This book is all about sisterhood.
It is written so so well. The storytelling is so immersive and the world building captivated me.
A fantastic book

I absolutely adore this book and have read it a couple of times after being approved for it on NetGalley back in 2020, and enjoyed it just as much the second time around in 2022.

I love the narrator's tone of voice.
I love the characters. The sisters are each really unique and interesting personalities. I loved seeing their journeys throughout the book.
I love the worldbuilding and the magic system.
I love the relationships between the three sisters. The way that they know each other intimately and love each other deeply, but also at times hate each other and know how to hurt each other the most.
I love the audiobook narrator - she really brings this to life.
I love the feminist elements.

If you love books about magic, this is a must-read. I can't recommend it enough and I am only annoyed at myself for not writing a review of this sooner

When it comes to Alix E. Harrow, beautiful and lyrical writing it what I expect. For me, this worked very well in the short stories she's written that I have read and loved. I was concerned how well I'd gel with this style when we're considering a full length novel. Unfortunately for me at this time, this book was a DNF. It was too slow for me to engage with, and some discussion of controversy caused me to pause my reading.

If I read this book in full at a later date, I will update this review.

This was one of my most highly anticipated releases after I finished and loved The Ten Thousand Doors of January. I love the author's writing style, and her descriptions kept me interested. It was an overall very magical read and I will always keep an eye out for new books from the author.

☆☆☆☆

The Once and Future Witches was a great book. It follows the sisters Eastwood and then trying to bring back Witchcraft. I really enjoyed watching the sisters grow and develop throughout the book and also mend their relationship along the way too. I also really liked the side characters too from Miss Cleo Quinn to August Lee to the Last Three and the other characters we met along the way. I also thought the villain and his story was well done.
Another part I really enjoyed about the books was the occasional tales in the story and the spells at the beginning of the chapters like it was a cool addition to the book and done well.
One of my only issues with the book was that I felt like it was a little slow at times, like I wanted things to happen faster or to get to certain points long before we did but that may be due to the fact that it took me a while to get through the book (as I was reading multiple books at the same time). Other than that I really, really liked the book and will probably pick up more Alix E. Harrow books in the future.

Historical fantasy featuring witchery and women's rights. Although it didn't quite meet my expectations and took me a while to read, I did enjoy it, I just found it slow at times and I didn't always care about the characters as much as I felt I should have.

(ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley)

4.5 stars
This was such a powerful novel. I loved the relationship of the sisters and the different approaches to life they chose. The writing style was perfect for the setting, I felt myself transported into the story.
Highly recommend!

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow is a spellbinding must-read novel. Set in 1893, Harrow masterfully depicts a world without witches. Through their pursuit of forgotten magic and knowledge, three Eastwood sisters join the suffragists of New Salem, reigniting the idea of the witch's movement. In a world of shadowy pursuers, illness and malevolence, these sisters must embrace the ancient magics, make unlikely allies, and nurture the bond between them if they hope to survive and bring the power of witches back. Harrow weaves a stunning story of family and friendship, oppression and empowerment, and self-discovery that captivates from start to finish. For readers of all kinds, The Once and Future Witches is an enchanting and unmissable book.

Really slow to start, unfortunately - I ended up slogging for a while but my interest not being piqued, in contrast to Harrow's earlier novel, which I quite enjoyed. Might pick it up again at a later time, but going into my unfinished pile for now, unfortunately.

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow is a captivating novel set in a late-nineteenth-century America. This book is an intriguing mash-up of fantasy, historical fiction, and social commentary. It follows the reunion of three estranged sisters, Beatrice, Agnes, and Juniper, after seven years apart. Together, they set out on a quest to restore the world's forbidden magic. The novel is a story about female solidarity, strength, and resilience.

Harrow's writing is beautiful and lyrical, with vivid and detailed descriptions of the world and characters. She deftly combines elements of folklore, mythology, and history. Her characters are complex and multifaceted, and I felt a strong connection to them. Each of the sisters is distinct, with her own backstory and motivations. Their interactions with one another and with the other characters in the novel are complex and believable.

The plot of The Once and Future Witches is intricate and satisfying. It's a story about secrets and revelations, as well as the growth and evolution of characters. It's a story about finding strength in unexpected places and standing up for what's right. It's a story about female empowerment, reclaiming what was taken from you, and fighting for a better future.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the EARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to reading this book as so many people raved about it but I was very disappointed. I struggled the whole way through even putting it down for a few weeks and coming back to it but could just not get into it.

Although the story of the relationships between the three sisters is great for me it was not enough to make me like it any more. I know most people loved this book which is why I was so looking forward to reading it but unfortunately I found that it dragged on and it did not hold my attention.

"I am terrified, and I am terrible. I am fearful and I am something to be feared.

What an exceptional novel filled with rage, sisterhood, grief, fear, courage, and love. I adored every word. A word of warning, this is slow; it's like meandering through a dark forest, where the beaten path twists and turns, its stopping to smell the flowers, its perhaps going a little wayward before finding the trail again. Its focus is on the characters and their journeys, but the plot does not suffer-- it is lush, magical, captivating...

It follows three sisters, all scarred, angry, and riddled with grief. All were lost until they were found. I adore books about sisters, and I adore their connection, their love, and their undying devotion. At the root of this novel is family, but not just blood, it's also found, and it's shared.

"She thought survival was a selfish thing, a circle drawn tight around your heart. She thought the more people you let inside that circle the more ways the world had to hurt you, the more ways you could fail them and be failed in turn. But what if it's the opposite, and there are more people to catch you when you fall? What if there's an invisible tipping point somewhere along the way when one becomes three becomes infinite, when there are so many of you inside that circle that you become hydra-headed, invincible?"

If you're a fan of sisters and witches, and books that don't shy away from the visceral anger of just being a woman in the world, THE ONCE AND FUTURE WITCHES is the book for you.

I did overall enjoy the story but the pacing was off slightly and it was quite slow.

However the story itself was very detailed with excellent world building and well thought out characters.

Great read - so easy and engaging, I was thoroughly engrossed throughout, with the three distinct characters of the sisters being easy to follow and empathise with. It has a strong sense of place and moves along at a great pace, being really plot focused. The magical realism is well pitched, it's not too out there and feels close to a Sarah J Maas read. This is the first Alix Harrow I have read but this has definitely piqued my interest so I will be hunting down more!

LOOOOOOOOVED this one. A rich, textured story with plenty for a reader to teethe on, and a great main character arc.

Unfortunately I just didn't get on with The Once and Future Witches which is such a shame as I was really looking forward to it! I will keep returning to it just in case as I think there is real promise in the storyline, but for now this just isn't for me.

Unfortunately, I have realised that this book isn't for me. I didn't want to wrote a negative review as it's just my tastes and there's nothing inherently wrong with the book but I need to share a review to upkeep my ratio

I loved this book so much, although I did know I'd love it going into it just by the synopsis. This story of sisterhood and families in much need of work. This was also my first experience reading Alix E Harrow and I must admit I really enjoyed the style, her way with words and world she created.

this was such a powerful story. it has many elements of sisterhood and it’s very emotional and impactful and i dont even have any sisters. the words used snd the writing, so beautiful it hits you right in the chest and created the perfect story. i absolutely loved this. it was unique and thats saying something, considering i have read countless stories about witches, it was also slow at times but it suits the story. i also loved all the ‘salem kind of witches’ elements, they felt true to todays wicca which i preferred rather than sparkly magic. i am sorry i slept on this book for so long because it was magnificent!

This book is exactly what I look for in a witchy setting/vibe the three sisters and witches in the story all had strong character development. There has been a lot of fantasy books recently with the theme of witches and its a theme I'm never bored of, however this is different in its approach, the author has created an extremely interesting alternative history. Please pick it up!