I didn't know what to expect from this book since I don't often read novels about witches. It's not really a conscious decision, the description usually either doesn't appeal to me or they don't cross my path.
The catch phrase of Alix E. Harrow's The Once and Future Witches spoke to me straightaway. "There's no such things as witches. But there will be."
This novel is so much more than "just" a story about witches, let me tell you why. It's set in the past in 1890's Salem. Well, it's set in New Salem because Old Salem has been destroyed when the witch burnings took place in the past.
The story is about the three Eastwood sisters. They were apart for many years because of their painful history, but they meet again in the city. They join the suffragists and start the search for the forgotten words and ways to make the women's movement into the witches' movement.
These words and ways are important because they make Harrow's tale unique in my view. Witches don't really exist. They are actually women scorned who have found the words and ways, and most importantly the will to change their circumstances. Apart from women's rights, this book tackles a whole foray of other issues. At times a bit too obvious for my liking, but most of the times nicely tucked away inside the seems of the storyline.
A story like this needs a strong antagonist. The Eastwoods' adversary is mayor-elect Gideon. He's a man who seems frail from the outside but seems to make shadows move at his will. He's pretty evil. To be honest, I expected a YA story but I don't think it is because it does get a bit dark at times.
I'm really happy I picked this novel up. I could happily rave about different elements of this story for hours such as the fact that the words of magic hidden are hidden in well-known fairy tales. How clever is that?
If you're interested in reading a book with multiple layers which tackles interesting subjects and which includes witches a fast-paced story and quite a lot of action. Look no further!
Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy!
4 stars
Statistics:
Date read: October 7, 2020
Date published: October 15, 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group UK
Format: eBook
Pages: 528
Genre: Fantasy
My Number of Books Read by this Author: 1
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