Born on the fringes of Bethel, Immanuelle does her best to obey the Church and follow Holy Protocol. For it was in Bethel that the first Prophet pursued and killed four powerful witches, and so cleansed the land.
And then a chance encounter lures her into the Darkwood that surrounds Bethel.
It is a forbidden place, haunted by the spirits of the witches who bestow an extraordinary gift on Immanuelle. The diary of her dead mother . . .
Fascinated by and fearful of the secrets the diary reveals, Immanuelle begins to understand why her mother once consorted with witches. And as the truth about the Prophets, the Church and their history is revealed, so Immanuelle understands what must be done. For the real threat to Bethel is its own darkness.
Bethel must change. And that change will begin with her . . .***
SHE WAS BORN breech, in the deep of night. THE BEAST
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(@TransworldBooks, 23 July 2020, ebook, 355 pages, bought from @AmazonKindle)
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I seem to have accumulated quite a lot of books about witchcraft. The Year of Witching is the last of them. For the moment. I loved it and wish I'd read it ages ago. The book is part horror part historical fiction. There are some very dark moments as Immanuelle digs deeper into the past of her deceased parents and uncovers the dark heart of Bethel and the atrocities committed in the name of the Father. There's nothing like a little religious fanaticism, child abuse and torture to keep me flicking through the pages. This book is well written and engrossing. I loved it.