The Once and Future Witches

By: Alix E. Harrow

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

Length: 16 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

In the late 1800s, three sisters use witchcraft to change the course of history in this powerful novel of magic, family, and the suffragette movement.

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.

An homage to the indomitable power and persistence of women, The Once and Future Witches reimagines stories of revolution, motherhood, and women's suffrage - the lost ways are calling.

Praise for The Once and Future Witches:

"A gorgeous and thrilling paean to the ferocious power of women. The characters live, bleed, and roar. I adore them, and long for witchcraft to awaken in all of us. Harrow makes it feel possible, and even likely." (Laini Taylor, New York Times best-selling author)

"A glorious escape into a world where witchcraft has dwindled to a memory of women's magic, and three wild, sundered sisters hold the key to bring it back...A tale that will sweep you away." (Yangsze Choo, New York Times best-selling author)

"This book is an amazing bit of spellcraft and resistance so needed in our times, and a reminder that secret words and ways can never be truly and properly lost, as long as there are tongues to speak them and ears to listen." (P. Djèlí Clark, author The Black God's Drum)

For more from Alix E. Harrow, check out The Ten Thousand Doors of January.

Named One of the Best Books of the Year by NPR Books • Barnes and Noble • BookPage

©2020 Alix E. Harrow (P)2020 Redhook

Critic reviews

"A gorgeous and thrilling paean to the ferocious power of women. The characters live, bleed, and roar. I adore them, and long for witchcraft to awaken in all of us. Harrow makes it feel possible, and even likely."—Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author

"A glorious escape into a world where witchcraft has dwindled to a memory of women's magic, and three wild, sundered sisters hold the key to bring it back....A tale that will sweep you away."—Yangsze Choo, NYT bestselling author of Night Tiger and The Ghost Bride

"This novel cleverly connects the dots between the suffragist movement of the past to the Me Too movement of today. Compelling, exhilarating, and magical, The Once and Future Witches is a must-read."—Booklist (starred review)

Highly Recommend

Ring around the rosy...pocket full of posey’s... ashes ashes...we all stand up! I really enjoyed this tale of witches and rhymes...many threads suspended on delicate breezes are finally woven together in this beautifully crafted story!

A delightful twining of old and new

This book picks up where 2nd wave feminist fantasy, lime The Mists of Avalon, leaves off. A story about white suffreagettes and witchcraft that broafens into a story about racial and gender inclusivity. An updated, more inclusive, vision of sisterly solidarity.

Dear Producer:

Wonderful story, excellent narrator.

To the producer: Please consider removing the Toccata & Fugue. It disrupts the world that you've worked so hard to create, cheapening the story rather than enhancing it.

Story is Awesome, with some caveats

The performance was great, the story compelling, and the throwbacks to old folk tales and nursery rhymes nostalgic. It's diverse and engaging, without being overbearing.

that said, there is a repetiveness to the author's writing style that is more than a little exhausting. by hour 10 i was kind of done with it, but powered through it because I liked the rest of it so much.

Staggering. Breathtaking. Gorgeous.

I adore Harrow’s work and this is no exception. This is a triumph of language, storytelling, character, setting, and world. I loved this from start to finish. The narration was spot on as well, with distinct and recognizable voices and accents that immersed me in this work. Absolutely wonderful.

A love letter to the Divine Feminine

This story is a Love Story to the forgotten, overlooked, and ridiculed. The author creates a deep and rich world with dynamic fleshed out character. I can’t pick a favorite character because the three main characters are so unique and intricate. I was, am, and will be each of them. And that is a hard thing to find in a story. READ IT. It will find a place in your heart.

just witchy enough!

This story was very engaging. I listen while I work on painting projects...walls, furniture etc.,and I found that if I walked out of the room, I simply had to back up and listen to what I missed. I didn't want to lose one bit of the story. Alix Harrow is a very good storyteller. I sometimes felt certain vocabulary was out of place in the 1890's dialogue, but it was easy to overlook because the story kept moving. I didn't feel any dragged out narrative at all. I need an owl, for sure, and no longer worry about not having a witch in my maternal ancestry. Enjoy!

A little too much Purple-prose for me.

The flowery language was a bit much, and the setting is a little fuzzy at first. I like a dower story, but this was just more unfun to listen to than I thought it would be.

Outstanding!

LOVED IT! So will u if u r into women’s rights, witching and captivating stories!

Enchanting

This story drew me in and kept my attention like so few others have. Beautiful writing. Words came to life. The author was painting with words. I wanted to be a sister of Avalin. Cant wait to read more by Alix Harrow.