A review by saskiajva
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book was nothing like what i expected and i loved it all the more for that. The deeply explored themes of women’s rights; of the ties between family, sisterhood, and the burden all women bare; the reminders that the history of women’s rights and the suffragist movement was not kind to its sisters of color, or trans sisters; the whole narrative was deep, beautiful, and powerful in what it had to say. This story asks the question - what if the victims of history didn’t just want equality - what if they wanted justice? What if they wanted revenge? 

I love the way Harrow weaves together the history of the women’s suffrage movement with the brutal and fantastical landscape of the Salem witch hunts - but this time the witches being hunted really are witches. I love that Harrow adds flavor and intrigue through the use of nursery rhymes we all know and love, made eerie through intent and the voice authors wonderful acting. 

The characters are beautifully morally grey, and face impossible decisions with courage, strength, and resiliency. There’s a lot more i could say but overall I’m glad i read this book!