The Once and Future Witches

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What to expect

'Glorious . . . a tale that will sweep you away' Yangsze Choo, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Tiger

'A gorgeous and thrilling paean to the ferocious power of women' Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Strange the Dreamer

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 three Eastwood sisters join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten 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 must 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.

Praise for The Once and Future Witches:

'A brilliant dazzle of a book . . . I devoured it in enormous gulps, and utterly loved it' Kat Howard, author of The Unkindness of Ghosts

'Compelling, exhilarating and magical - a must-read' Booklist (starred review)

'Delightful . . . a tale of women's battle for equality, of fairy tales twisted into wonderfully witchy spells, of magics both large and small, and history re-imagined' Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches

'A love letter to folklore and the rebellious women of history' Publishers Weekly

'A breathtaking book - brilliant and raw and dark and complicated' Sarah Gailey, author of Magic for Liars

Critics Review

A gorgeous and thrilling paean to the ferocious power of women. The characters live, bleed, and roar. I adore them, and long for witchcraft to awaken in all of us
Laini Taylor, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author
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 of THE NIGHT TIGER
The Once and Future Witches is a brilliant dazzle of a book. This story of sisters and witches, memory and power cracked open my heart and set down roots there. I devoured it in enormous gulps, and utterly loved it
Kat Howard, author of THE UNKINDNESS OF GHOSTS
A love letter to folklore and the rebellious women of history
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This is a delightful, satisfying novel, a tale of women's battle for equality, of fairy tales twisted into wonderfully witchy spells, of magics both large and small, and history re-imagined. All of it is told in Alix Harrow's exquisite language and with her vivid characterisations - a great pleasure to read
Louisa Morgan, author of A SECRET HISTORY OF WITCHES
Harrow is more than an author; she is a Wordsmith, a sorceress wielding a pen in place of a wand
A gorgeous, aching love letter to stories, storytellers and the doors they lead us through . . . absolutely enchanting
The Ten Thousand Doors of January healed hurts I didn't even know I had. An unbearably beautiful story about growing up, and everything we fight to keep along the way
Glorious . . . A tale that will sweep you away
Yangze Choo, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author
A breathtaking book - brilliant and raw and dark and complicated. It is also, to be blunt, uncannily relevant
Sarah Gailey, author of MAGIC FOR LIARS
Compelling, exhilarating and magical - a must read
BOOKLIST (starred review)
Nothing short of bewitching . . . This may be a story about fairy tales but gone are the fair maidens in distress, gone are the evil crones, and gone are the fragile mothers - here is a tale about witches who will ignite the world
FANTASY HIVE
The storytelling is a joyful kind of magic. Alix E. Harrow has a beautifully dreamy style that is irresistible, even at the book's darkest moments, and her imagination feels limitless . . . this book is an infectious celebration of courage and wonder that feels like a massive, life affirming hug
One of the most unique works of fiction I've ever read
Tamora Pierce on THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY
Dark and spellbinding, with vivid, unforgettable characters and writing that will take your breath away . . . you won't want to end. It is a rare book worth its weight in magic and moonbeams and stardust. Without a doubt, one of the best books of the year
THE BOOKBAG
I unabashedly, unreservedly adore The Once and Future Witches. I adore it with the kind of passion that prickles at my eyes and wavers my voice
NPR
The Once and Future Witches showcases all the qualities of Harrow's writing that made her debut such a joy to read . . . Never less than absorbing and often moving. This is a big novel with a big heart
SFX
The magical tale of imperfect heroines, fractured sisterhood, and shadowy undying villains you never knew you needed. Alix Harrow crafts a delightfully bewitching story with familiar but ingeniously recrafted histories and deft worldbuilding as rich as the prose that leaps off the page. 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, Nebula Award-winning author
It's rare that a story truly feels like magic, but such is the case with Alix E. Harrow's lush and enchanting The Once and Future Witches. Part period piece, part celebration of sisterhood, and part feminist manifesto, the story is a love letter to women of all kinds, everywhere
DEN OF GEEK

User Reviews

Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
5.0
5.0
michelekhl 17/09/2023
5.0
5.0
What a beautiful, wonderful, perfect book!!! I am sure I would have loved the print version of it fiercely but the narration (and music!) make this out of this world good!!! This has to be one of my favorite narrations of all time - magical one could even say 😉
phryne_marple 06/02/2023

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