A great deal of the plot is driven by Immanuelle doing something because she has no other option, or sees no other solution, rather than obstacles constantly being put in her way.
It explained a lot of trivial details I might have otherwise had, and made certain elements of the plot feel that much more dire as the story progressed.
From a world-building perspective, having the town be so isolated and strict was the perfect choice. Women also fear being accused witchcraft, or any other crime, and suffering the ultimate penalty for it. It’s known that the Darkwood around the village is evil and demonic witches once resided there, which the village lives in fear of. The town is led by the Prophet and his small clique of loyalists and what they say becomes law. The novel is set in a highly religious, strictly controlled village with pretty much no communication to the outside world. There is a darkness to the story as well as an ominous tone that really drives the story forward and makes the story feel unique to me. The creepy woods, the dark magic of witchcraft and the Puritan-esque attitude of Bethel all combine to create a creepy, tense atmosphere. The story has some intense fall, and specifically Halloween vibes. There aren’t a lot of books that I ascribe a certain season to, but The Year of the Witching is what I would unequivocally what I consider a “autumn book”. And she starts to understand that if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her.
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. Fascinated by the secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the 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. But a mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. 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. In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet’s word is law, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is blasphemy. The book received great reviews upon release and was nominated for the 2020 Goodreads Choice Award in both the Horror and Debut Novel categories, as well as the BookNest and Ladies of Horror Fiction Awards. It is the first novel in the Bethel series and was the author’s debut work. The Year of the Witching is a 2020 historical fantasy novel by Alexis Henderson.
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