The Year of the Witching (Alexis Henderson) - ★★★★★

The year of the witching by alexis henderson book review five stars by Soph the Oaf on her blog glitter never gold

This book was just... incredible. 

I decided to read Year of the Witching because of the glowing reviews from my friends on Goodreads, and I was not disappointed. Henderson's gorgeous writing and beautiful setting exceeded all expectations. The dark yet hopeful tone was a great complement to the heavy themes and social commentary that I loved in this book. 

Immanuelle was such an amazing MC. She had always been an outsider in Bethel, because of both her mother's sins and her father's heritage. She was shunned and ridiculed for it, but she didn't hold it against the people of Bethel. But she could've. She could've given in to vengeance, to the darkness in her heart and the anger of the witches. She, filled with righteous fury, could've let everyone succumb to the plagues, and know that they got what was coming to them. But she didn't. Instead, she saved them. She began a new age of mercy, not vengeance. 

Through this skillfully crafted medieval(ish), dystopian world, Henderson expressed themes of feminism, of revolution, of standing up for what is right instead of turning a blind eye to the evils of society. Not all fantasy authors, especially in YA, are able to weave in these deeper themes without it seeming fake, or contrived. But Henderson did it almost effortlessly, seamlessly integrating her feminist message into this beautiful fantasy. 

In addition, I have to applaud her for avoiding the tropey instalove that is a common problem in YA these days. Ezra was an amazing character, not just as a love interest, but with his own depth and journey. I'm so shipping him and Immanuelle and I hope I can get more of them in the sequel. They were both well-developed characters who would be so perfect together, but I'm glad that Henderson didn't make their romance part of the main plot. (Also, was I the only one shipping Immanuelle with Leah in the beginning? I know, I know, it wasn't to be, but alas... a girl can dream.)

Overall, this was an astounding debut, and I'm looking forward to the sequel (btw I have to wait till August???? Why!!!!!!!!). 

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