Witches and the practice of magic have woven themselves into every culture's storytelling tradition, continuing to captivate our imagination. Not in the mood for trick-or-treating this Halloween? Prefer to stay indoors with a cozy blanket and a good book? Here’s a curated list of witchy reads:
Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha, Book One) by Tomi Adeyemi
Tomi Adeyemi's debut novel unfolds in the kingdom of Orïsha, where magic and its practitioners—the maji—have been brutally suppressed by King Saran, who himself lacks magical abilities. Haunted by memories of violent raids, young Zélie suddenly awakens to her own magical powers. She soon allies with kindred spirits, including Amari, the crown princess, and together they embark on a perilous quest to locate the Sunstone, an artifact that could restore their stolen powers. With King Saran's forces, led by his son Prince Inan, in hot pursuit, they must reach the Holy Temple before the solstice. If Zélie fails, Orïsha will lose its magic forever. The mission grows even more complicated when Zélie finds herself developing feelings for Inan…
The Power by Naomi Alderman
“If the world didn’t need shaking up, why would this power have come alive now?” In a reality closely mirroring our own, teenage girls suddenly gain the ability to unleash electrical shocks from their hands. Chronicler Neil Adam Armon documents the rise of this power, from its earliest manifestations to the establishment of a matriarchal society in which he now lives. Shifting from lyrical reflections on power to biting satire, The Power serves as both a feminist manifesto and a sharp critique of our era.
A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan
A Secret History of Witches traces the Orchire family—a Romani lineage—from 1821 to 1945. Forced to flee Brittany in 1824 after harassment by a priest, the family passes its magical gift down through the female line. Each chapter focuses on a different witch, creating both a family saga and a chronicle of European history (even the Queen Mother makes an appearance). While the witches' magic, their familiars, and their circumstances evolve, one constant remains: the need to keep their gift hidden, especially from men. As one character notes, “Despite all the power they may have over us, they fear us. We resist. That frightens them. Men hate being afraid, so they hate us instead.” This novel is not only a tribute to witches and their powers but also a celebration of the bond between mothers and daughters.
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Twelve-year-old Tea inadvertently resurrects her brother from the dead, revealing herself as a bone witch—one of the rarest, most powerful, yet most feared ashas in the eight kingdoms. As Tea undergoes intense training, readers glimpse a future where she has become an outcast, now raising the very monsters she was taught to destroy.
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Sunny never seems to fit in. Raised in the United States, she returns to her ancestral home of Nigeria. She is the only girl in her family, and her albinism makes her a target at school. Everything changes when she befriends Chichi and Orlu, and learns she belongs to the Leopard People. As if that weren't enough, she must also track down a killer on the loose. Akata Witch is an empowering coming-of-age story for young adults and adults alike.
The Accidental Santera by Irete Lazo
This engaging novel follows Gabrielle Segovia, a biologist reconnecting with her family's spiritual tradition: Santeria. Gabby struggles to reconcile her scientific identity with her newfound witchcraft, while also navigating the challenges of being a Latina in the United States and a woman of color in the predominantly white, male STEM field. She must deal with a two-faced colleague trying to steal her research, all while trying to conceive a child and save her strained marriage. Fortunately, she has her ancestors on her side…
What Should Be Wild by Julia Fine
Maisie Cothay is cursed. Born with the ability to harm or kill with a single touch, she grows up sheltered in the countryside, raised only by her father and the housekeeper, Mrs. Blott. But Maisie is not alone in her curse—the forest surrounding their home is also enchanted. Anyone who enters never returns, especially the women of her family. One day, her father vanishes, and Maisie ventures into the woods to find him—only to discover far more than she anticipated.
Literary Witches: A Celebration of Magical Women Writers by Taisa Kitaiskaia, illustrated by Katy Horan
This beautifully illustrated volume celebrates women writers with a touch of magic, from Emily Brontë to Yumiko Kurahashi. As Pam Grossman writes in the foreword, “the witch […] is a woman who stands entirely on her own. She is more often than not an outsider, and her gift is transformation.” The writers featured here are rebels and outsiders, yet their books always hold the power to transform both the reader and the world around them.
I, Tituba, Black Witch Of Salem by Maryse Condé
This 1986 classic recounts the Salem witch trials from Tituba's perspective. Maryse Condé draws on historical records of the real Tituba and blends them with vivid imagery. Orphaned in Barbados, Tituba is mentored by a famous herbalist, Mama Yaya, who teaches her everything she knows. She falls in love with and marries a slave named John Indian, only to be sold into slavery herself. Together, they are brought to Salem, where Tituba survives the witch trials by confessing. Upon returning to Barbados, however, the situation has shifted, and Tituba finds herself accused of inciting revolution.
Verena Hutter hails from Germany and came to Portland, Oregon, via New Zealand, Minnesota, California, and Indiana. A freelance writer and editor, her interests include tattoos, body theory and politics, and transnational/transcultural perspectives. She also blogs about life with Crohn’s Disease at www.morbuscrohnicles.com and can be found on Twitter @hutterverena.
