A Dance in the Shadows: A Review of Slewfoot by Brom
I’ll admit it: I was a victim of a perfectly curated algorithm. I was scrolling through my feed on a random Tuesday when a video stopped me mid-thumb-flick. It was a close-up of a book edge—gilded, dark, and mysterious—slowly fanning open to reveal a painting of a creature with antlers and ancient, knowing eyes. The comment section was a chorus of ‘This book changed me’ and ‘The ending is pure catharsis.’ By the time I finished the thirty-second clip, I had already hit ‘Buy Now.’ I didn’t just want to read the story; I wanted to own the art.
PLOT: 3.5/5
CHARACTERS: 4/5
WRITING: 4.5/5
ILLUSTRATIONS:4/5
ENTERTAINMENT: 4.5/5
‘IF IT IS A WITCH THEY WANT, THEN A WITCH THEY SHALL HAVE’ – BROM, SLEWFOOT
The Gist: A Covenant in the Wilds
Set in the unforgiving landscape of 1666 Connecticut, Slewfoot introduces us to Abitha, an Englishwoman with a spirited mind struggling to fit into a stifling, grey Puritan colony. When tragedy leaves her vulnerable to her cruel brother-in-law and the town’s religious fanaticism, she finds an unlikely ally in the depths of the ancient woods.
There, she discovers a powerful, forgotten spirit—Slewfoot—who is waking up to a world that has forgotten his name. As Abitha teaches him what it means to be “human,” he teaches her what it means to be free. The story isn’t just a battle of good versus evil; it is a violent, beautiful clash between the suffocating grip of religious extremism and the primal, untamed power of the earth.
My Thoughts: Atmosphere, Art, and Ache
What struck me most about this book wasn’t the “horror” in the traditional sense, but the palpable sense of dread born from human cruelty. Brom masterfully captures the claustrophobia of a society that fears anything it cannot control.
Themes of Freedom: The heart of the book is Abitha’s transformation. It’s a cathartic, albeit dark, exploration of how a woman pushed to the edge finds her voice through the very “witchcraft” her oppressors fear.
Folk Horror Mastery: This isn’t a book of jump scares. It’s a slow-burn atmospheric piece. You can almost smell the damp earth and the woodsmoke. It leans heavily into the “Wildness”—the idea that nature is neither good nor bad, but simply powerful.
The Illustrations: Reading a Brom book is an immersive experience. Every few chapters, you are met with a full-color painting of a character or a spirit. These aren’t just decorations; they provide a visceral anchor to the story, making the monsters feel more real and the beauty more ethereal.
Pacing: While the middle section slows down to focus on the internal growth of Slewfoot and Abitha, the buildup pays off in a finale that is both gruesome and deeply satisfying.
Who Should Journey into the Woods?
If you find yourself enchanted by the “The Witch” (2015) or if you enjoy stories where the forest feels like a living character, this is for you.
Pick this up if you love:
Gothic & Folk Horror: Heavy on atmosphere and ancient lore.
Dark Fairytales: Think Grimm, but bloodier and more nuanced.
Vengeance Stories: For those who like to see the underdog reclaim their power.
Art Lovers: The physical hardcover is a masterpiece in itself.
The Verdict
Slewfoot is a hauntingly beautiful reclamation of the “witch” archetype. While the villains can occasionally feel a bit one-dimensional in their cruelty, the complex bond between Abitha and the forest spirit carries the story to heights of genuine emotional resonance. It is a tale that lingers like a shadow long after the final page is turned.
Strengths: Breathtaking artwork, immersive world-building, and a powerful protagonist.
Minor Flaws: Some pacing lulls in the second act; secondary antagonists are very trope-heavy.
Final Rating: 4.5 / 5 Skulls 💀