I really enjoyed this book! Through the exploration of the relationship between Soraya and Mrs. Hattingh, brought to the forefront a lot of the issues with colonization and the power dynamics between the oppressors (even those who consider themselves well-meaning) and the people whose lives they affect. Some of Mrs. Hattingh's remarks made me absolutely livid, which was the point.

Overall I found the ending to be quite predictable, but the oppressive, trapped feeling that was created throughout the book made it still a satisfying read.

I have complex feelings about this book! I liked the premise overall and the characters were likeable, but it felt like the plot dragged a lot in certain spots and it could have used some editing. The beautiful and tense moments kept me reading though!

For a book that seemed to have a theme of female empowerment and fighting the patriarchy, I'm disappointed with the portrayal of the witches. This book seems to fall into the trap of the Satanic Panic view of witchcraft and though it acknowledges the reasons why the women may have run away from society and joined the coven, it ultimately paints them as an evil force in many situations. It shows harmful stereotypes about witches past and present. In my opinion the author seems to portray their beneficial actions at the end of the book as a redemption arc when reality most of these women did no harm at all throughout the story. I suppose it wouldn't be much of a horror book without this portrayal though.

Regardless of its issues, I'm happy to have read this book and found it generally entertaining and thought provoking.