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probablytoolate's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Stalking, Torture, Violence, Emotional abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Body horror, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Confinement, Death, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, and Bullying
kelleykamanda's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Torture, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, Stalking, Death, Blood, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Colonisation, and Gore
Minor: Racism
dragonaion's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
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Only two examples in the story are 100% accurate to the Native American/Indian folklore of the Pequot (which are referenced and are the local tribe the Puritan village takes place near)...
... and the rest appear to be a mix from other cultures around the world, including the Druidic faith...
... Greek...
... and Japanese.
Looking for references of Slewfoot as well, what pops up as a primary example is this book. So considering the harshness of the very real Puritan mindset and the reality of the world they were living in, having almost every page be wild fantasy was disappointing.
The botany was at least a little more accurate, but not by much; the Pequot tribe were in the Connecticut area, where the pawpaw tree and mountain ash (rowan) can actually grow together. The irony, however, is the pawpaw and rowan trees in folklore was used for protection against witches, so the folklore attached to the botany is also inaccurate.
As a practicing Wiccan, I also find the examples of witcraft and "magic" (arguably not magick at all) to be biased with a Christian lense, such as the year the story takes place in 1666 (666, a little stereotypical), the snake being used as a symbol of the temptor and a sexual metaphor (while also being Mother Earth) and flying on a broom, to the point of being fantastic "flights" of pure fantasy.
In all, a good spooky read, but I would not put any stock on it being an accurate story.
Edit: Review lowered from 4.0. I reviewed the artwork and realized the characters
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Death, Gore, and Misogyny
Moderate: Animal death, Religious bigotry, Violence, Ableism, Bullying, Physical abuse, Vomit, Toxic friendship, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Sexual content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Cursing, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Self harm, Blood, and Genocide
This is a heavy Christian-based novel, discussing the norms of the Puritan lifestyle, which include a lot of moments that would displease a feminist reader. There is also gore, blood work in witchcraft, horror, and other darker themes.erynlasbelin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Excrement, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Police brutality, Violence, Gore, Physical abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Vomit, Racism, Sexual content, Colonisation, Racial slurs, Alcohol, and Death of parent