The Seven Wonders: Stories about witches

by Nadia Cassim, Ciaran R. Maidwell, Mia Haven

Seven stories of power, defiance, and wonder—where magic lingers, fate shifts, and witches rise.

The Seven Wonders is an anthology of witchcraft in its many gothic, modern, and utterly strange. From rural South Africa to eerie academies, from hedge witches whispering secrets to forces that defy understanding, these seven tales explore the trials of power, the cost of magic, and the unbreakable bonds that tether witches to their craft.

In a world that has long feared and vilified witches, this collection reclaims them as heroines – figures of resistance, wisdom, and transformation. Whether through fire, foresight, or forbidden rites, each story unveils a different Wonder – some dark, some wondrous, all unforgettable.

The stories appearing in this anthology:
Lifael – Felix Lamont
Shooting star – Manjari Jogi
Mud Witch – Ciaran R. Maidwell
The Shaman and the Witch – Nadia Cassim
Unfamiliars – Francesco Nassimbeni
A Spell for Healing Death – Luke Wildman
Witchling – Mia Haven

220 pages, Paperback

Published July 25, 2025

About the author

Nadia Cassim is a writer, artist, and financial advisor. She obtained an honours degree in Town Planning from the University of the Witwatersrand, before pursuing a career in fine art. Her paintings have been exhibited in two solo shows and showcased at the Women’s Jail at Constitution Hill. In 2023, her artwork When Blood Ties Become Blood Chains was featured in the Ake Review.
In 2012, she founded IRTIQA, a modern Muslim women’s magazine, which she led for eight years before focusing on writing. In 2023, she was selected for the Bosberg Books Writing Residency. Her short fiction has appeared in anthologies published by Modjaji Books, Brittle Paper, Umuofia Arts and Books Festival, Mirari Press and in Short. Sharp. Stories. Not Another Samoosa Run is her first novel.

Reviews

[Balthazarinblue · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The Seven Wonders is an astonishingly strong anthology. Not only are the individual stories well written but the anthology itself is put together beautifully, giving us a full 'life cycle' of a witch from creation to initiation to life's work, death, and lingering mythology. While certain themes are prominent throughout: sacrifice, community, a connection to the natural world, this isn't an anthology that limits itself to one interpretation of witch. There are healers and guardians, hedge witches with small magick, and primordial practitioners with powers to warp the cosmos. Shoutout to The Shaman and The Witch by Nadia Cassim for featuring three different magical traditions!

One of the great things about niche indie published books is being able to read other people's reviews. Approaching this as an avid horror reader, it surprised me to see The Seven Wonders marked out as tending toward a dark interpretation of witchcraft. It felt the opposite to me! The stories are predominantly uplifting moments of triumph in an adverse world! I don't think either reading is wrong, merely an indication of where our baselines as readers are at. This also contains an equal number of character forward studies and more plotty stories. As an adventure lover, I enjoyed the plot heavy entries more but that's another instance where personal preference sways me.

My favourites are:

Lifael by Felix Lamont, the closing story, slammed the door on this anthology with a tale that continues to resound in my brain. Darker than the preceding entries, Lifael features a Queen engaging in black magic and the King's soldier sent to condemn her. The witchcraft in Lifael is an old magic, from beyond the confines of space and time, thinning the divide between humanity and the old gods.

On literally the other side of the book, Mud Witch by Ciaran R. Maidwell opens this anthology with a witchy, queer coming of age story. Set in the Karoo within the dusty borders of a small community, we follow a young girl struggling with loneliness and the loss of her mother, reaching for comfort in the earth. There is a sinister edge to this one that took me by surprise, in a good way.

A Spell for Healing Death by Luke Wildman was the most emotional read for me. Via the framework of a ritual spell, we see the main character process his grief at the loss of his wife. I teared up more than once!

If you're looking for something you can easily pick up and put down while handing out Halloween candy, The Seven Wonders is it. Guaranteed to keep the Samhain vibes immaculate.

I requested and received a copy for review from Mirari Press as part of their Luminary Programme.

[Helené Coetzee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent writing about my current hyperfixatuin. The first story, Mudwitch, is my favourite and the reason I'll be recommending it to all my friends.

[tanith_justanotherchapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Seven Wonders: Stories about Witches, is an anthology comprising of 7 short stories.. but make them *different* by adding a little South African flavour to them.

These 7 stories will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions; you'll view witches through different lenses and different cultures as well as being exposed to different magic systems.

Witches to me have always meant beauty, power, feminine rage to its core and this anthology delivers on all of that and more. I had originally planned to read a story per day to savour the experience, but I couldn't put this down. As a South African, I feel as though the diversity within these stories really do represent us.

I love anthology books as I feel there's a perfect story for everyone in it. I highly recommend diving into this and finding your perfect fit! And let me know which is your favourite.


Stories in this anthology include:
• Mud Witch – Ciaran R. Maidwell 
• Witchling – Mia Haven
• Shooting star – Manjari Jogi 
• The Shaman and the Witch – Nadia Cassim 
• Unfamiliars – Francesco Nassimbeni 
• A Spell for Healing Death – Luke Wildman 
• Lifael – Felix Lamont 

Mud Witch – Ciaran R. Maidwell

“Even the most boring people in the world are not who you think they are.”

This took me back to my childhood; remembering how I used to constantly mess around and make mud pies.. Oh, how different it would have been if they were magical. 
Mieke's an only child to a single parent, but when her mother disappears she's left alone.. until her aunt comes to take care of her. There were moments I looked at her aunt with a side eye (but shhh those are spoilers so you'll need to read to find out) and you know all is not what it seems on the surface.

Mieke has a tough time at school, and while she used to have a close friend, Jana, things slowly went south. It's heartbreaking to witness Mieke's loneliness and just wanting a friend; someone to love and just to have her mother back. We see how this loneliness morphs into something desperate where she starts to contemplate making not so wise decisions. I really wish that we had gotten more time with the High Coven and this part being explored a bit more.. but the fact that I want more shows how enjoyable this was.

Mud Witch was a great choice to kick off this anthology with as it sets the tone. The reader can immediately sense that these won't all be the everyday witchy stories that we've grown accustomed to. I also loved seeing the queer rep with our FMC, Mieke.

“Loving someone means opening yourself up to heartbreak and sadness. But not loving anyone ever is much, much worse.”

Witchling – Mia Haven

"Let them be tested, let them be transformed, and let them emerge as the powerful witches they were born to be!”

Witchling was by far my favourite of the anthology. Mia gave us enough not to feel lost in the world she created but left us hungry for more. I have so many questions I would love answers to and I can see the potential for this to become a fully fleshed out novel.The story throws us right into the action where a group of Witchlings are starting their trials, which - if passed - would turn them into fully powerful Witches. The first trial they're faced with is to kill an animal under the blood moon. Time is of the essence, but our FMC runs into something - rather someone - she didn't expect. Some witchlings are more ambitious than others and she's caught between wanting to complete her trial vs saving a sacred creature from a fellow witchling's killing blow. She has choices to make and actions to take and we can see her battle to do what's right vs to do what's right for herself.

I love how in this short story we got to see so many aspects of witches, their powers and trials but especially a "good vs bad" witch situation where we see empathy vs ambition.
Does ambition and strength always overcome? Is doing the right thing worth it even when it means sacrificing yourself?

“Witches don’t run from things that are hard. They rise to meet every challenge.”
"We were taught how to endure."

Shooting star – Manjari Jogi

“Look for the stars after which you were named, and let their light give you the strength you need.”

Shooting Star quite literally drops us in the middle of the action - Kashwini, our FMC, is on the run, being hunted because she is a witch. She's from a long line of powerful witches who had sworn an oath to never harm others or abuse their power. This felt like the most unique magic system - I thought it was really cool how she uses her hair as a weapon (or just as a little helper), and we learn later on just how significant a witches hair is.

Kashwini has spent her life helping others. We hear how she has helped countless women in different ways - from their health to escaping their lives. This is a common theme we've seen with witches where they've spent their lives helping others and they get turned on, or at the least people don't speak up for them.. but who's there to help them in their time of need? Who will risk it all for them? Can witches only count on each other?

A beautiful story of women helping women, female rage and female empowerment.. along with them being kick ass witches. I'd love to learn more about this world and magic system that Manjari has created.

"A powerful spell, cast by a powerful witch, would try its best to alter fate itself to ensure it came true—no matter the cost, no matter how unnatural the shape of its ending."

The Shaman and the Witch – Nadia Cassim

"I need to know what to do next, how to reclaim the parts of me that have been lost, and where better to begin than at the source of it all?"

Picture this: your best friend convinces you to visit a Shaman who gives you three shriveled up mushrooms. You then proceed to have the most intense trip of your life - an out of body and out of time experience where you're transported to a different time and different life you may or may not have lived. What if it wasn't a trip at all? What if it was a gateway to a past life? The Shaman and the Witch introduces us to Jo, who experiences exactly this. Her lovely mushroom trip took her to the year 1587 and she had such a visceral reaction to it that it leaves her uneasy and questioning everything.. She needs answers and she won't stop until she finds them.

Nadia does a great job of writing about both a Shaman and Witch; neither one outweighs the other.. and maybe if you're lucky you may even spot another individual with paranormal abilities. Personally, I've always loved the romanticism around the thought of our past lives lived. 

"It was time to reclaim who I was, unashamedly."

Unfamiliars – Francesco Nassimbeni

“The tapestry of life, Zamara, where we all have our place. You, me, the Gods, and the others.”

At times, Unfamiliars felt like a fever dream. We dive into the not so pretty side of witchcraft and take a look at the darker side; it leaves your skin crawling. Lefa, our twelve year old FMC, is currently living with her cousin while her mother is in the hospital getting TB treatment. As with some of the other stories, nothing is what it seems. Lefa starts losing time; starts wondering if she's losing her mind. Did she talk to a cat? Did she turn into a squirrel and climb a tree? What's really going on with her cousin and what is he hiding?

I loved seeing Lefa start becoming more empowered, she's been bullied and treated differently because of her disability so to see her gain confidence and feel capable had me cheering for her.

"In the darkness, I will be safe. In the darkness, I can hide."

Unfamiliars dives into South African folklore, animals and shapeshifting.. and leaves you wondering where and how tales originate from.
Please note, I'm intentionally leaving a lot out of this one because there's so much you need to experience for yourself but this shows the richness of stories that South Africans have to offer.

"I do not walk with fear. I know what I can do. I know what I am capable of."

A Spell for Healing Death – Luke Wildman

“Magic is never quite what you think. It never behaves as you expect, and it is never exact. Magic cares for spirit more than law."

How do we deal with the losses of those we loved? If you had the power to, would you bring them back from the dead? Do you know if they would even want to be brought back? Just how far would you go?

A Spell for Healing Death follows Merle, a widower, whose wife was a witch. One day, shortly after her death, he stumbles onto one of her spells which she had written down on how to bring someone back from the dead. The author manages to take us on a journey not only through Merle's grief for his wife, but also how he grapples with the possibility of using her spell to bring her back. After all, she had been sick for a long time, so why had she never healed herself? Why did she have that spell? Was it for herself or someone else? We are taken through Merle's feelings for his wife, his reflection of their lives together and ... actually, I'm going to leave it there (read it to find out!)

"They’d lived so much life together, so many memories, but it wasn’t enough, it could never be enough."

Lifael – Felix Lamont  

"His life was a narrow thing, diseased by hopelessness."

There's always that one story in an anthology series that you just don't quite resonate with. Unfortunately, Lifael fell into this category for me. I couldn't connect with the writing or the characters; I felt a bit confused as to what was happening or what was supposed to be happening. I understand that it's a short story and the author has limited time to get across their message, but I felt like I missed it. This one does have a few graphic scenes in and as always, check out trigger warnings before jumping in and please remember, just because I personally didn't resonate with this one, doesn't mean that you won't! That's the beautiful thing about anthologies - there's something for everyone!

"What was he, except a weapon in the hands of another, to be used, used up and then cast aside, a lonely old man with a broken back?"

Thank you to Mirari Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Seven Wonders is a beautifully written and thought-provoking collection that explores the many faces of witchcraft—from the gothic to the modern, from eerie forests to sun-baked rural villages. Each story in this anthology offers a unique take on what it means to be a witch, delving into themes of power, resistance, transformation, and survival.

The collection features a diverse range of voices and settings. We’re taken from rural South Africa to haunting magical academies, introduced to hedge witches, shamans, and spell-casters who grapple with forces both external and internal. There’s a lyrical intensity to the writing that kept me engaged throughout, and every story felt purposeful and well-crafted. Standouts for me included Mud Witch and Witchling—both of which lingered with me long after reading.

That said, it’s worth noting that the tone of the anthology leans quite dark. These stories don't shy away from the heavier aspects of magic and myth—grief, sacrifice, pain, and vengeance all play their parts. While I appreciated the depth and artistry, I found some of the stories emotionally heavy, and at times a little more intense than I personally prefer.

Still, for readers who are drawn to the shadowy corners of witchcraft fiction—who want complex characters, rich atmosphere, and a touch of the unsettling—The Seven Wonders is a compelling and rewarding read. These witches aren’t here to charm you; they’re here to challenge, transform, and reclaim.

[Mr Pink Ink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Mirari Press for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Seven Wonders is an anthology that embraces witchcraft in all its forms: gothic, modern, folkloric, and beautifully strange. These tales take you everywhere from rural South Africa to eerie, ivy-draped academies; from hedge witches whispering secrets to eldritch forces shaped by grief, healing, and unnameable hunger. It’s a collection that understands that witchcraft isn’t just about spellwork—it’s about survival, reclamation, and the courage to stand in your own power.

In a world that has long feared and vilified witches, this anthology reframes them as heroines: women (and witchlings) of resistance, wisdom, and transformation. Each story reveals a different “Wonder”—some dark, some tender, some unsettling, all unforgettable. Whether through fire, foresight, music, ritual, or raw instinct, every witch here fights for something: freedom, justice, identity, a future.

I actually made a full video review for this book, because the interlocking themes—power, belonging, resilience—deserved more than a quick caption. And honestly? The opening story alone, Mud Witch, is worth buying the book. Ciaran R. Maidwell understood the assignment so thoroughly I’m still thinking about it.

My personal standouts: Mud Witch, Unfamiliars, and A Spell for Healing Death — each one a different flavour of haunting, magical excellence.

This anthology is a showcase of talent, and I’m now eagerly watching every one of these authors to see what they do next. And as for Mirari Press? If this is how they’re starting, their next anthology is going straight onto my TBR the second it releases.

Verdict:
A powerful, atmospheric, and thrilling celebration of witchcraft. Five stars. Absolutely spellbinding.
Phenomenal. Full stop.

[Jess Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! A strong anthology. I loved how each story had a different interpretation on witches and witchcraft, and how all felt uplifting, defiant, and powerful. The diversity throughout was wonderfully engaging and I loved the South African idiosyncrasies within some.

[Tara Macpherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC copy of The Seven Wonders: Stories about Witches by the wonderful Mirari Press (@miraripress) in exchange for a review. I’ve been a bit late to the review because I’ve had to sit with my feelings. As you do with fantastic stories.

Witches throughout the centuries have represented both the othered or outcast as well as the forbidden and the taboo. What I really loved about all these stories was how varied they all were in conveying that. Magic is a wonder to behold. It is what makes you different, strong, someone to be admired or feared. Each tale had a different take on those themes with such authenticity (as well as that iconic South African flare for telling stories) that I couldn’t help but get sucked in. I kept saying, “This is my favourite one….no wait this one!”

“Mud Witch” by Ciaran R Maidwell takes us to the Karoo with a girl who your heart breaks for. Maidwell’s writing sucks into this world and the magical and darker elements creep in behind you, much like the cruel world around Mieke. This is a story I wished to not see end and world that I would love to return to and sincerely hope Ciaran does!

“Witchling” by Mia Haven is perfect for fans of Shameez Patel, Cassandra Clare or any fan of strong female characters in a complicated Magical world. This world felt very lived in, yet easy to digest, which is a hard feat in any fantasy, let alone a short story. I loved the recurring theme of empathy vs ambition; it reminded me of “With great power comes great responsibility”. I found this to be a very refreshing take and, like the previous story, this is a world I would love Haven to return to.

“Shooting Star” by Manjari Jogi takes us to India with our witch, Kashwini, running from those who would harm her. The themes of identity, survival, defiance as well as community fly at you with a punishing pace. It is hard to uphold an oath to never harm those she has helped for years when they are the ones wishing for her demise. I loved the aspect of other witches finding her and immediately jumping in to help. It’s a brutal look at those who are othered, but a wonderful reminder of the power of community and feminine empowerment and rage. Again, this seems to be a recurring theme for me, I’d love to return to this world.

“The Shaman and the Witch” by Nadia Cassim is another great look at lost identity as reclaiming your power. Jo, through the peer pressure of her friend, goes to see a Shaman who leads her to discover a past life of hers. In so doing, she starts to find healing from her current fractured life. I really enjoyed the parallel timelines and how they interact with each other. A simple tale that leaves the reader feeling hopeful.

“Unfamiliars” by Francesco Nassimbeni reads like that start of a Middle Grade fantasy series ala Percy Jackson, I mean this in the best way. I gave me the same feelings as a South African cartoon “URBO: The Adventures of Pax Afrika” – which I really loved, and I will stay mad at the SABC for cancelling it! Lefa is a disabled 12-year-old who discovers South African Folklore is true and she is very much a part of it. I sincerely hope this is worked into some sort of series because it would be such a fantastic way to explore folklore with Nassimbeni’s unique voice. I would love to read more of Lefa’s adventures. I could totally see this being made into some sort of animation.

“A Spell for Healing Death” by Luke Wildman is a poignantly beautiful tale of grief. Merle is grappling with the loss of his wife, the village witch, and stumbles among a spell of hers that hints at resurrecting someone from death. I absolutely loved how grief was explored in this. Grief has Merle in its grip in ways that he might not even registered. It makes him sad, it makes his angry, it reminds him of things he’d long forgotten. The idea of spell ingredients not being what they seem was very well done, and the conclusion left me feeling warm.

“Lifael” by Felix Lamont was an interesting one. The writing style almost reminded me of Rudyard Kipling in its formal language and symbolic esque characters. A mysterious Captain witnesses a crime committed by his queen, who then is punished by a Witch. This Witch can show you your future and becomes sought after. The Captain is more a passive character in this tale, but there are hints of his desires and I almost wish we could have more of that. I loved the cat and I would be interested in seeing this tale explored further. The Adventures of the Captain, the Witch and the Cat maybe?
In short, all these tales get my imagination going, my heart strings tugged on and my brain interpreting. If that is not what a good short story anthology should do, I don’t know what is.

I would love to hear what you thought of these stories. What were your favourites? I keep changing my mind!

[Serpex · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've an anthology, but this one has officially become a favorite. I had to pause multiple times to just digest and marinate on these stories. I have only ever grown up on the more Western and European classics when it comes to witches. I was intrigued, and from cover to cover, my eyes were opened to a whole new world. I was smitten by the spectrum of magic with the witches, the sisterhoods, the shamans, and the coven mixed into everyday life.

It makes me curious about other folklore. But for now, I shall be keeping this book with my personal collections to keep forevermore. Each character had a story that spoke to my very soul, and each story wonderfully grasped me in a chokehold to the very end.