My first book of June was The Year of the Witching. I went in with high hopes, but it let me down in a few places. Let’s get to my thoughts.
Synopsis
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.
My Thoughts on The Year of the Witching
The vibes were right on The Year of the Witching. I’m always a fan of spooky woods. The witches were creepy and there was an oppressive atmosphere that I loved.
Unfortunately, about halfway through it lost momentum, and I lost interest. Honestly, the romance became the main plot point. It just absolutely disappoints me. I was hoping that the woods and the witches would be explored a bit more.
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Oh, and another thing, the main conflict of the story was a cryptic mark that the main character misunderstood. And that drove me crazy.
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Honestly, I rated it a 3/5 based completely on the atmosphere but now I’m thinking that I might need to drop it to 2/5.
Rating: 3/5
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