Step into this immersive dark tale of bewitchery, discovery and power with Brom’s Slewfoot. This is a must for fans of Alexis Henderson’s The Year of the Witching or any horror-soaked colonial tale in the isolated landscape of the early American colonies. Brom’s vivid and atmospheric detail will suck you in, so be careful – you never know what is hiding in the shadows, waiting for you to slip up.

Brom is a renowned artist, and the artwork within Slewfoot is proof of that. His characters are brought to life in stunning colourful detail – Forest, Creek, Sky, Slewfoot, Samson, Mamunappeht, and our wonderful protagonist Abitha – and each chapter features a drawing of the utmost skill and creativity. Even if you’re not keen on horror, I would pick this book up for the artwork alone. If you have any artists and creative friends around you, I highly recommend letting them know about Slewfoot. Brom’s artwork is the stuff of nightmares in the best way possible, and a rich source of inspiration for all creative sorts.

Slewfoot is a dark and ominous tale right from the beginning, dropping the reader into the Puritan society of Sutton in Connecticut, in 1666. Immediately we feel that isolation, the power dynamics of society, the position of women in society and that creeping feeling in the back of our minds that something is out there. The opening passage is haunting, making your skin crawl and the hair on the back of your neck stick up. There’s an ancient, bone-deep chill that comes through you at the dialogue exchange and the imagery provoked. Brom starts the book on the right foot and hooks the reader without any chance to turn back. The tone is consistent throughout the book, shifting ever so slightly from shrouding darkness to a lethal desire for revenge, one that is satiated by the end of this novel.

This isn’t a horror for the faint of heart, for the vivid drawings and the rich imagery brought to life by Brom’s words are enough to send shivers down your spine. If horror is just your thing, however, I encourage you to seek out Slewfoot for your reading pleasure. October is the perfect time for such a read, but if you aren’t able to pick it up in time for the spooky season, have no fear. This will be a fantastic autumnal read to scratch that itch for horror, dark folklore, dark fantasy, and dark historical fiction.

I will state this, however: Slewfoot contains strong religious themes and may not be a suitable read for everyone. I know I had some trouble reading this myself, and I’m not a religious person. The themes touched upon are not subtle, nor are they easy to swallow, so if you know that’s not something you can handle then I advise you give this one a miss. It is a great book, but I am sure you will be able to find other books that better suit your reading preferences. Again, if The Year of the Witching was a bit much for you, I wouldn’t recommend Slewfoot for you.

If The Year of the Witching is something you enjoyed, or you are eager to find a compelling folklore horror to sink your teeth into, Slewfoot needs to be on your TBR list. It is not to be missed if you have the guts for it, and I would hate for all you creative minds to miss out on such wonderful inspiration.