Set in Bethel, a puritan town isolated from the rest of the world whose Prophet wields total control, Immanuelle is a teenage outcast because of the colour of her skin and her family history.

She soon finds out that her existence not only ties in heavily with dark powers, but that she's able to control them. 

Let me just establish this from the get-go. If you love anything to do with witches, and a story that's heavily anti-religion and feminist, this is up your alley. There's plenty of mystery, dark magic and it touches a lot on race and women's rights/struggles. It portrays how religion can be cult-like, hurts women, children, and people of colour and how only men could benefit from such institutions.

I gave this 5 stars because I loved it as much as I loved Brom's Slewfoot. Perhaps a bit of my biasness came through because anything witchy and dark is a major plus point for me, but Alexis Henderson writes beautifully so I think that was a major determining factor too. 

I'm not quite sure why a sequel will follow because this is perfect as a standalone, but the author knows best. I'll be tuned in for sure.