Lydia Polk walks into 10 Downing Street at nineteen with a war already nipping at her heels and her magical world on the edge of fracture. "A Resistance of Witches" doesn’t waste time. It drops you straight into secret wartime politics, magical alliances, and the kind of high-stakes tension where every decision feels like lighting a match near a gas leak. There’s no slow build, no magical school fluff. This is blood, bureaucracy, and ancient spellwork wrapped around the British war machine.

Lydia is not a magical wunderkind. She’s a projectionist, meaning she’s deadly precise with illusions, but lacks the flashy, diverse talent of the witches around her. Add in a minor family lineage and some very vocal self-loathing, and you’ve got a character who doesn’t believe she belongs, even as she’s asked to lead. Lead. A whole coven. At nineteen. While Europe burns. And somehow, she pulls it off while still being a hot, grieving mess. It's power fantasy grounded in real emotional grit.

Then there’s Rebecca Gagne, a Resistance fighter with secrets wrapped tighter than her loaded pistol. Rebecca doesn’t let anyone in. She’s sharp-edged, damaged, and way too familiar with betrayal, and her chemistry with Lydia is all wary glances and earned trust. Their dynamic is survival bonded, not girlboss-friendship. And Henry Boudreaux? Don’t even get me started. Our art historian slash ghost-whisperer enters like he’s too gentle for this world and turns out to be emotionally devastating in the softest, most lethal way. Lydia is very much not ready to catch feelings for someone who sees ghosts and can also see her, really see her, and yet... here we are. Magic, grief, danger, and that one charged silence where they almost touch? It’s everything.

And threading through it all is the "Grimorium Bellum," a book that doesn’t just carry dark magic, it is dark magic. It corrupts. It manipulates. It kills. And Lydia has to find it before the Nazi coven does, while keeping her soul intact. Casual, right? Ryan doesn’t turn this into a race-against-the-clock thriller. It’s more psychological minefield. The book wants to be found. And it wants to ruin you.

The worldbuilding never pauses to over-explain. It folds magic into the historical record like it was always there: witches negotiating with Churchill, ancient orders cloaked as government agencies, magical relics buried under war-torn cities. The older witches' reluctance to aid the same society that hunted them for centuries adds a sharp layer of moral friction. Why fight for a world that fears you? And what does it mean to lead others into that choice?

What really lands, though, is the emotional fallout. Lydia’s grief for her mentor, her mounting responsibility, her fear of becoming too much or not enough, it bleeds through every decision. Rebecca’s trauma and Henry’s quiet heartbreak feel just as real, and their little trio becomes the kind of found family that forms not from soft moments, but from surviving the same fire. No one’s clean. No one’s unscarred. But they choose each other, again and again, and that wrecked me.

By the final page, I didn’t just want Lydia to survive. I wanted her to dismantle the whole system, rewrite the rules, kiss Henry once under a crumbling cathedral, and make sure no one ever used magic like that again. It’s not a coming-of-age story, it’s a taking-power-back story. And it slaps. 4.5 stars. Because I can’t shut up about it, and I don’t want to.

Huge thanks to Penguin Group and NetGalley for the ARC. I would’ve sold my soul to the "Grimorium" for a sneak peek, but this was way less cursed and only mildly haunting.

Morgan Ryan’s debut novel, A Resistance of Witches, is a captivating blend of historical fiction and fantasy, set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II. This novel introduces readers to an alternate history where witches, long suppressed by society, emerge as key players in the fight against Nazi forces. Ryan crafts a story that is both thrilling and emotionally resonant. The story follow three distinct characters: Lydia Polk, who is a witch, Rebecca Gagne who helps right the Nazis with the French resistance, and Henry Boudreaux, a black American who chose to remain in France after the Nazi conquest of France.

Set in 1940, as Hitler’s armies sweep across Europe, the witches of Britain, led by the formidable Grand Mistress Isadora Goode, pledge their magical abilities to aid the Allied war effort after a meeting with Winston Churchill. Their mission: to locate and secure magical relics before they fall into Nazi hands, particularly the Grimorium Bellum, an ancient book steeped in dark magic with the power to devastate civilizations. When a Nazi witch infiltrates the Academy killing two witches it leaves the coven shaken and divided. Lydia’s role becomes even more critical as she is supposed to be Isadora's heir.

The elder witches, wary of further losses after centuries of hiding from persecution, hesitate to fully commit to the war. Undeterred, Lydia embarks on a perilous journey to occupied France, where she allies with Rebecca and Henry Boudreaux, an art historian with a touch of magic. Together, they navigate a treacherous landscape of natural and supernatural dangers to find the Grimorium Bellum—a book with its own malevolent agenda. The novel weaves a high-stakes adventure filled with espionage, magic, and moral dilemmas, culminating in a heart-wrenching exploration of sacrifice and resilience.

Lydia Polk is a compelling protagonist, defined by her insecurities and determination. Coming from a family of “minor” magic practitioners, her journey from self-doubt to embracing her role as a key player in the war is both relatable and inspiring. Ryan doesn’t shy away from putting Lydia through emotional and physical trials, which deepens her character and makes her growth authentic. Her interactions with Rebecca and Henry are highlights, as their chemistry and shared struggles create a tight-knit trio that anchors the story. Rebecca brings a fierce intensity to the narrative.

Her secretive nature and personal stakes in the fight against the Nazis add depth, though some reviewers note that her perspective could have been further developed to match Lydia’s prominence. Henry, with his scholarly charm and subtle magic, provides a unique cultural perspective, and his backstory involving his mother is particularly intriguing. The novel’s exploration of mother-daughter and familial relationships, primarily through Lydia and Rebecca, adds emotional weight, transforming what could have been a straightforward adventure into a poignant meditation on sacrifice and legacy.

The WWII setting is meticulously researched, capturing the tension and despair of occupied France, the Blitz in England, and the broader geopolitical stakes of the era. The integration of witchcraft into this historical framework feels seamless, with the Royal Academy of Witches operating as a covert arm of the war effort, akin to the Special Operations Executive (SOE). The witches’ reluctance to fully engage in the war, given their history of oppression by the British government, adds a layer of moral complexity. This tension mirrors real-world debates about loyalty, sacrifice, and resistance. Ryan masterfully balances the thrill of a wartime adventure with the tenderness of human relationships, ensuring that the story resonates on both an intellectual and emotional level.

A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan completely pulled me in. I love a good witch story, and this one had everything I wanted. There were power struggles, rebellion, and a main character who’s easy to root for. The world-building felt rich without getting too complicated, which made it super easy to fall into the story. What really stood out to me was the mix of action and heart. There’s plenty of tension and danger, but the personal moments hit just as hard. The friendships, the loyalty, and the choices about who to trust all felt real and gave the story some depth beyond just the magic.

This is an incredible debut novel set in WW2 between witches trying to stop Hitler and the Nazis from gaining unpredictable power. The attention to detail is insane, and the connection amongst the witches coming together for a similar motive is inspiring.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan is a third person multi-POV historical fantasy asking what if witches were around during WWII. When Lydia’s mentor dies, she is in the running to become the next headmistress of an academy for witches in the UK. But her mentor has revealed the existence of witches to Winston Churchill and pledged that witches would help in the war effort, a taboo in witch covens. Lydia needs to find the Grimorium Bellum, a magical book that leaves death and destruction in its wake or risk it falling into the hands of the witches who have aligned with the Nazis.

One of the main leads is Henry, a Black man from New Orleans who desires to stay in Europe after the war because he feels he is treated better there than back home in Louisiana. His work mostly deals with art and preservation, but when he meets Lydia, he remembers his personal experiences with spirits as a child. I got the impression that this was supposed to be either hoodoo or voodoo but neither are explicitly mentioned and I’m going off of tells that I have gleaned over the years as I am not super familiar with hoodoo or voodoo. I know there is a difference between the two, but I’m not familiar enough with the beliefs or practices to say clearly which one might be represented. What I can say is that there are no rituals depicted, which keeps in line with the request that hoodoo and voodoo be recognized as closed practices

One of the reasons I picked this up is because I was curious how magic and WWII was going to be combined. For the most part, this is more of a WWII spy book as Lydia, Henry, and Rebecca go into Germany to find the book. Where the magic really comes in is references to previous spells such as a blanket of magic held up by centuries of witches to protect the academy in the UK and the fact that the age of witches seems to be coming to an end as witches are depicted as less powerful in recent years than they had been. It’s more historical with an injection of fantasy rather than fantasy with a historical backdrop.

Rebecca was my favorite lead. She’s a Queer Jewish woman who has to hide most of herself in order to help the war effort and she is very no-nonsense but she’s willing to do whatever it takes to help Lydia defeat the Third Reich witches. Every layer that got peeled back made me like Rebecca more because she presents herself as someone who is doing the right thing and then we see just how much she has to lose if the Allies don’t win.

I would recommend this to fans of historical fantasy that is more historical-leaning and readers of WWII-inspired fiction who want a light touch of the fantastical

A powerful but self-doubting British witch travels to occupied France to prevent the Nazis from finding a dangerous grimoire..She becomes involved with American and French resistance agents.

A Resistance of Witches combines two of my favorite genres - fantasy and historical fiction - in a splendid story with wonderfully realized characters.

Lydia is the protegee of the headmistress of the Royal Academy of Witches, (think Hogwarts without boys or quidditch) an institution that has been concealed for centuries behind a scruffy little flower shop in the middle of London. Although she was raised by a hedge witch, Lydia prefers the high magic of the academy.
Rebecca is a French resistance fighter, the sole survivor of a Jewish family. She is a gifted agent, battle-weary but indomitable.
Henry is an American art expert who left home to escape the racism of his native New Orleans. He stays in France to help hide art that would otherwise be stolen and destroyed by the Nazis. He has worked hard to supress his innate ability to conjure up the dead.
These three, so different from each other, overcome their initial suspicions to become staunch allies in their efforts to fight a deadly German coven.

I look forward to reading anything else Morgan Ryan writes.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Viking for the opportunity to access a free advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What an interesting concept: Hitler has a coven of witches during WW2 who are looking for evil grimoire that can end the war for the Third Reich with it's absolutely heinous spells. At the request of Winston Churchill (basically) an English witch sets out to stop them.

Admittedly I don't read a ton of Historical Fiction anymore, but I enjoyed this story. The writing is very good. The concepts felt unique and fresh, even though it's a historical retelling. The action scenes kept me turning the pages FAST. And I really enjoyed the mother/daughter relationship and the found family aspects of A Resistance of Witches.

I found some of the big reveals to be a bit predictable, but I didn't necessarily think it took away from the story. I simply wish I had more time to really bond with these characters to understand their motivations.

A bit reminiscent of Warm Hands of Ghosts, but more action and less lyrical prose. I'd recommend.

3.75/5 stars. Thank you NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of this book. A Resistance of Witches is a WWII era novel in which the witches (heehee wordplay) of a London academy join the war effort. The plot revolves around a witch Lydia who is in a race with German witches to find a powerful book called the Grimorium Bellum that would be extremely deadly in the hands of Hitler and his cohorts. I found this book fast-paced, well-written, with adequately developed characters. The world building, especially regarding the magic system, was somewhat lacking but I did not find that this detracted from the story, nothing a little suspension of disbeliefs couldn't mitigate. The book felt a bit formulaic at times, but it is a good formula so if it ain't broke, don't fix it! I had a good time reading this book and am not sorry that I picked it up.

QOTD: What is one title that surprised you this year?
OR
PT: The witches will …
A: The witches will have only the ability to do anything that can help them with their health. 🤣

𝘼 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 by Morgan Ryan
Coming July 15, 2025
416 pages
4.25 stars/5 stars

World War II historical fantasy with witches - say no more to me! I spent a fun day reading this action packed and suspenseful historical fantasy.

Recommended for readers who

🧙read witchy fantasies like Discovery of Witches
💥like -WWII historical fiction
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 appreciate family and found family woven into stories
🍿entertaining action

Some readalikes: Temeraire series by Naomi Novik, Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane & sequels by Katherine Howe

Thank you to the author, @vikingbooks @penguinbooks for the opportunity to read and review this @netgalley ARC before it was published.

#currentlyreading📖 #currentlyreadi̇ng #newbooks #arcreview #arcreviewer #books #bookstagram #netgalley #aresistanceofwitches #amreadingfantasy #fantasybooks #fantasy

The Resistance of Witches had so much potential, with an intriguing premise and a world that hinted at depth and danger, but ultimately it didn’t quite deliver for me.

While I liked the characters in theory, I never felt fully connected to them. Their emotions and motivations felt a bit surface-level, which made it hard to really invest in their journeys. The romance element, which could have added emotional stakes and complexity, instead came across as a bit flat and underdeveloped—it was just there, rather than something that pulled me in.

The plot had moments of promise, but there were several threads that felt either disconnected or unresolved, leading to plot holes that were hard to ignore. Some of the twists and turns dragged or didn’t land as dramatically as I think they were meant to. Given what was at stake in the story, I kept waiting for the tension or urgency to ramp up, but it never quite reached that level.

That said, I do think Morgan Ryan has an interesting voice and ideas. With a bit more cohesion and character depth, this could have been a really gripping read. I did enjoy this book, just not as much as I would have hoped! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy of the book.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this at ~18% mark. The story felt a bit confusing and like the plot was sort of spinning in place. I think I was expecting something more thrilling to happen, but it felt like there wasn’t much happening and what was happening was somewhat convoluted. I honestly just couldn’t get into it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review,

I absolutely loved this book!

The premise of a British coven of witches fighting against the Nazis and looking for a book of spells before the Gestapo find it is Awesome!!!

This is a debut novel. The author, Morgan, has a long career ahead of her. My only hope is that she makes this book the first in a series!

There is strong writing, great characters, and an creative storyline. It was so very good!!

Read this book - it was THAT good!!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7621988873 - posted 6/25/2025
The StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/6f8e1de8-fd1e-4034-b9bb-054b5ba7fc45?redirect=true- posted 6/25/2025
booksbydorothea Blog: https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/06/review-resistance-of-witches-earcebook.html - posted 6/25/2025

Thank you so much for the widget. I was hesitant to accept due to the subject matter but I do generally love historical fiction… I’d hoped the character work and the story would outweigh my negative feelings but I found the amount of direct mentions of H*tler and n*zis within the first few chapters to be overwhelming and not a great fit for me to enjoy.

I'm in the vast minority here but I just could not get into this one... I couldn't connect to the characters, couldn't connect to the plot - despite it being an intriguing concept and Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell being one of my favorite books. I am really love the concept of bringing magic into historical wars/events, but for some reason this one just felt flat to me.

Dark, magical, and richly feminist. This novel explores power and rebellion with lyrical prose and high stakes. Some worldbuilding elements were dense, but the atmosphere and emotion carried it through. A strong addition to the witchy fantasy canon.

I really enjoyed the combination of historical fiction with fantasy. Witches fighting against Hitler? Yes please! It was an enjoyable read with just enough magic, suspense, and drama.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the review copy!

A witch abandoned by her coven must journey to find a book of unspeakable power before it lands in the enemy’s hands. A literal and metaphorical journey to understanding her heritage, coming to terms with the sins and secrets of the past and recognising the deceit that inherently festers within her own community. A beautifully researched exploration into history steeped in magic and intrigue.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐕𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧 | 𝐕𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐲𝐚𝐧

The setting: WWII, England. "...Lydia Polk never expected to be accepted into the Royal Academy of Witches. Now, with Hitler’s army rampaging across Europe, the witches of Britain have joined the war effort, and Lydia is key to the she must use her magic to track down magical relics before Hitler and his sycophants can. When a Nazi witch infiltrates the Academy with heart-breaking consequences, the coven is left shaken, exposed and divided. The elder British witches have no interest in further loss of coven life in service of a government that has forced them into hiding for decades, no matter the consequences to the world. But with the discovery of the Grimorium Bellum, an ancient book that leaves a trail of death and destruction wherever it goes, Lydia knows her mission has never been more urgent.... Alone and woefully outnumbered, Lydia makes her way to the heart of occupied France, where she finds allies in Rebecca Gagne—a fierce French resistance fighter chockful of secrets—and Henry Boudreaux—a handsome Haitian-American art historian with a little magic of his own. Together, they traverse the country, stalked by the natural and supernatural alike, in search of the grimoire. But, as Lydia soon discovers, finding the book is only half the battle—the Grimorium Bellum has a dark agenda all its own. Lydia must subdue it before the Witches of the Third Reich can use it—but she’ll have to survive the book herself, first.

PHEW.

Billed as historical fantasy--well, yes. But is it believable? [not for me, so, detraction]. I love the witch genre, but this didn't do it.

Add in Winston Churchill [!], Hitler of course--though he's in the background as the force of evil, and the resistance in the French countryside.

It took me a while to get in to the book, then I did, but also often disconnected [especially with the thankfully few "mush" moments". I'm all for suspending belief in storytelling, but...

I did enjoy descriptions of the various witches and their wardrobes [no connection intended]; it was quite a diverse group--and their appearances and talents were quite varied. I loved Lydia's mother, Evelyn--though not a major character, she warmed my heart.

Certainly original--a plus. And a few twists helped, but...

Second debut novel in a row!

In the distinct minority.

📖 ARC Review 📖

It’s the 1940s, and the world is at war. Lydia Polk has caught glimpses of the horrors wrought by the Nazis, but thanks to her magical academy, she has mostly remained safe, hidden from the chaos consuming the outside world.

That all changes when the Grand Mistress pledges the academy’s aid in the fight. To make matters worse, she learns that Hitler has formed his own coven of witches and they’re hunting a powerful book capable of unimaginable destruction.

Now tasked with finding the book before the Nazis can claim it, Lydia must risk everything to keep it out of enemy hands.

Packed with witchcraft, voodoo, ghosts, and Resistance fighters, this novel starts slow but builds to a thrilling crescendo. If you love magical realism, alternate history, and a bit of witchy chaos, this spellbinding adventure belongs at the very top of your TBR. 5 STARS!

What I loved:
✨ The time period! Choosing to set this book during WWII was a bold move and I feel it really paid off. It added to the suspense without having to elaborate much. We can all imagine how devastating the consequences would be if the Nazi witches took control.

✨ The plot! There were a few slow points. However, no sooner than that thought would cross my mind, the author would throw me some new fascinating detail and hook me again. What I was given was a slowly revealed, beautiful layered plot that led up to an epic finish.

✨ The character development! I have to give major credit here for making me FEEL for these characters. It wasn’t right off the bat but by the end of the book their pain was my pain and I was in tears. So well and cleverly done. 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

✨ The action! Just when I thought this book wasn’t going to go very hard…we went there. We got some bloody good scenes in here y’all and I was HERE for it!

What I didn’t love:
✨ Nothing. This is one of those beautiful books that erased any minor grumble I had with it by the end. My mind is absolutely blown that this is a debut novel and I have to say I may have just found my next auto buy author.

Thank you NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! I absolutely LOVED it!

Holy wow. I cannot believe this is a debut novel.

The description of a fantasy/historical fiction crossover is not enough. This book has everything. Witches/warlocks? Check. Ghosts? Check. Magic? Check. Strong minory voices? Check. Queer side story? Check. Beautiful mother-daughter relationship? Check. New Orleans, France, and London? Check.

I have a love/hate relationship with YA fantasy. I usually hate the MC, poisioned with tropes, and the fact I have to slog through 700 pages to find the story and its characters loveable or hateable. This novel takes off with a BANG. Literally. It goes from Harry Potter to Inglorious Basterds in just a couple chapters. You immediately find yourself rooting and cursing characters, and you have to keep reading to find out more. I smiled, I laughed, I cried. I wish this book wasn’t the end of the story, but it was a pleasure to consume nonetheless.