I’ll be honest that I didn’t really realize this was an anthology type of book when I got the arc. Some of the stories were lovely and some were…not so good.

The overall concept of this book is what really stood out to me. I am a fan of anthologies and short stories, and I love witches, so I thought this might be something I’d really enjoy. However, the stories fell a little flat for me. The witch theme (the content specifically) seemed to be lacking witches. While the term was explained in the opening foreword, it didn’t feel like the stories really followed that definition. I think I was expecting “witch” in the more literal or general form of the word instead of anything that may be considered “othered.” The intent was there, but it just didn’t really feel like it followed through.

I was so excited to read this book because I am a sucker for Anthologies. Then you tell me it's going to be an ANTHOLOGY ABOUT WITCHES!
While there were some phenomenal stories, many felt they needed some more TLC and guiding care; they feel like work is still early in their journey to bloom into their full potential, and instead, right now, they are caught in the cauldron's smoke.

i did like this anthology, it felt like every piece was unique and brought something new, some i didn't like as much and i'm not a poetry person but this was pretty good

I hate reviewing short story collections because it just never goes well.

The high rating of this book is only because of how strong some of the stories are, but as a whole, this book just didn't collect strong enough stories.

One of my favorites is P Djeli Clark's story, but this is an author who is already high up on my list and always delivers.

I will also say that for a story about one of the most common fantasy characters of all time, so many of these were BORING.

THE BOOK OF WITCHES is a fantastic anthology of witchy short fiction, the perfect addition to any horror reader's bookshelves. Like all anthologies, it was a mix of "yes", "kind of", "not really" with regards to how I felt about individual stories, but over all, 10/10 would hex again.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!~

I grabbed this story collection because of a few of my favorites being in here and while there were some hits, I cannot say too many of these really spoke to me. Some of my favorites would have to be P. Djèlí Clark's, Andrea Stewart, and Amal El Mohtar. I think it's difficult to make a short story complete so, definitely still give all of these authors a read in their novels.

This book was not for me. I really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't get into it. I was disappointed that I couldn't enjoy it as much as others seem to, but I know that everyone has different tastes and preferences when it comes to literature.

this anthogy of witchy stories was my cup of tea at times other times I enjoy the stories. now with that said some stories felt to long while other felt too short and other just made no since to me personally. with that said i give this book 2 and half stars it just wasn't for me but their a person this book is for

The Book of Witches was full of interesting short stories that I enjoyed a lot. I don't often read short stories or anthologies, so this approach to story-telling is fairly new to me. The stories I enjoyed the most were by Linda D. Addison, P. Djeli Clark, and Ken Liu. Linda D. Addison and Ken Liu are new-to-me authors, and I will be seeking out their other work as a result of loving their contributions in this book. A few of the stories did not hit for me, which I expect from anthologies. It is a wonderful way to find new authors though and it achieved that for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

I wanted to love these stories but they didn't really do it for me. There were a few that I wanted more of and that I think would make amazing full novels. There are some that had me so confused. I don't read many anthologies and I'm starting to think they're not for me.

Sometimes anthologies are a hit or miss with me, so it did take a while for me to read this copy.
I was excited to receive an ARC copy from NetGalley, because I love to see other people’s ideas or thoughts pertaining to the literary witch figure. I will say, some of the stories in the book were slow in my opinion, and weren’t my cup of tea, but that’s the thing with anthologies. I did enjoy a handful of them, The Witch is Not the Monster, Her Ravenous Waters and Witchfires to name a few. I think it was a good choice to end the book with John Hollowback and the Witch, it definitely was more my vibe story wise.

Thanks HarperCollins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the anthology 😌

The Book of Witches by Jonathan Strahan is a compilation of short stories that delve into the mystical and enchanting world of witches. While the anthology has its moments of magic, it overall left more to be desired. On the positive side, the diversity of voices and writing styles showcased in the collection is commendable. Some of the stories shine with creativity, weaving intricate spells that draw you into their enchanting realms. However, the anthology falls short of maintaining consistent quality across all the stories. While some narratives are compelling and leave a lasting impression, others feel lackluster and fail to fully capture the imagination. Despite this, The Book of Witches does have its merits, and those with an interest in witchcraft and the supernatural will definitely find at least a few stories to captivate them.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

I love an anthology and this one was a well curated one however it was too long. Because of how long this collection is I started losing some of the stories to the mix. At this point maybe two stand out to me.

Fascinating collection of stories from a wide range of authors. I really enjoyed these stories and how they described witches in different situations and settings. Fairy tale like to creepy and haunting. Overall a lovely, immersive collection.

This short story collection showcases witches in all of their traditional and modern glory, maiden, mother, crone, or other; funny, fierce, light and airy, or dark and disturbing. These twenty-nine stories and poems collect some unique stories about witches in all sorts of situations. In these pages you’ll find:

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 Mohammed, 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.

I always enjoy a good witch story, and this collection did not disappoint. I was readying it for quite a while, because I’d pick up a story between other books here and there, but it was fun start to finish. The traditional spooky season might be over, but witches are fun all year long.

I really enjoyed this book was completely hooked from the first page and couldn't put it down definitely recommend