Synopsis
A young woman living in a rigid, puritanical society discovers dark powers within herself in this stunning, feminist fantasy debut.
In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet’s word is law, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast her once-proud family into disgrace, so Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol, and lead a life of submission, devotion, and absolute conformity, like all the other women in the settlement.
But a mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still lurking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the journal of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood.
Fascinated by the secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Church and its history, she realizes the true threat to Bethel is its own darkness. And she starts to understand that if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her.
The Good
For the story: the forest, outskirts, and more
For the messages: there are a lot of interesting choices that made the story go in different directions/not be as simple – for example, instead of black people being the witches they are religious too. So it avoided some dichotomies (which can be a positive and negative thing as you can see in rest of this review)
- It started off putting out a few intriguing points of thought/discussion -the expectation of women that growing up is rooted in having kids/marriage
women= darkness
men=light
Suffering for women sin message? No reward for forgiveness only vengeance?
-It has a message about being biracial – specifically growing up with white side (oppressor side). I do think there was a voice lost without the outskirt (black folks) being really present.
- it started off creepy (the prologue)
The Bad
After the prologue I found myself not being into the story so there was a detachment I had.
They tell you everything and lead plot by hand as in drop things to obviously move plot forward. Oh the story needs for person x to get here *in walks someone to get them there randomly*
- It reads very ya in a negative way
-it is not only because the main character, Immanuel, is 16. It is because the writing structurally reads ya.
-how the characters speak
-the romance
-simplicity of the messages
-how things are revealed
-the dialogue
-etc
It is not working for me- it was not scary nor got a interested reaction from me. I know it has to do with the detachment I felt from the beginning.
-The feminism is eh
Expectations: when stories main character is black & its labeled feminism I assume it is gong to be more black feminism. Not only do the stories keep staying mostly at a white feminism stage they also don’t lean enough into race.
I said it with Cinderella is Dead, The Belles, and generally most of these books that are supposed to be about black feminism- when do black women enter? When does specifically our struggles come into the feminism narrative?
In general I’m honestly eh (to be blunt bored) by the feminism that feels like it lacks nuance, I guess. Same with the religion vs feminism.
- It wrapped up kind of sloppy/easy – I feel there is going to be a sequel so this is probably going to be fixed.
Thoughts
~Immigrant/foreigner in fantasy story – Most of the time black immigrant characters are the (non p0v) side characters added to diversity/exotify the world. It is definitely a missed opportunity not having more of this perspective in fantasy.
~There is a conversation to be had about how publishers and authors have books that occupy a gray space so they can be- multiple genres, age groups
A good example is Pet by Akwaeke Emezi – not only straddles fence between ya and middle grade but also has cover that fits both those age groups. None of the The Year of the Witching covers so far screams ya.
I won this from a Penguin Random House giveaway.
(cover and synopsis are from goodreads)
themollyweather 