As someone who reads a fair number of thrillers, I went into Island Witch curious to see how Amanda Jayatissa would blend suspense with folklore and it totally worked. The story is dark, atmospheric, and full of tension, but what really stood out was the Sri Lankan mythology woven throughout. It gave the book a fresh twist compared to typical thrillers. The pacing was solid, and while not every reveal shocked me, there was a steady sense of unease that kept me turning pages. I appreciated the cultural depth and the eerie vibe. Definitely different from the usual thrillers I pick up, in a good way.

I really enjoyed the gothic and Sri Lankan folklore pairing. I found it to be a creepy, twisty read. The mystery definitely had me hooked until the end. If you like a good vengeance story with supernatural horror elements, Island Witch is not to be missed.

Inspired by Sri Lankan folklore, Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa is a sensory-filled, gripping novel of a 19th century, Sri Lankan coastal village caught between tradition and colonialism.

The main character, Amara, is the daughter of the village Capuwa (demon-priest). Her father has helped many families on the island, but with the British colonizers' introduction of Christianity, his traditional religious practices began to be viewed as witchcraft. When the island’s men start being attacked in the jungle during the middle of the night, not only is Amara’s father accused of being the one committing the crimes, but Amara herself is accused of being a witch who helps her father.

Amara sets out to clear her father’s name and in doing so, she unravels the secrets of the men who have been attacked and eventually stumbles upon the secret being kept from her about her family’s past.

The author does a phenomenal job of incorporating just the right amount of context to explain the Sri Lankan heritage, tradition, and folklore. The plot moves at a very fast pace as readers are taken into the story’s center where female rage and darkness reside. The climax will have readers rooting for justice and when that satisfying ending is unveiled, they will contemplate all of the historical evil in the world that women have had to endure.

Jayatissa’s writing is captivating and she knows how to transport readers into the story effortlessly. Her characters, both the likable ones as well as the unlikable ones, will remain with you long after you close the book—they will haunt you with their vulnerability and strength, their deceit and lies, their need to hold onto or let go of tradition amidst their changing world.

A pretty good atmospheric read with some horror and creepy vibes. I wanted more from the pacing as it felt too slow in places and just dragged too much. I’m curious though about this author now.

This was atmospheric and filled with moments of "good for her". The only reason that this wasn't a 5 star read for me is because the middle of the book was a bit too slow for me but the beginning and the end (especially the end!) was absolutely fantastic.

I wanted to love this one, the set up and setting was very interesting. I think I had trouble understanding some of the choices the MC made.

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.