Witches have fascinated me on screen and in books ever since I was a child, first it was Meg and Mog (a series of picture books by Helen Nicoll and illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski), then I discovered Mildred Hubble the protagonist from Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch. The 1998 tv adaptation was also a firm favourite,not to mention my absolute obsession with Hocus Pocus (an obsession I still carry to this very day.)
However it wasn’t until I discovered a certain boy wizard who lived, that my love of witches and magic skyrocketed to untold heights.
Now, as an adult I’m an unrepentant and proud witchy book fanatic and here to share with you 16 of the best, most bewitching books about witches—all with the Artfully Bookish seal of approval.
Serpent&Dove
Serpent&Dove by Shelby Mahurin is the first in a YA Fantasy trilogy about witches, witch hunters, and an utterly compelling forbidden love.It’s magical and dazzlingly action packed with a smouldering romance you won’t want to put down.
Summary
A Witch and A Witch Hunter bound in holy matrimony.
There was only one way such a story could end—
A Stake and a match.
Lou Le Blanc fled her coven two years ago and took shelter within the city of Cesarine, having to give up her magic and stealing to get by.
Reid Diggory, a witch Hunter raised by the church lives by one principle:Thou shall not suffer a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt the pair are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.
Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, must make a choice. And love makes fools of us all…
The entire series is complete as of July 2021with both Blood&Honey (book 2) and Gods&Monsters (book 3) already published so there won’t be a dreaded wait for any sequels
Kingdom of The Wicked
Kingdom of The Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco is darkly immersive and intoxicatingly addictive with deliciously lush and detailed world building (the food descriptions will definitely make you hungry)—full of vengeful witches and sinfully alluring demons, it’s an absolute must read for witchy book lovers.
Summary
“There are seven demon princes, but only four di Carlos should fear: Wrath, Greed, Envy, and Pride. One will crave your blood. One will capture your heart. One will steal your soul. And one will take your life.”
Emilia and her twin Victoria are streghe (witches who live secretly among humans to avoid persecution.) When Vittoria misses dinner at her families’ restaurant (something she never does) Emilia decides to search for her. And finds her twins’ body, desecrated beyond belief.
Devastated and seeking retribution, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and plans to pay even the steepest cost, even if the price of her vengeance is using dark magic that’s long been forbidden.
Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-Princes of Hell she been warned to avoid since she was a child. Wrath claims to be one the same side as Emilia, tasked to solve the gruesome murders, but when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems…
Book 2, Kingdom of The Cursed is out now
Two sisters. One Brutal Murder and a quest for vengeance that will unleash hell itself…
The Once and Future Witches
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow is a deeply moving and absolutely empowering fantasy, weaving history and magic into an alternate world full of vivid descriptions and deeply compelling characters. With suffragist witches and reimagined folktales and a fight at New Salem’s ballot box—this feminist Historical Fantasy is not to be missed.
Summary
Set in 1893, The Once and Future Witches follows three witches, the Eastwood sisters:Beatrice Belladonna, Agnes Amaranth and James Juniper. After years of separation, the sisters are finally reunited in the city of New Salem- where they join the suffragists, learning the forgotten words and ways to turn the women’s movement into the witches movement. But with sinister shadows stalking them, a nefarious illness sweeping the city and being hunted by forces who won’t suffer a witch to vote—or live; they’ll need to delve into the oldest magics, form new alliances and heal their sisterly bond if they want to survive. “There's still no such thing as witches. But there will be.”
Circe
Circe by Madeline Miller is a book I feel pretty much everyone has at least heard of, even if you haven’t read it yet. It’s is a female centric retelling of The Odyssey from the perspective of the infamous sorceress. From her sheltered childhood to her exile by the gods, I found Circe a formidably thought provoking tale of power, mortality and fate.
Summary
In the house of Helios, a daughter is born. But, Circe is considered a strange child. Not powerful like her father nor as beautiful as her mother. It’s not until she turns to the mortal world for companionship that she realises her true power—the power of witchcraft.
Able to transform rivals into monsters and threaten the power of the Gods. Including Zeus, who banishes her to a deserted island where she homes her occult gifts, tames beasts and encounters some of the most famous figures in Greek mythology.
But there’s danger as a woman alone, Circe finds out, in drawing the wrath of both gods and men. But to protect what she loves most Circe must summon all her strength and decide where she truly belongs—with the gods she descends from or the mortals she has come to love.
This Poison Heart
This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron is a magically captivating and empowering coming of age tale with a twist.The atmospheric setting and Poison Ivy-esque magical abilities are marvellous, so if your looking for a diverse and LGBTQ+ friendly, witchy read with an incredible premise and lots of Greek mythology sprinkled throughout—then you should definitely give this a read.
Summary
Briseis was born with a gift, she can grow plants with a single touch. They bloom in her presence and follow her wherever she goes. It’s a secret she and her adoptive mothers have always kept, helping her to learn about and control her gift at their flower shop in Brooklyn. But when Briseis inherits an old house with rambling gardens from her birth mother’s family, she finally has the space and privacy to test the limits of her powers. In bringing the house back to life, Briseis uncovers a trove of secrets and an ancient legacy of goddesses, witchcraft and a secret (poison) garden. Her ancestors won’t rest until she finally accepts her gifts and her place as the keeper of the terrible power contained at the heart of the Poison Garden.
Hexed
Hexed by Julia Tuffs is wonderfully witty and fabulously feisty with one liners and sarcastic quips to make you laugh out loud. It’s a fun, feminist and fantastically magical—if you love YA then you should absolutely read this one!
Summary
Jessie Jones has just discovered she’s a witch. Having been forced to move back to her mother’s hometown, start a new school and a whole new life—she never once imagined that she could possibly be a witch. All she wants to do is stay invisible and unnoticed by the rest of the school. But when her powers manifest with crippling period pains during a maths lesson seated next to the schools most popular bully, she realises staying invisible is going to be highly unlikely.
The Ex Hex
The Ex Hex by Erin Stirling was one of my favourite witchy rom-coms I’ve read this year—it’s very Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls. This was previously mentioned in my Spooky Books Roundup which you can check out here.
Summary
You broke my heart, Rhys Penhallow. And we curse you. You and your whole stupid, hot line.’
Vivi Jones handled the biggest breakup of her life the way any girl would—Vodka, a bubble bath and putting a curse on her ex.
Nine years later, Rhys Penhallow, descendant of the towns’ founders (and Vivi’s ex) is back! He’s returned Graves Glen to recharge the ley lines and make an appearance at the annual founders festival. But when his every move results in calamity, Vivi realises hexing him might not have been so harmless after all...
As the curse starts to affect the town, with murderous windup toys, an outraged ghost and surprisingly talkative cat. Vivi and Rhys must put their personal feelings aside to work together to break the curse to save not only the town—but also Rhys’ life.
Witches Steeped In Gold
Witches Steeped In Gold by Ciannon Smart is a YA fantasy about two rival witches on a journey to destroy the powerful ruler who threatens both of their worlds. I’ve yet to read this one but it sounds absolutely incredible (it’s described as Killing Eve meets Furyborn and Ember In The Ashes) and is definitely one of the books I’m dying to read.
Summary
Divided by their order. United by their vengeance. Iraya has spent her life in a cell, but every day brings her closer to freedom - and vengeance. Jazmyne is the Queen’s daughter, but unlike her sister before her, she has no intention of dying to strengthen her mother’s power. Sworn enemies, these two witches enter a precarious alliance to take down a mutual threat. But power is intoxicating, revenge is a bloody pursuit, and nothing is certain - except the lengths they will go to win this game.
Garden Spells
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen is heartwarmingly enchanting and utterly magical—if you love magical realism then you’re going to love this.) It follows the Waverley Women of Bascom, North Carolina, the house they’ve lived in for generations and the magically blooming garden and infamous apple tree (the eating of which as tell you your future.) A must read for lovers of witchy fiction.
Summary
Welcome to Bascom, North Carolina where everyone knows the Waverley women, the house they’ve owned for generations and the magic in their garden—with a year round blooming garden and a prophetic fruit baring tree. As well as the rumours to dangerous loves and tragic passions… for every Waverley woman is touched by magic.
Claire has always clung to her Waverley roots’, tending to the garden from which she makes her sought after recipes-both famed and feared for their magical effects.she has everything she’s ever wanted, until a stranger moves next door, a vine of ivy has crept it’s way onto her garden and her wayward sister makes a sudden reappearance.
Now Claire’s carefully cultivated life is about to get gloriously out of control…
The Near Witch
The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab was V.E. Schwab’s debut novel and I completely fell in love with her writing which is really atmospheric here, with a bit of a haunted fairytale vibe. The perfect witchy book for anyone who loves Schwab’s work (and it’s interesting to compare the writing to her more recently published books.)
Summary
The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen.
The wind is lonely,and always looking for company.
And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
These are the truths Lexi’s heard all her life, but when a boy (a stranger) who can fade like smoke appears outside her home—she knows at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
Then, the children of Near start to disappear from their beds and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. He insists on helping her find them and something tells Lexi to trust him. As the hunt intensifies so does Lexi’s curiosity about the witch, for it just might be more than just a story…
Here’s a few more witchy books to add to your October/ Autumn TBRs :
Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury -A dark urban fantasy about a teen who must complete a pretty horrific task: she must sacrifice her first love to save her families’ magic. The only problem is she never been in love, so first she’ll have to find him…before she can kill him.
Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood (out October 19th in the US and November 23rd in the UK) -It’s described as a gothic fairytale and compared to both Mexican Gothic and Jane Eyre. And Follows Andromeda who is a Debtera (an exorcist) or nearly one, as she was thrown out by her mentor before gaining her licence and immediately takes a job from the young heir Magnus Rochester (despite his rude and eccentric behaviour.)
The contract is full of outlandish rules and nearly a dozen Debtera have quit before her—but needing to earn a living she has no choice. Andromeda quickly realises this is a job like none she’s ever seen, with horrifying manifestations and Magnus hiding more than she’s been trained for. You’d think she’d just leave but-heaven help her-she’s fallen for Magnus and cannot leave him to his curse…
The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin-In a world where witches control the climate and are losing control as the weather becomes more erratic, a once-in-a-generation witch (with the ability to control all seasons) is the only one who can save the earth from destruction. But when her power grows, it targets and kills those closest to her and when she falls for her training partner, she’ll have to make a difficult decision—to choose between her power, her love, or saving the world. .
The Ravens by Danielle Page and Kass Morgan-A dark contemporary fantasy series about a prestigious sorority of witches and two girls who get caught up in the sinister magic and betrayals. It’s described as being a witchy version of Scream Queens (which was a guilty pleasure show for me) so this sounds really interesting.
Book 2, The Monarchs is out January 2022
The Lighthouse Witches by C. J. Cooke- Is a chilling, gothic thriller set in Scotland with a mystery that surrounds a lighthouse and the rumours of witchcraft and disappearances connected to it in this small town community. Following Liv Stay who flees the island with her daughter, Luna after her other children mysteriously vanish. Twenty years later Luna returns, after receiving a call that one of her sisters has been found alive. And yet, she hasn’t aged…
Cackle by Rachel Harrison- Another anticipated read for me, Cackle is a witch-lit contemporary about a teacher moving from New York City to small town, Rowan after a breakup with her long term boyfriend—and unknowingly befriends a witch who really doesn’t take rejection well.
I hope this helps you find something deliciously witchy and magical to read this autumn.