Shadows in the New World

In 1666, the Puritan settlement of Sutton, Connecticut, is a place of rigid rules, suspicion, and hardship. Abitha, a spirited Englishwoman, finds herself an outsider, married to the gentle but awkward Edward Williams. Their farm, isolated on the edge of the wild, is a daily struggle against poverty, nature, and the oppressive expectations of the community. The woods beyond their fields are thick with old secrets and whispered fears—of devils, witches, and things that prowl in the dark. When Abitha loses a goat in the forest, she stumbles upon a strange cave, a circle of ancient stones, and a sense of something watching. The land itself seems to pulse with a presence, setting the stage for a collision between the old world's magic and the new world's zealotry.

The Devil's Awakening

Deep beneath the earth, a shadow stirs—a spirit long dormant, called by the scent of blood. The wildfolk, ancient spirits of the land, coax this being back to life, feeding it the blood of a goat. As flesh and memory return, the creature—part beast, part man, part god—struggles to recall its name and purpose. The wildfolk urge it to protect the sacred pawpaw tree, the last remnant of their magic, from the encroaching humans. The beast, soon to be known as Slewfoot or Samson, is both guardian and slayer, torn between the urge to destroy and the longing for connection. Its awakening marks the return of old powers to a land now ruled by fear and suspicion.

Abitha's Struggle

Abitha's life is a constant negotiation between survival and selfhood. Sold as a bride to the colonies, she is clever, sharp-tongued, and ill-suited to Puritan submission. Her only solace is Edward, whose gentle nature is both a comfort and a vulnerability. When Edward's brother Wallace manipulates a debt to threaten their farm, Abitha is forced to fight for her home and dignity. The village's rigid hierarchy and the ever-present threat of punishment for "unwomanly" behavior leave her isolated. Yet, Abitha's resilience and her mother's legacy of cunning craft—herbal remedies and folk magic—offer her a fragile hope, even as the community's suspicion grows.

Brothers and Betrayal

Wallace, Edward's domineering brother, is the embodiment of patriarchal entitlement. Having inherited the family lands, he leverages Edward's trust and the village's laws to entrap his brother in a web of debt. When his own tobacco venture fails, Wallace uses Edward's farm as collateral, threatening Abitha and Edward with ruin. The ministers of Sutton, torn between fairness and self-interest, arbitrate the dispute, but the outcome is always precarious for Abitha. The village's power structure—male, land-owning, and pious—leaves little room for justice, especially for a woman who refuses to be silent.

The Witch's Mark

The village's fear of the Devil is ever-present, manifesting in public punishments, gossip, and the policing of women's behavior. Abitha's outspokenness and her use of folk remedies draw the attention of the ministers and the wrath of Wallace. When Edward dies in a mysterious accident—lured to his death by the wildfolk and the newly awakened beast—Abitha is left alone, vulnerable to accusations and the machinations of her brother-in-law. The community's need for scapegoats and its terror of the unknown set the stage for witch-hunting, as Abitha's every action is scrutinized for signs of bewitchment.

Blood and Bargains

As Abitha's situation grows desperate, the boundaries between the natural and supernatural blur. The beast, now called Samson, seeks answers about its own identity and purpose, drawn to Abitha's pain and strength. Their encounters are fraught with fear, misunderstanding, and a strange kinship. Abitha, needing help to save her farm, makes offerings to Samson—gifts, food, and eventually, her trust. In return, Samson uses his magic to revive her crops, but the cost is a deepening entanglement with the wild magic of the land. The wildfolk, jealous and vengeful, plot against Abitha, fearing her growing power and connection to their lost guardian.

Spirits of the Wild

The wildfolk—Forest, Sky, and Creek—are mischievous, dangerous, and desperate to preserve their dying magic. They manipulate both Samson and Abitha, seeking to drive out the humans and restore the old ways. Their magic is capricious, fueled by blood and sacrifice, and they are not above murder to achieve their ends. As Abitha's bond with Samson grows, the wildfolk's jealousy turns to violence. They unleash venomous creatures upon her, nearly killing her, and push Samson toward bloodshed. The struggle between old and new, wild and civilized, becomes a battle for the soul of the land—and for Abitha's own soul.

The Pact and the Plow

Abitha and Samson, both outcasts, form a pact—she will honor him as a forest god, and he will help her survive. Their magic, born of mutual need and belief, revives her failing crops and brings abundance to her farm. Yet, this alliance is fraught with danger. The more Abitha draws on the wild magic, the more she is changed—her senses sharpen, her connection to the land deepens, and the line between woman and witch blurs. The wildfolk, sensing their own extinction, conspire to break the bond, while the village's suspicion of Abitha grows ever more intense. The stage is set for a reckoning.

The Devil in the Barn

Wallace, desperate to reclaim the farm and destroy Abitha, enlists outsiders to steal her harvest and burns her barn to the ground. The wildfolk's sabotage and the villagers' malice leave Abitha with nothing. In her grief and rage, she turns fully to Samson and the wild magic, accepting the cost of her transformation. The boundaries between human and spirit, victim and avenger, dissolve. Abitha's vengeance is no longer just for herself, but for all the women and wild things crushed by the village's cruelty. The Devil, it seems, is not just in the woods, but in the hearts of men.

Death, Grief, and Defiance

Accused of witchcraft, Abitha is arrested, caged, and tortured alongside Sarah Carter, the minister's wife. The trial is a farce, orchestrated by Wallace, Ansel, and the magistrate, who use superstition and fear to justify their brutality. The village, whipped into a frenzy, demands blood. Abitha's only comfort is the memory of her mother and the chain of braids that links her to generations of cunning women. As she is pressed to confess, betrayed by those she once helped, and forced to watch the destruction of her only friend, Abitha's spirit is broken—only to be remade in fire and fury.

The Wildfolk's Return

Samson, seeking to free himself from the torment of his divided soul, confronts the shaman Mamunappeht, who holds the secret of his past. In a hall of masks made from the skulls of the wildfolk, Samson learns the truth: he was once a great forest spirit, twisted into a devil by the wildfolk's own magic and the shaman's manipulations. The cycle of violence, vengeance, and loss is revealed as a tragedy of broken trust and corrupted power. With the help of Forest, Sky, and Creek, Samson shatters the masks, frees the trapped spirits, and reclaims his true self—shepherd and slayer, life and death.

Magic, Memory, and Motherhood

As the village burns and the meetinghouse is destroyed, Abitha is mortally wounded. Samson, now whole, carries her to the ancient pawpaw tree, where the spirits of her mothers gather. In a ritual of blood and song, the circle of women—living and dead—call upon Mother Earth to restore Abitha. The serpent, symbol of wild magic and feminine power, enters her, binding her to the land and to Samson. Abitha is reborn, transformed into a being of both vengeance and renewal, her soul braided with those of her ancestors. The old magic, thought lost, is rekindled in her blood.

Witchcraft on Trial

The witch trial reaches its climax as Abitha and Sarah Carter are condemned. The magistrate, desperate for order, tortures Sarah into a false confession, while Abitha is sentenced to a slow, agonizing death. The village, complicit in cruelty, is swept up in a frenzy of violence and self-righteousness. Yet, even as she hangs between life and death, Abitha's spirit endures. The wildfolk, the ghosts of the land, and the power of her mothers gather to aid her. The line between justice and vengeance, faith and fanaticism, is obliterated in the flames.

The Devil's Due

Reborn by blood and magic, Abitha and Samson become the instruments of retribution. The village is beset by supernatural horrors—ghostly beasts, swarms of insects, and the wrath of the wild. The meetinghouse burns, the guilty are slain, and the old order is shattered. Abitha, now a witch in truth and power, exacts vengeance on Wallace, the magistrate, and all who wronged her. Yet, her fury is not mindless; it is the fury of the earth itself, of all those silenced and oppressed. The Devil, it turns out, is not a monster in the woods, but the justice that comes for those who have sown cruelty.

Fire, Vengeance, and Rebirth

As Sutton is consumed by fire and blood, Abitha and Samson stand at the center of the storm. The wildfolk, the ghosts, and the wolves bear witness as the old world dies. Yet, in the ashes, the pawpaw tree blooms again, and the circle of mothers is restored. Abitha, now both woman and witch, is the living embodiment of the land's power—its rage, its sorrow, and its hope. The cycle of violence is not ended, but transformed; the wild magic, once nearly lost, is reborn in a new form, braided from the pain and resilience of those who survived.

The Circle Unbroken

Centuries later, the legend of Slewfoot endures. In a remote forest, a woman with goat's legs, horns, and a necklace of braids welcomes strangers to her hearth. The wildfolk, the spirits, and the old magic remain, hidden in the hills and hollows, waiting for those who would listen. The story of Abitha, Samson, and the wildfolk is not just a tale of vengeance, but of survival, transformation, and the enduring power of women and the land. The circle is unbroken; the wild endures.

Characters

Abitha Williams

Abitha is a fiercely intelligent, sharp-tongued Englishwoman thrust into the unforgiving world of Puritan New England. Sold as a bride, she is both an outsider and a survivor, chafing against the village's rigid gender roles and religious dogma. Her relationship with Edward is tender but marked by mutual incomprehension; she is his protector as much as his wife. Abitha's psychological journey is one of transformation—from vulnerable outcast to cunning woman, and finally to a being of wild magic and vengeance. Her mother's legacy of folk craft and the chain of braids symbolize her connection to a lineage of women's wisdom and power. Abitha's arc is a study in resilience, rage, and the reclamation of agency in a world determined to silence her.

Samson / Slewfoot

Samson is the resurrected spirit of the land—part man, part beast, part ancient god. Awakened by blood and the wildfolk's magic, he is at once protector and destroyer, struggling to reconcile his dual nature. His relationship with Abitha is fraught with fear, fascination, and a deepening kinship; she is both his anchor and his mirror. Psychologically, Samson is tormented by fragmented memories, guilt, and the knowledge that he has been both savior and slayer. His journey is one of self-discovery, as he moves from being a pawn of others' vengeance to reclaiming his true self—embracing both the light and darkness within. He is the embodiment of the wild: beautiful, terrible, and necessary.

Wallace Williams

Wallace is Edward's older brother and the antagonist whose actions drive much of the plot's conflict. He is manipulative, self-righteous, and obsessed with legacy and control. Wallace's psychological makeup is a toxic blend of entitlement, insecurity, and religious zeal. He exploits the law, the church, and his family to maintain power, justifying cruelty as duty. His relationship with Abitha is adversarial, marked by misogyny and a need to dominate. Wallace's downfall is a direct result of his inability to see others as fully human, and his fate is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked authority and self-deception.

Edward Williams

Edward is Abitha's husband, a kind but awkward man ill-suited to the harshness of Puritan life. He is gentle, artistic, and deeply religious, but also naïve and easily manipulated—especially by his brother Wallace. Edward's inability to assert himself or protect Abitha is both a source of pain and a reflection of the era's limitations on men as well as women. His death, orchestrated by the wildfolk and the beast, is a turning point for Abitha, propelling her into isolation and transformation. Edward's ghost lingers as a symbol of innocence lost and the cost of complicity.

Forest, Sky, and Creek (The Wildfolk)

The wildfolk—Forest (opossum), Sky (raven), and Creek (fish)—are ancient spirits of the land, childlike in appearance but deeply cunning and dangerous. They are both comic and tragic, representing the last vestiges of a dying magic. Their relationship with Samson is filial and manipulative; they both revere and use him. With Abitha, they are jealous, fearful, and ultimately destructive, seeing her as a threat to their survival. Psychologically, the wildfolk are driven by desperation, nostalgia, and a willingness to do harm for self-preservation. Their arc is a meditation on the costs of clinging to the past and the dangers of unchecked resentment.

Sarah Carter

Sarah Carter, the minister's wife, is a figure of strength, discipline, and hidden compassion. She is both a gatekeeper of Puritan order and a secret ally to Abitha, recognizing the injustice of the village's treatment of women. Her psychological struggle is between duty and empathy, faith and doubt. When accused of witchcraft, Sarah's refusal to confess is a testament to her integrity, but her eventual breaking under torture is a devastating commentary on the limits of endurance. Her fate is intertwined with Abitha's, and her suffering exposes the cruelty of a system that devours its own.

Ansel Fitch

Ansel is the archetype of the witch-hunter: paranoid, self-important, and obsessed with rooting out evil. His psychological makeup is a mix of insecurity, fear, and a desperate need for validation. Ansel's actions are driven by a belief in his own righteousness, but his cowardice and malice are ultimately his undoing. He is both a tool and a victim of the village's hysteria, and his end—sacrificed to the wild magic he so feared—serves as poetic justice.

Magistrate Watson

The magistrate is the embodiment of colonial power—arrogant, self-serving, and ruthless in the pursuit of order. He manipulates the law to serve his own interests, using the witch trials as a means of control and self-aggrandizement. Psychologically, he is hollow, motivated by fear of losing status and a need to be seen as righteous. His willingness to torture, coerce, and destroy lives for convenience makes him a symbol of the system's rot. His fate—mutilated and silenced by Abitha—mirrors the violence he inflicted on others.

Reverend Thomas Carter

Reverend Carter is a complex figure, torn between his faith, his duty, and his compassion. He is both a product of his time and a man capable of doubt and empathy. His relationship with Abitha and Sarah is fraught; he is both their judge and, at times, their only ally. Psychologically, he is haunted by the limits of his power and the consequences of his choices. His survival, marked by madness and loss, is a testament to the costs of complicity and the tragedy of good intentions in a broken system.

Booka (The Cat)

Booka, Abitha's one-eyed, broken-backed cat, is more than a pet—he is a symbol of the vulnerable, the outcast, and the scapegoat. His death at the hands of the guards is a microcosm of the village's cruelty and the fate of all who are different. Booka's presence as a "familiar" is both literal and metaphorical, representing the link between Abitha and the wild, the innocent and the accused. His loss is a catalyst for Abitha's final transformation.

Plot Devices

Duality of Nature and Identity

The novel's structure is built on the tension between opposites: Puritan order and wild magic, male authority and female agency, human and beast, victim and avenger. This duality is embodied in both Abitha and Samson, whose arcs mirror and intersect. The use of shifting perspectives—between Abitha, Samson, and the wildfolk—creates a sense of ambiguity and moral complexity. The narrative foreshadows the collapse of boundaries, both literal and figurative, as the characters are forced to confront the darkness within themselves and their community.

Folklore, Ritual, and Symbolism

The story is saturated with folklore—charms, omens, rituals, and the ever-present threat of witchcraft. The chain of braids, the pawpaw tree, the serpent, and the wildfolk are recurring symbols, representing lineage, memory, and the persistence of the old ways. Rituals—both Puritan and pagan—structure the plot, from church services to blood sacrifices. The use of dreams, visions, and supernatural encounters blurs the line between psychological and literal magic, allowing the narrative to explore trauma, transformation, and the power of belief.

Social Critique and Historical Allegory

The plot is driven by the mechanisms of accusation, trial, and punishment, exposing the ways in which fear, misogyny, and power operate in closed societies. The witch trial is both a literal event and an allegory for the persecution of the other—women, the poor, the wild, the different. The narrative structure uses repetition and escalation—each act of violence begets another, each injustice breeds further rage—culminating in a cycle of destruction and rebirth. The epilogue, set centuries later, reframes the story as an enduring legend, suggesting that the forces unleashed in Sutton are never truly vanquished.

Analysis

Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery is a searing reimagining of the witch trial narrative, blending historical horror with mythic fantasy to interrogate the roots of violence, misogyny, and the fear of the other. At its heart, the novel is about the collision between a patriarchal, colonial order and the untamable forces of nature—both in the land and in the human soul. Abitha's journey from outcast to witch is not a fall from grace, but an ascent into power, agency, and self-knowledge, achieved through suffering, loss, and the embrace of her own wildness. Samson's arc, from beast to god to devil and back, mirrors the story's central question: who decides what is monstrous, and what is sacred? The novel's use of folklore, ritual, and symbolism transforms the witch trial from a story of victimhood into one of vengeance and rebirth. In a modern context, Slewfoot resonates as a parable about the dangers of fanaticism, the costs of silencing women and the wild, and the enduring need for stories that reclaim the power of those who refuse to be tamed. The circle, unbroken, is both a warning and a promise: the wild endures, and so do those who carry its magic.

Last updated: August 27, 2025