The Year of the Witching

5/5 Mysterious Journals

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson is the feminist supernatural story we all need and deserve right now. It tells the story of Immannuelle Moore, a young woman living in Bethel, a town run by the church. But it’s no ordinary church; there is a Prophet who is in charge of the whole town, polygamy is very much a thing, and there are some pretty gross routine rituals. But the church protects people from the evil of the Darkwood, a forest by Bethel. It is said that the first Prophet killed four witches who lived in the forest and meant the townspeople harm.

Immanuelle was conceived out of wedlock. (And her father was another race, so you can imagine the pearl clutching her parents’ relationship caused.) Her mother disappeared into the Darkwood while pregnant with Immanuelle but eventually came back to Bethel. She passed away, so Immanuelle’s (maternal) grandparents raised her.

Immanuelle follows the rules of the church, but she sometimes finds herself drawn to the Darkwood. Could it be because of her mom’s time spent there? She one day succumbs to the temptation of the Darkwood and finds one of her mom’s journals. This journal leaves Immanuelle wondering why her mother trusted the witches. But it also provides a warning of the terrors coming to Bethel.

The Year of the Witching has many dichotomies that lead Immanuelle to reevaluate everything she knew. Bethel and the church are described as good, while the forest is evil; the church is light, but the witches are dark; the Prophet (obviously a man) is in direct opposition to the witches (women). After seeing some of the evils of the church (the Prophet specifically), Immanuelle grapples with the idea of good and evil. Are the lessons of her childhood true? Are good and evil always opposing forces, or is the line between them blurred? Can those revered as good have some evil in them?

For much of the book, Immanuelle has to evaluate the forces within herself. Does her mother’s relationship with the witches mean Immanuelle is destined to a life of evil and destruction? How much do her parents and their pasts define her, and how much agency does she really have?

The Year of the Witching is an empowering, enthralling story. It’s a story about revolution, fighting evil, and recognizing (and potentially dismantling) oppressive structures. Henderson wrote an amazing story: It has heart, horror, and (most importantly) hope. Now stop reading this review and go buy it from your favorite Black-owned bookstore. You won’t be able to put this book down.

Disclaimer: I received this complimentary ebook from Netgalley.