Bubbling cauldrons! Flying broomsticks! Maniacally cackling while calling things “my pretty!” Those character quirks can only belong to once fantasy archetype: the witch. While much maligned in historic works of Western fantasy, witches have since gotten a modern day PR rebrand – becoming symbols of societal rebellion and feminist power. If you’re looking for witch books that will cast a love charm on your adult heart, these 10 best witch fantasy stories are sure to leave you spellbound.
Circe
Homer was cooking with gas when he cheffed up the idea of a sea witch that turned men into pigs – and Madeline Miller’s Circe perfected the recipe. A retelling of The Odyssey from the point of view of one of its secondary antagonists, Circe flips the script on the modern Greek myth to tell the tale of a goddess who dreams of a mundane existence. After being exiled to a deserted island for using witchcraft to transmogrify one of her tormenters, Circe discovers that the gods’ divine judgment was actually a blessing in disguise. She’s now free to spend her immortal days perfecting her magical arts, using plants and herbs to improve the transformative powers of her potions. But when Odysseus washes up on her shores, Circe is shocked to discover that he’s one few mortal men whose isn’t better as a swine – for now. Lyrical. Moody. Meditative. A must.
The Year of the Witching
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson is the story of Immanuelle Moore, a pariah in the puritanical land of Bethel due to her mixed race heritage. Pushed to the fringes of her repressive society, she finds comfort in the wilderness beyond her town – the mythical Darkwood where spirits are said to dwell. And oh they’re more than dwelling! They’re handing out presents! The spirits lead Immanuelle to a journal that once belonged to her mother, whom she learns once sought out the wood herself. As Immanuelle dives deeper into the twisted history of the village and her mother’s relationship with the spiritual world, she begins to uncover a sweeping conspiracy that will shake her church-girl foundations to the core. Ex-religious readers are certain to love this one.
The Witch’s Heart
Genevieve Gorninchec’s The Witch’s Heart is the story of Angrboda, a jötunn witch from Norse mythology who was done dirty by the so-called paragons of the pantheon. After narrowly escaping being murdered by Odin for refusing to grant him a prophecy, the injured Angrboda stumbles into a deep wood – and into the arms of the trickster god Loki. This divine meet-cute results in Angrboda bearing Loki three children, whom she raises with all the love she can muster. Unlucky for the happy family, the all-seeing Odin isn’t keen on leaving loose ends untied, and Angrboda’s gift of prophecy foretells that Ragnarok-flavored doom is on the horizon. Angrboda is left with a decision: accept her family’s tragic fate or fight to change it. I’m pretty sure you can guess which option she goes with.
The Once and Future Witches
The Once and Future Witches is the story of a society that retconned magical history and decided witches never existed – much to the chagrin of the dwindling community of magical practitioners still living. When the estranged Eastwood sisters decided to join the rising suffragist movement in the town of New Salem, they began to rekindle the long lost art of witchcraft in the process. As this trio dives deeper into the alternate history of their United States-esque world, they discover that the powers that be are determined to keep them in the intellectual dark – even if it means burying them in the literal dark. In order to secure a future, these witches in training will have to learn their past ancestors’ secrets fast – or die trying.
A Discovery of Witches
Diana Bishop wants nothing to do with her witchy ancestry – the young Oxford scholar would rather leave magical texts where they lie on the dusty shelves of the Bodleian Library. After cracking open an enchanted tome by mistake, she tries her best to forget what she read – but the magical beings who covet this long lost alchemical work aren’t going to forget so easily. Dark forces are now converging on the library, and Diana will need all the supernatural help she can get to fight off these otherworldly foes. Aid comes in the form of sexy vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont – whose arrival sparks a forbidden romance that threatens to upend the delicate balance between this world and the one beyond the veil.
Conjure Women
Conjure Women by Afia Atakora is the story of three women whose lives are intertwined over the course of the American Civil War. Told in separate timelines, the novel follows young Rue as she learns healing arts from her mother Miss May Belle – an enslaved conjure woman with ancient ancestral knowledge. Years after the war, Rue delivers the child of Varina, the daughter of the man who once owned the plantation where Rue was born. When the townspeople spread rumors that the child is cursed, Rue and her community’s newly won freedom is threatened by fear and superstition. While the magic in the novel is left deliberately ambiguous, the narrative centers around the healing power of belief – and the women who channel it.
The Midnight Bargain
Taking place in a world where women are forced to give up their magic when they get married, C.L. Polk’s The Midnight Bargain is the story of Beatrice Clayborn – secret sorceress. In order to drag her family out of debt, Beatrice must find a wealthy husband – which means forgoing her dreams of pursuing a career in magic like men do. In order to secure a witchy future, she summons a spirit who agrees to help – for a price. The cost? A kiss from Ianthe Lavan, the fabulously wealthy and unexpectedly charming brother of one of her greatest rivals. Now she has to make a choice: give up magic and save her family by getting hitched to a total dreamboat, or stay an unmarried sorceress forever. Girl, he’s not worth it.
The Witching Hour
Devoured the Vampire Chronicles and hungry for more? Anne Rice has a treat for you. The dark fantasy master switches from bloodsuckers to spellcasters to weave an enchanting novel that spans four centuries of witchcraft. This is the twisted history of the Mayfair family, a New Orleans clan of sorcerers whose lineage is haunted by a spirit named Lasher – summoned into the world to accomplish dark ends. As the newest of the Mayfair witches, young Rowan must dive into her ancestors’ shadowed history if she intends to wield their generational power – and survive spiritual ruin. If you’re looking for a gothic witch epic the size of a Stephen King novel, The Witching Hour is your best option.
Dead Witch Walking
The first of The Hollows series by Kim Harrison, Dead Witch Walking is the unofficial spiritual successor to Buffy The Vampire Slayer. It’s the story of Rachel Morgan, a bounty hunting witch living in Cincinnati – which is full of more oddities than just a peculiar brand of chili. “The Hollows” of the city are home to all manner of supernatural beasties, including predatory vampires that stalk the night. In order to protect the populace from becoming prey, Rachel spins spells to keep the creatures of the dark in check. Not all supernatural beings are bad of course, her vampire coworker is chill. Her pixie sidekick has helped her crack many a case. And the demons she summons for occasional help? Nevermind, they’re pretty evil.
The Witches of New York
How’s a witch supposed to make a living in the late 1800’s? By opening a tea shop in Manhattan, of course! Ami McKay’s The Witches of New York is the story of two spell casting small business owners who provide palm readings and potions to high society women in need. After a young woman named Beatrice shows up at their door seeking employment, Eleanor St. Clair and Adelaide Thom see magical potential budding within. Beatrice is a natural witch, but her frequent and disturbing visions of spirits from beyond cause her employers to question if she’s more powerful (and more vulnerable) than they first realized. When Beatrice disappears under mysterious circumstances, Eleanor and Adelaide step up to track their spiritually sensitive employee down.
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