Synopsis:

In 1893, there’s no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box.

But when the Eastwood sisters–James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna–join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women’s movement into the witch’s movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote-and perhaps not even to live-the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive.

There’s no such thing as witches. But there will be.

Review:

Once upon a time there were three sisters. One was wise, one was nurturing and one was wild. The sisters were estranged, but now reunited in the city of New Salem in late 19th-century America. These sisters are witches, and they are angry.

What a book. I cannot believe it took me so long to read this. I love sister stories, and yet this has been sat on my shelf since its publication. The sisters, Bella, Agnes and Juniper are our main characters, and they don’t love each other. Or do they? The relationship between the three sisters was the true centre of the story. Sisterhood is a bond that is difficult to describe, but this book does it so incredibly well.

These three were not lone revolutionaries, however. The notion of sisterhood is thrown wide here, collecting friends and other allies, all of them together creating a force for change, all of them needing each other to move forward. This collective of people was magical in itself. Beliefs needed to be challenged, ones that are deeply rooted over years of oppressive systems pushing fear of those who are somehow different. Seeing this group form over the pages was brilliant.

While this is a fantasy story about witches, real history lies within. Various US events are mirrored here, including women’s suffrage and witch burnings. These are expertly woven into a plot that is part dark fairy-tale and part feminist history.

I have also very quickly come to realise that Alix E. Harrow’s writing is perfect for me. It’s lyrical and evocative and haunting and I drank it up. I think I highlighted more in this book than I have in any other book I’ve read this year so far.

I already can’t wait to read it again.

If you are like me and have had this sitting around unread, change that.