From appearances, this book seems to have all the ingredients for a compelling read. I really loved the concept presented by the synopsis, but sadly I didn’t love the execution as much as I was expecting too. I found it very much a slow burner, which seemed to drag over more pages than it needed to. The main storyline I felt was weak and a little disjointed. And there is (in my opinion) an over use of a certain curse word, that is not needed.
On the positive side, I did love the three Eastwood sisters as characters; each very individual. I enjoyed seeing the relationship between them develop and change as the book progressed. Other interesting characters were introduced throughout and I liked the way they each enhanced the sister’s individual stories.
Enjoyable, but not a must read for me. Sadly didn’t meet my expectations.

This was such a fab read! This is a very well written beautiful feminist story about sisterhood and female empowerment. It is a fairly slow paced character driven story with great character development and brilliant world building, I liked how Harrow interlinked “new Salem” and “old Salem” and the historical elements of the witch trials and the suffragette movement.

This is a really brilliant standalone with a satisfying conclusion, I highly recommend it.

I was very excited to receive this book as anything about witches is a big YES from me!

Set in 1893, there is no longer such thing as witches as there use to be - because of this women have been made smaller by powerful men. If a woman wants any form of power the answer lies in politics. The three estranged East wood sisters set about changing the women’s movement into the witches movement.

This is a very character driven, feminist toned, fantasy novel. It is very ambitious, looping historical elements of the suffragette movement and Salem witch trials (among other historical moments) with fairy tales. The writing is beautiful and ultimately the plot is very unique.

I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys fantasy, but also someone who wants to read about denial empowerment from a quirky and unusual perspective.

If you enjoyed Harrow's The Ten Thousand Doors of January, then no doubt you will adore The Once and Future Witches. There are a lot of similarities between the two works - both are beautifully written, both feature tough heroines, both pay deference to stories and storytelling, both are diverse, and both put their characters through the wringer. For me though, The Once and Future Witches does all of this more successfully than in The Ten Thousand Doors.

Once upon a time there were three sisters who happened to be witches - Beatrice Belladonna, Agnes Amaranth, and James Juniper. As girls the three were close as comfort, but their relationships were splintered and the sisters separated. The Once and Future Witches opens with the sisters finding one another again as magic that hasn't been seen for years is suddenly loosed in New Salem. What follows is a tense, infuriating, emotional adventure as the sisters battle the patriarchy of an alternate history 1893 while trying to mend their broken bonds. In this world, like ours, women are campaigning for the vote, and like in ours again, the going is worse than tough. But the women of Harrow's alternate history have something to fall back on - the ways, the words, and the will to use magic. Of course, this also ensures that men fear and hate them, and a slimy politician seems especially bent on stomping out every last trace of witchcraft.

Harrow's lyrical, flow-like-water writing style is at the forefront of this story once again, and her prose truly sings off the page. I felt like her style suited this book beautifully, with her mesmerising turns of phrase perfectly matching the fairytale-like themes of the novel.

I also much preferred the characters in this book. The sisters feel much more rounded than January and her friends, and I was really rooting for them from the beginning. Agnes especially was such an interesting and engaging character, and her arc was incredibly rewarding and very well written.

The story itself is reasonably slow paced, especially in the first half. I felt that this book could have had 100 pages cut without too much trouble, but overall Harrow crafts a satisfying and exciting story. There were whole sections that were incredibly tense and had me gasping, turning the pages well into the night because I just didn't want to leave the characters in their truly desperate situations. Harrow does a brilliant job of upping the ante continually through the book - at about the halfway point I felt as though the story could end comfortably, but Harrow might as well have materialised to me saying "you ain't seen nothing yet, kid", because...well, it turned out that these poor sisters had a lot more to bear.

I have to admit that while I am convinced that the characterisations and plotting are an improvement over The Ten Thousand Doors, I also just liked this book more because it's my ~aesthetic~. I love witchiness, I love feminism, I love fairytales and paganism and the concept of familiars and lost magic. So thank you Alix E Harrow, for writing a story that feels like it was written for me.

I did like this and what it did but there was just something missing from this for me. I liked the trio of the sisters and how they were written. The writing was done well and the world building was good and there were lots of small details added. The thing that didn't work for me was that at times the plot didn't work and the details being discussed conflicted a bit with what happened earlier or things weren't explained if and the vagueness didn't add anything to the story.

And The Once and Future Witches does NOT disappoint. I now understand why everyone is raving about it! I don’t think I’ve read a negative review as of yet.

WORDY. Words. WORDY.

Alix E. Harrow is a wordy author. And I LOVED it. I love wordy, meandering and descriptive prose that makes my inner aspiring author jealous of how beautifully she’s managed to describe the details. Her writing was beautiful.

After reading The Once and Future Witches I am now the proud owner of Alix E. Harrow’s first book and I will be making every effort to pick it up soon. I ADORE when an author immediately makes you want to buy and read ALL of their back catalogue, don’t you!?!?

The only small (tiny) criticism I had was it took me a good few chapters before I got to grips with the story and characters – I wasn’t invested straight away. But when the book grabbed my attention it GRABBED it! Just stick with it.

I don’t want to say too much about the story but it was a rather inspiring tale of family dynamics, magic and it was surprisingly thought-provoking. A GREAT, great read.

Have you read The Once and Future Witches? Do you want too?

I received a copy of the book for review, which was all arranged by the blog tour organiser – Thank you!

This book took me a while to get into, and it took me a few attempts to properly start as it starts a bit slow, and I was having trouble connecting (though I recognize that this could be a "me" issue not a book issue!), but once I got into it, I was spellbound.
There are some brilliant characters, poignant topics that will resonate with readers, an intriguing world and brilliantly written magic all explored in a slightly dreamy writing style which I really enjoyed. Harrow's captivating writing was the main reason I stuck with this book, and I am so glad I did! I will definitely be re-reading this book to get the full experience again.
I would advise anyone who isn't sure about it to persevere as this book is wonderful and well worth a read!

This book was everything I needed it to be. I started it in October 2020 for a great halloween read, and then got sidetracked and picked it back up again. I had originally intended to read it for review purposes before publication, but life got in the way.

Never fear, the review is here!

This is about three sisters whose powers draw them back together in the city of Salem in the 1890's. Each character is loveable and relatable.

Juniper is wild, ferocious, and passionate. She brings an untamed energy to the sisters, and a perseverance that is honourable. Agnes is the mother figure, but not in the nurturing way. She's full of hot fiery passion and a fierce protectiveness. Bella is a librarian (I can relate!) and brings the calm rationale needed to balance the sisters . I connected to each sister in some way, which made me really feel for the decisions they make; the kind of decisions that can make or break them.

The book is about bringing magic back to the city of Salem through the Lost Way of Avalon. With magic, the women of Salem can be empowered. It's set during the Suffragette movement which features quite heavily in the first half of the book. Women find power in each other, they share stories from their mothers, and together, find the the words, the wills, and the ways to bring magic back.

This story mirrors a fairy tale in many ways. Each chapter has a beautifully written heading of the lost words; stories, poems, songs taught to each generation that keeps magic alive. They're based on well known nursery rhymes and fairy tales. It also has a narrative of an ageless 'big bad', which doesn't feature for a huge amount of the book, but the pacing was perfect to really connect with the struggles the women go through.

I highly recommend this. I'm a massive fan of witch literature and this really did poetic justice to the women of Salem. The story is told in a lyrical way that has an elegance I haven't read in a long time.

I’ll admit that I didn’t warm to this book when I started it. There was just constant action, the pacing was too fast at times and I found the descriptions overwhelming. An assault to the senses. So I paused at the halfway point and got on with my own new novel (I find it hard to read fiction when I’m drafting) and just picked it up again now as I hate leaving books unfinished at the end of the year. When I came back to this book? WOWWWW. I don’t know why I couldn’t tune into it before, but it took a week to read the first half, and about three hours to read the second. Just stunning, and the world building a god-damned (goddess damned?!) delight. So rich, so lush. I would still like more moments to breathe, as at times I feel like the plot moves too quickly without giving you a chance to enjoy the surroundings, but that’s purely because the author builds a world I so desperately would like to live in. I can’t wait to see what the author does next!

Anything to do with witches, I’m hooked.

Highly recommend to everyone who loves world building, characters well defined and an overall great story.

Three sisters who discover they are witches is quite a familiar trope, what I liked about this one was how it recognised this and actually wove it into the story.

The Once and Future Witches is set in a world which has many parallels to our own. In the past, women have been hunted and burnt for being witches while now in 1893 they attempt to fight for women’s suffrage. The difference being that in this world there’s no doubting that magic once existed. There is evidence of this with many women continuing to practise simple witchcraft in secret, what remains of witchcraft is hidden among nursery rhymes and fairy stories that are passed down through the generations. Three sisters take it upon themselves to restore magic and witchcraft to what it once was, hoping to give women their power back.

When we are introduced to each of the three sisters we are told they each have a defining characteristics, one is wise, one is brave and one is wild. So far, exactly what you’d expect from a fairytale! But as the book progresses, they’re characters develop greater depth and their true personalities are much more complex. Harrow ensures each sister has the space to grow and develop.

The one character I felt could have done with more development was the villain. At times, he feels very cartoonish and never seemed to present much of a threat until right at the end. At first I thought this might have been to illustrate that even the most ordinary of men can be a threat to women but after learning his backstory I was left feeling there was so much more to him that could of been explored!

I also found it quite frustrating that on more than one occasion the villain inadvertently revealed an element essential to the plot, leading the sisters in the right direction. Another common trope but one that felt out of place in a story which otherwise champions women’s ingenuity and is well written.

The plot can be a little slow at times and I do feel the book could be a bit shorter but I did enjoy the build and how the story developed. While there are plenty of familiar elements from fairytales and nursery rhymes, it still manages to feel very modern and fresh.

I absolutely adored Once and Future Witches. Having never read anything by Harrow, I was blind going in but the premise was very much up my alley. It was a slow build for me as I got to know characters, but as soon as I was about halfway through, I was deeply in love with the world, the story and everyone within. This was a highlight of my reads this year and I regret not having the spoons to write a full review. Sometimes I find the books I love the most the hardest to write about.

There were so many times while reading Once and Future Witches that I had to sit back, re calibrate and remind myself that I didn't live in the book. Harrow's writing has the superpower to reach into dreamy wistful hearts and lure them into the world she has created. It is a wonderful spell she has cast. As soon as I had finished, by heart gave a big sigh and I wished to start reading it again.

Highly recommended for fans of Erin Morgenstern, Jasper Fforde, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Emily Tesh, The Shadow of the Wind, Trouble the Saints, The Midnight Library

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for the reading copy.

I was so excited to read this after loving The Ten Thousand Doors of January last year… or was it earlier this year? It’s all blending together! Happily, I got approved for an ARC, though I would likely have gotten a copy of this – just look at that stunning cover!

I loved this story – it shows off the lyrical and distinct writing style I enjoyed so much in her first novel, and mixes a rich history of magic and witches with the more ‘modern’ suffragette movement. The overlap between the protest for the right to vote for women, and their struggle to regain the lost magics and spells of their grandmothers and great-grandmothers is woven together in a very engaging way. The three sisters have very different views of the world, despite having grown up under the same suppressive thumb, and it’s so interesting to see how they all developed ways of dealing with that history, and their relationships with each other.

The magic, with its spells hidden in plain view, passed along from mother to daughter in the way of lullabies and nursery rhymes, just oozes an almost quaint and homely atmosphere, even in the face of oppression. I think everyone has the uncontrollable urge to punch every single male character in this – with only a few exceptions. It’s just so frustrating to hear the rhetoric that was so prevalent at the time, and the addition of magic – and the idea that women are too emotional to use it safely and not in spite – fits into that debate perfectly. There’s also quite of bit of attention given to different heritages and cultures and their own ways of passing along their magical history, which I would love to read more about.

All in all a highly enjoyable story, and I’ll most likely be adding this to my shelves physically soon! Can’t wait to see what Alix E. Harrow writes next!

Set against the historical suffragette movement, this book is a clever and refreshing re-imagining of a turning point in history. Set in 1893, the Eastwood sisters meet once again, and are determined to fight for women rights. When they realise that this fight will not guarantee women the power they seek, they turn to their family's tradition of witchcraft, where grandmothers passed their knowledge down from generation to generation by hiding it in plain sight in lullabies and stories. I really love witches. They have always fascinated me, especially because historically they have been a symptom of the toxicity of patriarchy, and a scapegoat for male fear. And although the premise is amazing, I unfortunately struggle a bit with flowery writing and purple prose. However, this is one of those instances where it doesn't hinder my enjoyment of the book too much. It's just that, as a personal preference, I prefer a more straightforward prose. But the idea behind this book is great, and I will definitely recommend it to my students.

I absolutely loved this book! Set in 1893, ” The Once and Future Witches” is a story of three sisters, witching and fight for survival. After years of estrangement, the Eastwood sisters meet again in New Salem, where the youngest one joins the suffragettes to fight for women rights. But soon it becomes obvious that voting rights will not give them power, and sisters turn to the ancient, forgotten ways of witchcraft – ways taught by grandmothers and mothers, hidden in lullabies and nursery rhymes, hidden in plain sight from those who wish them harm. Witches have many enemies, people who would see them burning on stakes, like in olden days – but perhaps there are enough desperate women who are willing to take the risk and ignite the spark that might just set the world on fire. “The Once and Future Witches” is a magical tale of fight for women rights – steeped in folklore and reimagined tales of witches and brave heroines. It is funny, eloquent, full of suspense and cliff hangers – maybe a bit too long, but altogether amazing book, full of strong heroines, legends and magic. A real delight and powerful tale.

I'm a sucker for witches so as soon as i heard about this book, i wanted to read it so thank you very much to Netgalley and to Little, Brown Book Group UK for allowing me to read this.

The Once and Future Witches features Harrow's signature effortlessly atmospheric writing and kept me gripped throughout. This is a charming read and i would recommend to all!

I have to admit, I am not a big fan of witches. But when I saw this gorgeous cover and the name Alix E. Harrow printed on it, I knew I had to make an exception. I am a huge lover of Alix's writing. Since I read her Hugo award winner short story "A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies" and the wonderful "The Ten Thousand Doors of January", I knew I was going to read, and thought I was going to love anything she wrote. I am therefore sad to say that I didn't enjoy this book.

My first thoughts were "Alix is definitely a witch! Of the best kind. The kind that makes me want to sit and lose my self in her beautiful, seamless, effortless writing and her creative stories woven within the main story." The clever turns of phrases and the lovely parallels and images sucked me in and the 3 estranged sisters intrigued me right away.

However, the multitude of snide comments against religion and whole categories of women that didn't match the main characters' views clashed painfully with my beliefs and made me incredibly uncomfortable. The book's tone and message were undeniably feminist but I felt it was a very exclusive kind of feminism. Not all religious or merely practicing women are evil and dogmatic and narrow minded. Not all women have to be wild or liberated to be of value. And no, not all men are evil. The world is big enough for everyone as long as one lives and lets live.

Despite my interest in the suffragists' endeavors and the three sisters' quest and barely unveiled pasts, the heavy handed repetition of the above mentioned messages was too awkward to keep me fully invested.
DNFed at around 35%

I am not leaving a rating or a review anywhere other than here on Netgalley. I usually review only finished books.


Many thanks to Orbit for the opportunity to review this book.

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2020/12/08/the-once-and-future-witches-by-alix-e-harrow/
My Five Word TL:DR Review : More than meets the eye

On the face of it TOaFW is a tale of three sisters reuniting and creating magic during a turbulent period when such activity was forbidden. However, at the same time its a story that is so much more than the sum of its parts. It’s a tale of strife but also a tale of hope, of women remembering the power of words and the power of unity and using both these things as a catalyst for change.

Future Witches is an alternate history, set in America during the 1800s. The industrial revolution has made its appearance and factories and industry are booming (for some), meanwhile, work and living conditions, particularly for women and children, are dire indeed. This is a period of women’s suffrage, when women began to realise that they needed a vote to make their voices heard and this quest for emancipation led them to discover their own inner strength.

I won’t over elaborate on the plot as there are already numerous excellent reviews that do so. Briefly, Future Witches is about three sisters, literally and figuratively, finding themselves again and during the process inspiring other women to stand up for their rights. Of course, there is much more to it than that but I’m aiming for ‘short and snappy’ here.

What worked really well for me in particular.

The writing. Harrow has a fantastic way with words. She is indeed a master storyteller but more than the lovely words, strung together in a fashion that is mesmerising in itself, is her innate ability to conjure a place so strongly and populate it with such incredibly distinct characters. The three sisters could easily become blurred and yet they have clear voices and personalities and a sad tale that will eventually unfold as the story progresses.

There’s also a charm about this that belies the violence of the times and this is built upon by the witchcraft used here. Basically, witching never went away, instead it has been passed down through the generations in the most subtle way using rhymes and songs. I couldn’t help but be put in mind of Norrell and Strange to a certain extent, I think simply in terms of the magic and the way that belief strongly plays into the ability to wield it. For me, the magic in the story is a symbol that represents something else – power, maybe, or ‘rights’, the right to be equal and have some measure of control, the right to decide what happens to you.

The tension really builds and the grande finale is the unlikeliest combination of horrifying, bittersweet and yet strangely satisfying all rolled together.

In terms of criticisms. Not really a criticism so much as an observation. This is a story that requires time and patience. It’s not really a story that you can race through and in fact the early chapters are quite slow paced but the payoff is worth every moment and in fact I would recommend that you savour the words. I would also mention that although this book is very much about women standing together that’s not to say that along the way they didn’t have help from some very good men. Just thought I’d chuck that in for good measure.

Any misgivings or worries that I may have harboured when picking this up, purely because the author’s debut was such a resounding success and surely difficult to top, have been firmly laid to rest.

I highly recommend this one and look forward to seeing what journey this author will take us on next.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

This was the perfect book for me, mixing historical fiction with magical elements and written in the most glorious prose! It tells the story of the Eastwood sisters who are hoping to help the suffrage movement in New Salem by finding the Lost Way of Avalon and returning magic to the world. I loved the Eastwood sisters, each of which was beautifully drawn and unique with totally authentic motivations and behaviours. The way they responded to situations and each other always felt completely true to their character and I loved the complex relationship between them. I thought the setting was fantastic, with enough historical details to feel firmly placed in our own world, but with delightful little hints that make sure we know things are a bit different here - such as the fairy tales written by the Sisters Grimm, to name but one. The way in which Alix E. Harrow slowly slowly dropped magic into the narrative was absolutely masterful and the pacing of the plot was spot on for me. This is definitely a contender for my favourite book of the year and I can't wait to see what Harrow comes up with next.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.