Five Fabulous Books about Witchcraft by Alys West
Today I’m joined by my friend, Alys West. Alys writes the most amazing stories: As Alexandra Weston she writes historical fiction for Boldwood Books. Her first book with them, The Hollywood Governess, was published in June 2024. As Alys West she writes speculative fiction. I read and loved her debut novel Beltane immediately and I was delighted when she released its long-awaited sequel, Storm Witch. Both books are part of Alys’s Spellworker Chronicles, and I really do recommend them. Alys also ventured into steampunk romance. Her quirky and fabulous novel, The Dirigible King’s Daughter, is a fast-paced adventure set in an alternative Whitby. A breathtaking and brilliant read. Today, however, she’s chosen to focus on her love for all things witchy; specifically, some of her favourite books about witches. Welcome, Alys.
Alys West
When Sharon invited me to write a post for her blog I thought I’d share some reading suggestions.
Sharon and I share an interest in the magical. The heroines in her Witches of Castle Clair series are more on the Bewitched scale of witchiness (if that’s a word) whereas I see the witches in my Spellworker Chronicles series as more like Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer before (spoiler alert!) she went over to the dark side. However, they’re all definitely on the white side of witchcraft and all of the books I’ve chosen are about witches who use their magic for good.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
I fell head over heels for this book when it came out. It had all the things I love; a determined heroine, a very sexy hero, lots of magic and it’s set in beautiful Oxford. The romance between Diana and Matthew is beautifully done with the stages of their love affair unfurling with delicious slowness. There’s also the mysterious book which briefly appears in the Bodleian Library and the building tension between all of the factions who want to get their hands on it.
Deborah Harkness has created a wonderfully rich alternative world peopled with witches, vampires and demons (creative souls with a tendency towards both genius and madness). My novels use real world settings too and I love the way Harkness takes Oxford, Venice and a chateau in France and finds the magical in them. The TV series has been excellent so far and I’m very much looking forward to the arrival of season 2 later this year.
Thornyhold by Mary Stewart
This is the most magical of Mary Stewart’s contemporary novels. It’s a delightful story about Gilly who inherits a cottage from her cousin who had a reputation locally as a white witch. There’s an otherworldly quality to this book that I really loved. It’s the descriptions of the cottage and the surrounding countryside that really stayed with me and the sense that there’s magic inherent in nature. It’s a gentle read and unfolds quite slowly but it’s definitely worth sticking with it.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
There had to be some Harry Potter on the list and I’ve gone for the Deathly Hallows as it’s the one where I felt Hermoine really comes into her own as a powerful and intelligent witch. A lot of writing about witchcraft is about the elemental nature of it but that needs to be coupled with an understanding of what it is you’re trying to do and why you’re doing it. In the Deathly Hallows I felt Hermoine with her more academic approach is the perfect balance for Harry’s more instinctive talents. There’s also the use of the story of the Three Brothers, a folk tale written by Rowling for this book, which is a genius example of using folklore to give depth to a fictional universe.
The Familiars by Stacey Halls
Based around the Pendle witch trials in 1612, this is historical fiction and rather different to the other books I’ve selected. In The Familiars being perceived as a witch is extremely dangerous. Women were being tried and executed all over the country as part of King James I obsession with stamping out witchcraft. Stacey Halls makes it clear that the evidence against the witches in the Pendle trials was highly suspect and that the whole thing was a sham cooked up to win favour with the King. There were some aspects of this novel that I found problematic as the heroine seemed a little inconsistent and far too modern but it asks some interesting questions about why female power was such a threat and the thinness of the dividing line between magic and medicine in the seventeenth century.
Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts
This was the first Nora Roberts book that I read and I absolutely loved it. The story focuses on Nell, who arrives on Three Sister’s Island after leaving her abusive husband. As Nell settles into her new life and falls in love with Zack, the sexy sheriff, she becomes aware of her growing magical powers. There’s a curse on the island which can only be lifted by the descendants of the three sisters who settled there in the seventeenth century. Nora Roberts has a great gift for creating believable heroines with traumatic backstories who heal during the story and as they fall in love. The New England setting of this book is particularly memorable as well. It’s a perfect easy read for a summer’s afternoon.
If you’re looking for a witchy read then you might like to check out my novels, Beltane and Storm Witch. There’s also Sharon’s fabulous Witches of Castle Clair series which I’ve absolutely loved.
Thank you so much for a lovely post, Alys. I’ve read two-and-a-half of those books, but you’ve made me determined to buy another copy of the half-read one and re-read it from start to finish. The other two also look appealing, so I guess my to-be-read list is going to get even longer!
For more information on Alys West visit her website.
Happy reading!
