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laurieb755 's review for:
The Once and Future Witches
by Alix E. Harrow
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Whoa. There is so much about this story that could be discussed but I will focus on just two items. First, the Eastwood Sisters (Juniper, Bella and Agnes), who are impressive, fiery, strong, determined and - especially given the current situation in the United States - a role model for remembering what it means to stand up for oneself. Second, the question - is (was) a witch simply a person who wants (wanted) for themself to be treated kindly, fairly and with respect as a co-equal to others?
—
I read Alix Harrow’s previous book The Ten Thousand Doors of January but did not reread my review (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/4e2e7e40-d48d-4217-afd4-10268049d2f0) till just now. Harrow’s imagination continues to soar, her rendering of people and place being highly evocative; I watched this story as the movie played out in my mind’s eye. As with her previous book, at times it seemed like chunks of words could be chopped from the narrative with no harm done to the flow of story. Likewise, just when I thought I knew what would happen next, something else occurred instead. I find much reading enjoyment in not being able to discern the plot in advance!
Back to the idea of witching…a third question arises - if one is treated as lesser than whole, does one have not only the right but the responsibility to stand up for oneself and also find a way to stop that 'lessering behaviour' being inflicted again as well as against others? If yes, is that responsibility to oneself only or to others, as well. Throughout my reading of this 513 page book I could not help but think of all that is happening in my country, it being April 2025. Spurred on by the book’s dedication, ending, and the author’s Acknowledgments I will take hope, gather strength, and recite the words. :-)
Finally, I look forward to seeing what Alix E Harrow (https://alixeharrow.wixsite.com/author) turns out next! (PS I started another of her books, Starling House, but even for me it was a bit too gothic a tale to finish. Nonetheless, it did speak to her phenomenal imagination!)
—
I read Alix Harrow’s previous book The Ten Thousand Doors of January but did not reread my review (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/4e2e7e40-d48d-4217-afd4-10268049d2f0) till just now. Harrow’s imagination continues to soar, her rendering of people and place being highly evocative; I watched this story as the movie played out in my mind’s eye. As with her previous book, at times it seemed like chunks of words could be chopped from the narrative with no harm done to the flow of story. Likewise, just when I thought I knew what would happen next, something else occurred instead. I find much reading enjoyment in not being able to discern the plot in advance!
Back to the idea of witching…a third question arises - if one is treated as lesser than whole, does one have not only the right but the responsibility to stand up for oneself and also find a way to stop that 'lessering behaviour' being inflicted again as well as against others? If yes, is that responsibility to oneself only or to others, as well. Throughout my reading of this 513 page book I could not help but think of all that is happening in my country, it being April 2025. Spurred on by the book’s dedication, ending, and the author’s Acknowledgments I will take hope, gather strength, and recite the words. :-)
Finally, I look forward to seeing what Alix E Harrow (https://alixeharrow.wixsite.com/author) turns out next! (PS I started another of her books, Starling House, but even for me it was a bit too gothic a tale to finish. Nonetheless, it did speak to her phenomenal imagination!)