Conjuring the Witch

by Jessica Leonard

There are witches in the woods.

These are the words the reverend of the Lilin Assembly of Our Lord repeats to his parishioners each week. Steve and Nicole Warby think it’s just a metaphor, until Nicole takes a walk in those woods and comes back changed. Something came out of them with her, and the simple small-town life they’ve always known is forever altered when they discover the dark secrets buried deep and those intent on keeping them there. Fearing for his wife’s sanity, and his own comfortable status in the church, Steve is unsure if he wants to help or ignore the problems. The reverend believes there are witches in the woods, and he thinks Nicole is only the most recent.

Conjuring the Witch is a dark, haunted story about what those in power are willing to do to stay in power, and the sins we convince ourselves are forgivable.

Genres: Horror, Witches, Novella, Fiction, Paranormal, Audiobook, Halloween

190 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2023

About the author

Jessica Leonard is the writer of stories about people and the things they do. She lives in western Kentucky with her husband, son, and two dogs. Her work has appeared in Counterexample Poetics and Menacing Hedge, as well as in the Solarcide anthologies Nova Parade and Solarcidal Tendencies. Antioch is her first Novel

Reviews

[Brandon Baker]

DNF at 3%. My biggest reading pet peeve is the switching of POV’s mid paragraph. Also I just don’t care to read about the Bible or religion ATM.

[Snjez]

Well-written, atmospheric and unsettling. I found the characters kind of unlikable, yet very compelling to read about. The switching between viewpoints within a paragraph was unexpected and it might seem confusing, but I liked it. It fit the vibe of the story perfectly. The ending was satisfying, even though I wasn't that surprised by any of the reveals.

No rating, because the story is extremely religious with some body horror, and that's not my cup of tea. For those who are fans, I think this might be a good and quick read.

[Sadie Hartmann]

Hell of an ending!

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are there witches in the woods? Or has the reverend twisted religious dogma to his own interpretation for his own agenda? That is the question to be answered in this stunning work of horror fiction by Jessica Leonard.

Nicole Warby is searching for her niche in this world. She wants to make her husband happy and fit in with the church ladies, but she is pretty sure there must be more to life than cooking and cleaning and being submissive to her man as the reverend constantly preaches.
Her husband Steve is a sort of go-along to get along kind of guy. He wants his wife to be happy but he is also sometimes embarrassed by her behavior.
As much as they are warned about the woods, Nicole feels something pulling her towards them. Sure they are a little dark and spooky but just maybe they have a story to tell.
Nicole is not quite the same after her venture into those woods and the congregation will never be the same either.

I loved this book! I loved Nicole and her refusal to just bow down to hypocritical oppression. The reverend gave me the creeps from the start. I could almost picture him as a smarmy sort of salesman pitching himself as speaking for God, and telling people how to run their marriage as if he had a clue about how marriage works. I can't say that it was a big surprise to find out what is really in the woods, but I didn't need it to be a shock in order to enjoy this atmospheric story. It spoke to me on so many levels.


My thanks to Ghoulish Books.

[Spooky-ish Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Conjuring the Witch is a short, well-written, and atmospheric read, but it wasn’t exactly what I expected. The writing is engaging, and the atmosphere really pulls you in. I went in hoping for witches, but instead got a lot of religion and paranoia. By the end, I started wondering if I even know what a witch is? or maybe the real twist is that I’m the witch! Who knows?

While reading, I kept thinking of the movie Silent Hill. Both Conjuring the Witch and Silent Hill explore themes of religious fanaticism, paranoia, and oppressive communities. In Silent Hill, the cult’s distorted beliefs drive the narrative, creating an eerie and oppressive atmosphere that mirrors the town’s descent into chaos. Similarly, Conjuring the Witch has a community dominated by fear and rigid religious authority, where suppressed emotions boil over into destruction. The small-town setting, with its claustrophobic and isolated vibe, also aligns well with Silent Hill. Both stories weave tension by showing how fear, guilt, and societal repression can lead to devastating consequences.

The plot wasn’t really my thing, with its focus on church drama and submissive housewives. The ending had its moments, but the story left me confused at times, especially with the constant switching between characters and perspectives. There’s also not much in the way of deep character development. I usually try to stay optimistic about books, but this one just didn’t cast the right spell for me.

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are witches in the woods. Indeed, although this excellent novel is about a lot more than just witches. This is a religious horror novel that will send some shivers down your spine.

This particular church preaches about women being subservient to their husbands and how not obeying them brings god's wrath, etc. Yeah, one of those small town old school churches.

Along with that comes feelings of guilt when you don't believe you're as "godly" as others. But our main couple doesn't really believe in any of that. They just seek a community to be a part of as they live a simple life working their farm.

But one day, the wife goes looking in the woods and she begins... changing. Is it truly a witch trying to possess her or is it religious fervour gone to the extreme?

You'll have to read to find out. But once things are revealed and secrets start to be exposed we'll discover that, no matter what your beliefs, evil isn't always what you think, keeping up appearances can be deadly, and perhaps people are not always who they claim to be.

This novel is well paced, extremely engaging, and downright creepy! I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book but am giving this review voluntarily without consideration.

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Yes, they were small town, church-going women. Yet they were not naive about what happened in the world when a woman was accused. A woman can safely be many things, but never accused."

There are witches in these woods... and the men of the small town of Lilin should be very afraid of that. Secrets will not stay hidden in this amazing, infuriating little story!

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, man. I feel like I could write an entire dissertation on everything I love about this book, and the incredibly skillful way it's written, and at the same time I have no words. So I'll land somewhere in the middle and tell you what stuck out to me.

The prose - wow. So many lines in here, both dialog and description, that felt like they were painted with this kind of prescient magic. Truth disguised as fiction, and it contributed hugely to the immersive aspect.

The power - in the woods, in the witches, and in the women. In some ways this feels like a call to arms and I love that.

There were parts that disturbed me deeply. Parts that made me utterly livid, and parts that scared me. And all of it crafted with such loving expertise-Leonard's expert hand wielding the story and bringing it in for the landing. I'll be thinking about this book for a very long time.

[Anja Karenjina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Forgettable

[Stay Fetters · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Forgetting made a monster bold and boldness turned men to monsters."

This read like a lot of other god fearing cult books but that ending was killer. Never underestimate the power of women!

[Rebel Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a tough time getting through this one but the ending definitely saved it. This is a very mild horror story and focuses mainly on the hypocrisy of religion. I was hoping for more - which the ending gave me - but most of the story was slow and monotonous.

[Escapereality4now · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Conjuring the Witch”, is a mild horror story that focuses mainly on the hypocrisy of religion.

The story is set in a small town where the reverend of the Lilin Assembly of Our Lord repeats the words "there are witches in the woods" each week to his parishioners. Steve and Nicole Warby dismiss this as a metaphor, but when Nicole takes a walk in the woods, something changes within her, and she returns different .

“Conjuring the Witch “ portrays the impact of those in power and the sins they are willing to commit to maintain their status.

The religious diatribe succeeded in making me feel uncomfortable, as it should have. But things were so poorly veiled it was a wonder no one saw what was going on. The reveal of the witch did not make sense to me. I was hoping for more

[Maika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to Lilin !
Have you ever been in their woods? Probably you haven’t , for sure you will recall the forest floor crunches, the chimes sounds and the small stone house hidden there for years and years.
Because in Lilin there is a secret which's kept for a long time. Once you’re in, you’re always in.

Come and join us to the Lilin Assembly of our Lord, where Reverend Gray as a shepherd with his flock will give talks about God scriptures, among other things.
Witches are in the woods!

Steve and Nicole Warby are the new members and they are about to discover that this community is as dark as night:
-Wives should behave, should be quiet and not to argue. To submit and be only a blessing.
-Their greatest priority is God.
-Their second priority is their husbands.

When Nicole suspects something’s wrong and walks in the forest, the show starts because secrets are buried there and have to be hidden forever.
This is about power, and how status in the church could never be broken down.
Do you long to be free? Let’s find out if you’ll be able.

I thank you BookSirens @booksirens for giving me an advance review copy for free.

[Nina The Wandering Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You look for God inside of men, when all the secrets of the universe are inside your own selves. You’ve accepted their version of magic as miracle. They are only weak tricks. You, my beautiful friends, are glorious and holy unto yourselves. Do not look for gods in these verses."

I freaking loved this!

[Balthazarinblue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully atmospheric story of a small town church where the Reverend warns, "There are witches in the woods!" The author did a fantastic job of setting the scene. The claustrophobic tension of small town life seeped through the pages. As did the contrasting allure and unnervingness of the woods that abut the church.

I loved the first three-quarters. The story was genuinely unsettling. As things drew to a close, the plot got a little on the nose for my tastes but still very well written.

If you enjoy creepy stories about witchcraft and oppressive religions then I highly recommend this.

I received an advance review copy for free from booksirens in exchange for a review.

[Teresa Ardrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am starting to think that there is nothing creepier than small towns, because Jessica writes them so well that way. Every time a member of the community opened their mouths I found myself gritting my teeth, they all just skeezed me out (I think most of us can relate to groups who think they know that it is "for your own good" to just fit in). But, even beyond that, there are real moments of body horror, moments that may make you put the book down for a minute to control your gorge. The book is timeless, especially in a current world where there are still pocket communities with poor wifi access and a real sense of being cut off from the outside world at large. I don't always trust comps, but Conjuring the Witch reminded me a little of Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt, in the tight knit community with secrets kind of way. But, Conjuring the Witch is a delightfully snarky battle cry for women and others whose rights are constantly being stripped to the bone.

[L.P. Hernandez]

(I don't give star ratings in my own genre)

Having said that, I cannot recommend this book enough. It is my introduction to this author, and what a fantastic introduction. The story centers around Steve and Nicole Warby, recent transplants to the rural town of Lilin with a small church fixated on managing the thoughts and aspirations of its women congregants. The church borders a forest, as does the Warby property. There are witches in the woods, some say.

I'll put the plot aside momentarily to share how impressed I am by Jessica's writing. She finds such a unique way of framing moments. They really jump off the page, as do her characters. Investing in characters is a lost art. To dedicate words to a scene of a man staring at a wall might seem wasteful, but it did so much for me. To craft a character pays dividends later in the story. A simple sentence such as "Eventually, his wife would stop screaming" resonates in a way it wouldn't had that investment not happened.

Are there witches in this story? You'll have to read to find out. There are certainly devils. Hiding where they always do, in plain sight.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I haven’t read a book in awhile that I did not want to stop reading!! I loved this book. It get your attention from the very beginning and keeps it the entire time. Read it, you will not regret it!

[Brooke, · Rating 3 out of 5]

#ConjuringTheWitch by #JessicaLeonard is a show of writing skill, (Leonard clearly understands the craft), and interesting, but ultimately, it made me uncomfortable. The discomfort comes from a cast of unsympathetic characters, all of whom suffered from a lack of development. The story too, for all of Leonard's skill, could use some further nuance.

The element that made me most uncomfortable was the religious trope. This trope, which I understand has a solid point, gets bogged down in the women must be submissive, and a helpmeet to their husbands. For roughly 80% of the book, hardcore religion and gospel is propelled at the reader. When the feminist undertone was finally given its freedom, it was too little too late. By the time the women took back their power, I found I no longer cared.

All of this said, I did really like the concept and I applaud Leonard for what she has achieved.

Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy.

[Jennifer Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure this book was for me. I don’t feel like I got the background of the “witches”. I am not sure if they were or weren’t. This book has a lot of biblical references and that may not be your thing just a heads up. I am also a person who like closure. This book did not give me what I needed to know. That’s all I can say about that without any spoilers. I think the writing was great and I’m not saying the book wasn’t good. It was indeed a very interesting story, for me though I just feel like I needed more background. I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Summer Dawn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I first dove into this book. I'm generally not a fan of witch stories, however I've found some gems over the last year or so and this is definitely one of them.

This book is very moody. Dark and melancholy. I felt Nicole's frustrations with not feeling like she had a purpose or sense of belonging, and her struggle to find it, which of course, seems to set off the course of events in the book.

I really enjoyed the religious aspect of this as well, and the way it pointed out the flaws of religion and the men who use it to control. It also made me very uncomfortable at times since some of the verses and teachings were ones that were used by my old church to keep me from divorcing my abuser. In the end, those moments just made me cheer even harder for Nicole and the others.

I really love Jessica Leonard's take on witches, and patriarchy, and really hope to find time to check out Antioch as well soon.

[Samantha Steipp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. I think it was well written, and I feel the beginning was relatable in some ways. I was shocked and surprised by some of the events that took place, especially in either chapter 3 or 4. I was literally sitting there with my mouth open during some of the events. I think the reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the plot was pretty much predictable by me while reading. It is like a few books I have read before. I think I was anticipating to feel scared during this book, but I did not. Overall, I really liked this book a lot. Thanks to Book Siren and the author! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Books and Roller Coasters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was completely my cup of tea then it comes to horror! This book gave me instant Midnight Mass and Hex vibes. It is a slow burn of a story and I loved the setting, the women vs religion and the conclusion.
The writing could've been a little more immersive, but all in all a solid read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[clumsyplankton · Rating 1 out of 5]

It might have been better if it had been written in a more cohesive manner

[Miss Syreena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where the horror is definitely the religious capitalist patriarchy. Plus some spooky parts! This was a great fall read.
Bibliotherapy: For when you think about Handmaid's Tale and get angry.

[Milt Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Conjuring the Witch' delivers exactly what it says: a Christian community brings rage and blood down on its own head. The book is an easy read, well-written, with very nice descriptions of nature, emotions, and small town life. There's some atmosphere, some unexpected twists, but nothing to write home about. It follows the standard pattern of a binary, self-conflicted voice: Men and Women, Husbands and Wives. The children don't have a say, since they're there to just reproduce their parents' mentality; the religious dissenting voice is, as it often is in such narratives, that of a timid yet intelligent female; the voice of authority belongs to the Father. Rather predictably, the figure of the Witch (in all senses) raises her head, reveals the injustices, and brings everything to an explosive (and ambiguous) ending.

This is the classic struggle between male and female for power, dressed as salvation through submission to an external authority vs salvation through oneself. It's been exhaustively treated in philosophy as the debate between Kant and Sartre (the author goes for a standard 20th century solution, namely, Nietzche's - irrational rage and blood.) The irony is that this is a classic male (typically Western, white) preoccupation, one easy to identify with - as a male. It's all about who has control and the rights to others' pleasure.

The author has some brilliant insights into family and what drives the submissive housewife; unfortunately, these insights do not drive the narrative. Instead, we get endless takes on the urbanite's unfocused mental state (NIcole's) that go nowhere (until, all of a sudden, we reach the final pages, and with no explanation they do!) The witch seemed, to me, just a metaphor for resentment, drawing on never actually defined resources - a deus ex machina sort of solution to all the troubles of this book. But this is precisely how such narratives work: reproducing the old struggles, back and forth to the point of exhaustion.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[m&gs · Rating 2 out of 5]

religious community being hunted down by witches while showing the hypocrisy of the church is something that normally would’ve intrigued me but i was bored and not interested at all

[Klaartje · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this folk horror novel we follow Nicole and Steve Warby, the new members of the Lilin Assembly of Our Lord in the small town of Lilin. Reverend Grey is convinced there are witches in the woods bordering the church, but Nicole and Steve are skeptical. Until one day Nicole finds herself in the forest and strange things start happening after she comes out again...

Conjuring the Witch was a very unnerving, thought-provoking read and a unique addition to the genre of (horror) books about witches. Leonard has a distinct take on witches that was gradually revealed throughout the story - all while maintaining a constant unsettling, claustrophobic atmosphere that made me want to keep reading to see how it would unfold. I don't want to spoil it, but the title of the book brilliantly hints at the meaning of witches in this story.

The religious horror - especially through the figure of the Reverend - was absolutely chilling and done very well. With each page my blood started boiling more and more, which made the parts about female rage even more satisfying and emotional. I love that we got to see different manifestations of female rage in different women depending on their own experiences - if they even felt rage or allowed themselves to feel it at all.

At times the writing style took me out of the story because POV's were often changed within the same paragraph, which was confusing. I also would have loved to see the ending drawn out a little longer to reflect more on its implications. But other than these two points I really loved this short horror novel and want to read the author's other works!

My rating: 4⭐

Thank you to the author, to Ghoulish Books and to BookSirens for the (free) published copy!

[Shellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conjuring the Witch by Angela Atkinson is a haunting and suspenseful story that explores the dark secrets buried deep in a small town. The novel revolves around the concept of witches and the impact they can have on people's lives. The story is set in a small town where the reverend of the Lilin Assembly of Our Lord repeats the words "there are witches in the woods" each week to his parishioners. Initially, Steve and Nicole Warby dismiss this as a metaphor, but when Nicole takes a walk in the woods, something changes within her, and she returns different.

As the story progresses, the couple discovers the dark secrets of the town, and their comfortable small-town life is forever altered. The reverend insists that Nicole has been possessed by witches, and Steve is unsure if he wants to help his wife or ignore the problems. The novel portrays the impact of those in power and the sins they are willing to commit to maintain their status.

The author has beautifully portrayed the emotions and thoughts of the characters, particularly Steve, who is torn between his loyalty to his wife and his faith in the church. The plot is well-crafted, with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged until the very end. Atkinson's writing style is descriptive, creating a vivid image of the town and its people in the reader's mind.

Conjuring the Witch is a dark and suspenseful story that delves into the power dynamics of a small town and the impact of supernatural beliefs on people's lives. This book is recommended for those who enjoy reading haunting and suspenseful stories with well-crafted plots and strong characters.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mz. Jessica Leonard,
I would be honored to shake your hand one day. This was one hell of a novel, told with evocative language and addictive pacing akin to the slow dread of one who is becoming aware of how trapped they truly are.

So many lines that pierced me, made me feel so seen. "She was Rage." "She was gasoline waiting for a light". but also moments of deep fragility where these women stared into their insecurities for just a breath too long to feel safe. There were precious points where they listened to that voice inside, the one that says the truth- that we are not subservience made flesh, and in these scenes I felt that dawning again with them. Such a naked depiction of the evangelical woman's inner struggle, of her fear and her pain and her ultimate destruction. But also... her rage and her power.

The best scene was one where Nicole recognizes what true magic is. How many times was the line "where two or more are gathered in my name there I am in their midst" quoted back at me to admonish me into right fellowship? to lend me the feeling of power and connection where there was also so much fear? The truth is... magic is what lies between women when they are gathered. Let men have God. We have each other, our inner strength and power they will never be able to burn out of us.