Review – Slewfoot by Brom (5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Length: 320 pages
Publisher: Tor Nightfire
Release Date: September 14, 2021
ISBN-13 : 978-1250622006
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: Gift
Rating: 5/5 stars
“Connecticut, 1666.
An ancient spirit awakens in a dark wood. The wildfolk call him Father, slayer, protector.
The colonists call him Slewfoot, demon, devil.
To Abitha, a recently widowed outcast, alone and vulnerable in her pious village, he is the only one she can turn to for help.
Together, they ignite a battle between pagan and Puritan – one that threatens to destroy the entire village, leaving nothing but ashes and bloodshed in their wake.”
Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got a copy of this as a gift for Christmas.
Thoughts: I always love Brom’s books. He is excellent at dark fantasy and does amazing illustrations as well. This book was one of his best ones yet (although both “Plucker” and “The Child Thief” are also favorites of mine).
This story is set in New England in the 1600’s. The story revolves around two characters; Abitha who was sent from London to be a bride for a Puritan man and an ancient spirit who is awakened and confused in the woods surrounding Abitha’s farm. We switch between POV between them and wait for disaster to strike.
This was a fascinating look at Puritan life. You really feel for Abitha and what she goes through. She ends up having a delightfully kind, yet somewhat naive husband (Edward). But, as happens in Brom’s books, things quickly start falling into darkness and chaos.
I loved Samson/Slewfoot who is a confused spirit brought back from death. Is he a benevolent nature god or is he a devil? As he tries to reconcile his confusion about his past, which way will things go? Why is he so drawn to Abitha? The whole time you are reading this you are hoping that things will turn out well and knowing that we are heading to disaster.
This is a very creative and engaging read that kept me completely engaged in the story. I was desperate to know how everything would turn out. The ending was satisfying and well done.
My Summary (5/5): Overall this was an excellent book by Brom. I loved the creative blend of ancient forest spirits and Puritan culture. I enjoyed the characters and their struggles. The dark tone that hangs over the story really pushes you to keep reading to find out how everything plays out. I loved the suspense and absolutely couldn’t put this down. Of course, Brom’s artwork is amazing like normal. Definitely recommend this if you are a Brom fan or are looking for a good book of his to start out with. This is definitely one of his stronger books.
