Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery

This book is a stunningly great read—a terrific melding of Old World paganism at odds with New World Puritanism. Some scenes include graphic violence but everything in service to the story.

Abitha found herself in this Puritanical village through her father's terribly choice of making her a mail-order bride to pay off debts. Her kindness is at odds with her own survival as she rediscovers her family's pagan roots in Mother Earth and nature.

Puritans hate all those ideas with a fiery passion—they don't know the meaning live and let live. They're set on everyone and everything fitting into their own little Christian box and killing anyone who doesn't.

Abitha tries to play by their rules but is sabotaged time and again, always falling short of expectation and attacked for it. I was rooting for her from beginning to end.

Honestly, what a poignant allegory about human cruelty when they choose to fear what they don't understand and the consequences just on the other side.