The Working

by BrightFlame

A modern coven must thwart a looming eco-cataclysm and find the key to the bright future we need.

Betsy's a modern-day Witch with an ageless she's worried about screwing up her coven's ritual. Again. But the coven has a bigger issue to face — the destruction of their home thanks to a fracked gas pipeline. And then an even bigger problem — a greed-fueled entity will soon obliterate Earth’s ability to support life.

Tarot cards indicate the coven must sort among allies and threats, human and ethereal.

Follow Betsy, Sail, Fire, Mari, and Tal as they disentangle the truth and seek the magic to avert the cataclysm.

Fans of The Once and Future Witches and The City We Became will love The Working for its feminist, justice-seeking, ensemble cast. Readers hail The Working for its diverse characters, real magical practice, and tilt towards hope.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Solarpunk

419 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 17, 2024

About the author

BrightFlame (she/they) writes, teaches, and makes magic towards a just, regenerative world. In her debut novel The Working, a modern coven must thwart a looming eco-cataclysm and find the key to the bright future we need. Her short fiction is featured in Bright Green Futures, Solarpunk Creatures, Bioluminescent, and Solarpunk Magazine. She’s known for her teaching in the worldwide pagan community and co-founded the Center for Sustainable Futures at Columbia University that features her workshops and nonfiction. She’s a member of the Climate Fiction Writers League, Brooklyn Speculative Fiction Writers, and SFWA. She lives on Lenape territory (Turtle Island/US) with a human, a forest, a labyrinth, the Fae, bees, turtles, fungi, rocks, and many other nonhumans.

Reviews

[Renan Bernardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

BrightFlame shows us why she's a master of climate fiction and lunarpunk. The Working is an excellent novel, perfectly balanced and very skillfully crafted. Throughout the book, we follow this coven of five witches finding out about two great dangers that might wreck the world: the construction of a gas pipeline and the coming of a powerful, negative entity. Particularly, I found it amazing how BrightFlame was able to intertwine and flesh out the relationship of five characters in a compelling narrative that I couldn't let go. This book is at the same time feminist, punk, and defiant but also tender. Plus, it's an essential read for anyone trying to navigate the insane world we're living in. Can't wait for what she publishes next!

[Alina Leonova · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel tells a story of a coven of modern witches, and at first, the contrast between their rituals and magic and the mundane, modern world they all returned to was a bit jarring. I didn't know what to expect (I read the blurb a while ago when the book was suggested to me and forgot the details — I just knew it was solarpunk fantasy :), so I thought it would be happening in a fantasy world. However, after readjusting my perspective, I got into the story and started enjoying it.

In the acknowledgements the author says that she doesn't consider the story fantasy, as the magical practices described in it are real, just embellished. However, the novel is classified as fantasy, and I'm not sure how else to categorize it.

The story has strong environmental messages. There is also deep love and appreciation for the natural world, which is what our witches' magic is largely based on. The book blends real-life issues with the supernatural archetype in the magical realm that represents the worst of our world — greed, pollution, environmental destruction, etc. Soon, the scary archetype bleeds into the real world and seeks to destroy the witches.

All the witches are very different people, but they treat each other like sisters, which was nice to see. They felt like real people to me.

A lot happens in the supernatural realm (the astral), and at first I wasn’t a big fan of that. It was a bit difficult to relate, and it mostly consisted of meeting ancestors and getting some vague teachings from them. I generally enjoy reading about rituals, spiritual practices and experiences, so it wasn't necessarily boring, but not too exciting either. However, soon the events became more dangerous and therefore engaging.

In the beginning, there were clear distinctions between the real and magical worlds, but as the story progressed, it all became more interconnected. It added more danger and uncertainty, and made the story more captivating.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and its hopeful message, though I'm not sure that the idea of solving the climate crisis with a ritual resonates with me or is particularly practical. However, the author makes sure to show that there is still lots of work ahead of the witches, including non-magical work in the real world if they want to make changes for the better. What they did was just the first step.

You might enjoy The Working if you’re interested in witchcraft, solarpunk, care about the environment and are looking for a hopeful story.

This review was first published on my website, where you'll find lots of interesting sci-fi and fantasy books, some lists, recommendations, interviews and more.

[Clara Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

BrightFlame draws deeply on lived experience to spin a web of connections: between five modern-day witches, their astral/spiritual ancestors, and our troubled planet. Each of the five main point-of-view characters struggles with a complex assortment of demands and cares, but each in their own way is engaging and loveable. Together they form a coven family that is fully relatable as a chosen family, whatever a reader’s personal beliefs.
Each character follows their own path through understanding their shadow selves and working with an ancestor from another plane to discover both strengths and weaknesses. As they confront escalating challenges that span both realms, the authenticity of the mundane makes the mystical false leads (and great strides!) relatable and gripping. Over and over, The Working offers insightful steps leading the way through an entrancing journey—a journey that never led quite where I expected!

[Pamela Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

BrightFlame brings magic to life and shows us the way to a brighter more equitable future rooted in Love, community, and mutual right action. The coven siblings feel real and fleshed out, gifts and flaws exposed for all. You'll find yourself rooting for them and chances are you'll identify with bits of all them and perhaps all of one of them.

Follow along through their learning as they strengthen coven bonds. Join them as they find their way with Spirit guides to a Working that will begin to turn our world from corporate greed to regenerative equity. This story is magic itself.

The chapters are short and fine-tuned for each character. The sections are divided energetically, like a pentacle working, and the threads of each covener's path handled with grace. The Working is a blueprint for how each of us of can bring our piece of change we wish to see in the world.

[Valerie Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Working is an inspirational story of a group of witches who are compelled to fight against corporate greed, their own shadows and at times, even each other, in order to save a plot of old-growth forest from fracking. Set in both a Pennsylvania forest and the towering New York skyline, BrightFlame takes us on a journey through space and time, showing us the power of the mind, the value of community and the wisdom of ancestors. Just as I felt like I was in the trance with the coven, I also felt the trees and the community of activists. This book is for those who can imagine another world where justice and compassion prevail. Loved it!

[Jeff Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This page turner showcases witches as powerful agents of transformation, using magic journeying to challenge social norms and heal the world around them. Through their unique abilities and viewpoints, the ensemble coven shows the strength found in community and the potential for change from marginalized voices. A captivating read that empowers and inspires.

[Sarena Ulibarri · Rating 5 out of 5]

BrightFlame’s writing is a joy and a gift. The Working stays grounded in actionable solutions to the existential threats of corporate greed and climate change, with the characters fighting for better futures on both the physical and metaphysical planes.

[Rachel]

This is a solarpunk, lunarpunk, pagan queer story, and it takes a perspective I rarely see. Each member of the ensemble cast of five characters has their own arc to get through, and the group as a whole has an arc as well.

[Erica Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring and magical story that explores both the joy and challenges of community work. There is a lot of wisdom in these pages.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and couldn't put it down. It is a timely story that envisions a brighter future. Filled with hope at a time when we really need it.