Resentful, Evil, Bitch Mom.

Highly Recommend, this would be an amazing movie.

This story was unique! The ending?! I didn't see that coming.

The first half of the story is a slow burn, and then the last 30% is nonstop. I was whiplashed by how fast-paced and gruesome it was compared to the beginning. Jayatissa is a great storyteller, and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you, Netgalley and Berkley, for the ARC.

This one was a medium paced and easy read! I liked getting immersed in Sri Lanka folklore. The book pulls you into the setting and makes you question the MCs reality.

While, I wish there were more demon parts…overall, I thought it was a good and easy read! A good palette cleanser.

If you like a book inspired by folklore with some suspense? Check this out!

Island Witch is a completely immersive story. The heaviness and tension carries throughout the entire story and at times, the writing is creepy. So many emotions roil constantly that reading this book was a visceral experience. I highly recommend this!