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A review by diannamorganti
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
3.0
This book was very hard for me to read in the beginning (read this via audio). I read fantasy for escape, but the beginning of this book is a lot of realistic darkness. It's set in the mostly real world we know (albeit the past), and the background of this book is all around the powerlessness of women. In the first couple chapters we see patricide, abortion, abusive homophobia, rape, incest, and more all happening to relatable characters in our world - the narrators themselves. It's dark and heavy, especially for someone like me who purposefully avoids realistic books, seeking out fantasy for escape.
If you can get through that, emotionally (I almost didn't), then I think it's worthwhile. Ultimately it is still a story about the powerlessness of women and the endless cycle of male domination - which is weird as a literary choice. Because... well.... Whatever.
I would absolutely read the next book if Eve was a main character, so I'm hoping for that. I can see a really cool and amazing woman coming from these 3 sisters as her guides.
If you can get through that, emotionally (I almost didn't), then I think it's worthwhile. Ultimately it is still a story about the powerlessness of women and the endless cycle of male domination - which is weird as a literary choice. Because... well...
Spoiler
while the REASON for the powerlessness at the center of this book dies (Hill/St. George), the epilogue goes on to tell us that women are still being hunted as witches, and the sisters are still on the run, so nothing changes.I would absolutely read the next book if Eve was a main character, so I'm hoping for that. I can see a really cool and amazing woman coming from these 3 sisters as her guides.