I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are mine.
A young Englishwoman who moved to a Puritan colony alongside her new husband quickly finds herself a widow and must learn to survive in a patriarchal society. At the same time, a powerful spirit arises, and together with the woman they must discover who they are and how to survive in this judgmental and deadly world in the “slawfoot” of the writer Brom.
The summary
A young and energetic Englishwoman, her father, arrives in a puritanical colony engaged to a stranger – only to be widowed quickly when her husband dies under mysterious circumstances. Alone in this devout and patriarchal society, her father fights for the little freedom she can seize while trying to stay true to herself and her past.
Enter Slewfoot, a powerful spirit of antiquity that has recently emerged … and is trying to find a role of its own in the world. Healer or corruptor? Protector or predator? But as the shadows go and the villagers begin to die, a new rumor is whispered: a witch.
Both Avita and Slawfoot must quickly decide who they are, and what they must do to survive in a world that is meant to hang anyone who intervenes in the dark arts.
The review
It was such a brilliantly written novel. The author has done an amazing job in finding a balance between the historical fictional aspect of the narrative by exploring the puritanical society of the time and the way it reflects modern sexism, and the mythology and culture of the country originally settled by the Native American. People, and then taken over by the Puritans. This clash of cultures made it possible to explore the magic, spirits of nature and much more in this dark and terrifying fantasy.
What really stood out as awe-inspiring was the character growth of the character team. The strength and development of the protagonist Avita was fantastic to read, as she represented the women who were mercilessly directed in this society for daring to go in any direction other than the “will of God.” The villainous townspeople who target her father are complex but sweeping as the protagonist’s foil in this narrative, while the mysterious and powerful entity of many names, including Slewfoot, gave a challenging performance that stood on the border between a hopeful ally and a bloodthirsty demon.
Verdict
An extraordinary, magical and entertaining read, “Brom’s’ Slewfoot” is a perfect horror to read on Halloween. The creepy folklore, myth and atmosphere and tone will push readers into this historical fiction and dark and fascinating fantasy, and the author’s incredibly chilling artwork will leave readers awake at night for sure. If you have not already done so, be sure to pick up your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the writer
Born in the deep dark south in the mid-1960s. Brom, a military brat, spent all his youth on the move and shamelessly blames life in places like Japan, Hawaii, Germany and Alabama for all its hardships. From his earliest memories, Brom was obsessed with creating the strange, monstrous and beautiful.
At the age of twenty, Brom began working full-time as a commercial illustrator in Atlanta, Georgia. Three years later he entered the field of fantastic art he had loved all his life, making his mark in the development and illustration of the bestselling worlds of TSR role-playing games.
Since then he has continued to impart his unique vision to all aspects of the creative industries, from novels and games to comics and film, and has received numerous awards such as the Spectrum Fantastic Art Grand Master Award and the Chesley Award for Lifetime Achievement. He is also the author of a series of award-winning illustrated horror novels: The Foot, The Lost Gods, Crampus the Lord of the Holiday, The Child Thief, The Burglar and The Devil’s Rose. Bromine is currently being held in a damp basement somewhere just outside of Seattle.