The Once and Future Witches

Alix E. Harrow

In 1893, there’s no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box.

But when the Eastwood sisters–James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna–join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women’s movement into the witch’s movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote-and perhaps not even to live-the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive.

There’s no such thing as witches. But there will be.

-Excerpt taken from Goodreads.

Check Goodreads to see the book’s ratings.

My Opinion

(3.5 / 5) The atmosphere of the book grabbed me right away. It is set in 1890’s and women’s rights are only something they can dream about. Any woman who stands up for herself or another, or is considered non-conformist, is then accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake. Three sisters are determined to bring back witchery and fight for women.

I loved the nursery rhyme and fairy tale references. They were connected to witching and spells and it totally made sense! Nursery rhymes are something my kids and I joke about because if you listen to the words and meanings, they are quite morbid and odd. Connecting them to witching made it more realistic, I loved it!

This book started strong and waned a bit in the middle then had a strong end. It was very long, even as an audio. The end really brought it all together. I was actually surprised by the ending because it felt open ended for a book 2. There is no book 2! What is Harrow thinking?

Content Summary: F- 4, kidnapping, fire, references to hangings, burning women tied to stakes, murder, physical/emotional/possible sexual abuse references, unwed pregnancy, witchcraft uses blood, F/F relationship; they are seen without clothes on (sex is assumed), they kiss and such but no real details, vague reference to a young woman who is transsexual.

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