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The Book of Witches
With a breathtaking array of original stories from around the world, P. Djèlí Clark, Amal El Mohtar, Garth Nix, Darcie Little Badger, Sheree Renée Thomas, and two dozen other fantasy and science fiction geniuses bring a new and exciting twist to one of the most beloved figures in fiction, witches, in never-before-seen works written exclusively for The Book of Witches, compiled by award-winning editor Jonathan Strahan and illustrated by award-nominated artist Alyssa Winans.
Witches! Whether you know them from Shakespeare or from Wicked, there is no staple more beloved in folklore, fairy tale, or fantasy than these magical beings. Witches are everywhere, and at the heart of stories that resonate with many people around the world. This dazzling, otherworldly collection gathers new stories of witches from all walks of life, ensuring a Halloween readers will never forget. Whether they be maiden, mother, crone, or other; funny, fierce, light and airy, or dark and disturbing; witches are a vital part of some of the greatest stories we have, and new ones start here!
Bringing together twenty-nine stories and poems from some of the greatest science fiction and fantasy writers working today, including three tales from a BIPOC-only open submission period, The Book of Witches features Linda Addison, C.L. Clark, P Djeli Clark, Indrapramit Das, Amal El Mohtar, Andrea Hairston, Millie Ho, Saad Hossain, Kathleen Jennings, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Cassandra Khaw, Fonda Lee, Darcie Little Badger, Ken Liu, Usman T. Malik, Maureen F. McHugh, Premee Mohamed, Garth Nix, Tobi Ogundiran, Tochi Onyebuchi, Miyuki Jane Pinckard, Kelly Robson, Angela Slatter, Andrea Stewart, Emily Teng, Sheree Renée Thomas, Tade Thompson, and E. Lily Yu—and contains illustrations from three-time Hugo award-nominated artist Alyssa Winans throughout. This extraordinary anthology vividly breathes life into one of the most captivating and feared magical sorceresses and will become a treasured keepsake for fans of fantasy, science fiction, and fairy tales everywhere.
Witches! Whether you know them from Shakespeare or from Wicked, there is no staple more beloved in folklore, fairy tale, or fantasy than these magical beings. Witches are everywhere, and at the heart of stories that resonate with many people around the world. This dazzling, otherworldly collection gathers new stories of witches from all walks of life, ensuring a Halloween readers will never forget. Whether they be maiden, mother, crone, or other; funny, fierce, light and airy, or dark and disturbing; witches are a vital part of some of the greatest stories we have, and new ones start here!
Bringing together twenty-nine stories and poems from some of the greatest science fiction and fantasy writers working today, including three tales from a BIPOC-only open submission period, The Book of Witches features Linda Addison, C.L. Clark, P Djeli Clark, Indrapramit Das, Amal El Mohtar, Andrea Hairston, Millie Ho, Saad Hossain, Kathleen Jennings, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Cassandra Khaw, Fonda Lee, Darcie Little Badger, Ken Liu, Usman T. Malik, Maureen F. McHugh, Premee Mohamed, Garth Nix, Tobi Ogundiran, Tochi Onyebuchi, Miyuki Jane Pinckard, Kelly Robson, Angela Slatter, Andrea Stewart, Emily Teng, Sheree Renée Thomas, Tade Thompson, and E. Lily Yu—and contains illustrations from three-time Hugo award-nominated artist Alyssa Winans throughout. This extraordinary anthology vividly breathes life into one of the most captivating and feared magical sorceresses and will become a treasured keepsake for fans of fantasy, science fiction, and fairy tales everywhere.
507 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2023
171 people are currently reading
8407 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
July 24, 2025
The Book of Witches is a solid collection of short stories about witches by a good mix of award-winning authors, some familiar authors whose work I looked forward to and some authors I read for the first time here.
The stories explored witches from several perspectives and many stories had unique tones set by the writing and world-building. The characters were brilliant and relatable. The story arcs were mostly well defined, though some were rambling.
Some stories were hit and miss for me, but that would happen with any anthology. The rating for the whole collection is four stars.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
[Half a star for the premise and the whole collection; One star for the characters; Half a star for the story arcs; One star for the writing; One star for the world-building - Four stars on the whole.]
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The stories explored witches from several perspectives and many stories had unique tones set by the writing and world-building. The characters were brilliant and relatable. The story arcs were mostly well defined, though some were rambling.
Some stories were hit and miss for me, but that would happen with any anthology. The rating for the whole collection is four stars.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
[Half a star for the premise and the whole collection; One star for the characters; Half a star for the story arcs; One star for the writing; One star for the world-building - Four stars on the whole.]
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2023
In a Nutshell: The best thing about this book is the cover. The second best thing is the intent. Hardly any story left any long-term impact on me.
This is a collection of twenty-nine stories, focussed on witches. The stories are quite diverse in terms of format (prose as well as poems), genres (horror, sci-fi, fantasy, contemporary), cultures (having several BIPOC authors gives it a brilliant diversity), and even the types of witches focussed upon (there is one story with a techno-witch!)
The book starts with a brilliant editor’s note, highlighting what makes a witch, and talking about the approach to building this inclusive collection. It also stresses on how the witches in this stories aren’t the ones from Western tradition with witches in pointy black hats. (Query to the people involved: Why that cover then?) I must say, the note made my expectations go sky-high.
Sadly, the stories didn’t live up to the promise. Most of the stories dragged. Most of them had a “witch” in the loosest sense of the word. Witches and magic go hand in hand, so to see several stories without a substantial fantastical content was disappointing.
At 500+ pages, this is a huge anthology. The meandering style makes it further slower. As such, I would recommend this only if you are a hard-core anthology fan and are open to slower, lengthy collections.
As always, I rated the stories individually, but most of the stories hovered around the midway mark. Very few breached the four star level. There were a couple of poems as well, but I didn’t read or rate these as I am not fond of freeverse poems.
The only stories that touched or crossed four stars were:
➙ What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata - P. Djèlí Clark - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
➙ The Liar - Darcie Little Badger - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
➙ The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches - Garth Nix - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
➙ So Spake the Mirrorwitch - Premee Mohamed - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
➙ John Hollowback and the Witch - Amal El Mohtar - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(Sorry, but I am too disappointed to even write a short synopsis for each of the above stories.)
With just 5 out of twenty-nine stories delivering, I cannot put this anthology in the must-read category. But every reader ha a different taste, so who knows? Maybe you might enjoy this collection if you are more open to innovative formats in meandering storylines.
2.45 stars, based on the average of my ratings for the stories.
My thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Book of Witches”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
This is a collection of twenty-nine stories, focussed on witches. The stories are quite diverse in terms of format (prose as well as poems), genres (horror, sci-fi, fantasy, contemporary), cultures (having several BIPOC authors gives it a brilliant diversity), and even the types of witches focussed upon (there is one story with a techno-witch!)
The book starts with a brilliant editor’s note, highlighting what makes a witch, and talking about the approach to building this inclusive collection. It also stresses on how the witches in this stories aren’t the ones from Western tradition with witches in pointy black hats. (Query to the people involved: Why that cover then?) I must say, the note made my expectations go sky-high.
Sadly, the stories didn’t live up to the promise. Most of the stories dragged. Most of them had a “witch” in the loosest sense of the word. Witches and magic go hand in hand, so to see several stories without a substantial fantastical content was disappointing.
At 500+ pages, this is a huge anthology. The meandering style makes it further slower. As such, I would recommend this only if you are a hard-core anthology fan and are open to slower, lengthy collections.
As always, I rated the stories individually, but most of the stories hovered around the midway mark. Very few breached the four star level. There were a couple of poems as well, but I didn’t read or rate these as I am not fond of freeverse poems.
The only stories that touched or crossed four stars were:
➙ What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata - P. Djèlí Clark - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
➙ The Liar - Darcie Little Badger - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
➙ The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches - Garth Nix - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
➙ So Spake the Mirrorwitch - Premee Mohamed - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
➙ John Hollowback and the Witch - Amal El Mohtar - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(Sorry, but I am too disappointed to even write a short synopsis for each of the above stories.)
With just 5 out of twenty-nine stories delivering, I cannot put this anthology in the must-read category. But every reader ha a different taste, so who knows? Maybe you might enjoy this collection if you are more open to innovative formats in meandering storylines.
2.45 stars, based on the average of my ratings for the stories.
My thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Book of Witches”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
October 28, 2023
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The Book of Witches is a collection of witchy stories from around the world from numerous authors. I've not read any of these authors' work before, and I love anything witchy, so I jumped at the chance to review. The book had a bit of a mixed bag of stories as some I really enjoyed, but others were a bit flat, and I felt let the book down. The book is much bigger than I thought it would be, and I enjoyed reading one or two stories and digesting them at a time. I found myself drawn to the creepier stories in the collection, especially the one by Darcie Little Badger (what a cool name!).
The Book of Witches is a collection of witchy stories from around the world from numerous authors. I've not read any of these authors' work before, and I love anything witchy, so I jumped at the chance to review. The book had a bit of a mixed bag of stories as some I really enjoyed, but others were a bit flat, and I felt let the book down. The book is much bigger than I thought it would be, and I enjoyed reading one or two stories and digesting them at a time. I found myself drawn to the creepier stories in the collection, especially the one by Darcie Little Badger (what a cool name!).
April 16, 2023
This is a decidedly meh collection of witchy stories and ideas from around the globe.
BUT the stories I did like, I loved.
P Djeli Clark: Brilliant. Totally felt like a complete little story. Also in a world I wouldn't mind being expanded upon sometime with a future book of his.
Amal El Mohtar: Her stories usually sneak up on you and then their awesomeness hits you, and you are over here yelling 'yesss down with the patriarchy!' as justice is served. Anything she writes is magical poetry and I am taking no comments at this time. And I need her to write another novella-or-longer book like Time War pronto please.
Darcie Little Badger: I really loved this one! It's almost horror (or maybe I'm just a scaredy cat?) because it's juust creepy enough to get under your skin.
Yes I only liked three from the entire book.
BUT the stories I did like, I loved.
P Djeli Clark: Brilliant. Totally felt like a complete little story. Also in a world I wouldn't mind being expanded upon sometime with a future book of his.
Amal El Mohtar: Her stories usually sneak up on you and then their awesomeness hits you, and you are over here yelling 'yesss down with the patriarchy!' as justice is served. Anything she writes is magical poetry and I am taking no comments at this time. And I need her to write another novella-or-longer book like Time War pronto please.
Darcie Little Badger: I really loved this one! It's almost horror (or maybe I'm just a scaredy cat?) because it's juust creepy enough to get under your skin.
Yes I only liked three from the entire book.
July 14, 2023
The Book of Witches is a fantasy anthology that Jonathan Strahan curated to reflect all sorts of different representation through witchy stories. With this goal in mind, I feel that this collection was a success. There are tons of different cultures, races, sexualities, and identities shown in the various short stories and poems. As it usually goes with anthologies, there were stories I loved and will stick with me, as well as ones that were lackluster and confusing.
The witches in these stories (as well as the various characters) are so unique to one another. There are some that resemble fairy tales, some that are the vengeful & brutal witches familiar to horror reads, some that blend with science fiction, and some that teach you lessons. Reading some of these made me more interested in certain authors, as well as gave me a taste of authors I don't think I'm interested in reading more from anymore.
Seed if Power by Linda D. Addison: Poem; I'm not much of a poem person, but I do think this was a strong poem to start the collection out with.
What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata by P. Djeli Clark: Short Story; I enjoyed this one, and it had a meaningful message to be pulled from it. This is an author I'm already interested in, and this short story piqued my interest a little more to read this author's other works.
Catechism for Those Who Would Fine Witches by Kathleen Jennings: Short Story written as a catechism; I originally didn't know what a catechism was (it's kind of like a Q&A). While I felt this was original and unique, it did bore me.
The Luck Thief by Tade Thompson: Short Story; This was one I enjoyed, and I liked the portrayal of a witch's curse.
**Good Spells by Ken Liu: Short Story; This one merged fantasy with sci-fi in a dystopian setting, where the witch is called a "techno-witch." I felt this one was super unique and interesting, and I am definitely intrigued to read more by Liu after reading this. One of my favorite short stories in this collection.
The Liar by Darcy Little Badger: Short Story; This one took a spookier spin on witches than the previous ones, and I liked it.
Escape Artist by Andrea Hairston: Poem; Again, I'm not much in to poems. This was just ~eh~ to me.
The Witch is Not the Monster by Alaya Dawn Johnson: Short Story; This is one of the stories that kind of confused me and was a bit odd.
Met Swallow by Cassandra Khaw: Short Story; I took notes on my thoughts after each read, but I honestly can't remember this one? I wrote that it was an interesting version of witches but I missed the point.
The Nine Jars of Nukulu by Tobi Ogundiran: Short Story; This is a take on witches I reall enjoyed, and I love the theme of human greed biting someone is the rear. I still remember this one well.
In a Cabin, In a Wood by Kelly Robson: Short Story; My notes literally say: "honestly what?" & "not even witchy."
What Dreams May Come by C.L. Clark: Short Story; This one is about dream witches, and I liked it. It featured a trans male MC struggling with not being accepted by his family.
She Who Makes the Rain by Millie Ho: Poem; This was a an okay short poem. Again, take my thoughts on poems with a grain of salt.
As Wayward Sisters, Hand in Hand by Indrapramit Das: Short Story; I thought this one was just odd.
Orphanage of the Last Breath by Saad Z. Hossain: Short Story; I liked this one. It's also a sci-fi fantasy blend with themes of police brutality.
The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Myster Writing Witches by Garth Nix: Short Story; As this is a popular author, I was excited for this story- but it ultimately left me bored.
So Spoke the Mirror Witch by Premee Mohamed: Short Story; This one is fairly simple, but I enjoyed it and the themes. "Pursue harm where harm is being done; and leave people be where it is not."
Just a Nudge by Maureen McHugh: Short Story; Satisfying revenge story with lesbian representation.
***Her Ravenous Waters by Andrea Stewart: Short Story;This one was my favorite story. I already wanted to read Stewart's popular series, but now I want to even more. I loved the story and her writing.
Deja Vue by Tochi Onyebuchi: Short Story; This one probably made me the maddest. My notes say "The 1st sentence has 63 WORDS AND 8 COMMAS WTF." It was an okay story.
Botanica: A Song in Four Movements by Sheree Renee Thomas: Poem; This author also has a short story in the collection. Poetry evades me, but I can tell this author knows what she is doing and has a passion for it. The poem was written beautifully and flowed so nicely.
Through the Woods, Due West by Angela Slatter: Short Story; This gave my Grimm's fairytale vibes, and I like it.
Nameless Here for Evermore by Fonda Lee: Short Story; This was pretty simple but I enjoyed it.
Mask of the Nautilus by Sheree Renee Thomas: Short Story; Again, this author's writing is pretty, but I honestly have no clue what I read.
Night Riding by Usman T. Malik: Short Story; This was a GUESOME read. I loved it.
Witchfires by E. Lily Yu: Short Story; This was another take on the downfall of greed. I really enjoyed it, and the satisfying ending.
The Academy of Oracular Magic by Miyuki Jane Pinckard: Short Story; I liked this one, but felt it left off too early. This is the one story I really wanted more from, because I wanted to see this MC accomplish more.
The Cost of Doing Business by Emily Y. Teng: Short Story; I felt this one was unique and interesting.
John Hollowback and the Witch by Amal El-Mohtar: Short Story; This was definitely a "moral of the story" read with a nice ending. I liked it.
The witches in these stories (as well as the various characters) are so unique to one another. There are some that resemble fairy tales, some that are the vengeful & brutal witches familiar to horror reads, some that blend with science fiction, and some that teach you lessons. Reading some of these made me more interested in certain authors, as well as gave me a taste of authors I don't think I'm interested in reading more from anymore.
Seed if Power by Linda D. Addison: Poem; I'm not much of a poem person, but I do think this was a strong poem to start the collection out with.
What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata by P. Djeli Clark: Short Story; I enjoyed this one, and it had a meaningful message to be pulled from it. This is an author I'm already interested in, and this short story piqued my interest a little more to read this author's other works.
Catechism for Those Who Would Fine Witches by Kathleen Jennings: Short Story written as a catechism; I originally didn't know what a catechism was (it's kind of like a Q&A). While I felt this was original and unique, it did bore me.
The Luck Thief by Tade Thompson: Short Story; This was one I enjoyed, and I liked the portrayal of a witch's curse.
**Good Spells by Ken Liu: Short Story; This one merged fantasy with sci-fi in a dystopian setting, where the witch is called a "techno-witch." I felt this one was super unique and interesting, and I am definitely intrigued to read more by Liu after reading this. One of my favorite short stories in this collection.
The Liar by Darcy Little Badger: Short Story; This one took a spookier spin on witches than the previous ones, and I liked it.
Escape Artist by Andrea Hairston: Poem; Again, I'm not much in to poems. This was just ~eh~ to me.
The Witch is Not the Monster by Alaya Dawn Johnson: Short Story; This is one of the stories that kind of confused me and was a bit odd.
Met Swallow by Cassandra Khaw: Short Story; I took notes on my thoughts after each read, but I honestly can't remember this one? I wrote that it was an interesting version of witches but I missed the point.
The Nine Jars of Nukulu by Tobi Ogundiran: Short Story; This is a take on witches I reall enjoyed, and I love the theme of human greed biting someone is the rear. I still remember this one well.
In a Cabin, In a Wood by Kelly Robson: Short Story; My notes literally say: "honestly what?" & "not even witchy."
What Dreams May Come by C.L. Clark: Short Story; This one is about dream witches, and I liked it. It featured a trans male MC struggling with not being accepted by his family.
She Who Makes the Rain by Millie Ho: Poem; This was a an okay short poem. Again, take my thoughts on poems with a grain of salt.
As Wayward Sisters, Hand in Hand by Indrapramit Das: Short Story; I thought this one was just odd.
Orphanage of the Last Breath by Saad Z. Hossain: Short Story; I liked this one. It's also a sci-fi fantasy blend with themes of police brutality.
The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Myster Writing Witches by Garth Nix: Short Story; As this is a popular author, I was excited for this story- but it ultimately left me bored.
So Spoke the Mirror Witch by Premee Mohamed: Short Story; This one is fairly simple, but I enjoyed it and the themes. "Pursue harm where harm is being done; and leave people be where it is not."
Just a Nudge by Maureen McHugh: Short Story; Satisfying revenge story with lesbian representation.
***Her Ravenous Waters by Andrea Stewart: Short Story;This one was my favorite story. I already wanted to read Stewart's popular series, but now I want to even more. I loved the story and her writing.
Deja Vue by Tochi Onyebuchi: Short Story; This one probably made me the maddest. My notes say "The 1st sentence has 63 WORDS AND 8 COMMAS WTF." It was an okay story.
Botanica: A Song in Four Movements by Sheree Renee Thomas: Poem; This author also has a short story in the collection. Poetry evades me, but I can tell this author knows what she is doing and has a passion for it. The poem was written beautifully and flowed so nicely.
Through the Woods, Due West by Angela Slatter: Short Story; This gave my Grimm's fairytale vibes, and I like it.
Nameless Here for Evermore by Fonda Lee: Short Story; This was pretty simple but I enjoyed it.
Mask of the Nautilus by Sheree Renee Thomas: Short Story; Again, this author's writing is pretty, but I honestly have no clue what I read.
Night Riding by Usman T. Malik: Short Story; This was a GUESOME read. I loved it.
Witchfires by E. Lily Yu: Short Story; This was another take on the downfall of greed. I really enjoyed it, and the satisfying ending.
The Academy of Oracular Magic by Miyuki Jane Pinckard: Short Story; I liked this one, but felt it left off too early. This is the one story I really wanted more from, because I wanted to see this MC accomplish more.
The Cost of Doing Business by Emily Y. Teng: Short Story; I felt this one was unique and interesting.
John Hollowback and the Witch by Amal El-Mohtar: Short Story; This was definitely a "moral of the story" read with a nice ending. I liked it.
August 20, 2024
Quickly looking over my updates for each story, this looks like a three star book for me. It took me a while to get through it - my overall impression is that I had to dig through a lot of mediocrity for just a few gems. Some (too many) of the stories weren't even especially witchy. But the stories I liked, I really liked a lot. I don't regret picking this up; I found a couple of new authors to follow, but most of this anthology wasn't particularly memorable. I'll give this a generous three stars.
July 19, 2023
This is a diverse collection of witchy stories incorporating a variety of formats, cultures, and popular SFF authors. From poetry to prose, there's a little something for everybody. Anthologies are difficult to rate because they will always be filled with hits and misses, and this collection had quite a few of both for me. Standouts for me included P. Djèlí Clark's What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata, Tade Thompson's The Luck Thief, Tobi Ogundiran's The Nine Jars of Nukulu, and Andrea Stewart's Her Ravenous Waters.
I recommend this for anyone who wants to explore the expansive concept of witches from across the world.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC, opinions are my own.
I recommend this for anyone who wants to explore the expansive concept of witches from across the world.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC, opinions are my own.
February 21, 2024
I was super excited to read this anthology - a whole collection centering witches written by primarily poc authors? Yes, please!
Although there were quite a few stories I enjoyed, this anthology was just waaay too long and a lot of stories could have been cut. I found myself reluctant to pick it up after the 300 page mark, and I was less inclined to see the weaker stories through in the latter half of the book. That being said, the last few stories were some of my favorites, so my experience luckily ended on a positive note.
Some of my favorite stories were by P. Djeli Clark, Tade Thompson, Darcie Little Badger, Tobi Ogundiran, Premee Mohamed, and Amal El-Mohtar.
Although there were quite a few stories I enjoyed, this anthology was just waaay too long and a lot of stories could have been cut. I found myself reluctant to pick it up after the 300 page mark, and I was less inclined to see the weaker stories through in the latter half of the book. That being said, the last few stories were some of my favorites, so my experience luckily ended on a positive note.
Some of my favorite stories were by P. Djeli Clark, Tade Thompson, Darcie Little Badger, Tobi Ogundiran, Premee Mohamed, and Amal El-Mohtar.
September 12, 2023
I won this book from a giveaway to give my honest review on, I would NOT pick this book off a library shelf.
Ima keep this short, bc I don’t think everyone wants to see my rants. The best thing about the book, is probably the cover. Sure, there was a few short stories in the book that were worth 4 stars, but only a few. Most of them were pretty boring and had an excessive amount of cursing.
Ima keep this short, bc I don’t think everyone wants to see my rants. The best thing about the book, is probably the cover. Sure, there was a few short stories in the book that were worth 4 stars, but only a few. Most of them were pretty boring and had an excessive amount of cursing.
September 29, 2024
Ultimately a very uneven collection of stories - when they are good, they are very good but otherwise it was a bit of a slog 😔 THAT COVER THO!!
And since I’ve discovered some new to me authors - I think it was time well spent. I’m quite looking forward to reading more from Darcie Little Badger and Tade Thompson.
And since I’ve discovered some new to me authors - I think it was time well spent. I’m quite looking forward to reading more from Darcie Little Badger and Tade Thompson.
December 21, 2024
It’s a beautiful book with a stunning cover. Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy many of the stories.
June 11, 2023
The Book of Witches is a huge anthology, jam-packed full of wonderful prose and poetry from a diverse range of writers, lovingly edited by Jonathan Strahan. The quality of writing does not wain throughout, but here the following really stood out to me:
The collection opens with a moving poem, Seed of Power, by Linda D. Addison. It made me feel powerful, but also made me cry, and I think the work really sets the tone for the anthology.
The first story, What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devahrata, by P. Djeli Clark, was another amazing entry. A traveling witch, a curious young girl, a giant "champion". Clark built a world so quickly, and I did not want to leave.
I was hugely impressed by Kathleen Jennings’ 2020 novel, Flyaway, so I knew I’d love her story, Catechism for Those Who Would Find Witches, written as a pamphlet about witches, that seems to be speaking directly to the reader.
I’ve been meaning to read Alaya Dawn Johnson for a while, and her story, The Witch is Not the Monster, definitely encouraged me to do this asap. A haint, a storm, generations of witches. Eco-horror. I absolutely loved it.
I am an unflinching Cassandra Khaw fan, and her story, Met Swallow, did not disappoint. A dying girl exchanges her dying body for a living fox.
The Nine Jars of Nukulu, by Tobi Ogundiran, is a tale in which a girl encounters a man in her dreams with the reflection of a panther, which leads her to discover the truth about her mother's death. Another incredibly rich story.
Preemie Mohamed continues to impress with So Spake the Mirrorwitch, where some witch hunters find themselves deservingly trapped in a living nightmare.
In the story, Her Ravenous Waters, by Andrea Stewart, a dead woman becomes indebted to a sea witch who "saved" her after her abusive husband drowned her. Again, a work of incredibly rich and engaging writing.
It’s always a pleasure to read new work by Angela Slatter. In her story Through the Woods, Due West, three young men have some strange encounters while trekking through a forest.
The ending of Night Riding by Usman T. Malik is one of the most horrifically entertaining things I’ve ever read.
E. Lily Yu captures horror and beauty perfectly in Witch Fires, a story of modern-day witch hunts and a portable crematorium.
I am so excited to seek out other work by Miyuki Jane Pinckard and Emily Y. Teng, two new (to me) writers. Pinckard’s story The Academy of Oracular Magic is about a trans girl destined for greatness, attending a prestigious magic school. Teng’s story, The Cost of Doing Business, takes place in a strange factory, which has an on-site witch to deal with injuries.When it becomes clear what the factory is, the story just opens up so wonderfully. I loved this so much.
But my absolute favorite story came last, from the remarkably intelligent writer Amal El-Mohtar. John Hollowback is a story of betrayal, forgiveness, and resentment. When the titular Hollowback visits a witch to fix his affliction, the reason for his literally hollow back unravels. This one also made me cry; it’s such a gorgeous story.
And these are just the highlights! This is such a strong collection, showing the many facets of witchcraft. And I really hope people discover their new favorite writer in this anthology.
The collection opens with a moving poem, Seed of Power, by Linda D. Addison. It made me feel powerful, but also made me cry, and I think the work really sets the tone for the anthology.
The first story, What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devahrata, by P. Djeli Clark, was another amazing entry. A traveling witch, a curious young girl, a giant "champion". Clark built a world so quickly, and I did not want to leave.
I was hugely impressed by Kathleen Jennings’ 2020 novel, Flyaway, so I knew I’d love her story, Catechism for Those Who Would Find Witches, written as a pamphlet about witches, that seems to be speaking directly to the reader.
I’ve been meaning to read Alaya Dawn Johnson for a while, and her story, The Witch is Not the Monster, definitely encouraged me to do this asap. A haint, a storm, generations of witches. Eco-horror. I absolutely loved it.
I am an unflinching Cassandra Khaw fan, and her story, Met Swallow, did not disappoint. A dying girl exchanges her dying body for a living fox.
The Nine Jars of Nukulu, by Tobi Ogundiran, is a tale in which a girl encounters a man in her dreams with the reflection of a panther, which leads her to discover the truth about her mother's death. Another incredibly rich story.
Preemie Mohamed continues to impress with So Spake the Mirrorwitch, where some witch hunters find themselves deservingly trapped in a living nightmare.
In the story, Her Ravenous Waters, by Andrea Stewart, a dead woman becomes indebted to a sea witch who "saved" her after her abusive husband drowned her. Again, a work of incredibly rich and engaging writing.
It’s always a pleasure to read new work by Angela Slatter. In her story Through the Woods, Due West, three young men have some strange encounters while trekking through a forest.
The ending of Night Riding by Usman T. Malik is one of the most horrifically entertaining things I’ve ever read.
E. Lily Yu captures horror and beauty perfectly in Witch Fires, a story of modern-day witch hunts and a portable crematorium.
I am so excited to seek out other work by Miyuki Jane Pinckard and Emily Y. Teng, two new (to me) writers. Pinckard’s story The Academy of Oracular Magic is about a trans girl destined for greatness, attending a prestigious magic school. Teng’s story, The Cost of Doing Business, takes place in a strange factory, which has an on-site witch to deal with injuries.When it becomes clear what the factory is, the story just opens up so wonderfully. I loved this so much.
But my absolute favorite story came last, from the remarkably intelligent writer Amal El-Mohtar. John Hollowback is a story of betrayal, forgiveness, and resentment. When the titular Hollowback visits a witch to fix his affliction, the reason for his literally hollow back unravels. This one also made me cry; it’s such a gorgeous story.
And these are just the highlights! This is such a strong collection, showing the many facets of witchcraft. And I really hope people discover their new favorite writer in this anthology.
July 21, 2024
Enjoyed approx 95% of the stories within this anthology. Certainly not much of the usual "run of the mill" Witches, but new perspectives which made for some excellent reading Some notable authors whose work I've encountered before as well as some refreshing new voices from Africa and Asia. 4.5/5
August 30, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for the ARC of this witchy anthology!
I loved the idea of this more than the execution, but I can definitely see other people enjoying it more. There were stories that I really enjoyed a lot, but overall it felt really long and I found myself struggling to finish reading it. I did pick up the audio to help me out and the narrators did a great job of giving each story its own voice.
I loved the idea of this more than the execution, but I can definitely see other people enjoying it more. There were stories that I really enjoyed a lot, but overall it felt really long and I found myself struggling to finish reading it. I did pick up the audio to help me out and the narrators did a great job of giving each story its own voice.
March 22, 2023
Thank you for letting me read this arc! This book was so charming! A collection of 29 short stories and poems about witches. Would recommend!
November 17, 2024
Average rating: 3/5 🌟
Individual ratings:
4/5 🌟 Seed of Power by Linda D. Addison
5/5 🌟 What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata by P. Djèlí Clark
3/5 🌟 Catechism for Those Who Would Find Witches by Kathleen Jennings
1/5 🌟 The Luck Thief by Tade Thompson
3/5 🌟 Good Spells by Ken Liu
2/5 🌟 The Liar by Darcie Little Badger
2/5 🌟 Escape Artists by Andrea Hairston
1/5 🌟 The Witch Is Not the Monster by Alaya Dawn Johnson
3/5 🌟 Met Swallow by Cassandra Khaw
5/5 🌟 The Nine Jars of Nukulu by Tobi Ogundiran
1/5 🌟 In a Cabin, In a Wood by Kelly Robson
2/5 🌟 What Dreams May Come by C. L. Clark
2/5 🌟 She Who Makes the Rain by Millie Ho
2/5 🌟 As Wayward Sisters, Hand in Hand by Indrapamit Das
3/5 🌟 Orphanage of the Last Breath by Saad Z. Hossain
4/5 🌟 The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches by Garth Nix
5/5 🌟 So Spake the Mirrorwitch by Premee Mohamed
1/5 🌟 Just a Nudge by Maureen McHugh
4/5 🌟 Her Ravenous Waters by Andrea Stewart
1/5 🌟 Déjà Vue by Tochi Onyebuchi
3/5 🌟 BOTANICA: A Song in Four Movements by Sheree Renée Thomas
5/5 🌟 Through the Woods, Due West by Angela Slatter
3/5 🌟 Nameless Here for Evermore by Fonda Lee
1/5 🌟 Mask of the Nautilus by Sheree Renée Thomas
4/5 🌟 Night Riding by Usman T. Malik
4/5 🌟 Witchfires by E. Lily Yu
5/5 🌟 The Academy of Oracular Magic by Miyuki Jane Pinckard
3/5 🌟 The Cost of Doing Business by Emily Y. Teng
4/5 🌟 John Hollowback and the Witch by Amal El-Mohtar
Individual ratings:
4/5 🌟 Seed of Power by Linda D. Addison
5/5 🌟 What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata by P. Djèlí Clark
3/5 🌟 Catechism for Those Who Would Find Witches by Kathleen Jennings
1/5 🌟 The Luck Thief by Tade Thompson
3/5 🌟 Good Spells by Ken Liu
2/5 🌟 The Liar by Darcie Little Badger
2/5 🌟 Escape Artists by Andrea Hairston
1/5 🌟 The Witch Is Not the Monster by Alaya Dawn Johnson
3/5 🌟 Met Swallow by Cassandra Khaw
5/5 🌟 The Nine Jars of Nukulu by Tobi Ogundiran
1/5 🌟 In a Cabin, In a Wood by Kelly Robson
2/5 🌟 What Dreams May Come by C. L. Clark
2/5 🌟 She Who Makes the Rain by Millie Ho
2/5 🌟 As Wayward Sisters, Hand in Hand by Indrapamit Das
3/5 🌟 Orphanage of the Last Breath by Saad Z. Hossain
4/5 🌟 The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches by Garth Nix
5/5 🌟 So Spake the Mirrorwitch by Premee Mohamed
1/5 🌟 Just a Nudge by Maureen McHugh
4/5 🌟 Her Ravenous Waters by Andrea Stewart
1/5 🌟 Déjà Vue by Tochi Onyebuchi
3/5 🌟 BOTANICA: A Song in Four Movements by Sheree Renée Thomas
5/5 🌟 Through the Woods, Due West by Angela Slatter
3/5 🌟 Nameless Here for Evermore by Fonda Lee
1/5 🌟 Mask of the Nautilus by Sheree Renée Thomas
4/5 🌟 Night Riding by Usman T. Malik
4/5 🌟 Witchfires by E. Lily Yu
5/5 🌟 The Academy of Oracular Magic by Miyuki Jane Pinckard
3/5 🌟 The Cost of Doing Business by Emily Y. Teng
4/5 🌟 John Hollowback and the Witch by Amal El-Mohtar
January 2, 2024
I enjoyed some of these stories, but most of them were mediocre at best and very forgettable.
October 22, 2024
Some of the stories were good, some were lacking and found myself just wanting to get through them.
September 23, 2023
Not every story was five stars (many of them were) but the sheer variety of stories was delightful! Everything from horror to comedy to folk tales to stories written in verse. Just a wonderfully edited compilation and I was so excited to start every new story to see what came next!
August 15, 2023
my blog // my twitter
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review! 💖
I’ve always loved witch-related stories, but only a few in The Book of Witches stood out to me.
For a short story anthology, The Book of Witches is long—and I felt its length. It features a range of authors I love, including Fonda Lee, P. Djeli Clark, C.L. Clark, and Cassandra Khaw, and includes poetry, sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and contemporary fiction. The editor’s note set my expectations high, as it deconstructs the notion of the witch as a solely Western tradition. However, only a few of the selections convinced me that their worlds could exist beyond the confines of a short story.
Above all else, I wished the stories had leaned into their witchiness more. I wanted much more magic! For a collection that was supposed to take witchiness in many directions, the stories felt tame and rather similar overall; the majority of them feature witches who hide or reject their abilities for various reasons. I love speculative fiction of all kinds, so I wasn’t bothered by the genre-blending but rather by the lack of intensity and magical intrigue.
A few days after finishing the anthology, these are the stories that still linger: P. Djèlí Clark's What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata, Cassandra Khaw’s Met Swallow, Tobi Ogundiran’s The Nine Jars of Nukulu, and E. Lily Yu’s Witch Fires.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review! 💖
I’ve always loved witch-related stories, but only a few in The Book of Witches stood out to me.
For a short story anthology, The Book of Witches is long—and I felt its length. It features a range of authors I love, including Fonda Lee, P. Djeli Clark, C.L. Clark, and Cassandra Khaw, and includes poetry, sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and contemporary fiction. The editor’s note set my expectations high, as it deconstructs the notion of the witch as a solely Western tradition. However, only a few of the selections convinced me that their worlds could exist beyond the confines of a short story.
Above all else, I wished the stories had leaned into their witchiness more. I wanted much more magic! For a collection that was supposed to take witchiness in many directions, the stories felt tame and rather similar overall; the majority of them feature witches who hide or reject their abilities for various reasons. I love speculative fiction of all kinds, so I wasn’t bothered by the genre-blending but rather by the lack of intensity and magical intrigue.
A few days after finishing the anthology, these are the stories that still linger: P. Djèlí Clark's What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata, Cassandra Khaw’s Met Swallow, Tobi Ogundiran’s The Nine Jars of Nukulu, and E. Lily Yu’s Witch Fires.
April 1, 2025
Nice range of stories some great and some just ok. Enjoyed reading.
February 10, 2024
"What Is a Witch?" Jonathan Strahan ★½
"Seed of Power" Linda D. Addison ★★
"What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata" P. Djèlí Clark ★★★½
"The Luck Thief" Tade Thompson ★★★½
"Good Spells" Ken Liu ★★★
"The Liar" Darcie Little Badger ★★★★★
"Met Swallow" Cassandra Khaw ★½
"The Nine Jars of Nukulu" Tobi Ogundiran ★★★
"In a Cabin, In a Wood" Kelly Robson ★★½
"What Dreams May Come" C. L. Clark ★★★★
"She Who Makes the Rain" Millie Ho ★★
"Orphanage of the Last Breath" Saad Z. Hossain ★★★
"The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches" Garth Nix ★★★
"So Spake the Mirrorwitch" Premee Mohamed ★★★
"Just a Nudge" Maureen McHugh ★★★ This read as extra white
"Her Ravenous Waters" Andrea Stewart ★★★
"Nameless Here for Evermore" Fonda Lee ★★★¼
Kind of disappointed the intro and stories were about magic and often included stereotypes. None were about the dishonesty of myth creation in the persecuting control and punishment of women.
"Seed of Power" Linda D. Addison ★★
"What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata" P. Djèlí Clark ★★★½
"The Luck Thief" Tade Thompson ★★★½
"Good Spells" Ken Liu ★★★
"The Liar" Darcie Little Badger ★★★★★
"Met Swallow" Cassandra Khaw ★½
"The Nine Jars of Nukulu" Tobi Ogundiran ★★★
"In a Cabin, In a Wood" Kelly Robson ★★½
"What Dreams May Come" C. L. Clark ★★★★
"She Who Makes the Rain" Millie Ho ★★
"Orphanage of the Last Breath" Saad Z. Hossain ★★★
"The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches" Garth Nix ★★★
"So Spake the Mirrorwitch" Premee Mohamed ★★★
"Just a Nudge" Maureen McHugh ★★★ This read as extra white
"Her Ravenous Waters" Andrea Stewart ★★★
"Nameless Here for Evermore" Fonda Lee ★★★¼
Kind of disappointed the intro and stories were about magic and often included stereotypes. None were about the dishonesty of myth creation in the persecuting control and punishment of women.
December 20, 2024
I am the first to review this book. A very lovely collection with some very lovely pieces of witchy fiction, but it just didn’t grab me like I expected it to. However, The Nine Jars Of Nukulu by Nigerian writer Tobi Ogundiran really caught my attention and outshone the rest ( for me). It is a dark tale, very apt for this book, in which a girl encounters a reoccurring man in her dreams with the reflection of a panther, which leads her to discover the truth about her ruler father and her mother’s demise. Full with bursts of rich imagery and magical storytelling. I wish it could transcend the short story form.
July 26, 2023
Check out this review and more on The Quill to Live!
Countless authors shared their craft and spun tales for The Book of Witches: An Anthology. This collection of stories is vast, and I am impressed by the variety of witches that enchant its pages. There are so many stories that I cannot possibly review them all, but I will share an overview and my recommendation for readers to become spellbound by this book.
The Book of Witches is a cauldron bubbling over with stories. It’s over 500 pages long and features 28 fantasy and sci-fi authors including QTL favorites P. Djèlí Clark, Tade Thompson, Ken Liu, Cassandra Khaw, and Premee Mohamed among others. The content ranges from stories to poems and even songs. While I certainly have my favorites like The Nine Jars of Nukulu, She Who Makes the Rain, The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches, Just a Nudge, and The Academy of Oracular Magic, I enjoyed every entry.
Editor Jonathan Strahan speaks true when he says there is a witch for everyone in this anthology. You will encounter a diverse coven of witches that will spark admiration, fear, and pity. The witches inhabit fantastical lands, oppressive futuristic states, and familiar settings such as post-COVID Los Angeles. They travel by hot air balloons, chicken-leg houses, broomsticks sporting armchairs, or they simply walk about. They can become crows, work as nurses, travel through dreamscapes, or make mirrors. They are good and bad and somewhere in between and they help, hurt, and are harmed. There are so many ways the witch has been honored and reimagined in this anthology that I guarantee you will discover a new version of this enticing figure to love.
I was not prepared for how emotional it would be to read tale after tale of powerful, lonely, hunted, misunderstood, and feared individuals. Many authors used this opportunity to showcase how easily our fear can be manipulated into violence and how easily blame can be shifted to anyone not fitting the status quo. C. L. Clark tells the story of a transgender witch shunned by his family and barred from his power. One particularly chilling tale by E. Lily Yu follows a charismatic man with a portable crematorium who has incited Salem witch trial energy across America. There are more somber stories, like P. Djèlí Clark’s depiction of a witch who is adored until she isn’t, and how ugly things can become. But there are also triumphant tales of empowered and celebrated witches and even witches who aren’t the main event but make life a little weirder.
The Book of Witches is a charming collection of stories that are guaranteed to entertain and inspire. I read the anthology quickly for this review, but it is a brew that should be sipped and savored so that you can sit with the enchanting lessons the authors impart in such a few short pages. The entire anthology is a powerful potion and will inspire you to reflect on who is labeled as a witch and why some are celebrated while others are vilified.
Rating: The Book of Witches - An Anthology - 8.5/10
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The thoughts on this story are my own.
Countless authors shared their craft and spun tales for The Book of Witches: An Anthology. This collection of stories is vast, and I am impressed by the variety of witches that enchant its pages. There are so many stories that I cannot possibly review them all, but I will share an overview and my recommendation for readers to become spellbound by this book.
The Book of Witches is a cauldron bubbling over with stories. It’s over 500 pages long and features 28 fantasy and sci-fi authors including QTL favorites P. Djèlí Clark, Tade Thompson, Ken Liu, Cassandra Khaw, and Premee Mohamed among others. The content ranges from stories to poems and even songs. While I certainly have my favorites like The Nine Jars of Nukulu, She Who Makes the Rain, The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches, Just a Nudge, and The Academy of Oracular Magic, I enjoyed every entry.
Editor Jonathan Strahan speaks true when he says there is a witch for everyone in this anthology. You will encounter a diverse coven of witches that will spark admiration, fear, and pity. The witches inhabit fantastical lands, oppressive futuristic states, and familiar settings such as post-COVID Los Angeles. They travel by hot air balloons, chicken-leg houses, broomsticks sporting armchairs, or they simply walk about. They can become crows, work as nurses, travel through dreamscapes, or make mirrors. They are good and bad and somewhere in between and they help, hurt, and are harmed. There are so many ways the witch has been honored and reimagined in this anthology that I guarantee you will discover a new version of this enticing figure to love.
I was not prepared for how emotional it would be to read tale after tale of powerful, lonely, hunted, misunderstood, and feared individuals. Many authors used this opportunity to showcase how easily our fear can be manipulated into violence and how easily blame can be shifted to anyone not fitting the status quo. C. L. Clark tells the story of a transgender witch shunned by his family and barred from his power. One particularly chilling tale by E. Lily Yu follows a charismatic man with a portable crematorium who has incited Salem witch trial energy across America. There are more somber stories, like P. Djèlí Clark’s depiction of a witch who is adored until she isn’t, and how ugly things can become. But there are also triumphant tales of empowered and celebrated witches and even witches who aren’t the main event but make life a little weirder.
The Book of Witches is a charming collection of stories that are guaranteed to entertain and inspire. I read the anthology quickly for this review, but it is a brew that should be sipped and savored so that you can sit with the enchanting lessons the authors impart in such a few short pages. The entire anthology is a powerful potion and will inspire you to reflect on who is labeled as a witch and why some are celebrated while others are vilified.
Rating: The Book of Witches - An Anthology - 8.5/10
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The thoughts on this story are my own.
November 13, 2023
Originally posted on Just Geeking by.
Content warnings:
An anthology titled The Book of Witches, of course, caught my attention, and with such a showcase of writing talent on offer I had to check this one out. There are twenty-five stories and four poems in The Book of Witches, and I enjoyed the wide variety of subjects covered under the umbrella term of “witches”. It is always interesting to see how each writer interprets the theme of an anthology, and The Book of Witches is a splendid example of creativity. The range of settings and genres means that this is an anthology that truly does offer something for everything. From the traditional urban fantasy and paranormal themed stories, to tales of necromancers, vengeful spirits, techno-witches and dream magic.
My favourites from the anthology are ‘What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata’ by P. Djèlí Clark, ‘The Luck Thief’ by Tade Thompson, ‘The Witch Is Not the Monster’ by Alaya Dawn Johnson, ‘Met Swallow’ by Cassandra Khaw, ‘The Nine Jars of Nukulu’ by Tobi Ogundiran, ‘What Dreams May Come’ by C. L. Clark, ‘The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches’ by Garth Nix, ‘So Spake the Mirrorwitch’ by Premee Mohamed’, ‘Her Ravenous Waters’ by Andrea Stewart, ‘Through the Woods, Due West’ by Angela Slatter, ‘Witchfires’ by E. Lily Yu and ‘The Cost of Doing Business’ by Emily Y. Teng.
Some of these are by authors that I’ve read multiple times and know to deliver sensational short stories, such as Cassandra Khaw and Angela Slatter. While others are on my reading list (C. L. Clark and Andrea Stewart) and confirmed everything that I’ve heard about their writing. The other authors I’ve not read before, but will certainly be checking out now!
The Book of Witches begins with a well researched introduction by editor Jonathan Strahan. It’s an interesting read, however as a disabled reader I was extremely disappointed to see only BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ writers named when he mentioned diversity. This is such an ignorant perspective, and having it printed in an anthology published by a major publisher is rather upsetting. Despite this comment in the introduction, there is disability representation in The Book of Witches, most notably the excellent ‘Just a Nudge’ by Maureen McHugh and the brilliant ‘Night Riding’ by Usman T. Malik (please do check the content warnings for this one though as it is a very dark tale).
On a final note, I was disappointed by the illustrations. I didn’t feel that they were of particularly good quality nor did they add anything to the stories they accompanied.
Full list of stories and poems:
‘Seed of Power’ by Linda D. Addison (Poem)
‘What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata’ by P. Djèlí Clark
‘Catechism for Those Who Would Find Witches’ by Kathleen Jennings
‘The Luck Thief’ by Tade Thompson
‘Good Spells’ by Ken Liu
‘The Liar’ by Darcie Little Badger
‘Escape Artists’ by Andrea Hairston (Poem)
‘The Witch Is Not the Monster’ by Alaya Dawn Johnson
‘Met Swallow’ by Cassandra Khaw
‘The Nine Jars of Nukulu’ by Tobi Ogundiran
‘In a Cabin’ by In a Wood by Kelly Robson
‘What Dreams May Come’ by C. L. Clark
‘She Who Makes the Rain’ by Millie Ho (Poem)
‘As Wayward Sisters’ by Hand in Hand, Indrapramit Das
‘Orphanage of the Last Breath’ by Saad Z. Hossain
‘The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches’ by Garth Nix
‘So Spake the Mirrorwitch’ by Premee Mohamed
‘Just a Nudge’ by Maureen McHugh
‘Her Ravenous Waters’ by Andrea Stewart
‘Déjà Vue’ by Tochi Onyebuchi
‘BOTANICA: A Song in Four Movements’ by Sheree Renée Thomas (Poem)
‘Through the Woods, Due West’ by Angela Slatter
‘Nameless Here for Evermore’ by Fonda Lee
‘Mask of the Nautilus’ by Sheree Renée Thomas
‘Night Riding’ by Usman T. Malik
‘Witchfires’ by E. Lily Yu
‘The Academy of Oracular Magic’ by Miyuki Jane Pinckard
‘The Cost of Doing Business’ by Emily Y. Teng
‘John Hollowback and the Witch’ by Amal El-Mohtar
BLOG | REVIEWS | REVIEW SCHEDULE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST |
Content warnings:
An anthology titled The Book of Witches, of course, caught my attention, and with such a showcase of writing talent on offer I had to check this one out. There are twenty-five stories and four poems in The Book of Witches, and I enjoyed the wide variety of subjects covered under the umbrella term of “witches”. It is always interesting to see how each writer interprets the theme of an anthology, and The Book of Witches is a splendid example of creativity. The range of settings and genres means that this is an anthology that truly does offer something for everything. From the traditional urban fantasy and paranormal themed stories, to tales of necromancers, vengeful spirits, techno-witches and dream magic.
My favourites from the anthology are ‘What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata’ by P. Djèlí Clark, ‘The Luck Thief’ by Tade Thompson, ‘The Witch Is Not the Monster’ by Alaya Dawn Johnson, ‘Met Swallow’ by Cassandra Khaw, ‘The Nine Jars of Nukulu’ by Tobi Ogundiran, ‘What Dreams May Come’ by C. L. Clark, ‘The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches’ by Garth Nix, ‘So Spake the Mirrorwitch’ by Premee Mohamed’, ‘Her Ravenous Waters’ by Andrea Stewart, ‘Through the Woods, Due West’ by Angela Slatter, ‘Witchfires’ by E. Lily Yu and ‘The Cost of Doing Business’ by Emily Y. Teng.
Some of these are by authors that I’ve read multiple times and know to deliver sensational short stories, such as Cassandra Khaw and Angela Slatter. While others are on my reading list (C. L. Clark and Andrea Stewart) and confirmed everything that I’ve heard about their writing. The other authors I’ve not read before, but will certainly be checking out now!
The Book of Witches begins with a well researched introduction by editor Jonathan Strahan. It’s an interesting read, however as a disabled reader I was extremely disappointed to see only BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ writers named when he mentioned diversity. This is such an ignorant perspective, and having it printed in an anthology published by a major publisher is rather upsetting. Despite this comment in the introduction, there is disability representation in The Book of Witches, most notably the excellent ‘Just a Nudge’ by Maureen McHugh and the brilliant ‘Night Riding’ by Usman T. Malik (please do check the content warnings for this one though as it is a very dark tale).
On a final note, I was disappointed by the illustrations. I didn’t feel that they were of particularly good quality nor did they add anything to the stories they accompanied.
Full list of stories and poems:
‘Seed of Power’ by Linda D. Addison (Poem)
‘What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata’ by P. Djèlí Clark
‘Catechism for Those Who Would Find Witches’ by Kathleen Jennings
‘The Luck Thief’ by Tade Thompson
‘Good Spells’ by Ken Liu
‘The Liar’ by Darcie Little Badger
‘Escape Artists’ by Andrea Hairston (Poem)
‘The Witch Is Not the Monster’ by Alaya Dawn Johnson
‘Met Swallow’ by Cassandra Khaw
‘The Nine Jars of Nukulu’ by Tobi Ogundiran
‘In a Cabin’ by In a Wood by Kelly Robson
‘What Dreams May Come’ by C. L. Clark
‘She Who Makes the Rain’ by Millie Ho (Poem)
‘As Wayward Sisters’ by Hand in Hand, Indrapramit Das
‘Orphanage of the Last Breath’ by Saad Z. Hossain
‘The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches’ by Garth Nix
‘So Spake the Mirrorwitch’ by Premee Mohamed
‘Just a Nudge’ by Maureen McHugh
‘Her Ravenous Waters’ by Andrea Stewart
‘Déjà Vue’ by Tochi Onyebuchi
‘BOTANICA: A Song in Four Movements’ by Sheree Renée Thomas (Poem)
‘Through the Woods, Due West’ by Angela Slatter
‘Nameless Here for Evermore’ by Fonda Lee
‘Mask of the Nautilus’ by Sheree Renée Thomas
‘Night Riding’ by Usman T. Malik
‘Witchfires’ by E. Lily Yu
‘The Academy of Oracular Magic’ by Miyuki Jane Pinckard
‘The Cost of Doing Business’ by Emily Y. Teng
‘John Hollowback and the Witch’ by Amal El-Mohtar
BLOG | REVIEWS | REVIEW SCHEDULE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST |
October 25, 2023
The Book of Witches, edited by Jonathan Strahan
Publication date: 26 October 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.25 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
~~~~~
An array of original stories from around the world bring a new and exciting twist to one of the most beloved figures in fiction: witches.
~~~~~
This is a book perfectly suited to the season; I really appreciated Jonathan Strahan's introduction looking at witches through time and the prism of different cultures and there were quite a few authors I was aware of or familiar with in this anthology.
I think it's normal when reading a short story collection for some of the stories to not fully land for the reader, but there were much more of those than usual for me on this occasion. For instance, any story written in verse is very unlikely to work for me as I do not like poetry, but this is a me problem rather than a book problem. This being said, quite a few of the stories left me a bit "meh," a bit disengaged or confused as to the point they were trying to make.
However, as with any anthology, there were some outstanding stories. The most fun with a clever premise (and probably my very favourite) is "The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches" by Garth Nix where three murder mystery writing witches have to deal with a supernatural danger. One of those witches is called Agatha (wink, wink, nudge, nudge.) I had to do a bit of Google sleuthing myself to identify the other two murder mystery writing witches, which was a lot of fun and I loved the traditional aspects of the story (those witches ride broomsticks, they use wands and cast spells.)
"What Dreams May Come" by C. L. Clark also had an amazing premise that explored complicated family dynamics, rejection and acceptance. "So Spake The Mirrorwitch" by Premee Mohamed focused on prejudice and the othering of those whom Society would consider "different" while "John Hollowback and The Witch" by Amal El-Mohtar was a quieter, more contemplative and melancholy story.
~~~~~
Publication date: 26 October 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.25 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
~~~~~
An array of original stories from around the world bring a new and exciting twist to one of the most beloved figures in fiction: witches.
~~~~~
This is a book perfectly suited to the season; I really appreciated Jonathan Strahan's introduction looking at witches through time and the prism of different cultures and there were quite a few authors I was aware of or familiar with in this anthology.
I think it's normal when reading a short story collection for some of the stories to not fully land for the reader, but there were much more of those than usual for me on this occasion. For instance, any story written in verse is very unlikely to work for me as I do not like poetry, but this is a me problem rather than a book problem. This being said, quite a few of the stories left me a bit "meh," a bit disengaged or confused as to the point they were trying to make.
However, as with any anthology, there were some outstanding stories. The most fun with a clever premise (and probably my very favourite) is "The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches" by Garth Nix where three murder mystery writing witches have to deal with a supernatural danger. One of those witches is called Agatha (wink, wink, nudge, nudge.) I had to do a bit of Google sleuthing myself to identify the other two murder mystery writing witches, which was a lot of fun and I loved the traditional aspects of the story (those witches ride broomsticks, they use wands and cast spells.)
"What Dreams May Come" by C. L. Clark also had an amazing premise that explored complicated family dynamics, rejection and acceptance. "So Spake The Mirrorwitch" by Premee Mohamed focused on prejudice and the othering of those whom Society would consider "different" while "John Hollowback and The Witch" by Amal El-Mohtar was a quieter, more contemplative and melancholy story.
~~~~~
September 8, 2024
Introduction:
WHAT IS A WITCH? By Jonathan Strahan⭐⭐⭐⭐
Seed of power by Linda D. Addison: too short to rate but maybe ⭐⭐⭐
What I remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata by P. Djèli Clark ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Catechism for those who would find witches by Kathleen Jennings ⭐⭐⭐
The luck thief by Tade Thompson ⭐⭐⭐
Good spells by Ken Liu ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The liar by Darcie Little Badger ⭐⭐⭐ (⭐)
Escape artists by Andrea Hairston ⭐⭐⭐(⭐)
These 3 were intricate. Seemingly contradictory while philosophically explaining why it is so.
Interesting and definitely worth another, closer, read
The witch is not a monster by Alaya Dawn Johnson⭐⭐⭐
Met swallow by Cassandra Khaw ⭐⭐⭐
The nine jars ofNukulu by Tobi Ogundiran ⭐⭐(⭐)
In a cabin, in a wood by Kelly Robson ⭐⭐
What dreams may by C. L. Clark ⭐⭐⭐⭐
She who makes the rain by Millie Ho ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
As wayward sisters, hand in hand by Indrapramit Das ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I wouldn't have minded a longer version of all 3 of these, especially the first and third
Orphanage of the Last Breath by Saad Z. Hossain ⭐⭐⭐
The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches by Garth Nix ⭐⭐
So Spake the Mirrorwitch by Premee Mohamed ⭐⭐⭐
Just a Nudge by Maureen McHugh ⭐⭐⭐
These were alright. The 2nd one was too meandering for me, I'm not in the mood for pure slice of life.
The 4th was cool 👉💓❤️💔💀
Her Ravenous Waters by Andrea Stewart ⭐⭐⭐
Déjà Vue by Tochi Onyebuchi ?? Struggled with rating it right after reading it but now, I have no idea which story this was 😅
BOTANICA: A Song in Four Movements by Sheree Renée Thomas ⭐⭐⭐
Through the Woods by Due West, Angela Slatter ⭐⭐⭐
Nameless Here for Evermore by Fonda Lee ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mask of the Nautilus by Sheree Renée Thomas ⭐⭐⭐(⭐)
Night Riding by Usman T. Malik ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Witchfires by E. Lily Yu ⭐⭐⭐
The Academy of Oracular Magic by Miyuki Jane Pinckard ⭐⭐⭐(⭐)
The Cost of Doing Business by Emily Y. Teng ⭐⭐⭐(⭐)
John Hollowback and the Witch by Amal El-Mohtar⭐⭐⭐⭐(⭐)
WHAT IS A WITCH? By Jonathan Strahan⭐⭐⭐⭐
Seed of power by Linda D. Addison: too short to rate but maybe ⭐⭐⭐
What I remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata by P. Djèli Clark ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Catechism for those who would find witches by Kathleen Jennings ⭐⭐⭐
The luck thief by Tade Thompson ⭐⭐⭐
Good spells by Ken Liu ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The liar by Darcie Little Badger ⭐⭐⭐ (⭐)
Escape artists by Andrea Hairston ⭐⭐⭐(⭐)
These 3 were intricate. Seemingly contradictory while philosophically explaining why it is so.
Interesting and definitely worth another, closer, read
The witch is not a monster by Alaya Dawn Johnson⭐⭐⭐
Met swallow by Cassandra Khaw ⭐⭐⭐
The nine jars ofNukulu by Tobi Ogundiran ⭐⭐(⭐)
In a cabin, in a wood by Kelly Robson ⭐⭐
What dreams may by C. L. Clark ⭐⭐⭐⭐
She who makes the rain by Millie Ho ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
As wayward sisters, hand in hand by Indrapramit Das ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I wouldn't have minded a longer version of all 3 of these, especially the first and third
Orphanage of the Last Breath by Saad Z. Hossain ⭐⭐⭐
The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches by Garth Nix ⭐⭐
So Spake the Mirrorwitch by Premee Mohamed ⭐⭐⭐
Just a Nudge by Maureen McHugh ⭐⭐⭐
These were alright. The 2nd one was too meandering for me, I'm not in the mood for pure slice of life.
The 4th was cool 👉💓❤️💔💀
Her Ravenous Waters by Andrea Stewart ⭐⭐⭐
Déjà Vue by Tochi Onyebuchi ?? Struggled with rating it right after reading it but now, I have no idea which story this was 😅
BOTANICA: A Song in Four Movements by Sheree Renée Thomas ⭐⭐⭐
Through the Woods by Due West, Angela Slatter ⭐⭐⭐
Nameless Here for Evermore by Fonda Lee ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mask of the Nautilus by Sheree Renée Thomas ⭐⭐⭐(⭐)
Night Riding by Usman T. Malik ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Witchfires by E. Lily Yu ⭐⭐⭐
The Academy of Oracular Magic by Miyuki Jane Pinckard ⭐⭐⭐(⭐)
The Cost of Doing Business by Emily Y. Teng ⭐⭐⭐(⭐)
John Hollowback and the Witch by Amal El-Mohtar⭐⭐⭐⭐(⭐)
July 31, 2023
Marvelous collection! Anthologies are so often a hit-and-miss affair--casting a net wide enough to have something for everyone means that of course very few readers are going to love everything--but at least for this particular reader, this is one of a standout handful of anthologies whose stories were consistent hits. In this gathering of 4 poems and 24(!) stories, there were only a few stories that I didn't really connect with. My favorite anthologies have a delicious balance of authors I already know and love and works from new-to-me authors that I can get excited about and go hunt up more of, and this was great for that.
Standout stories from minds I already loved included "What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata" by P. Djèlí Clark, Ken Liu's "Good Spells" (this very modern take on witchcraft is both thoughtful and clever and it satirizes an easily-recognized famously exploitative employer and is a strong contender for my favorite story in this collection-worth the cost of admission all by itself), Premee Mohamed's "So Spake the Mirrorwitch," the utterly haunting "Through the Woods, Due West" by Angela Slatter, Usman T. Malik's horrifying "Night Riding," E. Lily Yu's "Witchfires" (love), and Amal El-Mohtar's stunning "John Hollowback and the Witch," which is tied with Liu's in my mind for favorite of the whole bunch. I have only read a few Indrapramit Das stories before The Book of Witches, and I was surprised to find that their entry, "As Wayward Sisters, Hand in Hand" was not a horror piece (Saad Z. Hussain and Usman T. Malik have that covered in this collection; not for kids!) but instead a melancholic meditation on growth and change, sprinkled with Macbeth. I was unsurprised to encounter and enjoy stories by Alaya Dawn Johnson, Darcie Little Badger, and Cassandra Khaw. I don't always remember introductions, but I really, really liked Strahan's introduction.
Works by authors I hadn't encountered before The Book of Witches that delighted me enough to look up more of their work included "The Cost of Doing Business" by Emily Y. Teng, Miyuki Jane Pinckard's "The Academy of Oracular Magic," "Her Ravenous Waters" by Andrea Stewart, the unsettling "Just a Nudge" by Maureen McHugh, Kathleen Jennings' "Catechism for Those Who Would Find Witches," Millie Ho's poem "She Who Makes the Rain," and Tobi Ogundiran's "Nine Jars of Nukulu."
I received a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review--my opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Voyager.
Standout stories from minds I already loved included "What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata" by P. Djèlí Clark, Ken Liu's "Good Spells" (this very modern take on witchcraft is both thoughtful and clever and it satirizes an easily-recognized famously exploitative employer and is a strong contender for my favorite story in this collection-worth the cost of admission all by itself), Premee Mohamed's "So Spake the Mirrorwitch," the utterly haunting "Through the Woods, Due West" by Angela Slatter, Usman T. Malik's horrifying "Night Riding," E. Lily Yu's "Witchfires" (love), and Amal El-Mohtar's stunning "John Hollowback and the Witch," which is tied with Liu's in my mind for favorite of the whole bunch. I have only read a few Indrapramit Das stories before The Book of Witches, and I was surprised to find that their entry, "As Wayward Sisters, Hand in Hand" was not a horror piece (Saad Z. Hussain and Usman T. Malik have that covered in this collection; not for kids!) but instead a melancholic meditation on growth and change, sprinkled with Macbeth. I was unsurprised to encounter and enjoy stories by Alaya Dawn Johnson, Darcie Little Badger, and Cassandra Khaw. I don't always remember introductions, but I really, really liked Strahan's introduction.
Works by authors I hadn't encountered before The Book of Witches that delighted me enough to look up more of their work included "The Cost of Doing Business" by Emily Y. Teng, Miyuki Jane Pinckard's "The Academy of Oracular Magic," "Her Ravenous Waters" by Andrea Stewart, the unsettling "Just a Nudge" by Maureen McHugh, Kathleen Jennings' "Catechism for Those Who Would Find Witches," Millie Ho's poem "She Who Makes the Rain," and Tobi Ogundiran's "Nine Jars of Nukulu."
I received a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review--my opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Voyager.
August 1, 2023
The Book of Witches, edited by Jonathan Strahan, is an expansive collection that dives into the world of witchcraft, shining a spotlight on diversity and inclusivity. With contributions from 28 fantasy and sci-fi authors, the anthology delivers a mixed bag of tales and poems, each adding a distinctive spin on the authors' ideas on witchcraft.
Stories like Garth Nix's "The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches," P. Djèlí Clark's "What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata," Angela Slatter's "Through the Woods, Due West," and E. Lily Yu's "Witchfires," as well as Cassandra Khaw's "Met Swallow" and C.L. Clark's "What Dreams May Come" — which feature transgender witches — give a fresh take on a classic literary staple.
The witches in this anthology inhabit various environments from fantastical realms to dystopian futures and post-COVID Los Angeles, underscoring the breadth of experiences covered. They take diverse forms, exploring unique paths, ensuring every reader finds a story or poem that resonates with them. I think the collection would have benefitted from a few more cuts — a few stories fell flat for me.
The Book of Witches is an exploration of "otherness'" infused with human experience and diverse voices. With its fusion of stories and poems and despite its length, this is a worthwhile read for lovers of witches and witchcraft.
Stories like Garth Nix's "The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches," P. Djèlí Clark's "What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata," Angela Slatter's "Through the Woods, Due West," and E. Lily Yu's "Witchfires," as well as Cassandra Khaw's "Met Swallow" and C.L. Clark's "What Dreams May Come" — which feature transgender witches — give a fresh take on a classic literary staple.
The witches in this anthology inhabit various environments from fantastical realms to dystopian futures and post-COVID Los Angeles, underscoring the breadth of experiences covered. They take diverse forms, exploring unique paths, ensuring every reader finds a story or poem that resonates with them. I think the collection would have benefitted from a few more cuts — a few stories fell flat for me.
The Book of Witches is an exploration of "otherness'" infused with human experience and diverse voices. With its fusion of stories and poems and despite its length, this is a worthwhile read for lovers of witches and witchcraft.
September 15, 2023
3.5 stars
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
CWs:
I always find rating and reviewing anthologies difficult, because there's such a variety in quality when you're dealing with 28 different stories. I picked this up because I recognized quite a few of the authors—some I've read from before and enjoyed, others that have books on my TBR. Overall, I really enjoyed the project, and the focus on diverse representation and depictions of witches.
Standouts:
Good Spells by Ken Liu (5⭐)
This was my first work by the author, and I definitely need to pick up more, because this was fantastic.
What Dreams May Come by C.L. Clark (5⭐)
This had great pacing and emotional impact, which I think is really hard to do in short stories.
So Spake the Mirrorwitch by Premee Mohamed (5⭐)
The writing and premise were excellent, and I loved the twist. Mohamed is definitely an author whose shorter works I really appreciate.
Witchfires by E. Lily Yu (5⭐)
Really strong story about the persecution of anyone who is seen as "other", and how easy it is to start literal witchhunts.
John Hollowback and the Witch by Amal El-Mohtar (5⭐)
I loved the premise of this, but also everything it had to say about entitled men/incels.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
CWs:
I always find rating and reviewing anthologies difficult, because there's such a variety in quality when you're dealing with 28 different stories. I picked this up because I recognized quite a few of the authors—some I've read from before and enjoyed, others that have books on my TBR. Overall, I really enjoyed the project, and the focus on diverse representation and depictions of witches.
Standouts:
Good Spells by Ken Liu (5⭐)
This was my first work by the author, and I definitely need to pick up more, because this was fantastic.
What Dreams May Come by C.L. Clark (5⭐)
This had great pacing and emotional impact, which I think is really hard to do in short stories.
So Spake the Mirrorwitch by Premee Mohamed (5⭐)
The writing and premise were excellent, and I loved the twist. Mohamed is definitely an author whose shorter works I really appreciate.
Witchfires by E. Lily Yu (5⭐)
Really strong story about the persecution of anyone who is seen as "other", and how easy it is to start literal witchhunts.
John Hollowback and the Witch by Amal El-Mohtar (5⭐)
I loved the premise of this, but also everything it had to say about entitled men/incels.
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