by Iris
We all know fall is the most popular season among book lovers. Whether you’re more of a “dark & scary” or “warm & cozy” type of reader, this season has it all. I used to be in a book club dedicated to witchy fiction, and one of the things I enjoyed most was reading witchy books from all kinds of different genres. So I figured I’d share a few with you!
urban fantasy: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
“Deep in the stacks of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries—and she is the only creature who can break its spell.”
middle grade: The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
“Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the Forest, Xan, is kind. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. Xan rescues the children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.
One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. As Luna’s thirteenth birthday approaches, her magic begins to emerge—with dangerous consequences…”
historical fiction: Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen
“The plague is spreading. The hundred year war is beginning. Katharina Kepler is believed to be a witch.
Known for her herbal remedies and successful children – among them Johannes, Imperial Mathematician and author of the laws of planetary motion – Katharina’s life is changed by an accusation of witchcraft. Facing financial ruin, torture and even execution, she tells her side of the story.”
graphic novel: Tidesong by Wendy Xu
“Sophie is a young witch whose mother and grandma put pressure on her to attend the best magic school in the realm, even though her control over her magic is shaky at best. To help her prepare for the school’s entrance exams, they send her away to train with relatives she’s never met. However, Sophie’s Great Aunt and cousin Sage won’t let Sophie near a spell book. Frustrated, Sophie attempts magic on her own, but a spell goes horribly awry and she accidentally entangles herself with a young water dragon named Lir. Even though Lir has lost his memories and his ability to shift into his dragon form, he is skilled at magic. With his help, Sophie might just ace her entrance exams, but that means thwarting Lir’s attempts to regain his memories. Sophie knows what she’s doing is wrong, but without Lir’s help, can she prove herself?”
romantasy: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
“Vivienne Jones handled the biggest break-up of her life the way that any witch would: vodka, bubble baths, and a curse on her ex.
That was nine years ago. Now Rhys Penhallow, descendant of the town’s founders, breaker of hearts and still irritatingly gorgeous, is back. Rhys has returned to the quaint town of Graves Glen to recharge the ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival. But when his every move results in calamity, Vivi realises that hexing her ex might not have been so harmless after all…
As the curse starts to affect the magic of the town, resulting in murderous wind-up toys, an outraged ghost, and a surprisingly talkative cat, Vivi and Rhys must put their personal feelings aside and work together to break the curse and save not just the town, but also Rhys’s life.”
historical fantasy: Now She is Witch by Kirsty Logan
“Lux has lost everything when Else finds her in the woods. Her family, her lover, her home—all burned. The world is suspicious of women like her. But Lux is cunning; she knows how to blend into the background. And she knows a lot about poisons.
Else needs Lux’s help to destroy the man who wronged her. But on their hunt they will uncover dark secrets that entangle them with dangerous adversaries.
From the snowy winter woods to the bright midnight sun; from lost and powerless to finding your path, Now She is Witch conjures a world where women grasp at power through witchcraft, sexuality and performance, and sometimes by throwing each other to the wolves.”
If you’re looking for more witchy fiction from various genres, we highly recommend you check out the Witches highlight on our website.
