The Once and Future Witches - Alix E. Harrow

⭐ 9.5/10

(Originally written by Magdalene)

This was a perfect book to read during the days leading up to Halloween, because it's all about WITCHES. It's set in 1893, and it has elements of alternative history, because in this book Salem was destroyed after the witch trials, and they've created a new community called New Salem. The story revolves around three estranged sisters - the youngest is running away from home after committing a crime, the middle sister is a newly pregnant factory girl, and the oldest is an unmarried librarian. They all find themselves in New Salem together suddenly when a mysterious tower appears in the town square, and they suspect they are destined to call back the lost ways of Avalon and end the banishment of witchcraft. But of course the men do NOT want the women to gain back their lost powers, and so the women must gather forces and bring witching back to Salem.

The book is pretty long, but also intense and SO COOL. It's about the struggle of women to become their own people and out of the tyranny of men. There are spells and clues hidden in all of the familiar rhymes and fairy tales, but each with a little twist. My pacifist self didn't agree with all of the actions taken by the witches, but they sure did make a good case for why witchcraft is awesome. This was a great, dark, feminist take on the Salem witch trials. It was very different from Harrow's last book, which I loved, but I was glad to see she was still great at this genre. I highly recommend it for people who love witchy stories.