This book was nothing like what I expected, and I mean that in a great way. The main characters are James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth and Beatrice Belladonna, three witches who take up the suffragette cause in 1893.

I was spellbound by the language used in the book, not having read Alix Harrow before (something which I’ll remedy very soon). Added to that the marriage of a witchy plot but with contemporary issues at hand and I was hooked.

Very apt for the times we live in, a thoroughly enjoyable read.

The Once and Future Witches follows the Eastwood sisters, as they reunited in New Salem, setting about a series of events leading to the women’s suffragists turning in to a movement for witches.

Where else to start about this one other than I LOVED it! What isn’t to love? A cast of sassy, brilliant, ambitious, brave, innovative sisters. Women’s rights paired with a witches movement. A familial bond that knows no bounds. Some classical fairy tale retellings. Toss is a dash of romance, add some newts tail, and we have ourselves The Once and Future Witches.

This was a book I went in expecting to love, after loving Harrows first book, The Ten Thousand Doors of January. What I didn’t expect was how far it would blow my expectations out of the water. It starts strong, introducing all three sisters, really hammering in how different all three women are, while still showing their similarities, in their strength, their intelligence, and their ambitions. Where one is bookish, the other is daring, where one is steadfast, the other is tumultuous. You quickly see how they all balance each other in their differences and in their similarities. While this part can be a little bit slow, the character development is so important, and so finely tuned to the story, it’s well worth every second of the it.

The magical aspect of the book was beautiful, this group of sisters and their friends that they make throughout their movement was powerful, showing how important it is to work together. To learn from each other. How they work their magical skills, and how each woman has something passed down to them that they can then pass on to others had such a folk medicine feel to it, and was just fascinating to use as a way to learning magic. Being the witches they were all capable of being.

The social and political commentary in this also really struck home for me. The women’s suffrage but with witches really showcases that, magic or not, there are difficulties for women. Especially in a time when being a witch wasn’t a good thing, whether magic is real or not. The direct comparisons that can be made to our own history, or even our current times, makes this such an interesting, powerful read, especially for women. It’s also inspiring. What we wouldn’t give to make Juniper on our side, teaching us magic, to show just what women are capable of.

The familial aspect of this book though, that’s what really hits home. The sisterly love between all three, has its ups and downs, but the ties between them in just beautiful. If you want to cry reading a book, this is it, this is the one that will make you sob like a baby. Not always sad tears either, it’s just such a beautifulOh written book with characters that live through so much, you cry with joy too. You celebrate with them, you feel their losses. it creates such an emotional response, I would be shocked at anyone who didn’t get at least a tear in their eye.

A quick mention is also necessary for the fantastic interludes. Classical fairy tales with a witch spin? Don’t mind if I do! They were such a delight to read, and honestly having a short story collection of Harrow rewriting even more fairy tales with a witch spin is something I wholeheartedly encourage.

Basically what I’m saying is, if there is only one book you read this year, I would suggest it be this one. Definitely a highlight of my year, and one I’ll be thinking about and recommending for years to come.

I wanted to love the entirety of this book, the overlying theme of equality and injustice so relevant and immensely important, plus...WITCHES! But, alas, I only enjoyed it in small bursts. Harrow's writing is undoubtedly exceptional, but at times, the purple prose was overdone. I consistently confused the sisters and wished their sections were separated by chapters, as opposed to paragraph dividers. There were moments that were so achingly beautiful, I wished they were longer, but then, moments that were so stretched out, I couldn't understand why a few sentences instead weren't used instead. I'm still considering my true rating for this one, but for now, I'm rating it a 3-star.

What a delightful read. The tone and mood are spot-on. Harrow's lush prose takes center stage here--her writing style adds another layer of texture to everything. Will be handselling this to anyone looking for a moody fall read with a heavy dash of female empowerment (we all need more of that!). I wasn't sure to expect as I was lukewarm on The Ten Thousand Doors of January, but thoroughly enjoyed this one!

I unfortunately did not finish this book. I had a hard time getting into the story, I kept pushing myself and sadly couldn’t get into it. I do love the premise of the story, 3 sisters fighting for their future together. This book talks about so many relevant issues happening today and I respected that. I just unfortunately found it to be too slow moving and I had to put it down.

I liked everything about Harrow’s new novel, a story that blends the mythology of Grimm’s fairy tales with historical misogyny. The Eastwood sisters Beatrice, Agnes, and Juniper haven’t seen each other for seven years. The two elder sisters fled the family farm because of their abusive father, and the youngest, Juniper, has been scarred by the abandonment of her older sisters. They meet up in 1893 in New Salem after an act of magic that seems to open a door but also opens up longstanding wounds.

Harrow writes this story in a dreamy, allegorical way that puts a new spin on the maligned witches of old fairy tales. You could compare this novel to Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic in some ways. But at the same time, Harrow doesn’t neglect character development and manages to explore all kinds of issues, including women’s suffrage, feminism, race, LGBTQ relationships, motherhood and family.

Beatrice, Agnes, and Juniper are trying to revive witchcraft so they can take back the power that they and all women have lost. They are seeking the Way of Avalon, a mythology about three elder witches: the Crone, the Mother, and the Maiden. No one is sure if opening that door is possible. Beatrice, the eldest, seeks power in the library, researching the lore of spells and compiling a book of notes. Agnes, the middle sister, is the strong one – but she has a baby to protect. And Juniper is the brave one, the hothead. She’s angry and she’s not going to pretend otherwise.

I love a good sister story, and I really appreciated how this book built the sisters’ relationships. It’s easy to write about sisterhood as easy and uncomplicated, but it’s anything but. Sisters support each other but they also tear each other apart. And when sisters betray each other, those wounds are difficult to repair.

I also liked how this book dealt with issues of anger and violence. The sisters have to deal with their history with their abusive father and they are left wondering why the mother they barely knew didn’t do more to protect them. Each of them struggles with feelings of guilt, and they constantly try to figure out how to accomplish what they need without giving in to despair. If they stuff away their anger as they’re expected to do, they accomplish nothing. But if they give in to anger, they also threaten everything they’re working towards, and the people they love. Fundamentally, this felt like what being a woman is all about.

I appreciated that there were both positive and negative male characters. I dislike books where all the men are abusive. In this book there are recurring (and realistic) themes of abuse and oppression, but there are also men who are supportive and loving.

I also loved the backdrop of the women’s suffrage movement. I’ve read a few books this year about the suffrage movement, which is fitting in year of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment. I’ve learned a lot about suffrage this year, in all of its complexity — the women who led this movement were incredibly brave and dedicated, but could also be racist and elitist. This book touches on many of the same issues.

And finally, there’s the magic, which is fantastic. Harrow weaves her spells from the nursery rhymes and fairy tales we all grew up on, explaining that witches have had to teach their daughters these spells for years and years without letting anyone know what they were. I love stories that retell folklore and mythology, and this is an excellent example. For example, Harrow writes about the power of names – a common them across different mythologies.

Beatrice was the name of her father’s mother, a dried-out onion of a woman who visited once a year for Christmas and only ever gave them turgid novels about the lives of the Saints. A Beatrice couldn’t stand in this wild wood by the light of the not-quite-full moon, working the greatest witching of her century; a Beatrice couldn’t meet Quinn’s eyes in the candlelight, with the wind whipping her hair loose across her face. Perhaps a Belladonna could. (The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow)

Harrow’s book combines strong characters, history, complicated issues, magic and mythology — and somehow none of these elements were given short shrift. I found this a beautifully written book and I fell in love with all three sisters. Highly recommended.

Note: I received a complimentary advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and publisher Redhook Books. This book publishes October 13, 2020.

This book was amazing. It was the women's suffrage movement with a witchy twist. It was magical and unique.

Be prepared because the first half of the book is a slow burn. But once it got going, I couldn't stop turning the pages. The three sisters - Agnes, Bella, and Juniper - each had their own unique personality and abilities and their bond was so strong. The supporting characters were well developed as well. This would make a fantastic movie. I adored Juniper and the way she grabbed life by the balls. Agnes was the strong one. Bella the smart one. Together, they created a story so unique and powerful that it left me both heartbroken and filled with the joy by the time it was over. I am very impressed that Harrow included a f/f relationship and a trans character. I seriously cannot recommend this one enough.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Once and Future Witches
by Alix E. Harrow from NetGalley and Redhook Books in order to read and give an honest review.

…a well-written, character driven story that is brilliant…

Set in New Salem in 1893, The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow follows the journey of the three Eastwood sisters: Beatrice Belladonna, Agnes Amaranth, and James Juniper. Years after their mother dies due to complications after childbirth, the sisters are separated by their monster of a Father but not before their relationship with each other had been damaged. The sisters before being separated grew up hearing fairytales and stories of magic and witches from their grandmother Mags. After Mags dies an invisible force draws the three sisters together. An angry, bold, and bitter Juniper is drawn to New Salem where the eldest sister Beatrice Belladonna, timid librarian and the unwed, strong, and pregnant middle sister Agnes Amaranth are pulled to the middle of town where the three end up in the middle of a Suffragette protest. When a magical storm hits, a dark tower briefly appears, the three sisters realize that Mags’s fairytales and stories about witches might have had some truth to them, a truth which becomes their mission in life. The sisters realize that they are not alone on their mission, uncovering powerful enemies, reforging bonds, and embracing a way of life long forgotten.

I really enjoyed the novel, but it felt quite different from Ms. Harrow’s previous novel The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Although a well-written, character driven story that is brilliant in its way of tackling subject matter such as abuse, sexuality, racism, misogyny etc. with captivating, emotional, and heartbreaking moments (keeps tissues handy) I found some of it was hard to get through, some sections long-winded and cliché although the book still held my interest. An interesting read for those who love character driven, witchy stories with a powerful sense of sisterhood.

Juniper, Agnes and Bella are three sisters. They have been apart for several years. But, fate and circumstances have brought them back together. These three begin a witch’s movement and it turns out…they may not be the only witches around. Good, bad or ugly, these three suffer through some evil sorcery. Will they survive?

Now! This book is a great read for the Halloween season. You just can’t go wrong with witches, spells and battles. Plus, this story is full of history and I love the folk tales thrown in. Very unique indeed. The only reason for the 4 star rating is I just felt the story is a little too long. I think there is too much explaining in places. But, that is minor. The characters and the time setting really keep you turning the pages.

Grab this Halloween read today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I adored Alix Harrow’s debut novel The Ten Thousand Doors of January. She is a brilliant writer with beautiful descriptions that feel like a perfect blend between the writing of today and classic literature. I feel that is true for both of her novels. However, I had the hardest time with this story. I tried and tried again but just couldn’t connect with the Eastwood sisters and was disappointed because I had such high hopes for this novel.

The pacing felt too slow and I found myself losing interest at times. I connected with Juniper in the beginning but was confusing Beatrice and Agnes at first which I think is why I had a difficult time becoming invested in their stories. Beyond the lyrical writing, I also love that this book focuses on injustice and the fight for equality not only for white women but also for other groups often overlooked in historical fiction such as women of color and LGBT+ individuals. This was a very direct and present theme throughout this witchy tale. While the theme and message of the story was great I just couldn’t get past the slow pace and unfortunately this novel didn’t hold my interest as I hoped it would. I look forward to the author’s next novel and have my fingers crossed it will be another book I love..

I was extremely excited for this book. A feminist suffragette witch book about sisters, Sign me up!

Alas, I was confused. Every other early review of this book was off the charts. People were giving it rave reviews. So imagine my surprise when I find it boring...

It was a struggle for me. I don't know what exactly didn't hit the spot. Maybe it was the execution. Maybe it was the multiple POV. Honestly I am not sure. All I know is that it wasn't my cup of tea but I am sure it will hit the right spot with many others as it already has.

*I received a gifted advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is basically a feminist manifesto from the perspective of witches, better known as women. Pretty powerful stuff, empowering and dreamy. While I did slog through this and didn't feel a reading obsession, I still enjoyed it a lot. Each sister is equally developed and you can easily find yourself in pieces of them. My favourite part of the novel were the rhymes and words, classic phrases like "ring around the roses" twisted into magic. Quite the snazzy idea and likely a very real basis for past and present witches. A book that makes you open your eyes and look for something more.

Unspoilery Blurb

Three sisters, a mystery, and witchcraft. It’s 1893, and New Salem has evolved to where there is no such thing as witchcraft- or at least that’s what they want to believe. Years ago, women contained power through their witchery, but after years of hunting and burning witches, the last of the witches died (supposedly). Now, witchcraft is illegal and women are looking for power in society by gaining the right to vote.

When the Eastwood sisters- James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna- are suddenly reunited after being called together by a powerful, magical force, they join the suffragists for the hunt for women’s rights. But as these sisters bring their magic into the cause, the women’s movement starts to become the witches’ movement, and the group gets trapped in a mystery that could bring witchcraft back into the world for good. There’s no such thing as witches, but there will be.

Unspoilery Review

This was such a fun book! I loved the characters, and the plot. There was such a heavy women’s power emphasis in this book, and it was fun to explore the issue of women’s suffrage from a fantasy standpoint involving witches. Harrow’s writing style is witty and creative, and I had such a good time blowing through this descriptive, beautiful story.

I want to briefly discuss each sister, to help you know and love them- it took me a little while to keep them straight, although they do have distinct voices throughout the book.

James Juniper is the youngest Eastwood sister. She is spunky, rambunctious, outgoing, and knows how to hold a grudge. When her sisters left her home alone with her awful father, she was forced to toughen up to survive. Years later, Juniper hasn’t forgotten the betrayal. She also hasn’t forgotten all the magic her grandmother taught her, and the power that she knows that she deserves.

Agnes Amaranth is the middle Eastwood sister. She is realistic, caring, and reliable. It killed her to leave her sisters at home alone, but she did what she must. In the years since she is struggling to decide what there is to live for when you don’t have any power in society or family to go home to.

Beatrice Belladonna is the oldest Eastwood sister. She is the bookish sister with her head in the clouds. Beatrice left when she couldn’t stand being at home anymore, and since then she has been working in the library where she can be surrounded by books, ancient works, and her studies. She gave up the distasteful art of witchcraft after moving from the countryside, but this one spell might change everything.

All in all, I had a wonderful time reading this book! The characters were fun and quirky, and I loved reading about their sibling relationships! There were also aspects of the book designated to thinking about Queer feelings during this time period, motherhood with an absentee father, and growing up without a mother. It was fascinating to see real world problems and solutions mixed up with witchery and magic.

I loved reading this book, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, feminist, fantasy book about the return of witchcraft, women’s rights, and family.

I found the beginning to be very slow and it suffered from some pacing issues and I almost DNF'd this because of the pacing but once it got to the 20% mark it hooked me and I'm glad I continued to read while the story got its bearings. There's a lot going on in this book, a lot. Suffragettes, lesbians, fairy tales, and of course what we're all here for, witches.

During that first 20% it was very difficult for me to form an attachment to any of the characters but as I got further in the book I quickly grew to love everyone and love to hate certain characters but in addition to there being a lot going on with the plot there were also so many characters to keep track of. Our three main characters and a few others that were especially important to them, in addition to the villain, were very fleshed out but all the other side characters were not. There were even two characters that were always mentioned together and I got them confused until about 3/4 of the way through when I realized I had them backwards.

But I loved the magic system and how every woman had a few spells passed down from their mothers or grandmothers or aunts and how they all shared these with each other to better build. I loved absolutely everything to do with the history of magic and witches and our resident librarian. The comparisons between the power of the women's movement and being a witch was really interesting and I thought that was done really well.

Again, there is so much going on in this book and I ended up completely devouring it once it started to really get going. There is so much to think about and I believe this is one of the few books from this year that will stay with me for a very long time. It definitely has a lot of re-read promise. Unfortunately, because of the pacing issues and the confusion especially at the beginning I can't rate it higher.

Harrow shows her craftsmanship and the prose is once again hauntingly beautiful and I don't expect any less from her. She is also incredible at writing standalones and I hope she continues to do so because I need more powerful standalones.

Harrow's debut novel last year was one of my very favorite books of 2019 - if not of all time, honestly - so I have been anxiously awaiting to see what she will write next! And this follow-up is an impressive one! Set in a somewhat alternate 1893, in New Salem, three estranged sisters are reunited. Beatrice Belladonna, the eldest, lives a quiet life as a librarian while Agnes Amaranth toils in a factory. Youngest sister, James Juniper, arrives in the city last - wanted for murder. The three women, raised mostly by their grandmother, quickly become central players in bringing witchery and real magic back to the world.

The historical backdrop, already one recognizable of social unrest, matches perfectly with these three women struggling to gain not only the vote, but real power. Each chapter opens with a rhyming sort of spell, familiar to the readers from our own nursery rhymes, songs, and fairy tales. Harrow also includes versions of fairy tales here that add to the richness of the setting. It's just beautifully written. Everything - the magic, the great and lifelike characters, the exciting plot - all blends together into a wonderfully thrilling whole. It's an emotional read, too - I laughed with these women, cried with them and shared in their hopes, heartaches, tears and triumph.

It's an absolutely epic read - and almost feels like this had to have taken more time than her debut to write because of its scope. Despite actually taking place in a matter of months, it pulls in decades and even centuries of stories at the same time. Plus, it makes for a witchy fun read for Halloween! I truly loved it - and just like her first book, I didn't want it to end! I know that I will be getting my hands on a physical copy (too bad it wasn't a BOTM selection, so my copies could match!). And I absolutely can't wait to see what she writes next - what a fantastic author!!

A feminist take on a story about witches. Juniper, Agnes and Bella are three sisters with magic in their blood and even though in there world witchcraft has been eradicated, it is part of their very nature and this is the story of fighting for your own place in the world, for the right to be who you are. The writing style reminded me of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic, which I love!

"A witch is merely a woman who needs more than she has."
An alt history feminist fairy tale manifesto, this smoking doorstopper of a novel is perfect for Halloween 2020. A tale of three estranged sisters whose bond reunites them as suffragist witches, this second novel from Alix E. Harrow features richly drawn and diverse characters in dire situations against a society bent on punishing women for being women as well as the creepiest of creepy villains. "And what happens in November, if he's elected?" the sisters ask at one point. And yet they persist. Harrow pays glowing homage to women rebels throughout history, weaving in versions of classic fairy tales and folklore from diverse traditions. This is a book for books-about-books lovers and history buffs and folklore fans. And it is certainly a book for people who stan witch lore.

The Once and Future Witches is the second book written by Kentucky author Alix E. Harrow. Being from Kentucky myself, I have followed this author since the release of The Ten Thousand Doors of January in 2019. In her second book, Harrow’s unique imagination has created a compelling alternative history featuring witches and the suffragette movement. Through her lyrical prose, Harrow weaves a tale of sisterhood, empowerment, and rebellion.
In 1893, it was known that witches and witchcraft had been eliminated from the world. The magic that once ran rampant was lost during the burning. But what was once lost can be found again. Tidbits of witching survived; passed down from woman to woman through fairytales and nursery rhymes.
In New Salem, the three Eastwood sisters, Agnes Amaranth, Beatrix Belladonna, and James Juniper, frustrated with the oppression of women and witches’ rights, determinedly strike out to make a change. But first, the Eastwood sisters must overcome the wounds of the past, repair their broken relationships, and bring witchcraft back to the world.
James Juniper was abandoned by both her sisters. She was left to fend for herself against their abusive alcoholic father. While James Juniper struggled with being left behind and never hearing from her sisters since the day they left, Agnes Amaranth and Beatrix Belladonna embark on separate paths, their bond fractured by mutual betrayal. Unbeknownst to each other, Agnes and Beatrix end up in New Salem. Beatrix works at the local library, and Agnes is a factory worker.
One fateful day, James Juniper suddenly flees from home. On the run as a wanted woman with only a train ticket in her hand, Juniper finds herself amid a suffrage rally in the middle of St. George’s Square in New Salem. Inexplicably drawn to the rally, all three sisters reunite in the growing crowd. After seven long years, the Eastwood sisters are back together again. Something unexplainable happened, and old forgotten ways were brought back to the forefront of everyone’s mind at the rally. Witchcraft is making a comeback with the Eastwood sisters leading the way. But not everyone wants witching to be found. Gideon Hill, the new mayor of Salem, is the epitome of vile male superiority. I quickly learned that he made an even more reprehensible yet brilliant villain than I initially thought. Hill’s evil forces, lurking in the shadows, are at play stopping at nothing to ensure witching is lost forever.
The story flows from sister to sister, keeping the pace until the end. Each sister is remarkable in their own way, wheedling their way into your heart. When they struggle, you struggle right along with them, rooting for them until the bitter end. The sisters are not the only astounding characters to make up this book. The disturbing Gideon Hill is such a complex mix of respectable and despicable that you never know what new low he will sink to in order to destroy the Eastwood sisters and witching along with them. The sisters had an array of supporters in their corner that rounded out their rag-tag team of revolutionaries, including a black lesbian journalist, immigrants, sex workers, and upper-class white women, to name a few.
This well-crafted novel is perfect for those intrigued by witchcraft and fighting for what is right. Harrow successfully blended various fairytales and nursery rhymes into the witching world, representing the oral history of how spells and knowledge were passed down through the generations. Ultimately, this is a novel of creating bonds of acceptance and inclusion and uniting against the oppressors trying to hold you down. Harrow has shown herself to be more than just a one-hit-wonder, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Let me start with the things I thoroughly enjoyed: the literary references, the nostalgia of nursery rhymes and children's book, the fairy tale vibe. This is an original story with the taste of a retelling, and Alix Harrow knows how to make readers interested in the characters she creates.
There is only one thing I would have liked differently: the solutions to several of the plot conflicts seemed forced at times. It felt as if a prop suddenly and conveniently appears in the second act of a play in a space that had been empty for the whole first act. However, it is a book I enjoyed and I think many will do as well.

BOOK REVIEW: The Once and Future Witches, by Alix E Harrow
Five witchy vibes out of 5

Once upon a time there were three witches … There used to be; there will be again.

Harrow has created a propulsive and spellbinding tale where the three Eastwood Sisters - James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna - call upon their magical roots as they join the suffragist of New Salem. With crafty storytelling, Harrow underpins her tale with historical referencing of the Salem witch trials and early suffragist movements while adding subtle contextualisation that modernises the story for today’s reader.

Harrow highlights the very need for women’s subtlety as they attempted to gain power. In addition to the Eastwood Sisters is the character known as Cleo - a black woman who holds power and magic of her own. She speaks about power differentials within women and black women and women of colour and the different journeys that each woman will face.

Interlaced in the story are nursery rhymes, fairy tales and sayings that at first blush would be swept away as nothing more than “woman’s work” or mother’s charms. Yet wrapped within each bit of prose are “words” imbued with magic should one have the “will” and be able to enact the “ways” of a most powerful magic. The three elements needed above all else for magic. Harrow’s ability to unravel, pull apart and realign well known rhymes and limericks was brilliant. It conjured an emotional connection to the story we relate to childhood verses with a powerful re-imagining.

Harrow dances a fine line of adding too much to her story with skilled grace knowing the right proportions of fancy to fanciful, culminating in a tale that is as much about three witches as it is about women’s right to vote and empowerment. Not since Anne Rice, have I been gripped by a trope featuring witches and witching to this extent.

The Once and Future Witches is a must read for those who love witching, magical realism, complicated and rich tales that include passion, betrayal, heartbreak and empowerment. Harrow offers readers a tale that balances witchcraft and women’s rights movement; familiars with history; LGBTQ2S+ and empowerment. It is transfixing as much as it is transformative.

That is if you have the will and the ways to go along with Harrow’s words.

My thanks to NetGalley and RedHook Books for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.