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The Once and Future Witches - Alix E. Harrow

The Once and Future Witches

By Alix E. Harrow

  • Release Date: 2020-10-13
  • Genre: Historical Fantasy
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 408 Ratings

Description

"A gorgeous and thrilling paean to the ferocious power of women. The characters live, bleed, and roar. "―Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Fantasy Novel • Named One of the Best Books of the Year by NPR Books • Barnes and Noble • BookPage

In the late 1800s, three sisters use witchcraft to change the course of history in this powerful novel of magic, family, and the suffragette movement. 

In 1893, there's no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box.

But when the Eastwood sisters―James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna―join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women's movement into the witch's movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote―and perhaps not even to live―the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive.

There's no such thing as witches. But there will be.

An homage to the indomitable power and persistence of women, The Once and Future Witches reimagines stories of revolution, motherhood, and women's suffrage—the lost ways are calling.

Praise for The Once and Future Witches:

"A glorious escape into a world where witchcraft has dwindled to a memory of women's magic, and three wild, sundered sisters hold the key to bring it back...A tale that will sweep you away."―Yangsze Choo, New York Times bestselling author 

"This book is an amazing bit of spellcraft and resistance so needed in our times, and a reminder that secret words and ways can never be truly and properly lost, as long as there are tongues to speak them and ears to listen."―P. Djèlí Clark, author The Black God's Drum

For more from Alix E. Harrow, check out The Ten Thousand Doors of January.

Reviews

  • Simpl amazing

    5
    By plar101
    The characters and the twisting of history are captivating.
  • My least favorite book of the year

    1
    By Si147
    This book should have been split into two or seriously edited. Also, putting everything into a book doesn’t make it inclusive, it makes that inclusivity cheap and felt thrown in.
  • Magically written

    5
    By Hannah0669
    Delightful. I couldn’t wait to get back to it every time I put it down.
  • Great storytelling!

    5
    By wwphotosf
    Wonderful characters and engrossing story.
  • One of the absolute-must-read classics of our time

    5
    By Mspurling
    This book will make you wish for a tangible spell or words of witching, when it, in fact, resides in your own heart, wishing so desperately for wrongs to be righted. What a powerful piece of literature depicting so eloquently the struggle of women since the dawn of time.
  • Amazing book.

    5
    By Jayne.13
    Such an amazing book to read during a time of unrest for women everywhere.
  • The Once and Future Witches

    4
    By 323EL
    This is a fantasy novel with real history and myths mixed in. It is an inspiring feminist read, set far enough back to have brutality as part of life for the characters. The plot moves along, but not fast enough and the flowery prose gets tiresome. I felt it would have been a better book with a lot more editing, and it is unusual for me to want to see a good read to be less wordy. Overall, recommended but you may find yourself skimming passages.
  • I have gotten through 1/3 of this novel….

    3
    By StephiSings
    Unfortunately I am unwilling to finish it. For me, the story plods along slowly and the author does not develop much interest for me or empathy in the characters.
  • A Solid Read About Witches

    4
    By Lazersmat
    I enjoyed this book, but it didn’t blow me away. It’s certainly well written, and the characters are fun, but it missed something. Still it’s a solid read, and if you’re in the mood for some witching, I recommend it.
  • Enchanting

    5
    By lgmd
    A wonderful book to get swept away in. I found myself yearning to join the witches!!

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