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They Called Us Witch
True stories. True Magic.
Discover the untold stories of powerful women who have been labelled as witches throughout history – not the kind that ride broomsticks, but real priestesses, wise women, and healers who defied oppression.
From a Haitian Vodou priestess who fought for freedom to a Japanese shaman queen who brought peace to her land, these ten remarkable figures shaped their cultures and inspired change with their magic and wisdom. Their stories have seldom been told before but this incredible collection invites readers to connect with their global histories and culture through powerful narratives.
Join us in celebrating these daughters of magic – each story a spark that ignites our own power and inspires a new generation.
Discover the untold stories of powerful women who have been labelled as witches throughout history – not the kind that ride broomsticks, but real priestesses, wise women, and healers who defied oppression.
From a Haitian Vodou priestess who fought for freedom to a Japanese shaman queen who brought peace to her land, these ten remarkable figures shaped their cultures and inspired change with their magic and wisdom. Their stories have seldom been told before but this incredible collection invites readers to connect with their global histories and culture through powerful narratives.
Join us in celebrating these daughters of magic – each story a spark that ignites our own power and inspires a new generation.
- GenresAudiobook
Audible Audio
Published September 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 26, 2026
Sometimes it’s lovely to pick up a short book. At 2 hours and 22 minutes, They Called Us Witch by Ellen Ryan was the perfect little audiobook to get stuck into!
Narrated by Adjoa Andoh, this YA non-fiction collection introduces us to ten remarkable women throughout history who were labelled witches. Healers, priestesses and wise women whose stories deserve to be remembered for so much more than that label.
Although marketed as non-fiction, I couldn’t help but wonder how much creative storytelling had been woven into the historical accounts. At times, it felt like a blend of fiction and non-fiction, and I wasn’t sure where documented history ended and folklore or interpretation began. That’s not necessarily a criticism; I enjoyed how these women’s stories were brought to life. It made me curious!
I particularly enjoyed learning about Biddy Early, Gabrielle Borthwick and Baba Vanga. I disappeared down research rabbit holes! 😂🙈 Biddy Early’s cottage still stands in County Clare, Ireland, and yes, I now want to visit. It wouldn’t be my first book-inspired visit! 😂
I’d probably have researched all ten if I’d had the physical book beside me to check names and spellings. One drawback of an audiobook!
And speaking of the physical book… have you seen it? 😍 The illustrations are stunning. If I had to choose, I’d pick the book. Actually, who am I kidding? I’d pick both!
Here’s where the former primary school teacher in me comes out! Listening while following the beautiful illustrated physical copy would make a wonderful immersive read, helping make the stories accessible to different learners. And the teaching possibilities! Newspaper reports, historical recounts, debates about how these women were treated, role play and conscience alleys exploring different perspectives. I already have so many classroom ideas!
Overall, an enjoyable listen that introduced me to unfamiliar women and sent me off discovering more. I love when a book sparks curiosity beyond its pages!
Thank you to Harper Fire and Netgalley for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. 🖤✨
Narrated by Adjoa Andoh, this YA non-fiction collection introduces us to ten remarkable women throughout history who were labelled witches. Healers, priestesses and wise women whose stories deserve to be remembered for so much more than that label.
Although marketed as non-fiction, I couldn’t help but wonder how much creative storytelling had been woven into the historical accounts. At times, it felt like a blend of fiction and non-fiction, and I wasn’t sure where documented history ended and folklore or interpretation began. That’s not necessarily a criticism; I enjoyed how these women’s stories were brought to life. It made me curious!
I particularly enjoyed learning about Biddy Early, Gabrielle Borthwick and Baba Vanga. I disappeared down research rabbit holes! 😂🙈 Biddy Early’s cottage still stands in County Clare, Ireland, and yes, I now want to visit. It wouldn’t be my first book-inspired visit! 😂
I’d probably have researched all ten if I’d had the physical book beside me to check names and spellings. One drawback of an audiobook!
And speaking of the physical book… have you seen it? 😍 The illustrations are stunning. If I had to choose, I’d pick the book. Actually, who am I kidding? I’d pick both!
Here’s where the former primary school teacher in me comes out! Listening while following the beautiful illustrated physical copy would make a wonderful immersive read, helping make the stories accessible to different learners. And the teaching possibilities! Newspaper reports, historical recounts, debates about how these women were treated, role play and conscience alleys exploring different perspectives. I already have so many classroom ideas!
Overall, an enjoyable listen that introduced me to unfamiliar women and sent me off discovering more. I love when a book sparks curiosity beyond its pages!
Thank you to Harper Fire and Netgalley for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. 🖤✨
September 22, 2026
True stories, true magic. Discover the untold stories of powerful women who've been labelled as witches throughout history.
This is one that I would like to revisit in a physical touchable format because oh hello whilst the audio book was fantastic. It was narrated by Adjoa Andoh who does a fantastic job but because I am unfamiliar with these women from history, which is a good thing as they found women that you don't hear a lot about from various different locations across the world, I didn't have as much time as I would like to enmesh myself in their world and to flick back and do research especially because it's a NetGalley audio book and so the titles are just numbers instead of actually like the names of the women or anything like that. It means that I've not been able to kind of deep dive as easily into these women's worlds. So I would love to see this as a physical collection and I feel like that would have worked better for me. So, whilst the audio book was fantastic, the narration was wonderful, I do also recommend having a physical edition of this one if you do want to pick it up
But despite my own personal issues with the formatting, which is for me to deal with, I think it's really well done, really fantastically written. The research seems to be really well done as well, and it gives you a lot of insight to women. And I love that they've not just made it western. I love that they have looked further a field and actually looked at bringing in different religions and different forms of what were called witchcraft to educate the reader. So, this was a really good one and I really do recommend it.
This is one that I would like to revisit in a physical touchable format because oh hello whilst the audio book was fantastic. It was narrated by Adjoa Andoh who does a fantastic job but because I am unfamiliar with these women from history, which is a good thing as they found women that you don't hear a lot about from various different locations across the world, I didn't have as much time as I would like to enmesh myself in their world and to flick back and do research especially because it's a NetGalley audio book and so the titles are just numbers instead of actually like the names of the women or anything like that. It means that I've not been able to kind of deep dive as easily into these women's worlds. So I would love to see this as a physical collection and I feel like that would have worked better for me. So, whilst the audio book was fantastic, the narration was wonderful, I do also recommend having a physical edition of this one if you do want to pick it up
But despite my own personal issues with the formatting, which is for me to deal with, I think it's really well done, really fantastically written. The research seems to be really well done as well, and it gives you a lot of insight to women. And I love that they've not just made it western. I love that they have looked further a field and actually looked at bringing in different religions and different forms of what were called witchcraft to educate the reader. So, this was a really good one and I really do recommend it.
October 4, 2026
I expected this book to be more about the actual (detailed) biographies of these women who were called witches. However, they are fictional retellings of certain scenes. As such it was enjoyable (although I felt sometimes a bit flat, or the easiest story to tell, with little emotional depth?), but I was looking forward to more of a non fiction approach to their lives, so a bit disappointed
November 9, 2026
This is a collection of short stories about powerful women in history, labelled as witches.
This is a children’s book so the chapters were short but told of strong women and the differences they made in their lives. I listened to the audio which was clear, well paced and enjoyable.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in knowing more about women in history who were labelled as witches and how that impacted their lives.
This is a children’s book so the chapters were short but told of strong women and the differences they made in their lives. I listened to the audio which was clear, well paced and enjoyable.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in knowing more about women in history who were labelled as witches and how that impacted their lives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2026
This was not the book I was expecting from the blurb and I think the right audience would enjoy it far more than I did. I thought this book was going to focus on the women behind their reputation as witches, on fact rather than fiction. I did learn a little about each of the women but it was rarely more than the facts stated in the brief introductions at the start of each chapter. Instead, this book narrated scenes from these women's lives as if they all did have magical powers. Personally, I'd be more interested in learning about their actual lives but a more open-minded reader could find something enjoyable here.
A good thing about this book is that it looks at a fairly wide range of women, from around the world. Some of them didn't exactly seem like the best role models, especially when I looked up more about them, but it was still interesting to learn about them.
I thought the narration by Adjoa Andoh was alright and I would listen to another book narrated by her. There's a richness to her voice that works well for storytelling but sometimes the character voices didn't quite work for me. For example a 20 year old that sounded like she was a preteen.
I don't think the narrator had the best material to work with though. For a book intending to celebrate remarkable women, the language is rather everyday. At times the topics mentioned definitely seem intended for Young Adults but the simple language would better suit a younger audience. The writing felt unoriginal as there seemed to be a lot of cliched phrases. Too many times I would hear a word or two and know exactly what was coming next. It's a shame as writing these women's stories as though they actually did have magical powers seems like a wonderful opportunity to be creative.
Not a book that worked for me but I can see it being enjoyed by the right reader.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Audio UK for the eARC.
A good thing about this book is that it looks at a fairly wide range of women, from around the world. Some of them didn't exactly seem like the best role models, especially when I looked up more about them, but it was still interesting to learn about them.
I thought the narration by Adjoa Andoh was alright and I would listen to another book narrated by her. There's a richness to her voice that works well for storytelling but sometimes the character voices didn't quite work for me. For example a 20 year old that sounded like she was a preteen.
I don't think the narrator had the best material to work with though. For a book intending to celebrate remarkable women, the language is rather everyday. At times the topics mentioned definitely seem intended for Young Adults but the simple language would better suit a younger audience. The writing felt unoriginal as there seemed to be a lot of cliched phrases. Too many times I would hear a word or two and know exactly what was coming next. It's a shame as writing these women's stories as though they actually did have magical powers seems like a wonderful opportunity to be creative.
Not a book that worked for me but I can see it being enjoyed by the right reader.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Audio UK for the eARC.
October 23, 2026
They Called Us Witch explores the lives of ten remarkable women throughout history who were labelled as witches because of their beliefs, knowledge, healing abilities or influence within their communities. Rather than focusing on the familiar image of witches from fairy tales, Ellen Ryan introduces readers to real women whose stories have often been overlooked or misunderstood.
The collection spans different cultures and historical periods, introducing readers to women such as Cécile Fatiman, a Haitian Vodou priestess whose role in the struggle against slavery helped inspire resistance, and Biddy Early, an Irish healer who became associated with witchcraft. Through these stories, Ryan explores the many ways women have used their knowledge, spirituality and influence to help others, challenge authority and make a difference in the world. The book also features illustrations that bring these women and their histories to life.
What I found particularly interesting about the premise is the way it challenges the traditional idea of what a witch actually is. The word has often been used to frighten people or discredit women who didn't fit the expectations of their time. By looking beyond the stereotypes, the book gives readers an opportunity to discover women whose contributions and experiences deserve greater recognition.
I also think the variety of stories is one of the book's strengths. Bringing together women from different backgrounds and cultures highlights how ideas about witchcraft have varied throughout history, while revealing some common themes around female power, independence and the fear of women who possess knowledge or influence. It offers an accessible introduction to a fascinating part of women's history, particularly for younger readers who may not have encountered these stories before.
The collection spans different cultures and historical periods, introducing readers to women such as Cécile Fatiman, a Haitian Vodou priestess whose role in the struggle against slavery helped inspire resistance, and Biddy Early, an Irish healer who became associated with witchcraft. Through these stories, Ryan explores the many ways women have used their knowledge, spirituality and influence to help others, challenge authority and make a difference in the world. The book also features illustrations that bring these women and their histories to life.
What I found particularly interesting about the premise is the way it challenges the traditional idea of what a witch actually is. The word has often been used to frighten people or discredit women who didn't fit the expectations of their time. By looking beyond the stereotypes, the book gives readers an opportunity to discover women whose contributions and experiences deserve greater recognition.
I also think the variety of stories is one of the book's strengths. Bringing together women from different backgrounds and cultures highlights how ideas about witchcraft have varied throughout history, while revealing some common themes around female power, independence and the fear of women who possess knowledge or influence. It offers an accessible introduction to a fascinating part of women's history, particularly for younger readers who may not have encountered these stories before.
August 24, 2026
They Called Us Witch tells the stories of ten ordinary women, who were also extraordinary. These women were born in times when being born in their gender, meant they had so little power and agency in their own lives. Their experiences are varied, and from all over the world, but what united them is their branding as being witches. Some survived, others sadly didn’t.
Each of the women’s stories are succinct, and told in bitesize format. Which makes the book really easy to either dip in and out of, or read a few of the accounts successively.
I enjoyed the narration by Adjoa Andoh, I think younger readers will find her engaging.
They Called Us Witch is targeted at the young adult market. It is important for young people to hear of those from our collective past, who are not talked about, not written of in history books. Though the author, Ellen Ryan, is keen point out that she is not a historian.
I think the book perfectly blends the current thirst for fantasy reads, with a strong feminist message.
Each of the women’s stories are succinct, and told in bitesize format. Which makes the book really easy to either dip in and out of, or read a few of the accounts successively.
I enjoyed the narration by Adjoa Andoh, I think younger readers will find her engaging.
They Called Us Witch is targeted at the young adult market. It is important for young people to hear of those from our collective past, who are not talked about, not written of in history books. Though the author, Ellen Ryan, is keen point out that she is not a historian.
I think the book perfectly blends the current thirst for fantasy reads, with a strong feminist message.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, and Harper Collins Uk Audio for the ALC of this book.
I really enjoyed this audiobook, it's a quick and easy listen, but incredibly powerful. Adjoa Andoh’s narration is fabulous, her rich voice, and compelling tone brings to life the stories of these ten women in an incredible way.
I loved that the book does not rely on the usual stereotypes of witches, focusing on real women, through history, and around the world. Women who were priestesses, healers, herbalists, and leaders who challenged the society they lived in. Ellen Ryan’s writing is incredibly engaging, gripping and interesting, rather than a boring, stale history lesson.
Although written and published as a YA non-fiction book, I was intrigued by every one of the stories. If you enjoy feminist history and beautifully narrated audiobooks, I would definitely recommend listening to this audiobook.
I really enjoyed this audiobook, it's a quick and easy listen, but incredibly powerful. Adjoa Andoh’s narration is fabulous, her rich voice, and compelling tone brings to life the stories of these ten women in an incredible way.
I loved that the book does not rely on the usual stereotypes of witches, focusing on real women, through history, and around the world. Women who were priestesses, healers, herbalists, and leaders who challenged the society they lived in. Ellen Ryan’s writing is incredibly engaging, gripping and interesting, rather than a boring, stale history lesson.
Although written and published as a YA non-fiction book, I was intrigued by every one of the stories. If you enjoy feminist history and beautifully narrated audiobooks, I would definitely recommend listening to this audiobook.
October 30, 2026
What a wonderful inspirational book. I was engrossed and listened to the whole audio book in one sitting. (Even my husband stopped to listen too!)
I was so enthralled with the stories, I would have loved the physical copy to refer back too. I will definitely be adding it to my collection.
It is such a beautiful way to highlight the importance of woman in these huge moments in our history. It has inspired me to research the women further and discover their lives, and affects on the world.
The narration from the authoritative and beautifully easy listening voice of Adjoa Andoh definitely added to the experience.
Thank you to Harper Fire for the eArc Audiobook
I was so enthralled with the stories, I would have loved the physical copy to refer back too. I will definitely be adding it to my collection.
It is such a beautiful way to highlight the importance of woman in these huge moments in our history. It has inspired me to research the women further and discover their lives, and affects on the world.
The narration from the authoritative and beautifully easy listening voice of Adjoa Andoh definitely added to the experience.
Thank you to Harper Fire for the eArc Audiobook
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I went into this knowing absolutely nothing except the title. Then I quickly learned that it was based on real-life stories, and I was immediately intrigued.
I don't usually pick up this type of genre, but after reading Fishbone Cinderella recently, I realised I actually enjoy these kinds of stories.
So, while I didn't connect with every single story, I definitely enjoyed most of the women's stories. Some of them really stayed with me.
And apparently, I enjoyed it quite a bit because I ended up finishing the whole thing in one sitting.
Definitely recommended for young adult readers.
I don't usually pick up this type of genre, but after reading Fishbone Cinderella recently, I realised I actually enjoy these kinds of stories.
So, while I didn't connect with every single story, I definitely enjoyed most of the women's stories. Some of them really stayed with me.
And apparently, I enjoyed it quite a bit because I ended up finishing the whole thing in one sitting.
Definitely recommended for young adult readers.
October 29, 2026
They called us which is a unique collection of real stories of women who were suspected and tried as witches. These stories are short yet manage to cover all trials and tribulations faced by these women throughout their trials. I was able to listen to one story in each trip to a supermarket. Absolutely loved the stories of if I had to choose a favourite it was Marianne’s. A deffo recommended read for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Beautifully read and engaging. The writer shares a variety of stories exploring witchcraft in a very broad sense, sharing stories from different time periods and locations. There are strong feminist themes and lots to learn. I would have loved to learn slightly more about some stories and have further depth, but this was a quick and enjoyable listen.
via NetGalley
via NetGalley
October 24, 2026
I liked the synopsis, but the book didn’t hook me at all. I found the narrator was OK, but the plot wasn’t interesting. I found the character of each witch was flat.
The book was short, and I was glad. It was a DNF for me.
Thanks to Ellen Ryan and Harper Collins UK for an audiobook.
1.5 stars
All opinions are my own.
The book was short, and I was glad. It was a DNF for me.
Thanks to Ellen Ryan and Harper Collins UK for an audiobook.
1.5 stars
All opinions are my own.
October 12, 2026
Nice stories, but I expected more of a true telling of these historical women, instead of the fictional tellings regarding them as if they had powers.
October 25, 2026
This was so enjoyable!
Obviously some of the witch’s stories meant more to me then others but it was a great read and a wonderful way to learn.
Thank you to the publisher for the listen
Obviously some of the witch’s stories meant more to me then others but it was a great read and a wonderful way to learn.
Thank you to the publisher for the listen
October 28, 2026
i absolutely adore witch stories so absolutely loved this! very easy and quick to read
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews