“As at least cruelty was a thing that could be pointed out, confronted. But this belief, this absolute conviction that this evil they were doing was good, was God’s work—how, she wondered, how could such a dark conviction ever be overcome?”

-Brom

This is just such a “good for her” book. It takes sort of the standard feminist witch tale and just tells it so beautifully. You know what’s going to happen because we as a culture know the contours of this story already (or, like me, you looked at the illustrations first and got some spoilers there), but the way it’s done is so satisfying.

Yes, first you have to plumb the depths of how awful people can be to each other, and how cruel men as individuals and society as a whole can be to women. There are some warm moments in early chapters, darkness and desolation in the middle, and something in the third act that’s not quite justice but feels pretty good.

This was a blast to read, and one of those books where I had to keep stopping to tell whoever was nearby what crazy/exciting thing had happened now.

Happy October, everyone!