I was beginning to think that I didn’t like horror as a genre.

Most horror books that I’ve read didn’t work for me because of the writing or misogynistic characters. Turned out, all I needed to do was pick up an Alexis Henderson book.

In this fantasy horror debut, we’re following Immanuelle as she discovers the darkness within herself while warring with a puritanical society.

Her writing is gorgeous and atmospheric, laced with tension and a beautiful cast of people. I devoured this book in three days and loved the nods to the supernatural, witchy vibes, and forest lore. The setting was so rich that it was jarring coming back to my bedroom after a reading session.

In terms of the scare factor, I would say this is like a 3 out of 5 ghost rating. I wasn’t too scared, but there’s a lot of blood and tension. The descriptions of the witches are also pretty gnarly.

I wish I had more to say, but I just really enjoyed this and am flabbergasted that it’s her debut. I will be picking up her other book and waiting for her latest release to hit the shelves later this year.