Coven of the East: Reimagining Asian Women's Magical Histories

by Benebell Wen, Angela Yuriko Smith (Editor), Pauline Chow (Editor)

Rekindle your magic. Rewrite the myth.

In Coven of the East, twenty-two writers from across the Asian diaspora come together to reclaim, reimagine, and resurrect the magical traditions often erased from mainstream narratives. Through short stories and essays, these contributors explore the intimate ways mysticism, folklore, and ancestral wisdom shape their characters’ lives — and their own.

Magic isn’t just in myths. It lives in the networks of nature and in our histories. When we reveal our power in stories and in our daily lives, we are able to reclaim it. Magic and wisdom are our birthrights.

Structured as a Heroine’s Journey through the major arcana, this genre-bending anthology celebrates the complexity of Asian diaspora feminine power. The voices within are playful, fierce, reverent, and wild. Whether rooted in family rituals or fantasy realms, each piece answers a shared to remember and reshape what magic means, and to honor the legacies of women who wrote, led, healed, and resisted.

Perfect for readers who

Diaspora storytelling and cultural reclamationFolklore, tarot, and myth-infused narrativesIntersectional feminist anthologies

Genres: Nonfiction

154 pages, ebook

Published September 21, 2025

Reviews

[Mai H.]

ANHPI TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Ghastly Goings-On Press & Authortunities Press

[DustyBookSniffers - Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coven of the East is an anthology that brings together 22 writers from across the Asian diaspora to explore magic, folklore, shamanic traditions, and ancestral wisdom and let me tell you, it absolutely blew me away. I want more!!!

I don't usually say this about anthologies, because there's always one or two pieces that don't quite land for me. But not this time. I was hooked from the first page to the last. Every single piece of fiction and non-fiction felt rich, grounded, and meaningful. The non-fiction in particular was a real standout. It greatly added depth and context, weaving personal experiences with broader cultural and spiritual histories that are often erased or overlooked.

What I loved most is how this collection reclaims narratives that have too often been silenced, especially around Asian women's roles as spiritual leaders, healers, witches, and wisdom keepers. And it doesn't just romanticise the past. It brings that ancestral power into the present, showing how these traditions live on, adapt, and empower people today.

As someone fascinated by the spiritual practices, folklore, and role of shamanism in different cultures, this anthology was an absolute treat. It's magical in the most grounded and genuine way; it shows how everyday rituals, ancestral memory, and storytelling are forms of resistance, survival, and self-empowerment.

It is a solid 5-star read for me. I hope the editors put together another collection like this because I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Thank you, NetGalley, Ghastly Goings-On Press, and Opportunities Press, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Vals · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology is a must-read for anyone who is interested in witchcraft practices, especially if they have been exposed only to white Western depictions of witches, healers, and practices of anything considered "esoteric". In fact, the many authors of the stories in this book explore their ancestors's practices and their cultural background through fiction and non-fiction, showing how rich and diverse witchcraft is when we move our sight from Europe and the US to other parts of the world.

With their different styles, the authors lead the readers through personal and fictional experiences of magic in various forms and also analysing how Western cultures have often silenced such diverse lore, rituals, and beliefs. By doing so, they both offer a new possible take on such practices for those who descent from the cultures they worth about and also show white Western people how limited, sometimes washed down and too modern and aesthetic-oriented our idea and practice of magic is — regardless of the type we practice.

I'm grateful to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of such wonderful and inspiring short stories and personal experiences.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coven of the East edited by Pauline Chow and Angela Yuriko Smith is a unique collection that mixes fiction and non fiction to give the reader an insight into the rich traditions of magic that weave through Asian history and culture. I loved the clever idea of theming the collection around a deck of tarot cards and the mixing of essays and short stories is not something I have encountered before. The pairing of every day experiences with magic and tradition was fascinating and I loved the opportunity to experience aspects of these diverse cultures that I had never encountered before, It was encouraging to see many of the contributors were either returning to or continuing their ancestor's practices and were determined to maintain the connection to their cultures.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own .

[Dan Mckeithan · Rating 5 out of 5]

22 writers that bring to us the experience of Asian Women's Magical Histories. Benebell and Angela have assembled a diverse selectin of fictional pieces and short non-fiction essays. This blend, which is outlined through the use of the tarot cards, brings the Asian woman's experience to life. They are very informative and rich accounts that show us the cultural exchanges of the women and their roles as spiritual leaders, healers, and witches. This makes you think and see things from a different perspective than is usually presented. This is a must read for anyone with an interest in Asian folklore and how magic has affected them and continues to affect them to this day. Each piece was a separate standout, and all brought different parts to the table to give an enriching experience.

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a short piece in this anthology. It's a wonderful collection of magical stories and non-fiction by Asian women. Some scary, some thoughtful, some humorous. A delightful read, especially for the fall.

[Rhonda Lomazow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful anthology full of witchcraft, magic stories told through fiction and nonfiction.A really interesting assortment of authors this is a book to dip n & out of.