Staff Picks
Books to Add to Your Witch List
- Morgan R.
- Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Collection
Witchy vibes? Check. Sweater weather? Check. Mug of something hot to drink? Check. If hexes, curses, and cackling laughs are your thing, try one of these reads that is sure to cast a spell on you.
Witch Please
Published in 2021
"Danica Waterhouse is a fully modern witch. After a messy breakup, she makes a pact with her cousin: they'll keep their hearts protected and have fun, without involving the overly opinionated Waterhouse matriarchs. No need to add criticism on top of heartache! Titus Winnaker has family trouble of his own. After a tragic loss, all he's got is his sister, his bakery-Sugar Daddy's-and a romantic curse that's left him doomed to be alone. Until he meets Danica. The sparks are instant, their attraction irresistible. For him, she's the one. To her, he's forbidden fruit. Can a modern witch find love with an old-fashioned mundane who refuses to settle for anything less than forever?"-- Publisher's description.
Not the Witch You Wed
Published in 2022
"A fake relationship between a magic-less witch and a wolf shifter turns to more in the start of a bewitching new paranormal rom-com series. Magic-less witch Violet Maxwell wants nothing to do with alpha wolf shifter Lincoln Thorne-the man who broke her fragile, teenage heart. But when the two of them are forced by arcane Supernatural Laws to find mates, Violet and Lincoln agree to fake-date their way to a fake-mating in order to conjure themselves some time. The joke's on them. When old feelings make a reappearance-along with Violet's magic-they both realize there's nothing fake about their feelings. But there are old secrets and looming threats that could snatch away their happily ever after, again. One thing's for sure: magic doesn't make dating and love any easier. In Not the Witch You Wed, April Asher brings all the hilarity and sweet, sexy moments you love in a romantic-comedy-plus a fun dose of magic-to this spell-binding new series about being sexy, single, and supernatural in New York City"-- Provided by publisher.
Wild Witchcraft
Folk Herbalism, Garden Magic, and Foraging for Spells, Rituals, and Remedies
Published in 2022
"Learn how to cultivate your own magical garden, harness the power of herbalism, and better connect with nature through practical and sustainable tips from an experienced Appalachian witch forager"-- Provided by publisher.
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina
A Novel
Published in 2021
"Perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman, Isabel Allende, and Sarah Addison Allen, this is a gorgeously written novel about a family searching for the truth hidden in their past and the power they've inherited, from the author of the acclaimed and "giddily exciting" (The New York Times Book Review) Brooklyn Brujas series"-- Provided by publisher.
Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens
The Divine Feminine in the African Religious Traditions
Published in 2020
An inspiring exploration of the goddesses of the West African spiritual traditions and their role in shaping Yoruba (Ifa), Santeria, Haitian Vodoun, and New Orleans Voodoo.⍾Throughout Africa and beyond in the diaspora caused by the slave trade, the divine feminine was revered in the forms of goddesses like the ancient Nana Buluku, water spirits like Yemaya, Oshun, and Mami Wata, and the warrior Oya. The power of these goddesses and spirit beings has taken root in the West. New Orleans, for example, is the home of Marie Laveau, who used her magical powers to become the "Voodoo Queen" of New Orleans.⍾Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens shows you how to celebrate and cultivate the traits of these goddesses, drawing upon their strengths to empower your own life. In addition to offering a guided tour of the key goddesses of the African religious traditions, the book offers magical spells, rituals, potions, astrological correspondences, sacred offerings, and much more to help guide you on your own transformational journey.
The Women Could Fly
A Novel
Published in 2022
"Reminiscent of the works of Margaret Atwood, Shirley Jackson, and Octavia Butler, a biting social commentary from the acclaimed author of Lakewood that speaks to our times--a piercing dystopian novel about the unbreakable bond between a young woman and her mysterious mother, set in a world in which witches are real and single women are closely monitored." -- from the publisher
The Witch's Heart
Published in 2021
"When a banished witch falls in love with the legendary trickster Loki, she risks the wrath of the gods in this fierce, subversive debut novel that reimagines Norse myth. Angrboda's story begins where most witch's tales end: with a burning. A punishment from Odin for refusing to give him knowledge of the future, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into the farthest reaches of a remote forest. There she is found by a man who reveals himself to be Loki, and her initial distrust of him grows reluctantly into a deep and abiding love. Their union produces three unusual children, each with a secret destiny, who she is keen to raise at the edge of the world, safely hidden from Odin's all-seeing eye. But as Angrboda slowly recovers her prophetic powers, she learns that her blissful life--and possibly all of existence--is in danger. Angrboda must choose whether she'll accept the fate that she's foreseen for her beloved family...or rise to remake their future. From the most ancient of tales, this novel forges a story of love, loss and hope for the modern age"-- Provided by publisher.
The Mercies
A Novel
Published in 2020
After a storm has killed off all the island's men, two women in a 1600s Norwegian coastal village struggle to survive against both natural forces and the men who have been sent to rid the community of alleged witchcraft.
From Bad to Cursed
Published in 2022
"Opposites attract in this wickedly charming rom-com by Lana Harper, New York Times bestselling author of Payback's a Witch. Wild child Isidora Avramov is a thrill chaser, adept demon summoner, and-despite the whole sexy-evil-sorceress vibe-also a cuddly animal lover. When she's not designing costumes and new storylines for the Arcane Emporium's haunted house, Issa's nursing a secret, conflicted dream of ditching her family's witchy business to become an indie fashion designer in her own right. But when someone starts sabotaging the celebrations leading up to this year's Beltane festival with dark and dangerous magic, a member of the rival Thorn family gets badly hurt-throwing immediate suspicion on the Avramovs. To clear the Avramov name and step up for her family when they need her most, Issa agrees to serve as a co-investigator, helping none other than Rowan Thorn get to the bottom of things. Rowan is the very definition of lawful good, so tragically noble and by the book that he makes Issa's teeth hurt. In accordance with their families' complicated history, he and Issa have been archenemies for years and have grown to heartily loathe each other. But as the unlikely duo follow a perplexing trail of clues to a stunning conclusion, Issa and Rowan discover how little they really know each other. . . and stumble upon a maddening attraction that becomes harder to ignore by the day"-- Provided by publisher.
Payback's a Witch
Published in 2021
"The witch is back and ready for revenge with a little help from her friends in this fresh, sizzling rom-com by Lana Harper. Emmy Harlow is a witch but not a very powerful one-in part because she hasn't been home to the magical town of Thistle Grove in years. Her self-imposed exile has a lot to do with a complicated family history and a desire to forge her own way in the world, and only the very tiniest bit to do with Gareth Blackmoor, heir to the most powerful magical family in town and casual breaker of hearts and destroyer of dreams. But when a spellcasting tournament that her family serves as arbiters for approaches, it turns out the pull of tradition (or the truly impressive parental guilt trip that comes with it) is strong enough to bring Emmy back. She's determined to do her familial duty; spend some quality time with her best friend, Linden Thorn; and get back to her real life in Chicago. On her first night home, Emmy runs into Talia Avramov-an all-around badass adept in the darker magical arts-who is fresh off a bad breakup...with Gareth Blackmoor. Talia had let herself be charmed, only to discover that Gareth was also seeing Linden-unbeknownst to either of them. And now she and Linden want revenge. Only one question stands: Is Emmy in? But most concerning of all: Why can't she stop thinking about the terrifyingly competent, devastatingly gorgeous, wickedly charming Talia Avramov?"-- Provided by publisher.
Cackle
Published in 2021
"From the author of The Return, a darkly funny, frightening novel about a young woman learning how to take what she wants, from a witch who might be too good to be true. All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate. She's stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation. Then Annie meets Sophie. Beautiful, charming, magnetic Sophie, who takes a special interest in Annie, who wants to be her friend. More importantly, she wants Annie to stop apologizing and start living for herself. That's how Sophie lives. Annie can't help but gravitate toward the self-possessed Sophie, wanting to spend more and more time with her, despite the fact that the rest of the townsfolk seem...a little afraid of her. And like, okay. There are some things. Sophie's appearance is uncanny and ageless, her mansion in the middle of the woods feels a little unearthly, and she does seem to wield a certain power...but she couldn't be...could she?"-- Provided by publisher.
The Year of the Witching
Published in 2020
"A young woman living in a rigid, repressive society discovers dark powers within herself, with terrifying and far-reaching consequences, in this stunning, feminist fantasy debut. In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet's word is law, Immanuelle Moore's very existence is blasphemy. The daughter of an union with an outsider that cast her once-proud family into disgrace, Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol, and lead a life of submission, devotion, and absolute conformity, like all the women in the settlement. But a chance mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still walking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the diary of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood. Fascinated by secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Church and its history, she realizes the true threat to Bethel is its own darkness. And she starts to understand that if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her"-- Provided by publisher.
The League of Gentlewomen Witches
Published in 2022
"Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the teahouse. . . . Miss Charlotte Pettifer belongs to a secret league of women skilled in the subtle arts. That is to say-although it must never be said-witchcraft. The Wicken League strives to improve the world in small ways. Using magic, they tidy, correct, and manipulate according to their notions of what is proper, entirely unlike those reprobates in the Wisteria Society. When the long-lost amulet of Black Beryl is discovered, it is up to Charlotte, as the future leader of the League, to make sure the powerful talisman does not fall into the wrong hands. Therefore, it is most unfortunate when she crosses paths with Alex O'Riley, a pirate who is no Mr. Darcy. With all the world scrambling after the amulet, Alex and Charlotte join forces to steal it together. If only they could keep their pickpocketing hands to themselves! If Alex is not careful, he might just steal something else-such as Charlotte's heart"-- Provided by publisher.
Moon Witch, Spider King
Published in 2022
"From Marlon James, author of the bestselling National Book Award finalist Black Leopard, Red Wolf, the second book in the Dark Star trilogy, his African Game of Thrones. In Black Leopard, Red Wolf, Sogolon the Moon Witch proved a worthy adversary to Tracker as they clashed across a mythical African landscape in search of a mysterious boy who disappeared. In Moon Witch, Spider King, Sogolon takes center stage and gives her own account of what happened to the boy, and how she plotted and fought, triumphed and failed as she looked for him. It's also the story of a century-long feud-seen through the eyes of a 177-year-old witch-that Sogolon had with the Aesi, chancellor to the king. It is said that Aesi works so closely with the king that together they are like the eight limbs of one spider. Aesi's power is considerable-and deadly. It takes brains and courage to challenge him, which Sogolon does for reasons of her own. Part adventure tale, part chronicle of an indomitable woman who bows to no man, it is a fascinating novel that explores power, personality, and the places where they overlap"-- Provided by publisher.
Witches
A Novel
Published in 2022
Journalist Zoae comes to the town of San Felipe to learn about the famous healer Feliciana, who has the ability to heal the soul as well as the body, and about the murder of Feliciana's teacher, Paloma.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Published in 2022
"A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family-and a new love-changes the course of her life. As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don't mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she's used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos "pretending" to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously. But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and...Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he's concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat. As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn't know she was looking for..."-- Provided by publisher.
Witchful Thinking
Published in 2022
"What does a witch do when life's a bore? You wish for something more. If wishes were fish, homebody witch Lucy Caraway could open an aquarium and gift shop with every wish she's ever made in her entire life. When she isn't grading papers over homemade tea blends, Lucy tends to her ancestral home in Freya Grove, New Jersey, while leafing through spellbooks, protecting her familial magic from complete mayhem. On the eve of her ten-year high school reunion, Lucy yearns for more-the soulmate she's searching for, the cute cottage she's coveting, and to be the best version of herself. Fueled by nostalgia and spiced rum, Lucy casts a spell that brings trouble in the form of a big lie and reunites her high school crush merman Alex Dwyer. Like every Dwyer merfolk, Alex saw the world and all its splendors, destined never to make a home on land. When he's unexpectedly given a jinxed cottage, he returns to Freya Grove, determined to get his life on track after a string of bitter disappointments. Alex believes a merman needs a house like a fish needs a bicycle. He plans on flipping it and getting as far away from the Grove as his tail can take him. But once he discovers that his new neighbor is the witch who got away, Alex starts to rethink his plan. As the spell unfolds, baking disasters, flirtatious tea readings, and midnight meetups spark their decade-old chemistry; Lucy and Alex wonder whether their newfound love is strong enough to outlast the fleeting power of a wish"-- Provided by publisher.
The Book of Gothel
Published in 2022
"Haelewise has always lived under the shadow of her mother, Hedda-a woman who will do anything to keep her daughter protected. For with her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, Haelewise is shunned by her village, and her only solace liesin the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, of an ancient tower cloaked in mist, where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it. Then, Hedda dies, and Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the legendary tower her mother used to speak of-a place called Gothel, where Haelewise meets a wise woman willing to take her under her wing. But Haelewise is not the only woman to seek refuge at Gothel. It's also a haven for a girl named Rika, who carries with her a secret the Church strives to keep hidden. A secret that people will kill to uncover..."-- Provided by publisher.
Brujas
The Magic and Power of Witches of Color
Published in 2022
"Witchcraft has made a comeback in popular culture, especially among feminists. A growing subculture of witches, led by Afro-Caribbean immigrants, Indigenous Americans, and other witches of color, are reclaiming their ancestral traditions and contributing their voices to the feminist witchcraft today. Brujas chronicles the magical lives of these practitioners as they develop their healing arts, express their progressive politics, and extend their personal rituals into community activism. They are destigmatizing the "witch" of their ancestries and bringing persecuted traditions into the open to challenge cultural appropriation and spiritual consumerism. Part memoir, part ritual guide, Brujas empowers readers to decolonize their spiritual practices and connect with their own ancestors. Brujas reminds us that witchcraft is more than a trend-- it's an enduring movement."--page 2 of cover.
The Witch's Book of Self-care
Magical Ways to Pamper, Soothe, and Care for Your Body and Spirit
Published in 2018
"Self-care is a necessity for any modern woman, and this book helps you prioritize #1 with a little help from the magic of witchcraft. The Witch's Book of Self-Care has advice for pampering your body, mind, and spirit with spells, meditations, mantras, and powerful activities to help you to keep healthy, soothe stress, relinquish sadness, channel joy, and embrace your strength"-- Provided by publisher.
The Ex Hex
A Novel
Published in 2021
"Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music ... and a curse on the horrible boyfriend..[She] isn't worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two ... until Rhys Penhallow ... returns to Graves Glen, Georgia ... Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all ... Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it's too late"-- Provided by publisher
Crumbs
Published in 2022
"Ray, a young seer struggling with her powers, discovers first love and friendship in her town's magic bakery"-- Provided by publisher.
Mooncakes
Published in 2019
"Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmother's bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town. One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home. Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery." -- Provided by publisher.
Spells for Forgetting
Published in 2022
"Emery Blackwood's life was forever changed on the eve of her high school graduation, when the love of her life, August Salt, was accused of murdering her best friend, Lily. Now, she is doing what her teenage self swore she never would: living a quiet existence among the community that fractured her world in two. She'd once longed to run away with August, eager to escape the misty, remote shores of Saiorse Island and chase new dreams; now, she maintains her late mother's tea shop and cares for her ailing father. But just as the island, rooted in folklore and tradition, begins to show signs of strange happenings, August returns for the first time in fourteen years and unearths the past that no one wants to remember. August Salt knows he is not welcome on Saiorse, not after the night that changed everything. As a fire raged on at the Salt family orchard, Lily Morgan was found dead in the dark woods, shaking the bedrock of their tight-knit community and branding August a murderer. When he returns to bury his mother's ashes, he must confront the people who turned their backs on him and face the one wound from the past that has never healed-Emery. But the town has more than one reason to want August gone, and the emergence of deep betrayals and hidden promises that span generations threatens to reveal the truth behind Lily's death once and for all"-- Provided by publisher.