Conjuring The Witch

There are witches in the woods, is the warning the preacher of a small community delivers at the beginning of Conjuring the Witch.   This sets the stage for a story that takes place in a fundamentalist Christian community. As it follows the life of the women of the community, particularly tje main character Nicole, who yearns for more leadership in the church, this story delves deep into horror as social commentary. It reads as an exposee on the gender roles and theology of marriage and gender in conservative Christian churches.  The role the witches play in this story is an elegant use of  supernatural horror. I won't give away the delightful twists that come from the way all of these horrors play out. But I will say that the ending is a shocking punch in the gut. 

When I received my copy of this novella as a perk for being a patreon supporter for Ghoulish Books, I devoured it quickly. This is one of my favorite reads of 2023 so far!

I am also posting this review on Goodreads.