Review by simonefk - The Once and Future Witches

You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

simonefk 's review for:

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

4.5

dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

I don't think I have read a novel about witches since I was a child and this felt really nostalgic to me. We follow three sisters who have been separated for 7 years become reunited through witchcraft and suffrage. The novel is visceral, dark, atmospheric and really depicts the time and place well. I felt I could see the sisters in my mind, the place, the writing is so descriptive, I do think it would make a wonderful TV series.

It combines the fantasy and the historical elements well. It takes place in our world there's references to the Pankhurts, the Salem witch trials, racism, slavery and homophobia play a prevalent part and I think the author's very clever in the way it's our world but there's witches, familiars, ghosts and monsters.

I did love these characters - there's the academic sister, the sensible working sister and the wild child. There's a lot of supporting characters, there's romance, motherhood, friendship, sisterhood. This is a long novel but it really hit all the elements of a good novel for me.

Content Warnings