In honor of making it onto the USA Today Best-seller list here is my ultimate book recommendation: Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom.
Almost two years ago I was temporarily living in my mom’s basement with the red dogs (Penelope and Coral) and our black cat Groot. The four of us were sleeping in a twin sized bed together, the girls were constantly fighting over their cave bed and Bark Box toys. It was a time of big change for us and we were lost.
One day I was leisurely browsing the shelves of Barnes & Noble, as one does, when I came across a hauntingly beautiful book cover. Slewfoot was turned cover out in my local B&N’s little horror section and I knew immediately that it would be coming home with me. I had never heard of Brom before, and other than some Stephen King and Paul Tremblay, I really hadn’t ventured very far into the horror section as an adult. It turns out that Slewfoot is probably one of the least “Horror-y” books I’ve found in the horror section and really, it reads more like a dark-fantasy/witchy fever dream. A dream it is, and the vibes: they are immaculate.
Brom’s witchy horror opened a lot of doors for me. It was the spark that reignited my love for reading and for horror. Slewfoot was my first introduction to Brom’s writing and artwork, and since then I have read and loved three more of his books. Maybe the biggest consequence of this literary snowball effect was that it ultimately led me to the decision to finish my long abandoned English degree. Of course, there’s much more to this story and to my history as a college drop-out but that’s a story for another time.
Anyways, here I am almost two years later, I’ve read 52 books so far this year, while working full-time, and going to school full-time. I’ve joined the Bookstagram and BookTok communities and I started this blog. I’m proud of all that I’ve managed to accomplish this past year, but truly, I owe it to Slewfoot and to Brom for reigniting that passion in me. Almost two years later and I still think about this book all the time. I guess you could say, it’s my Roman Empire.
Now, just after two years since its publication date Slewfoot is finally getting the recognition it deserves. It has made frequent appearances on spooky season book recommendations across Instagram and TikTok. Bad reviews or disappointment for this book are very few and far between and even for those who aren’t bewitched by the story have to admit that the artwork alone is spectacular. Tis’ the perfect season for a witchy New England folk-horror to end up on the USA Today’s best-selling booklist.
The story itself follows Abitha, a new widow trying to survive in the Connecticut Puritan colony she was shipped off to by her English father. At every turn Abitha faces scrutiny from her severely pious neighbors, and worst of all, her controlling brother-in-law Wallace, is out to get her. When Abitha refuses “help” from Wallace, he becomes hell-bent on taking her land and home. Abitha is forced to come up with payment for the land, a task that few believe she is capable of.
Then there is Samson. A primitive spirit, with immense power, who is reborn into the body of Abitha’s lost goat of the same name. Samson awakes from dreams full of treachery and terror and is confused about his past, and his present. He does not understand the depth of his powers and has little recollection of his purpose for being. He is accompanied by several forest spirits who call themselves the wildfolk, they refer to him as Father and ask him to do terrible things.
Samson and Abitha are both lost, when they meet on her land. There is hesitation, but they become friends and help each other as Samson seeks to understand himself and his purpose, and Abitha works desperately to keep her land and retain her independence.
Abitha and Samson’s friendship turns out to be a whirlwind of magic and discovery, and it is one full of witchy delights as Samson asks “Do you still wish to fly, Abitha? with the bats through the night?” Yes, there may be some broom flying, but every scene is beautifully written, and this was one of my favorites. Together they tap into the magic within the earth allowing the land to prosper and Samson is conflicted as his past is slowly revealed to him.
When the townsfolk catch wind of the magic and deem it evil, and Wallace ignites both literal and figurative fires, hoping to burn Abitha, a witch-hunt ensues. This results in a final transformation for both Abitha and Samson and they unleash a feminist vengeance upon the townsfolk who wish to condemn Abitha.
In the end Abitha is asked to make a choice, while Samson, well, he finally knows exactly who he is.
“I am the father of the wildfolk, the guardian of Mother Earth. I am the shepherd and I am the slayer. I am life and I am death.”
Towards the end of the book, it is pure folk-horror magic and blood filled vengeance. I could talk about this book all day and night, and still not do it an ounce of justice, it simply must be read, by everyone.
I will continue to recommend it to whoever will listen and will forever be grateful for the time Abitha’s stare caught my eye from the shelves of Barnes and Noble.
I think this one goes without saying – 5/5 Stars