The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

Summary

Magic and power used to belong to women until men burned the old Salem and all of the witches with it. Now, a woman’s place is in her home, beside her husband. She is not able to vote or have power. 

Witching is now passed from mother to daughter in secret words and whispers hidden in nursery rhymes. Tired of not being able to vote or use magic, women begin to rise and use witching to gain some power in the world. 

Thoughts

I LOVED THIS BOOK! 

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow has a little bit of everything: women’s suffrage, prejudice, sexual orientation, and many other topics that are relevant today. It was refreshing to read a book that has so many different people who are repressed, and how they rise against the chains that have been thrust upon them. 

The point of view switches between Juniper, Agnes, and Bella, sisters who learned witching from their grandmother Mags. 

Juniper, the youngest, is the wild one out of the sisters. She stands up for what she believes in no matter the consequences. Her snarky attitude and loyalty to those she cares about made me laugh many times throughout the book.

Agnes, the middle sister, is the strong one in the group. She is the glue that holds the sisters together in times of trouble. If you mess with someone she loves, she will do anything to save them.

Bella, the oldest is the wisest of the three. She is the voice of reason to Juniper’s wildness. 

Favorite Quotes

“Home is the place that beats like a second heart”

“A Girl is such an easy thing to break: weak and fragile, all alone, all yours. But they aren’t girls anymore, and they don’t belong to anyone. And they aren’t alone.”

“Together they dared to dream of a better world, where women weren’t broken and sisters weren’t sundered and rage wasn’t swallowed, over and over again”

Rating

5/5 Stars

This book review is of my own opinion. I hope you enjoy it!