This spooky season, I’ve decided to embrace all things witchy. As a longtime fan of everything Hocus Pocus — and now the spellbinding Agatha — I wanted to find some books that match the vibe.
What I found was a wide assortment of witchy tales. The women in these stories are a mixture of loveable and formidable. Discover tender sapphic romances and endearing female friendships — as well as some epic female rage.
There’s something for everyone to enjoy here, whether you’re looking for a dark romance, a twisted thriller or a cozy fantasy. Enjoy!
So Witches We Became by Jill Baguchinsky
High school senior Nell and her friends are heading out on spring break, where they’ll have an entire Florida island to themselves — or will they? When unexplained occurrences begin to rattle the friends, they realize this spring break is about to get a lot more interesting, and not in a good way. Soon enough, a toxic mist and a devouring beast in the water make leaving the island impossible — alive, that is. Together, Nell and her friends must face the terrible, gnawing secrets that haunt them in order to challenge the curse that now looms over them. (Check out the BookTrib review here.)
Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch
As the lone survivor of a brutal attack on her coven, Fritzi’s determined to find her only remaining family member and bring the hexenjägers ― zealot witch hunters ― to justice. Otto is a hexenjäger ― but that’s just his cover. For years he’s been plotting his revenge against the hexenjägers who tore apart his family. When Fritzi and Otto are thrust together, they aren’t sure they can trust each other. On a journey from the city at the heart of the hexenjägers’ power to the wild and mysterious Black Forest, old truths come to light and new dangers are revealed — but their growing feelings for each other may turn out to be the most powerful magic of all.
The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields
The Honey Witch of Innisfree can never find true love. That is her curse to bear. But that never upset Marigold Claude, who always preferred the company of meadow spirits than of her suitors. After training to become the next Honey Witch under her grandmother’s tutelage, Marigold enjoys her newfound magic and independence — until Lottie Burke comes along. A notoriously grumpy skeptic, Lottie doesn’t believe in magic, and Marigold can’t resist the challenge to prove her wrong. Soon, Marigold begins to care for Lottie more than she should. When dark magic threatens to destroy her home, Marigold fights to protect what’s most important — at the risk of losing her magic and her heart.
The Last Witch in Edinburgh by Marielle Thompson
In an alternate 1824 Edinburgh where every woman lives in fear of being hanged for witchcraft, Nellie Duncan serves the Cailleach, a winter deity, with other witches at Rae Women’s Apothecary. All is well in Nellie’s world; she even has a blossoming romance with the fiery Jean Rae. But the Cailleach has an ancient enemy intent on stripping the power of the deity and all her witches, leaving a wake of patriarchal violence and destruction. When heart-breaking disaster strikes, Nellie flees and spends the next two centuries hiding from the world — until love gives her the courage and the motivation to come back. And this time, Nellie won’t run.
The Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa
A historical work with elements of physical and psychological horror, Island Witch draws on Sri Lanka’s infamous specter, Mohini — who author Amanda Jayatissa describes as the “quintessential Woman in White.” Jayatissa reimagines this enigmatic ghost’s origin story through Amara Akki, the teenage daughter of a traditional demon priest, whose family is vilified after a series of brutal and mysterious attacks against male villagers inspires widespread fear and paranoia. Maligned by her community and marginalized by her gender, Amara embraces her inner rage as she seeks redemption. (Check out the Big Thrill’s interview with the author here.)
The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer
In 1885, a woman on the run from murder charges collides with a gruff stranger and breaks her ankle. The man, Marcus Greybourne, takes her to his home and convinces the constable she’s his wife, Luna. As her injuries heal at his illustrious Ravenwood Hall, she begins to wonder what happened to the real Luna Greybourne. Before her mysterious disappearance, Luna was known locally as the Ravenswood Witch, her reputation shredded like the wallpaper of the padlocked rooms she destroyed. As the house seems to come alive with dark magic, the woman who is now pretending to be Luna can’t help but fear she’s escaped the noose for a far more terrible fate.
Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood
Burned out from the demands of a toxic boss and the struggles of keeping her beloved Lunar Books afloat, Belladonna Blackthorn hasn’t felt like practicing magic much lately. So when her 30th birthday brings a summons from her coven and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle fears the worst. With only the month of October left to prove herself or risk losing her magic forever, Belle will need all the help she can get — from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure and even from an infuriating coven watchman who’s sworn to protect her.