✨ Review ✨ Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa

Thanks to Berkley and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Feminist anti-colonial gothic horror is one of my favorite niche genres these days and this falls neatly into that box. A change from Jayatissa's previous thrillers, this pairs historical fiction and gothic horror plus some magical realism.

Set in 19th-century British-occupied Sri Lanka, Island Witch digs into an in-between moment in Sri Lanka's history -- one in which residents are grappling between religions -- Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and local spirituality -- as well as traditional and colonial ways in all matters of life -- morality, clothing, trade, etc. etc. Across all of these tensions, however, lies a fundamental truth of an underlying female rage for how women are treated. Abused, cheated on, sold, and taken advantage of, the book grapples with what a just treatment of these crimes should be and who should adjudicate this mistreatment.

The book centers Amara, an 18yo, with a lot of feelings about her place within this tense and changing place. Accused by some as a witch because of her dad's role as a capuwa (a demon priest or spiritual leader of sorts), and now, suddenly, as her dad pushes her away too, she feels incredibly lonely.

The book brilliantly incorporates local language with bilingual text in places. I do wish there had been a glossary for some of the common words around the spiritual practices & folklore for reference -- it was a little hard to keep track of the different kinds of spirits. But I loved how the lush descriptions of the jungles and beaches alongside the use of local language transported me into this place.

I loved the feeling of wondering what was happening throughout much of the first half of the book, but then several of the twists felt a little predictable. I think in some ways this read like a debut -- brilliant but with definite areas for improvement as the author gets more comfortable in this genre.

Overall, I loved this book and am so glad I had the chance to read it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
Genre: historical fiction + gothic horror
Setting: 19th c. Sri Lanka
Reminds me of: Isabel Cañas, V. Castro
Pub Date: Feb 20, 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ gothic horror + islands
⭕️ anti-colonial, feminist fiction
⭕️ stubborn and persistent female characters

The Island Witch is a BRILLIANT piece of Sri Lankan folklore inspired horror that had me utterly mesmerized from start to glorious, stunning end.

I absolutely adored this story - a fantastically woven story of a young women, daughter of a demon-priest, who sets out to solve the mystery of horrifying attacks against men in her village, while wrestling with her own place within her family and trying to grasp her own power.

This story is a haunting, atmospheric, gothic tale that leaps off the page with beautifully lyrical writing and characters that feel so real you could touch them. As a reader you are transported to the humid, salty jungle, and Amara’s terror becomes your own.

I cannot say enough good things about the incredible story and world @amandajayatissa has created, and truly, this is a CANNOT BE MISSED sensation that thriller, horror and historical fiction lovers alike will revel in. Go IMMEDIATELY and get this on pre-order for its drop this week. You’ll be thrilled you did.

Many thanks to @berkleypub for the copy and for bringing this book magic to the world.

Island Witch takes us to the jungles of Sri Lanka and @amandajayatissa creates the most vivid, incredible atmosphere with her lyrical writing. I was highlighting so many passages as I worked my way through this thrilling folklore intertwined with supernatural elements.
Amanda gives voice to the voiceless women not only of Sri Lanka but all of those who face evils and have little to no say on their own future. Amanda takes us on a trip through the eyes of Amara, the young daughter of a demon exorcist, through becoming a woman and being forced to grow up and become a wife. As her family is ostracized by the town for her father's profession, they find themselves taking the fall for evil attacks happening throughout the village. Amara is determined to find out who or what is behind the attacks and clear her father's name.
sw Island Witch is such a unique novel and a departure from Amanda's previous works, further cementing her as a must read author for me. I don't read a lot of supernatural books, they have to be so well done for me to enjoy them, this one definitely hit the mark! I loved getting to know Amara and how she was fearless, fighting for her family and for love. As much as I thought I knew what the ending would be, I still wasn't prepared for it! A feminist story of vengeance with some truly horrifying scenes.

I loved it! From the beginning of the prologue we are immediately set in an atmospheric background of the jungle that gives dark, spooky, witchy vibes. I feel as though that set the tone of the entire book and continues to keep you in the story the entire time!

There is an added mystery of this one that will have you guessing and theorizing what’s going on in the story. Amara, the young girl of the story is at the age of being sought out for or matched with a husband. Given the changing in religious beliefs, the people gave her father the title “demon-priest” because of his practices and so her family is shunned by most. As she navigates being ridiculed by the town as well as her mother, she has to come to terms with why her father is also changing.

The story telling of this one was so good and one that you will want to binge to found out all the answers. Each piece of the story was well developed as well as the loved and hated characters!

This book is set in the 19th century in the Sri Lanka area. I loved the history and culture that was in this story as that is not an area of the world I am very familiar with. The characters were interesting although the pacing was just a little off for me. Amara is 18 and lives with her parents. The tone of the island has changed as more and more people have converted to Christianity and work with the colonizers. Amara’s father follows the old ways and deals with the demons that can plague someone caught unaware. Because of this all of the villagers have always called her a witch and tormented her. But someone has been attacking men on the island and everything thinks it is Amara’s father, but she figures out there is more going on than she knows and she is determined to figure it out. This book was a lovely introduction to this author. The story is haunting and one that will stick with me.

Island Witch is neither a ghost story nor a voodoo witch’s tale. It is about female oppression and the overall injustices afforded to the fairer sex. Throughout the pages, I could feel the anger building and building until the white hot rage became a startling fury that I was totally prepared for that inevitable ending! I expected it and thought that it’s really the only way it could end!!! Infused with Sri Lankan folklore, the story was both captivating and haunting. I flew through this book! It’s evident how much research the author did to write about 19th century Sri Lanka, which I so appreciated! I also loved Amara’s transformation: from an innocent teen to revenge-filled adult, she really grew on me. I rooted for her and also wanted to throttle her at times to wake the hell up and stop giving excuses for her father!!! The gory scenes didn’t scare me, maybe because by then I was also angry and thought the victims had it coming!🤔

If you want to read a unique historical fiction with a side of horror then this is your book. Just know the CW: violence, sexual assault, abortion, domestic abuse, bullying, and exorcism.

Thanks @netgalley @berkleypub, for my digital ARC of Island Witch. I really enjoyed reading this!

Full of suspense and horror elements this book is a hit!

I love the perfect mix of gothic meets sri lanken folklore and witchy vibes of it all. The pacing was perfect I think some people might complain but it dragged in a perfect way and then sped up right when you need it.
This needs to be made into a movie!

𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 • 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 • 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘔𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺
𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮 • 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 • 𝘚𝘳𝘪 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘢
𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦: 20 𝘍𝘦𝘣 2023

A dark coming-of-age murder mystery with ghost-story horror flair.

Our main character Amara is the young innocent type, sheltered and gullible. After an unknown attacker begins ravaging local townsfolk in the jungle, Amara starts having bouts of amnesia, hearing and seeing things. Her father is the village capuwa (shaman), performing exorcisms and protection spells, hence the townies are quick to cry “witch” in light of the recent attacks. Amara is ostracized, teased and bullied by the mean girls at school, while at home her parents are working to have her married off post-haste. As the attacks hit closer and closer to home, the walls are closing in fast.

This reminded me of a cross between The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Carrie, but set in Sri Lanka. Although I figured out a lot of things along the way, I’m still sitting with the ending. Def check the trigger warnings at bottom before you dive in as it’s quite dark.

Here’s what I loved:
🇱🇰 Sri Lankan setting, language, and folklore
🥥 Tensions between Buddhism and Christianity in colonial-era Sri Lanka
🌴 Gender expectations and coming of age in a misogynistic society

I devoured this book in 3 days!

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 @berkleypub 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬!
TW: Gore, Death, Violence, Sexism, Sexual Assault, Rape, Infidelity, Domestic Abuse

Island Witch sounded amazing and right up my alley, and also just look at that gorgeous cover. I was so excited to read this book, but this ended up being an average read for me. I’ll start with what I liked about this book: I loved the setting and the gothic vibes. The atmosphere was very foreboding and ominous. I thought the main character, Amara, was a pretty strong and interesting character. She definitely had to deal with a lot throughout the book. The mystery was intriguing and there were some paranormal moments that I liked.

Here’s what I didn’t like about this book: the story was slow moving and I felt like not much happened until later in the book. There were some horrible characters (mainly male characters) that I absolutely despised and there were parts in this story that made me so angry. This was a very bleak read with some brutal moments, so make sure to check out the trigger warnings before reading this one.

Overall, Island Witch was too slow paced and bleak for my liking, but I loved the gothic atmosphere. I would recommend this book to lovers of slower paced historical gothic fiction.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

This was the perfect atmospheric, eerie, gothic, and witchy story brimming with feminine rage. I was hooked from the first chapter, and I just had to finish this in a day!

Amara is the daughter of a demon-priest who was once highly respected in their village until the British arrived. The British colonizers brought Christianity with them and pushed her culture out. Shortly after their arrival, Amara is relentlessly bullied and called a witch, and a string of attacks on men in the jungle begins happening. Everyone is blaming Amara’s father, and soon Amara sets off on her own to try to clear his name and investigate what is going on, especially when she’s plagued with nightmares of each of the attacks.

This story was overwhelming. There is so much going on, and your heart will weep for Amara. The way women are spoken of, spoken to, and treated will make any woman absolutely rage. This is one of those stories that, even though it’s fictional, we can all relate to some extent. It was brutal but also simultaneously intoxicating.

It was dark, mystical, and it’s going to stay on my mind for a long time. This was written beautifully, and the ending left me speechless. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I also really loved the audiobook, which is narrated by Isuri Wijesundara - she gave an incredible performance.

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Penguin Random House Audio for the free ebook, finished copy, and audiobook

Island Witch unfolds in 19th century Sri Lanka, drawing inspiration from local folklore. Amara, the daughter of a traditional demon-priest, faces relentless bullying from her peers and finds herself accused of witchcraft. Despite the villagers turning against her family due to the influence of British Colonizers and their new religious practices, they still call on her father when supernatural disturbances occur. When a series of mysterious attacks terrorizes their coastal village, Amara's father is accused of being the perpetrator.

To clear her father's name, Amara discovers that someone—or something—is brutally targeting men in the jungle. As she delves into solving the mystery, Amara is plagued by prophetic dreams that hint at the dark forces on her island. The villagers, however, remain skeptical and accuse her father of the crimes. Amara is haunted by the night she fell ill and woke up to her mother's desperate cries, urging her to keep a dark secret.

Amanda weaves a captivating tale in "Island Witch," transporting readers to 19th-century Sri Lanka, rich with cultural and mystical elements. The novel explores the challenges faced by Amara, the daughter of a demon priest, who becomes entangled in a web of accusations and supernatural occurrences.

The atmospheric setting of coastal Sri Lanka in the 1800s adds depth to the narrative, immersing readers in a world of local folklore and cultural clashes. Jayatissa skillfully captures the tension between traditional practices and the intrusion of British Colonizers, creating a backdrop that enhances the mystery and suspense of the story.

Amara's character is a compelling protagonist, navigating the complexities of her identity and the challenges posed by societal prejudices. The portrayal of her resilience in the face of bullying and accusations adds layers to the narrative, making her journey one of self-discovery and determination.

The central mystery involving the attacks in the jungle and the accusations against Amara's father unfolds with a perfect blend of suspense and supernatural elements. The dreams that haunt Amara contribute to the eerie atmosphere, creating a sense of foreboding and connecting her to the dark forces at play.

The novel explores themes of superstition, betrayal, and the impact of cultural shifts on traditional beliefs. The author delves into the complexities of familial relationships, societal expectations, and the struggle for acceptance in a changing world. The writing style is evocative, capturing the essence of the time and place. The narrative unfolds at a steady pace, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover the secrets hidden within the coastal village. The tension builds organically, leading to a satisfying and impactful resolution.

Amanda Jayatissa delivers a compelling and atmospheric mystery that combines historical richness with supernatural intrigue. The novel stands out for its unique setting, well-drawn characters, and the seamless integration of folklore into a gripping narrative. it is a perfect read for those seeking a blend of cultural exploration, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural.

Wow! I mean the prologue should have hinted me to where this is going. But wow.

A powerful, and it feels like very personal story. It is about the abused, the used, the shamed - the women. I mean this book, I couldn't put down or stop reading. It hits you in the feels. It hits you in that deep corner of the soul, where you know this is a true story that still happens every day. The shaming of being different, the shaming of being a girl. And still the bullies being excused.

I can feel how much heart and soul this author put into this book. Even if it is a horror book. Even if there's a touch of paranormal. The real life stories that this is based on - is the real horror of our world.

Thank you so much for sharing this book with the world.

Fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's horror novels will enjoy Amanda Jayatissa's latest novel, Island Witch. It's a demonic possession story that gives similar vibes to movies such as Black Swan and the Ring, albeit with Sri Lankan folklore. It also delves into my least favorite topic, colonialism, and I could feel my teeth grinding anytime the imposition of Western customs and religions was mentioned.

The horror aspect is more on the muted side, and I found it to be more disturbing than creepy, but if you get scared easily, then I would suggest not reading this one close to your bedtime.

For the most part, the story was slower-paced with some parts more predictable than others, but the ending paid off big-time for me 👏🏽👏🏽. It's what made me give the overall book an extra 🌟.

Thank you to Berkley Pub and PRH Audio for the gifted copy of ISLAND WITCH by Amanda Jayatissa for review.

ISLAND WITCH is set in 19th century Sri Lanka and makes use of local folklore to create a witchy tale. Amara is the daughter of the village Capuwa (demon-priest) which has made her the focus of a lot of negative attention as well. Newly eighteen years old, Amara is starting to think about her life, her parents, and her future and the way her parents' traditional customs fit in the modern world.

Someone or something is attacking men in the jungle, and Amara's father and his practices are blamed by man. Amara is sure that her father is a good man, and she is determined to prove it. Still, she is haunted by bad dreams and the danger comes closer and closer to home.

I didn't know much about this book going into it, but the cover definitely had me intrigued. I am happy to report that I really enjoyed my time with this one. I flew through the audiobook for this in barely more than a day, staying up late to finish Amara's story.

I think this book did a really good job of developing an intriguing mystery, a creepy and atmospheric setting, and also a lot of really good discussions. As Amara is really coming to age at eighteen in this story, Sri Lanka is also going through a lot of changes. British colonizers are on scene, bringing in their religion and education systems and morals. The way the people around Amara react to this colonization made for a lot of interesting conversations.

This book takes on some very serious subjects (please check trigger warnings if that may be a concern) and the mistreatment of women is definitely a focus. There were times where I was frustrated with Amara's choices, but she did live a pretty isolated life, so I did feel like her naiveite made sense in context.

ISLAND WITCH is well worth picking up!

Thank you for the free book Berkley Pub!

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐉𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Set in 19th century Sri Lanka, Amara is the daughter of the village Capuwa, a demon-priest. With new religious practices brought to the village by the British Colonizers, Amara finds many who used to appreciate and respect her father, slowly turning on her entire family. When someone is seizing upon men in the jungle, her father is the one blamed for the vicious attacks. Set on clearing her father’s name and reputation, Amara is in search for the truth. The only problem is, she is haunted by dreams that predict dark forces on the island, and is starting to tie everything back to a strange illness she experienced and the words her mother spoke as she was waking up while scared and confused. Who is responsible for the attacks, and why are they happening?

I could not read this book fast enough! I had so many different theories while reading this book, and I loved how many different theories I had while reading the book. This one will definitely keep you guessing until the end!

Perhaps what I appreciated most about this book were the themes and messages about women and how they are mistreated and expected to remain quiet about it. The lack of support and love by the people that are supposed to be the ones to protect you is also a focus. I feel like these themes were woven in so beautifully and flawlessly. While at times difficult to read, these powerful messages were so important.

If you are on the fence about this one, I urge you to give it a try. I usually do not read gothic fiction or horror novels, but I am so glad I read this book. I found it to be so impactful and so perfectly written.

I think this book would be an excellent choice for a book club. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to experience Island Witch as a Buddy Read, and I loved having the opportunity to talk about this one while I was reading!

🐦‍⬛Atmospheric
🐦‍⬛Inspired by Local Folklore
🐦‍⬛Gothic Fiction
🐦‍⬛Set In Sri Lanka in the 19th Century
🐦‍⬛A Dark Feminist Tale

Posted on Goodreads on February 14, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around February 20, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on February 20, 2024
**-will post on designated date

This was a well written and enthralling feminist historical fiction/fantasy set in 19th century Sri Lanka that follows Amara, a young island girl who is the daughter of a traditional 'demon priest' as she navigates life in a society where women are often demonized and have little say over their lives. Enter the 'Island witch' - a demon spirit who gives Amara power to seek revenge on the men who wronged her. I love a good vengeance story and this one was full of a great blend of history and fantasy/mythology with a strong female lead. Great on audio too narrated by Isuri Wijesundara. Many thanks to NetGalley and @prhaudio for a complimentary digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

💥 Pub Date: 2/20/2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 (rounded up)

• historical horror
• supernatural elements
• dark themes

*Alexa, play "Mad Woman" by Taylor Swift.* Great Sri Lankan setting - I love learning about different cultures and their folklore. This was a very unique book overall, but the pacing was a little slow.

🗣 Thank you to netgalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

If R.L. Stine praises a book, I know I'm going to enjoy it. Island Witch is a gothic story set in 19th-century Sri Lanka, where the daughter of the village demon-priest tries to solve the mysterious attacks that have been happening in her coastal village.

I thought the overall story was a fascinating look at folklore from another country. There were parts of the book that were creepy and even at times, a bit gorey. Otherwise, I found it to be mysterious and atmospheric. I liked Amara's character and how she developed through the story. I did find a few parts to move slowly and I wanted more action, but that's just a personal opinion. The book definitely has a slow-burn feel and the ending is fantastic.

Island Witch is one to check out, especially if you enjoy books that focus on folklore.

Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

The pacing was not my favorite, but I did enjoy the story and the show of effects of colonization on it.

The Island Witch is VERY different from the authors previous two books, so I was a little weary going into it but this one surprised me in the best of ways! Filled with creepy folklore and a lot of cultural references this one hit home for me. I love books where authors can make their novels so atmospheric that you feel like you’re involved in the story and this one certainly did that. And it’s CREEPY! I highly recommend this for those who have enjoyed books like Vampires of El Norte and Mexican Gothic!

𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ Supernatural Thrillers/Horror
❥ Atmospheric Reads
❥ Books surrounded in folklore

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐