Amazing female protagonist led book perfect for Halloween with multiple stories that are built to scare, shatter the stereotypical witch prototype and even make you laugh while you scream in the dark. I truly loved everyone of these unique stories, each for their own reasons. I will definitely reread again and utilize some of my favorites on my blog leading up to and just after Halloween! BOO!

Also, much like a great mix tape and unlike a lot of great compilations this book is put together well in how the stories are ordered. Well edited, well done!

Stories about witches have always fascinated me. The Salem Witch Trials were ushered in because of fear. Fear of the power of women and fear of anyone who was different. The stories in Toil and Trouble embrace this reality and presents a collection of stories that offer both a feminist slant and focus on sisterhood among women in general.

The stories contained within the anthology are as diverse the authors included. There are many different representations found within these pages. They range from sexuality, race, social status, and religion. This stood out while I was reading and I honestly feel it made the collection more well rounded as whole. All of the stories combine the themes of witches and women in power. They fluctuate between being lighter in tone to some darker, more thought provoking stories. All of this ensures that the reading experience is varied, and engaging.

I enjoyed most of the stories over all, but like any anthology there were some that left a more lasting impression on me while I was reading. I feel that in a collection this varied that this is subjective. What impacted me will inevitably be different from the next person who reads it.

The Gherin Girls by Emery Lord was, unsurprisingly, the story I immediately wished was a full novel. The relationship between this group of sibling witches is the primary focus. This is a story that highlights the bonds between women and the sisterhood that exists between them. It's filled with the undeniable charm that makes an Emery Lord novel shine. I instantly fell in love with all there of the sisters and their stories and the ways in each they were both different but also so similar.

Why They Watch Us Burn by Elizabeth May was a powerful story of women bonding together and being stronger for it. It advocates helping each other and supporting each other in so many ways. It shouts about how much more powerful we are if we do and the limitless possibilities of what could be accomplished as a result.

Beware Of Girls With Crooked Mouths by Jessica Spotswoods offers up a darker look sisterhood and the fierceness in which siblings protect each other. It's a story with a darker tone and one that I would have loved to have seen fleshed out more because I fell into the character's and the world Jessica created

Love Spell was a surprising read that didn't quite take the turn I expected it to. It's a love story that was filled with a little bit of extra magic. It also tackles differences in people and what love is capable of overcoming.

Starsong by Tehlor Kay Mejia offers a more contemporary feeling story that also hints at the possibilities of new love and the kind of magic that holds. It's a great way to start off the anthology and has piqued my interest in anything else this author writes.

This is ultimately a fun read for the Halloween season. It's a great way to incorporate some themed stories into your fall reading and ensures that there is a little something for everyone. If short story collections are something you enjoy I recommend checking this one out.

I was drawn to this book through the description and the cover. I love stories about magic and witches so this was right up my alley. With that said I did not enjoy all of the stories but there was enough here to get me through until the end. There were some that I wish were longer and others that were not all that fleshed out. There is a great amount of representation in the stories as well.

This is a great collection of stories about witches, and not just the usual old-white-lady-doing-evil-deeds kind. The witches in Toil and Trouble are children, widows, teenagers, students, skateboarders, artists, city-dwellers, priestesses, farmers, and more, and their magics are as unique and interesting and fresh as they are. I loved this and am recommending it to anyone ages about 8 and up.

The really cool thing about this short story collection was the amazing diversity found among this topic! We have happy stories, we have sad stories, we have spooky stories, we have uplifting stories- all with the common theme of witches. But yet again, it was so cool how the idea of a witch can be seen in so many ways, from spiritual, to magical, to just different. I had no idea that there could be so many version and I love how the authors just did their own thing. My one complaint is that so many of the stories left me wanting more since the ideas were so unique and a few pages was not enough to satisfy me. I generally struggle with short stories for this exact reason, but I think these were a perfect snack of a story for those who just want a taste. You can pick this book up and quickly read a story and move on.
** For more reviews visit me at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **

Toil and Trouble is an enchanting collection of witchy tales, ranging from the contemporary to the classic, from explicit magic to powerful inner strength, and everything in between. I'll get a little more specifically into my favorites, but overall, this collection has something for everyone, especially with Halloween right around the corner.

I loved "Why They Watch Us Burn" by Elizabeth May, which was such a powerful way to acknowledge what women who either identified or were branded as witches went through and a phenomenal way to end the anthology.

"The One Who Stayed" by Nova Ren Suma made me want to go out and immediately devour her other books (which I embarrassingly have on my shelf and Kindle). The atmosphere was so spooky and perfect for some Halloween horror.

I'm a fan of stories which do something unique with social media and have softer stakes, so "Starsong" by Tehlor Kay Mejia hit the spot with her story. A skeptic and a witch crushing on each other via Instagram? Love it.

"Love Spell" by Anna-Marie McLemore had such addicted writing and I loved the way spells and lovesickness were used as a narrative device. The theme around not being the right kind of Christian, but ultimately having your heart in the correct place hit me a bit. Again, I really need to read the rest of her catalogue.

"The Truth About Queenie" by Brandy Colbert had a strong family focus and about growing up. The love triangle was a great way to show the main character's inner conflict. It was such a great use of that trope.

If you wanted Little Women to be a little more sinister, "Beware of Girls with Crooked Mouths" by Jessica Spotswood nailed that vibe. Sisters? Magical betrayal? Forced prophecies? So much goodness.

Look at that cover. How gorgeous is that?
Toil and Trouble is an anthology edited by Tess Sharpe and Jessica Spotswood. It is also probably one of my favourite books of all time. This book is everything I want in a book. It's magic and love and hope and acceptance. It's inclusion and growth and femininity. It's girl power on a completely different level. I adored this book. I obviously didn't love every story, because it's an anthology and that's bound to happen, but I enjoyed most of them, and the ones that I loved made the ones that I didn't care for not matter at all.

This book is 15 different short stories, all centred around witches and magic. Each story is incredibly unique, and each brings a different version of Magic. This book is incredibly diverse when it comes to sexuality and race and gender, and it does so in an effortless way that doesn't make it a point. There's lesbians and trans girls and black girls and Latinas and white girls and straight girls and they're all crammed together so beautifully, because it really captures what life is really like; diverse just because it is.

I also really enjoyed the different kinds of magic in here, from Brujas to voodoo magic to the kind of magic from the Salem witch trials. Each story is rich in history and you can tell each other researched each specific type of magic.

My favourite stories were "The Gherin Girls" by Emry Lord, "Why They Watch us Burn" by Elizabeth May, "Divine Are the Stars" by Zoraida Cordova, and "The Heart in Her Hands" by Tess Sharpe.

I'll be brief about these because I want you to read it for yourself, but "The Gherin Girls" had so much sister love and talked about heartbreak in such a beautiful way, "Why They Watch us Burn" had so many beautiful quotes like the one I put at the beginning and the friendship in it was amazing, "Divine Are the Stars" is a big family and I am a sucker for any big family story and I wish my big family had magic, and "The Heart in Her Hands" had an amazing lesbian romance that was just too sweet.

Overall, the emphasis on finding your self, doing things because it's for YOU, being proud of being a girl, and being proud of every aspect of you no matter what anyone else says- these things made this book really hit home, and truly made it magical.


I was sent this book as an advanced copy by the publisher via NetGalley for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.

An incredibly beautiful and diverse anthology about witches, women, love and mischief. With stories that ranged from modern-day to historical to magical realism, there's a little something for everyone in Toil & Trouble.

Toil & Trouble had me at queer witches. Honestly. I was in a super witchy mood when I requested this one and I was not disappointed. I was so intrigued by the varying stories and I love so many authors that contributed to this anthology that I knew I had to have it.

Each story was different in its own right, each unique and stellar and magical. I, obviously, loved some more than others. But that's to be expected. You can't love everything, after all. And trust me, I've tried. I'm a Hufflepuff.

I don't want to go into details about each story--we'll just be here for days--but as a collection, Toil & Trouble accomplishes something so rarely seen that it's magical in its own right.

Each story, individually, has its own merits. Some are lyrical and imaginative, others are deep and personal, dark and wonderful at the same time. It's hard to review an anthology, to be honest, but it's an experience worth the admission price.

I'll be extra honest here--I've never been a fan of anthologies in the past. Oh, sure, I've tried. But it was so hard for me to get invested in a series of short stories, especially if I didn't know the authors going into it. But I took a chance on Toil & Trouble and I'm glad I did.

Grab this book, add it to your TBR list, especially now as we slowly enter Halloween season. It's the perfect book to sip a pumpkin spice latte or apple cider to while sitting all cozied up inside.

This was an amazing collection of 15 wonderfully crafted stories! It was funny, diverse, sexy, mysterious and powerful! Released just in time to get it ready for this Halloween season!!! This is just a perfect addition to YA literature and a fun read for anyone interested in witchy strong-females.

<i>You are a woman, you speak the truth, and the world makes you into a liar.</i>

These were really fun! A whole collection of stories about witches? Yes, please. I loved the different types of stories within this collection and the diversity within each of them. There were some stories that I was genuinely mad at when I got to the end because I wanted MORE. I want a whole novel. (Crooked Mouths and Gherin Girls, I'm looking at you!)

Favourite stories:

Afterbirth - Andrea Cremer
The Heart in Her Hands - Tess Sharpe
The One Who Stayed - Nova Ren Suma
Beware of Girls with Crooked Mouths -Jessica Spotswood (a fave-fave)
The Gherin Girls - Emery Lord (another fave-fave)
Why They Watch Us Burn - Elizabeth May

This book is an anthology of stories about powerful women. Themes of witchcraft, power, sisterhood, and love are woven together in many of these tales. There is a strong representation of LGBT themes in these stories as well.

Toil & Trouble contains fifteen short stories from some of today's best authors in young adult fiction. The variety of approaches the authors take to approaching the subject of women and witchcraft is what makes this book so much fun.

The first story, Starsong by Tehlor Kay Mejia, follows a young astrologer, Luna, who uses social media to connect to the people who are looking for their personalized star charts. However, she soon finds herself at the center of a NASA-obsessed teen who doesn't believe in astrology or magic. What's a girl to do? In Luna's case, she makes a friend who has the potential for more.

Another story I loved greatly was Afterbirth by Andrea Cremer. Set in Colonial America, two midwives find themselves under scrutiny after a difficult birth, with one of them being placed on trial for witchcraft. The reason I enjoyed this story so much is that it reminded me that this sort of thing actually happened to women. Not only did they die in childbirth, but those women who attempted to help others often paid a high price for that assistance because of ignorance. The historical details are great, and I especially liked the inclusion of excerpts from the trial. It just proves that multiple people can witness the same event and walk away with very different accounts.

I also liked The Truth About Queenie by Brandy Colbert. Queenie descends from a family of witches, but it isn't a subject they discuss with outsiders--or even among themselves! When her long-time best friend and secret crush, Webb, returns from a tour as a professional skateboarder with an unexpected companion, Queenie's world is rocked to the core. Can she find it within herself to believe in her abilities and help Webb when he needs her the most?

Not every story includes a romance. Death in the Sawtooths by Lindsay Smith deals with how we approach death and shows that how we face our final moments is just as important as how we live our lives. The Moonapple Menagerie by Shveta Thakrar also skips the romance but is a great story about overcoming obstacles and learning to believe in oneself.

Each story is unique, and offers a different view of women and witchcraft. The romances range from sweet to nonexistent with pairings that cover the range from heterosexual to homosexual, and all are treated with respect and without stereotypical influences. Heavier social themes are also present such as drug use and domestic violence. Again, these are treated respectfully; however, readers who are sensitive to such issues should be wary.

Overall, I found Toil & Trouble a great read and introduction to some authors I had not previously read. Also given the timing of its release, I thought the stories were a perfect way to usher in the first stirring of autumn.

Toil and Trouble is a series of short stories about women wielding magic. The stories range in time, setting, culture, and magical systems. It’s difficult to give a rating for the book as there are fifteen short stories held within it, however I would give this a 4/5. There are several short stories that fell short for me but the overall book was a magical journey! This book has something to offer everyone. Historical fiction, paranormal romance, rebellious teens, contemporary witchcraft, and so much more! This is a perfect read for anytime of the year but especially fall as Halloween draws near.

With story compilations, you really never quite know what you're getting into. I tend to stay away from them, but with a topic like witches, I couldn't help but jump at it. I want to read it!
What I liked most about Toil & Trouble was the diversity in the stories. One story was set in the present-day social media world, while the next was set in seventeenth-century New England; there were F/F romance stories (several actually), and stories of warlocks, demons, and did I mention gay witches? Yep! It really was refreshing to read each different authors' perspective, style, and representation of witchcraft. So fun and so beautiful!

As a thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced readers copy and the publisher I shall give an honest review of this book. Toil and Trouble 15 Tales of Women and Witchcraft edited by Jessica Spotswood and Tess Sharpe was the witchy anthology I needed to start September. It was filled with the power of womanhood told through the centuries-old metaphor of the witch and unlike the negative association that has followed it emerged with one that is positive and strong. Stories that stood out for me included “ Starsong” by Tehlor Kay Mejia, “ The Truth about Queenie” by Brandy Colbert, “ The Legend of Stone Mary” by Robin Talley, “ Divine are the stars” by Zoraida Cordova, and the anthology’s conclusion “Why they watch us burn” by Elizabeth May. These tales hold what makes the witch a powerful woman there is intrigue, excitement, enchantment, and above all else magic. Now it depends on how each character saw their magic and ultimately comes to the witch in question using their magic. Most of the stories were set in a contemporary setting albeit those set in the past, or more recent past in the 1970’s. These stories showed women standing together and believing in themselves in who they are as witches in different incarnations but ultimately a woman who chose to revel in the power of woman and sisterhood. I appreciated queer women being given representation as well as women of color. This anthology set included their stories and told their experiences especially. There are instances of verbal and physical abuse as well as a history of discord within family generations. Though these depictions are present within the stories they add to the complexity of its characters. If you are interested in short stories filled of mystery, intrigue, witchcraft and just the right amount of scare. These stories I feel hold what makes this anthology one to recommend to friends, family and more. The following are the number of stars I gave each individual story. Overall I give the anthology four out of five stars.


1. Starsong -5 Stars
2. Afterbirth – 4
3. The heart in her hands -3.5
4. Death in the sawtooths – 2
5. The Truth about Queenie – 5
6. The Moonapple Menagerie –3.5
7. The Legend of Stone Mary -4.5
8. The one who stayed – 2.5
9. Divine are the Stars – 4.5
10. Daughters of BabaYaga –4
11. The Well Witch – 4.5
12. Beware of Girls With Crooked Mouths – 4.5
13. Love Spell-5
14. The Gherin Girls-4
15. Why they watch us burn- 5

Toil & Trouble is a unique short story collection of imaginative tales about witches learning to believe in themselves and face their fears. Some of the stories are light, while others are more serious and moving. Nothing can stand in the way of a woman who believes in herself. The real history of witches inspire a modern conversation about past mistakes as an opportunity for change. With a cast of diverse characters, many tales had me hooked from the first paragraph to the end.

Toil & Trouble is a commendable compilation for fantasy fans, especially for those interested in witches, but is also a significant piece of today's conversation about feminism and diversity.

Some of my Favs:
"Afterbirth" by Andrea Cremer
"The Heart in Her Hands" by Tess Sharpe
"Death in The Sawtooths" by Lindsay Smith
"Love Spell" by Anna-Marie McLemore
"The Gherin Girls" by Emery Lord

My favourite: "Why They Watch Us Burn" by Elizabeth May

All of the stories are at least ⭐⭐⭐ for me, my only complaint being that I found some of the endings abrupt/incomplete.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

I couldn't love this collection anymore if I tried. A group of women gathered together to write stories about witches, sexuality, queerness, diversity, empowerment, feminism and magic (to name a few)...count.me.in! I loved all of stories so much, but the last one by Elizabeth May titled, 'Why they watch us burn' was everything! I got chills reading it, felt empowered, and even more proud (if possible) to be a magical women.

I’ve put of writing this review for a couple days because this collection means so much to me that I’m not entirely sure if I’ll be able to fully get my thoughts across. We’re going to try though because all of these stories deserve so much love. I’ve included a list of the stories and my star ratings for each at the end of the review if you’re curious, but nothing is less than 4 stars so that should tell you all you need to know.

From the first line of the first story I was completely in love with this collection, and I finished it in a couple days while taking super long breaks at work because I refused to stop reading before the end of a story. Every single story in here is so unique and so distinct but they are all so vivid and beautiful and they flow so wonderfully from start to finish. I also just really loved how different the elements of witchcraft were in each story, I’m really not familiar with the practices but they were all so beautifully written that I just couldn’t help but be drawn in.

Honestly this book means the world to me, I was thinking about it a few hours after finishing it and I got so emotional because of how special this entire collection is. The power and strength in women is something that I’ve never doubted or questioned, but to get to read 15 distinct stories all showcasing how incredible all women are is just everything I’ve never needed or wanted. It also features so many different perspectives on what it means to be a woman, which is so important and beautiful. And my god, the fact that the majority of the romantic relationships were f/f was just…almost too much for my heart to handle. I really can’t emphasize enough how much it means to me to read so many stories about ladies loving ladies and all the different forms that love takes and how normal it was in each story. I’m basically crying right now writing this because it just means so much to me. I wish I had this book when I was younger but my god I’m so happy that I have it now and I can’t recommend it enough.

Starsong by Tehlor Kay Mejia ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Afterbirth by Andrea Cremer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Heart in Her Hands by Tess Sharpe ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Death in the Sawtooths by Lindsay Smith ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Truth About Queenie by Brandy Colbert ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Moonapple Menagerie by Shveta Thakrar ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Legend of Stone Mary by Robin Talley ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The One Who Stayed by Nova Ren Suma ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Divine Are The Stars by Zoraida Córdova ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Daughters of Baba Yaga by Breanna Yovanoff ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Well Witch by Kate Hart ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Beware of Girls With Crooked Mouths by Jessica Spotswood ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Love Spell by Anna-Marie McLemore ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Gherin Girls by Emery Lord ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Why They Watch Us Burn by Elizabeth May ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I tried so hard with this one, I really wanted to like it. I am fascinated with witchcraft, and even a frequent visitor to Salem, despite living no where near it. But not one of these stories clicked with me. Maybe if they were shorter I could have been interested. But I just skipping to get to the next story to no avail. Not for me.

My Review:

As soon as I saw this book on NetGalley, I knew I just HAD to read this book! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love Paranormal reads and this book is about witches. Need I say more?? This is my first time reviewing an anthology so bear with me since this review will be longer than normal.

Starsong by Tehlor Kay Mejia

This was a short story centering around a Latina teenage witch. Luna had a rough upbringing and has made some questionable chickens while struggle with her powers. This was a cute story and I would have liked more and I felt like I was left hanging. Nonetheless it was a good opening story for the anthology.

Afterbirth by Andrea Cremer  

This was such a haunting and lyrical story that I really enjoyed! The story takes place in the 1600’s. During this time they burned witches and people suspected of witch craft at the stake with no hesitation. This story revolves a midwife and a baby delivery gone wrong. This one had me under a spell (no pun intended) and when it was over it made me tear up. So I’m listing this one as one of my favorites.

The Heart In Her Hands by Tess Sharpe   This was a well written story of how love is love. I loved how feisty the main character was and she didn’t do what she was told. She challenged and asked questions.

Death In The Sawtooths by Lindsay Smith This story had to deal with dead bodies and souls. It wasn’t as bad read but I’m not a fan of the undead. Does have a good message about judging people and making amends.

The Truth About Queenie by Brandy Colbert

This was a cute story about believing in yourself and doing the right thing no matter how hard it hurts. I loved that the characters were people of color and the story was diverse.

The Moonapple Menagerie by Shveta Thakrar

This was a nice magical story about being honest and having self doubts. The author had a good wonderful description to detail and I felt like I was in the book as I read.

The Legend Of Stone Mary by Robin Talley

Wendy and her family are pretty much the town outcasts and are judged and treated badly based on family history. I really enjoyed this story a whole lot! It touched on judging and forgiveness. It kept me intrigued the whole time I was reading and I wish it was longer!

The One Who Stayed by Nova Ren Suma

Powerful story!! This one was rather intense and I knew it was going to be heavy. I had a sense a dread while reading and I loved the message behind this story. Very well done.

Divine Are The Stars by Zoraida Cordova

The story was okay. Nice message about greed and family.

Daughters Of Baba Yaga by Brenna Yovanoff

Not bad.

The Well Witch by Kate Hart

This story was set in the 1800’s and I really enjoyed the plot. I just wish the ending was a little longer. There was a good build up and then it just ended.

Beware Of Girls With Crooked Mouths by Jessica Spotswood

Not bad.

Love Spell by Anna -Marie McLemore

This was a cute story about a teen witch and an altar boy falling in love. It was well written and I loved the story. Will be checking out more books from this author.

The Gherin Girls by Emery Lord

I really liked this story about three sister who are witches. It kind of reminded me of Charmed and I loved the love they have for each other . They way they protected each other and lifted each other up as well. It was told in all three sisters points of view which was awesome! One of my favorite stories of the anthology.

Why They Watch Us Burn by Elizabeth May

“The most terrifying thing in the world is a girl with power. That’s why they watch us burn.”

This was the best story of the whole anthology! Powerful. Moving. Thought provoking. So fitting and if you only read one story from this anthology, read this one!Overall, I was very impressed with this anthology. Some stories I loved more than others but it was still a good reading experience. Every author was a new to me author and I’m happy to have found some new authors to support. I really loved the message behind this anthology! I love reading about strong women and I loved how the focus was about empowering teenage girls! This is a very important anthology and I hope you all read and enjoy.