Top witchy Books you Need to Read
Have you ever read ‘Harry Potter’ and right after realised that you need more of those witching books in your life? Well, I’m here to help you! I grew up on the witching stories, so I know a bunch of them – now presented to you.
#7
war of the witches
by Maite Carranza
Cover image © Bloomsbury Childrens Books
Since the beginning of time, two clans of witches, the descendants of the foremother-goddess O, are war-torn. The prophecy claims that one day, the Chosen One will come and end the war between two houses. And her time has just came.
Anaid, the daughter of Selene, lives the life of an outsider in the small village of Pyrenees. Since Anaid’s birth, Selene has been eccentric, but Anaid doesn’t treat it as something unusual. However, one day Selene suddenly disappears, and Anaid must face unbelievable truth – her mother is a witch. Now, all strangeness of Anaid’s mother make sense...
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Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that this series isn’t as popular as it should be. In my native Poland, it is definitely underrated trilogy. That’s a shame, because the witchiness of these books is amazing. It's like reading the diary of a real witch! The magic bloodline is very important element of the story. Thus, the rituals and witch customs are depicted professionally.
I read this trilogy when I was 12, so I am not sure it would be as much entertaining for an elder person. Nevertheless, I remember I’ve had a great time with ‘War of the Witches’. And I believe that the 1st volume is the worst of the whole series – it may be a little boring and naive. However, from the 2nd book, the storytelling is much better since we do not follow the story of childish Anaid, but her mother. Selene tells the story of her youth and love for Anaid’s father. The 3rd volume is an absolute supreme, very climatic and immersive. I recommend it for every teenage person who would love to be a witch even for one evening of reading!
#6
The
Chilling
Adventures of Sabrina
by Sarah Rees Brennan
The teenage Sabrina is at the same time a normal girl with a normal life (bet you can get the reference?) and a witch. She grew up in a magic household, with her two loving aunties and a cousin. Sabrina is torn apart two worlds – human and supernatural – and her mission is to combine these two uncombinable spheres together.
Based on the Netflix series and the original comics, ‘The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ is basically a rewritting of the show. However, I believe it is one of the best universes if you are looking for a ‘real’ witchy experience. The author of the comics and, later, the director of the series and the author of the novels, strongly inspire themselves from the Anglo-Saxon folklore and pop-culture, without changing basically anything. Thus, ‘The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ are full of the witch stereotypes and references to the witch portrayal we all have in head. So, if you’re old-fashion and not looking for anything unique, wanting only to read about the witchy motives you know perfectly and love, definitely try ‘Sabrina’ - no matter the comics, the series or the novels, you will be satisfied!
#5
Oksa Pollock series
by Anne Plichota
and Cendrine Wolf
Teenager Oksa has to move from Paris to London where her parents open a new restaurant. Although Oksa was devastated at first, the move turned out to not be that bad - her childhood best friend, Gus and his family also decided to leave Paris and live in London.
The new beginning is a new adventure for Oksa, especially when she discovers a pyrokinesis of hers and other unbelievable forces. Her revelation is a reason of the discovery of the family secret. Oksa and her patrilateral family actually are descendants of the alternative world, Edefia, and Oksa is the next queen of this land. And the evil she will have to fight as a queen is closer than it seems – the new physics teacher of Oksa is the ultimate enemy of her family and kingdom. Thankfully, with the help from Gus, her family and their Edefian friends, Oksa is determined to fight the evil.
Definitely underrated in the world of child fantasy literature, ‘Oksa Pollock’ series (‘The Last Hope’, ‘The Forest of Lost Souls’, ‘The Heart of Two Worlds’, ‘Tainted Bonds’ and other untranslated to English volumes) built my childhood alongside ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Fablehaven’ and other wonderful child fantasy books. I’m still waiting for the Polish, English or even Spanish translation of the next volumes since I don’t a word in French, but I don’t think we will get any new translations. The worst is that the 5th book ends with a cliff-hanger, and I still don’t know what happens next!
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I absolutely fell in love when I started reading this series as a child! With its breathtaking pace, vivid characters and realistic teenage dramas, ‘Oksa Pollock’ are such great novels for young readers. The titular Oksa is, of course, a witch in less conventional way, without a hat and a broom. However, her magic abilities and charm definitely count her among the witches of this world! These books remind me of the ‘W.I.T.C.H.’ comics and show – the same teenage life, love dilemmas and family problems paired with a surprisingly dark themes of the evil. ‘W.I.T.C.H.’ is also a cartoon whose witchy threads aren’t as strictly witchy as, for example, in ‘The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’. And both ‘W.I.T.C.H.’ and ‘Oksa Pollock’ originality is what makes them that unique!
I mentioned the love threads of ‘Oksa Pollock’ and as you can easily imagine, the main love dilemma of Oksa is obviously the existence of Gus who is totally obsessed with Oksa. If the childhood friend trope wasn’t enough, there is also a love triangle and a hot gothic boy! Tugdual, an ex-satanist and a goth liking listening to Enya, is dark and mysterious, and instantly turns Oksa’s head. But who wouldn’t fall for Tugdual? I’d certainly do. Of course, the intense Oksa and Tugdual’s relationship makes Gus jealous, and it all is just a huge, teenage love mess. I love it!
#4
L'isola dove volano le femmine
(the island of flying women*)
by Marta Lamalfa
If you are looking for a similar experience the movies and the musical gave you, be sure that the original novel is something totally different! With its dark character- and world-building, the Gregory Maguire’s book surprises its readers with mature portrayal of human societies and system.
Elphaba is a young girl, born with an unusual trait – her skin is green. Being the encarnation of all marginalised groups in the society of Oz (and Earth), Elphaba grew up perceived as a monster. Maguire retells her story of a villain and the nemesis of Dorothy, portraying both the good and the wicked parts of Elphaba – a heroine, a murderer, a lover, a monster, a sister, an enemy, an activist, a terrorist, a scholar, a witch.
Absolutely worth reading, not only for the fans of the franchise, but most importantly – for everyone who wants to read about discrimination, racism, fascism and every diabolic aspect of the human society transferred into the land of wonderful Oz.
Portraying the problems of Soviet society and system, 'The Master and Margarita' contains three main threads. Firstly, it’s a coverage of the Satan’s visit in Russian capital city, Moskow. Furthermore, Bulgakov tells the love story of the titular couple. The book also contains fragments of the atheistic reinterpretation of Bible, whose author is the Master. This complexity and the unique dark humour.
The whole 'The Master and Margarita' is not only a political mocking of the Soviet system, but also a grotesque reinterpretation of the witch motives. As I explain deeper in my dedicated analysis of 'The Master and Margarita', the witch motives of 'The Master and Margarita' is another valid element of the Bulgakov’s criticism towards USRR. However, even without interpreting this thread this way, witches in ‘The Master and Margarita’ are still very important part of the plot. Firstly, Satan himself is strongly connected to witches according to the folklore, so his appearance in ‘The Master and Margarita’ itself is a strong reference to witches. Secondly, a transition from a woman to a witch by Margarita is a turning point of the plot since Margarita needs to collaborate with Satan to rescue the Master.
Bulgakov doesn’t really modify any element of the witches in the folklore. Thus, while reading you will come across such popular stereotypes about witches as broom fly, having a black cat, being a redhead etc. However, he portrays these motives as a satire. For more about the witches in 'Master and Margarita', read my advanced analysis of this motif! It’s so fun to read basically a mocking of the pop culture that we created, not only of USRR.
#1
The Mists of Avalon
by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Cover image © Ballantine Books
This historical fantasy novel is a retelling of the Arthurian legends told by a group of women. Its concentration on female point of view reminds me of ‘The Roots of Chaos’ saga by my favourite Samantha Shannon. ‘The Mists of Avalon’ interestingly contrasts with both the rest of the Arthurian retellings and the original legends. Except the focus on male part of the story, Marion Zimmer Bradley focuses mostly on the females, as Samantha Shannon breaking with underestimating women in the history.
The book starts with the tragic story of Igraine, the wife of Gorlois, the Duke of Cornwall. She’s unhappy in her marriage, married to the elder man on demand of her sister, the Lady of the Lake, called Viviane. Living in the castle of Tintagel with her first-born daughter Morgaine and younger sister Morgause, Igraine remains an inactive witness of the political chaos in Britain and the misery of her life. It changes when Morgaine meets Uther Pendragon, the probable future High King. They fall in love, experiencing an instant mystical bond of twin flames and knowing their souls from a past life at the Atlantis.
By falling for Uther, Igraine begins fulfilling the prophecy of her sister Viviane and changes the fate of Britain. The Lady of the Lake foretells that the son of Igraine and Uther will be the High King to liberate Britian from the Saxon attacks and unify the people of the islands. Indeed, they conceive a son, Arthur, who is sent from his father’s court as a child. Couple of years later, Morgaine as a grown woman become an important piece of the story. She also has been sent from Igraine as a little girl, barely remembering her younger brother. Morgaine lives at the misty island of Avalon with her aunt, Viviane, and is taught to become a sorceress and the future Lady of the Lake. Unexpectedly, she reunifies with her brother Arthur, what is another turning point of the British history. From now on, Morgaine is the main narrator of the novel starring also Lancelot, the best friend of Arthur and his knight or Gwenhwyfar, the wife of Arthur.
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Read the full list of the best fairy tale retellings now!
This epic story is the best retelling of the Arthurian legends I’ve read. Emotional, and most importantly – extremely personal. It’s a consequence of ‘The Mists of Avalon’ being a heroic fantasy novel. The witchy motives themselves are deeply rooted in the novel, but in a slightly different way than a classical.
As you can read in my analysis of the witchy motives in ‘The Master and Margarita’ by Michail Bulgakov, a witch is mostly connected to the satanic forces and the devil himself. ‘The Mists of Avalon’, however, doesn’t contain any satanic witch. The women using magic in this novel are the sorceress of Avalon, who represent pagan traditions, not satanism (that is very biblical trend). However, in the view of the Christianity, especially the medieval one, every pagan religion is automatically connected to the devil. What is more, pagan Celtic traditions influenced the later medieval customs considered to be witchy in Britain.
Nevertheless, the sorcery of ‘The Mists of Avalon’ is incredible, despite being only a background to the main political and personal conflicts. The atmosphere of Avalon is stunning: you can sense the misty and wetland air of the Lake, the pagan fire of Beltane, the reality blurring its lines around Avalon... The magic rituals and prophecies play important role in the plot, and the sorceress or children of Avalon are the main characters of the story. They are the symbol of the pagan Britain, compared to the Christian one, i.e. the changes the real Britain underwent that days.
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And something extra for my Polish readers!
Unfortunately, these novels aren't translated to English as far as I know, so it's only for the Polish speakers out there.
Złodziej dusz
(The Souls Thief*)
by Aneta Jadowska
The Thornverse is an universum of Thorn (relevatory...), an alternative side of Toruń, Polish city known for its traditional gingerbread. The Thornverse was created by Polish writer, Aneta Jadowska, and books located there are precisely a characteristic mix of fantasy, contemporary fiction and crime fiction but altogether they are just urban fantasy dedicated to adults. The Thornverse consist of three book series with the individual main characters, a bunch of short stories and the discrete novels. An impressively broad universe, Aneta! So, let me be your guide through her miraculous world, dear readers.
In daylight, Dora Wilk is just a normal policewoman in Toruń but little do her human friends and enemies hnows that by night she visit a city on the other side of magic border and become a witch in Thorn, a twin and magical side of Toruń. Eventually, she has to solve a mistery of suspicious murders - unusually, 'cause not as a human policewoman but a witchy detective instead.
In daylight, Dora Wilk is just a normal hellcat, hated by men and women thanks to her sensual beauty and limitless cofidence. In Thorn she's the same - and that's why she has a thousands of friends and enemies at the same time. Vulgar and violent but simultaneously delicate and loving, Dora Wilk is a surprisingly ambivalent character.
In daylight, Dora Wilk enthrals and befriends a shy angel, named Joshua. He a quite and gentle man with long, fair hair who likes wearing flannel shirts and listening to rock LP. By night Dora spends time drinking in a local bar with her friend - Miron, a grandson of Lucifer and a heir of Inferno. He's a complete opposite of Joshua being self-confident and confident of his sex appeal and his passion for wearing leather. Dora develops a weird bond with both of men and quickly starts to desire both Joshua and Miron.
In daylight, Dora Wilk is a human, by night - a witch. Torn between two worlds, she has to decide which one does she choose to live in and with.
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Although Dora Wilk is such an idiosyncratic character with very specific character traits, she's so funny and ironic at the same time that I can't dislike her. If she were written by a different writer, she propably would be as unbearable as Celaena/Aelin from "Throne of Glass" (you can read my review in which I diss this character here). Dora had a potential to become a character so popular in fantasy dedicated to adults - a 30-years-old girl who wears leather jacket, has a surprising ability to hold her liquor, prefer spending time with men then women and is shockingly promiscuous. And... Dora is exactly this kind of female character. But the unique writing style of Aneta Jadowska saves Dora Wilk from being a total disaster and transforms her to a likeable character, even loveable one.
An ironicalness of the writing style, the character building and characters' cute relationships makes "Hexalogy..." and the whole Thornversum such a cosy universe it's almost unbelieveable. These books are one of the comfort ones of mine and also I can't express how funny they are. I have all of the funny quotes marked and although some of them are strictly dedicated to Poles and only we can understand these jokes, I believe everyone would find the writing style hillarious.
*All of the English translations marked with the asterisk I did by myself:
they are unofficial since there aren't any original English versions.
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