A young woman living in a rigid, puritanical society discovers dark powers within herself in this stunning, feminist fantasy debut.

In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet’s word is law, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast her once-proud family into disgrace, so Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol, and lead a life of submission, devotion, and absolute conformity, like all the other women in the settlement.

But a mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still lurking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the journal of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood.

Fascinated by the secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Church and its history, she realizes the true threat to Bethel is its own darkness. And she starts to understand that if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her.

This is one of those books that has sat on my shelf far too long. I made it a point to pick it up this year, and I’m glad I did. From the first few pages, I understood why readers fell in love with it. It’s dark, atmospheric, and simmering with that unsettling “Puritan horror” energy that makes you both fascinated and furious. Think The Crucible, but bloodier and with actual witches.

The story takes place in Bethel, a deeply religious settlement where the Prophet’s word is law and women exist under constant scrutiny. Immanuelle Moore, the protagonist, has spent her entire life as an outcast. Her mother was disgraced for having a child with an outsider, so Immanuelle, a mixed-race young woman, walks through Bethel carrying both stigma and suspicion. She tries to conform and to be obedient, but Bethel doesn’t let women like her stay quiet for long.

When a series of accidents lead her into the forbidden Darkwood, everything changes. The forest is alive with the presence of four witches, executed by the first prophet centuries ago. Their spirits still linger, and they gift Immanuelle her dead mother’s journal, a relic that forces her to confront the truth about her family, her faith, and the rot at the heart of Bethel.

Immanuelle is a fantastic lead. She’s quiet and thoughtful, but her strength runs deep. She doesn’t leap into rebellion for rebellion’s sake; she questions and observes, and then slowly builds her courage to push back against a system that’s rigged against her. Watching her grow into her power was deeply satisfying.

What really worked for me was the lore. The witches of the Darkwood are mysterious and terrifying, but they’re also symbols of female power that refuse to be erased. The story explores how faith, fear, and control intertwine, and how the Church weaponizes those things to keep women subservient. It’s feminist horror done right.

The pacing does lag here and there. Some sections in the middle stretch longer than they need to, but the tension pulls back in by the end, and the final act delivers both emotional and supernatural payoff.

Henderson’s prose is gorgeous throughout without ever feeling overwrought. Even when the plot slowed, I found myself drawn in by the way she describes the world. This book oozes atmosphere. Henderson’s writing paints Bethel and the Darkwood in vivid, haunting detail. You can almost smell the smoke from the church pyres and hear the whispering of the witches in the trees. The religious oppression, the superstition, and the puritanical paranoia all feels suffocating, and that’s exactly the point.

My only real complaint? This is the first in a planned series, and there’s still no release date for book two. The ending ties up the major threads but leaves enough open that I’m desperate to know what comes next.

This is a richly written, eerie, and empowering story about faith, control, and the cost of defiance. It’s not a fast-paced read, but it doesn’t need to be. If you love Gothic atmosphere, complex heroines, and witch lore with teeth, it’s worth finally pulling this one off your TBR and giving it a read this Halloween season.

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