Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery

SLEWFOOT: A TALE OF BEWITCHERY by Brom Given *everything* that’s going on, I thought now was a perfect time to read this book. And it was just what I needed. Upon reading the first few chapters I knew right away I was going to love this book. Abitha is strong, intelligent and inspiring. The rest of the townspeople were exactly what I expected them to be; despicable and callous. I wanted (and was rooting for) Abitha to burn everyone and everything to the ground. This has a perfect combination of spooky-creepy with a cozy, witchy revenge vibe. Not only was this a great “feminine rage” story, the illustrations included in the book are lovely. It really brought the characters to life. Highly recommended if you need to escape reality for a while and maybe gain a little inspiration. 😉 Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️

4.5* I really, really enjoyed this. This was my first ever Brom and Slewfoot in particular really lived to to the hype for me. I feel like every element today worked but .5 star off because Brom did Booka so dirty and also dealt me so much emotional damage.

Brom is a beautiful story teller and he throws his art in..love it!

From the very first few pages, I was hooked, despite some reviews claiming it had a slow pace. Brom masterfully builds the atmosphere and setting, and this world-building sets the stage for a deeply engaging narrative. Abitha's character is richly developed, and while some reviews I read emphasized dislike for Brom's portrayal of a woman, I felt a strong connection to her. As a woman, I empathized deeply with her resilience, pain, anger, and desire to break free from societal expectations of femininity (from both men & women.) I appreciated her stubbornness and know that if our skulls were to clash like rams, neither of us would flinch. Brom's other characters, particularly his demons, are some of the most beautifully written and unique I've ever read. His illustrations breathed life into these characters, making each one memorable and endearing in different ways. The character-driven storytelling kept me hooked, even when I could foresee many plot developments. Despite knowing where the story was headed, I still couldn't put the book down and enjoyed the journey. This predictability humbled me as a reader, as it allowed me to appreciate the storytelling despite anticipating the plot—and Brom is a wonderful and original storyteller. My most disliked characters followed the paths I expected, and my anger towards them grew, remaining righteous even though I anticipated their actions. This aspect of the book made me appreciate Brom's ability to evoke strong emotions and create truly detestable antagonists. Although there were moments where I felt the dialogue between characters lacked depth, felt rushed, or became repetitive, these were minor flaws for me. The majority of this book's flaws, for me, were overshadowed by the book's strengths, particularly its evocative prose and artistic storytelling. I felt each cry, scream, moan, and smile—both the warm and the sinister. This was my first horror book, and Brom's vivid descriptions of his demons' exploits were masterfully done and highly visual. His world-building is immersive and impressive, and I eagerly look forward to reading more of his work. Thank you, Brom, for my absolute favorite witch book, and for a wonderful introduction to a new genre for me as a reader. 🩶🕷️