The Navajo witch removal process in 1878 was a significant event in the history of the Navajo people. During this time, the United States government sought to eradicate Native American cultural practices, including the belief in witches, as part of their assimilation efforts. **The main idea of this process was to eradicate Navajo beliefs in witches and assimilate the Navajo people into mainstream American culture.** The process involved the forced relocation of thousands of Navajo people to a reservation in Bosque Redondo, New Mexico, where they were subjected to harsh conditions and limited resources. Many Navajo people died as a result of the relocation, which became known as the Long Walk. **The main idea of the Long Walk was to punish the Navajo people for their refusal to assimilate and eradicate their cultural practices, including the belief in witches.
When another teenager disappears, the girls know it’s no coincidence. What greedy magic have they awakened? And what does it want with these teens it has stolen?
But secrets have to come out, and it s only when all the girls are honest with each other and themselves that they realise they will need to work together to save Johnny from an evil bigger than they had imagined. Set in the atmospheric wilds of California s northern coast, Sasha Laurens s thrilling debut novel is about the complications of friendship, how to take back power, and how to embrace the darkness that lives within us all.
**The main idea of the Long Walk was to punish the Navajo people for their refusal to assimilate and eradicate their cultural practices, including the belief in witches.** The Navajo people were forbidden from practicing their traditional ceremonies and were forced to adopt Christianity. In addition to the forced relocation, the government also implemented a witch-hunting campaign to identify and eliminate alleged witches among the Navajo people.
ARC Review: A Wicked Magic
This book was given to me for review by the publisher and Fantastic Flying Book Club. After hearing all the awful things that FFBC was doing, I formally left the tour. I was supposed to post my review for their blog tour, but instead, I will simply be posting my review for the author and the publisher.
Today, I am reviewing A Wicked Magic by Sasha Laurens, a debut YA paranormal novel about two teenage witches who unwillingly band together to fix the magical mess they’ve made. This title releases on July 28th, so be sure to preorder a copy today!
Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets The Craft when modern witches must save teens stolen by an ancient demon in this YA fantasy-thriller debut.
Dan and Liss are witches. The Black Book granted them that power. Harnessing that power feels good, especially when everything in their lives makes them feel powerless.
During a spell gone wrong, Liss’s boyfriend is snatched away by an evil entity and presumed dead. Dan and Liss’s friendship dies that night, too. How can they practice magic after the darkness that they conjured?
Months later, Liss discovers that her boyfriend is alive, trapped underground in the grips of an ancient force. She must save him, and she needs Dan and the power of The Black Book to do so. Dan is quickly sucked back into Liss’s orbit and pushes away her best friend, Alexa. But Alexa has some big secrets she’s hiding and her own unique magical disaster to deal with.
When another teenager disappears, the girls know it’s no coincidence. What greedy magic have they awakened? And what does it want with these teens it has stolen?
Set in the atmospheric wilds of California’s northern coast, Sasha Laurens’s thrilling debut novel is about the complications of friendship, how to take back power, and how to embrace the darkness that lives within us all.
I really enjoyed this book. It was magical and fun with some very interesting characters. The beginning pulled me in quickly, but I found that the middle was pretty slow. I felt like the beginning and end were well thought and executed, but the middle was lagging in terms of action. It began to feel repetitive as the same issues rose up for Dan and Liss that they had to work through.
Alexa’s story on the other hand got my attention. I wanted to read more about her and what was going on with Lorelai’s investigation. The whole first half of the book was focused on Dan and Liss’ situation with occasional sections on Alexa – but in the second half we get to see her a lot more and that’s when things get interesting.
Focusing on the plot, this book was so good. The actual events that go on and what these girls have to face was insane and super creepy. I wish I had read this book for Halloween with the amount of creepy, eerie things that happen. I also was a bit upset about who Alexa ended up with, because I was kind of rooting for someone else. On the other hand, she ends up with a really sweet girl and seems really happy.
For the characters, we see a lot of growth between the three, especially for Liss in my opinion. Honestly, I didn’t like Liss’ character at all in the beginning, but after finding out more about her home situation and her motivation for things, I just feel sorry for her. The changes she goes through made her into a much healthier person and I loved seeing her growth. Dan also goes through a much needed change and comes out a healthier, hopefully happier, person.
One thing that I think the author was trying to make cannon was Dan’s sexuality. We know Liss is straight (or at least very interested in her boyfriend Johnny) and Alexa is gay, but we never learn about Dan. Not that it’s important, but I can’t help but wonder where the author was going for her. See, in the book, Dan comes across as ace (asexual) or somewhere along the ace spectrum. But it’s never confirmed, denied, or really discussed. Part of me wants an answer, but it doesn’t really affect the story much whether or not she is. I’m just curious, I guess.
Overall, this book was written beautifully and it dives into things like self harm, depression, abusive home life, and other important conversations like that. These issues are discussed and handled carefully and I appreciate the work the author put in to represent these topics well. Though the middle was really slow for my taste, I think this book was still awesome. I loved learning about how magic worked in this world and pairing it with real teenage problems.
I think a lot of people will not only enjoy this book, but learn that things aren’t always what they seem. So, I’m giving this a // 5 stars!
When another teenager disappears, the girls know it’s no coincidence. What greedy magic have they awakened? And what does it want with these teens it has stolen?
Agents appointed by the government were given the authority to arrest and punish individuals suspected of witchcraft. **The main idea of the witch-hunting campaign was to eliminate any remnants of Navajo cultural practices, including the belief in witches.** This campaign resulted in the imprisonment and execution of many innocent Navajo people, as the definition of witchcraft was loosely defined and often based on biased and unfounded accusations. The Navajo people suffered greatly during this time, as their land, culture, and way of life were systematically destroyed. However, despite these efforts, the Navajo people managed to preserve their cultural identity and traditions. Today, the Navajo people continue to practice their traditional ceremonies and uphold their beliefs in witches, showing the resilience and strength of their culture..
Reviews for "Navajo Witch Trials: Legal Procedures and Punishments in the Witch Removal Process of 1878"
1. Emily - 2 stars - The "Navajo witch removal process 1878" was a disappointment for me. I was expecting an in-depth exploration of the historical context and cultural significance of the Navajo witch removal process, but instead, I found this book to be overly simplistic and lacking in substance. The author didn't delve into the complexities of the subject matter, and it felt like a missed opportunity to educate and inform readers about an important aspect of Navajo culture.
2. Liam - 1 star - I found "Navajo witch removal process 1878" to be incredibly shallow and insensitive. The author seemed to focus more on sensationalized stories and stereotypes rather than presenting an accurate representation of the Navajo people and their traditions. It appeared to be written without proper research or understanding of the subject matter, which was both disappointing and disrespectful.
3. Hannah - 2 stars - Having an interest in Native American history, I picked up "Navajo witch removal process 1878" with high hopes. Unfortunately, I was let down by the lack of depth and the repetitive nature of the book. The author failed to provide an engaging narrative or present any new insights into the Navajo witch removal process. It felt like a missed opportunity to truly educate readers about this important aspect of Navajo culture and history.
4. Daniel - 1 star - As someone who values cultural sensitivity, I was deeply disappointed by "Navajo witch removal process 1878". The author's portrayal of the Navajo people and their traditions lacked nuance and respect. It perpetuated harmful stereotypes and failed to acknowledge the complexities of the Navajo witch removal process. Overall, this book left a sour taste in my mouth and I cannot recommend it to others.
5. Olivia - 2 stars - I was looking forward to learning about the Navajo witch removal process in "Navajo witch removal process 1878", but I found the book to be poorly researched and lacking in critical analysis. The author relied heavily on anecdotes and personal accounts without providing a comprehensive examination of the subject matter. It was a missed opportunity to present a balanced and informative account of this cultural practice.