Read: Top 10 Best Witchy Books
Do you have a favorite word? You know, the one that you doodle in the margins of your notebooks or dream about having tattooed on you someday? Mine is, and always has been, MAGIC.
I think it has something to do with the idea of owning our power as women…but I’ve always been drawn to magic, witches, and witchcraft, especially when it comes to books. I love submerging myself in worlds where magic exists; where tapping into the power of your mind, the power of nature, and the power of words allows us to do incredible things.
All these books are quite different, and yet each one of them features a witch as its heroine. From historical fiction to modern day high school, magic is everywhere if you know where to look.
Circe, Madeline Miller
‘Circe’ by Madeline Miller was one of the most transformative reading experiences of my adult life. Its tone is unlike any other book I’ve ever read, and yet it flowed so naturally in my head as I was reading it, like an old friend was sitting down by a fire to tell me a long story.
As a child I loved tales from Greek Mythology and ‘Circe’ wove so many of them together with such incredible artistry. I connected so deeply to the sea witch who grew up ‘different’, who never seemed to be able to fit in, who found solace in solitude and nature, and who above all else learns what it truly means to love.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, Katherine Howe
‘The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane’ was a NYT bestseller for good reason; it’s got elements of all the best witchy, fantasy, historical fiction, and romance novels rolled into one.
The narrative switches back and forth between Deliverance Dane, a healer tried as a witch in late 1600’s Salem, and Harvard PhD candidate Connie in 1991. Connie finds evidence of Deliverance’s “Physick” book (recipes for healing) while cleaning out her late grandmother’s house in Marblehead, MA and sets out to find out more about her family. But of course, she gets WAY more than she ever expected or bargained for.
The historical elements of this book are incredibly well researched and represented; if you’re at all interested in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, you will love this book. But even if history isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of juicy romance and witchy vibes to go around!
PAIRS WITH: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Salem, MA
The All Souls Trilogy, Deborah Harkness
I devoured the All Souls Trilogy last year over the course of three glorious weeks. I wrote about the TV adaptation ‘A Discovery of Witches’ in my “Top 10 TV series to binge this Halloween” but I HIGHLY reccommend you read the books first!
An historical fiction triumph, the ‘All Souls Trilogy’ moves through time following modern day witch Diana Bishop and her Vampire consort Matthew DeClermont. There’s only one problem, in this mythical world that runs parallel to our own, “inter-species” relationships between witches and Vampires are not allowed.
Fair warning: after reading these books, you’ll have the itch to travel to the castles of Europe, read some Shakespeare, and drink a lovely rich cup of fine French red…
The Practical Magic Series, Alice Hoffman
The newly-released Magic Lessons has been garnering much attention from readers and critics alike, especially as it’s October, AKA “witch season”! I have yet to read it, but I’m very much looking forward to adding it to my collection because…
I absolutely loved The Rules of Magic. The narrative style made me feel like I was there inside the book with the three Owens siblings as they navigate their power and learn to set their own ‘rules of magic’.
And of course, we can’t forget about Practical Magic, made famous by the 90’s film of the same name!
Alice Hoffman’s writing style infuses magic into our everyday lives, helping us to remember that the real magic lies in learning to be who we truly are.
The Once and Future Witches, Alix E. Harrow
Full disclosure, I JUST downloaded this book to my kindle after being jealous of all the bookstagrammers with their advanced copies raving about how much they loved it!
From Goodreads: “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.”
Sounds timely, no?!?!?!
Year of Wonders, Geraldine Brooks
A different approach to the witch theme, this book leaves behind all ‘fantasy’ and instead shows a harsh, historically-accurate tale depicting the horrors of those women who were accused of witchcraft.
Another truly transformative book in my reading journey, ‘Year of Wonders’ is inspired by the true story of the village of Eyam, England after they experience an outbreak of the plague (or Black Death) in the year 1666. Our heroine, housemaid Anna Frith, becomes an unlikely healer in the town. She must fight for survival (and for love) as her community breaks down around her.
A particularly relevant book to read during the pandemic, ‘Year of Wonders’ will change the way you think about your neighbors and yourself.
Magic For Liars, Sarah Gailey
And now for something COMPLETELY different! I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader’s copy of this magical book last year and found it to be such a fun, easy escape- a totally unique take on the whole “witch” thing.
The tone of this book is like Jessica Jones meets Harry Potter; our heroine Ivy is a private eye who has rejected the magical world she was born into in favor of the human world. But when a teacher is murdered at her sister’s school (think Hogwarts except a totally normal modern high school setting) the faculty brings her in to solve the mystery.
Great for fans of YA!
Harry Potter, JK Rowling
I mean…I know it’s literally the most obvious choice but how can you possibly expect me to write a post about the best witchy books and not include ‘Harry Potter’?
If you haven’t already read the Harry Potter series, what are you even doing with your life?
If you have already read them, may I humbly suggest a re-read, or perhaps a listen to the audio books? I just re-read the whole series this spring and it was the perfect “comfort brain food” for this unique and scary time in our real world history. In fact, I found myself drawing a lot of spooky parallels between what’s happening in our world right now and what went on with the political scene in the later HP books…
Honorable Mentions…
The Witch’s Daughter, Paula Braxton
I liked this book a lot; it was given to me as a gift and it was a fun read, though I wouldn’t put it at the tippy top of my list. From Goodreads: “Part historical romance, part modern fantasy, The Witch’s Daughter is a fresh, compelling take on the magical, yet dangerous world of Witches.”
A Secret History of Witches, Louisa Morgan
Another one that wasn’t an instant favorite, but still held my interest. From Goodreads; “From early 19th century Brittany to London during WWII, five generations of witches fight the battles of their time, deciding how far they are willing to go to protect their family.”