“With her debut novel, Henderson conjures a world much like our own, with vengeful spirits, witchcraft, and the secret history of a deadly church.”

Immanuelle Moore’s entire life is blasphemy. In Bethel, the Prophet’s word is the law, and her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race has disgraced her family. Immanuelle worships the Father, adheres to the Holy Protocol, and leads a life of devotion, submission, and absolute conformity.

But now Immanuelle is lured into the Darkwood around Bethel, forbidden land where the Prophet killed four very powerful witches. The spirits of the witches still lurk the woods, and they give Immanuelle a gift: her dead mother’s journal.

Immanuelle is shocked to learn her mother had found sanctuary in the Darkwood. The diary holds secrets, and reveals the truth about the church’s dark history.

If Bethel is to change, that change must begin with her.

Why we’re excited about this book:

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Alexis Henderson now calls Charleston, South Carolina home. Her fiction has been published in Helios Quarterly. With her debut novel, Henderson conjures a world much like our own, with vengeful spirits, witchcraft, and the secret history of a deadly church. Seanan McGuire (The Unkindest Tide, Middlegame) says: “This is a beautiful, powerful, important book, and I hugely recommend it.”, and Christina Henry (Alice, The Ghost Tree) says: “This book will haunt your dreams.”

Forthcoming from Penguin Group 21 July 2020, The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson is available for pre-order now.

BOB PASTORELLA

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