Title: The Once and Future Witches
Author: Alix E. Harrow
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 5 Stars
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In 1893, there's no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box.
But when the Eastwood sisters--James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna--join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women's movement into the witch's movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote-and perhaps not even to live-the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive.
There's no such thing as witches. But there will be.
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There are few words I can think of to adequately describe how I feel about this book. This book is, hands down, without a doubt, THE BEST BOOK I've read so far this year.
The book starts with suffragists, and turns in to a magic laced, witchy book that moves through the streets of New Salem and my mind like a wollop. This book contains so much power, and love, and sapphic greatness, and there wasn't a single thing I didn't love.
The characters in this book drew me in first. From the moment we meet James Juniper at the beginning, I was hooked. I knew from the thoughts in her head, and the way she talked, and her very attitude and demeanor, that she was going to be a character I loved. And I did. I also loved her sisters Bella and Agnes. I loved the way they worked together despite their differences. I loved the way they each developed throughout the story and came to terms with certain things about themselves and each other. I loved that they all were so well developed and the way they grew into each other, into themselves, and into the world around them. And they weren't the only characters I saw this with - there were so many side characters in this book, and they each added this amazing element to the book. Quinn, for example, brought out so much in Bella, helped her grow into her own and learn to accept herself in spite of what other people say and do. Even the worst characters in this book added so much depth to this story and made it just come alive.
The story - these women working to bring back witches, to bring back justice in all ways - is amazing and so well developed. The events of this novel flow together so well, and everything that happened led into a bigger thing, or into some character learning or growing into themselves even more. There was so much tension weaved throughout the book, in the best possible way. I was left surprised and in awe more than once.
There was wonderful foreshadowing in the book, wonderful world building, and amazing writing throughout the entire book. The book built upon the events of the past when it came to witches, and showed how the current witches rising up both struggled with and became empowered by the past.
This book weaves together the stories of the sisters, their struggles, their desires, into one amazing book. Each sister has a chance to be strong, to share her life with her sisters and the readers, and it all works and weaves together so well. The book switches between each sisters journey while still showing their connection to each other and showing how much they cared about each other so well.
I can't express how much I love every thing about this book - the characters, the development of the story, the surprises, the magic. It works and it's amazing.
This is a book every single one of you needs to read yesterday! If you have already ready it let me know what you think in the comments!
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