This was an entertaining read. Not really groundbreaking, but definitely entertaining—this is usually the case with anthologies. They are a mixed bag of stories: one or two are phenomenal, one or two really bad, and the rest are okay. This book fits that description perfectly. I'll probably say that Fonda Lee's take on NEVERMORE is the best piece in this collection.

Book of Witch is a compilation of works from over a dozen writers compiled by Jonathan Strahan about one of storytellings greatest character tropes: witches. These stories bring the Maiden, Mother, and Crone into many different lights with something to keep anyone entertained. I could appreciate Strahan’s vast array of stories and poems that painted witches in a variety of shades, just as we are in the real world. Though this anthology of works was a little lackluster for me overall.

This one did not jam with me at all. I love anthologies but this one was just kind of meh. I ended up DNFing it half way though the stories. These stories felt not fully formed and a mess.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The introduction to this book was wonderfully written & had me quite excited to read this collection of stories; However, the stories themselves did not land for me. I found them a little boring, and for the book to be well over 400 pages, it took a lot of effort to get through.

This book was about different stories of witches and I was hooked from the beginning! I love witchy stories and this was perfection! I will be buying this book soon I highly recommend this book!

would be to read tale after tale of powerful, lonely, hunted, misunderstood, and feared individuals. Many authors used this opportunity to showcase how easily our fear can be manipulated into violence and how easily blame can be shifted to anyone not fitting the status quo. C.L. Clark tells the story of a transgender witch shunned by his family and barred from his power. One particularly chilling tale by E. Lily Yu follows a charismatic man with a portable crematorium who has incited Salem witch trial energy across America. There are more somber stories, like P. Djèlí Clark’s depiction of a witch who is adored until she isn’t, and how ugly things can become. But there are also triumphant tales of empowered and celebrated witches and even witches who aren’t the main event but make life a little weirder.

The Book of Witches is a charming collection of stories that are guaranteed to entertain and inspire. I read the anthology quickly for this review, but it is a brew that should be sipped and savored so that you can sit with the enchanting lessons the authors impart in such a few short pages. The entire anthology is a powerful potion and will inspire you to reflect on who is labeled as a witch and why some are celebrated while others are vilified.

Rating: The Book of Witches – An Anthology – 8.5/10

If you like lore based witchcraft then this is the anthology for you! Comprised of 29 short stories and poems, this anthology pulls from many cultures to create a unique collection of witchy tales.
My average rating for all the stories is around 3.75⭐️ and my enjoyment of the reading experience brings my final rating to 4⭐️!

This book is the perfect Halloween/fall read. Amazing magic, world building, and character development. Read it so quickly.

Don't be misled by this cover! This anthology does not feature traditional fairy tale witches. The best single word that can describe this collection is "diverse." The authors, stories, genres, and writing styles are all so different that I would recommend reading a single story at a time. A perfect "spooky season" book for your nightstand.

This anthology includes stories by well-known and previously unknown to me authors. The focus is witches in many different guises from different cultures. While all the stories are good reads, my favorite was Tade Thompson's (The Wormwood Trilogy) The Luck Thief, a story of questions, answered in a quirky twist.

While in an anthology not all stories will work for all readers, The Book of Witches is both consistently excellent and engaging.

I had hopes for this collection but I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the story. The intro that was a lesson on what a witch is set the tone for this anthology and it just never got better for me. I even tried listening to the audiobook but the narrations were too technical feeling.

The Book of Witches by Jonathan Strahan is a rich and diverse collection of enchanting short stories, accompanied by a handful of captivating poems. What I loved about this witchy and sometimes spooky anthology is the diversity of these stories. I am in love with this kind of around-the-world collection that shows how much reading and also just the ideas in the stories can make all of us feel a bit closer.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. While the premise was interesting I didn’t connect with the characters or the story in a meaningful manner. Some books just aren’t for us, and that’s alright.

This anthology is full of dark, atmospheric, witchy tales that capture and hold your attention from the first page of each story. Diverse culture are well represented as well as great LGTBQIA+ rep. There is something for everyone in this collection!

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I find it difficult to give collections a review because each story deserves it's own. I love anthologies that are themed, and witches are not a new topic, but I thought there were some very unique takes on what a witch was. Most people, myself included, tend to think of medieval witches or sorcerers. There were some really unique futuristic and even sci-fi versions of witches in this collection. Some I did like better than most but there were a few that didn't fee like complete stories. Many had "witch" used in a very loose sense, which I understand as the editor explained what it was that made a witch in the editor's note. However, I do feel like very few of these felt complete or even reminiscent of the feeling I get when I think "witch".

A collection of short stories and poetry, the Book of Witches offers a myriad of understandings of what makes a witch. Each author in the collection brings a different set of vibes and criteria and together it makes a greater sense of the cultural understandings of witch. That range was the most interesting element of this book for me over all. The ways that authors approached their stories and characters and what pieces of magic carried between them was really interesting to me. I loved the breath offered between stories of charms and magic schools and revenge and bargains. I found the whole collection to be well written, which I can't say is always true of short story collections in particular. The form is deeply challenging and was handled expertly in each entry. But really I was here for the vibes and they did not disappoint for even a moment.

Marvelous collection! Anthologies are so often a hit-and-miss affair--casting a net wide enough to have something for everyone means that of course very few readers are going to love everything--but at least for this particular reader, this is one of a standout handful of anthologies whose stories were consistent hits. In this gathering of 4 poems and 24(!) stories, there were only a few stories that I didn't really connect with. My favorite anthologies have a delicious balance of authors I already know and love and works from new-to-me authors that I can get excited about and go hunt up more of, and this was great for that.

Standout stories from minds I already loved included "What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata" by P. Djèlí Clark, Ken Liu's "Good Spells" (this very modern take on witchcraft is both thoughtful and clever and it satirizes an easily-recognized famously exploitative employer and is a strong contender for my favorite story in this collection-worth the cost of admission all by itself), Premee Mohamed's "So Spake the Mirrorwitch," the utterly haunting "Through the Woods, Due West" by Angela Slatter, Usman T. Malik's horrifying "Night Riding," E. Lily Yu's "Witchfires" (love), and Amal El-Mohtar's stunning "John Hollowback and the Witch," which is tied with Liu's in my mind for favorite of the whole bunch. I have only read a few Indrapramit Das stories before The Book of Witches, and I was surprised to find that their entry, "As Wayward Sisters, Hand in Hand" was not a horror piece (Saad Z. Hussain and Usman T. Malik have that covered in this collection; not for kids!) but instead a melancholic meditation on growth and change, sprinkled with Macbeth. I was unsurprised to encounter and enjoy stories by Alaya Dawn Johnson, Darcie Little Badger, and Cassandra Khaw. I don't always remember introductions, but I really, really liked Strahan's introduction.

Works by authors I hadn't encountered before The Book of Witches that delighted me enough to look up more of their work included "The Cost of Doing Business" by Emily Y. Teng, Miyuki Jane Pinckard's "The Academy of Oracular Magic," "Her Ravenous Waters" by Andrea Stewart, the unsettling "Just a Nudge" by Maureen McHugh, Kathleen Jennings' "Catechism for Those Who Would Find Witches," Millie Ho's poem "She Who Makes the Rain," and Tobi Ogundiran's "Nine Jars of Nukulu."

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of stories about witches. My favorite was by Clark, but of course, he's also one of my favorite current authors. I'd say about a half dozen of the stories really stood out. There were a couple that I didn't love, but I did enjoy each author's unique take on "witches". Overall a very good collection of stories (and a couple of poems).

The Book of Witches, edited by Jonathan Strahan, is an expansive collection that dives into the world of witchcraft, shining a spotlight on diversity and inclusivity. With contributions from 28 fantasy and sci-fi authors, the anthology delivers a mixed bag of tales and poems, each adding a distinctive spin on the authors' ideas on witchcraft.

Stories like Garth Nix's "The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches," P. Djèlí Clark's "What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata," Angela Slatter's "Through the Woods, Due West," and E. Lily Yu's "Witchfires," as well as Cassandra Khaw's "Met Swallow" and C.L. Clark's "What Dreams May Come" — which feature transgender witches — give a fresh take on a classic literary staple.

The witches in this anthology inhabit various environments from fantastical realms to dystopian futures and post-COVID Los Angeles, underscoring the breadth of experiences covered. They take diverse forms, exploring unique paths, ensuring every reader finds a story or poem that resonates with them. I think the collection would have benefitted from a few more cuts — a few stories fell flat for me.

The Book of Witches is an exploration of "otherness'" infused with human experience and diverse voices. With its fusion of stories and poems and despite its length, this is a worthwhile read for lovers of witches and witchcraft.

This is such a well done collection. If you ever wanted to read an array of beautifully written stories about witchcraft look no further. This anthology is so carefully put together that the reader is able to go on a journey through different styles of writing as while as different interpretations of witchcraft. Some anthologies with a central theme can get a little stale but this is a top tier anthology for sure.