The Once and Future Witches by Alix. E. Harrow - Book Review

Earlier this year, I discovered the unexpected delight of Alix. E. Harrow’s Ten Thousand Doors of January (I muse upon that excellent title in the review post), so when I learned that this excellent word-mistress had another novel in progress, I was very excited to read it!Thanks to Netgalley, I was able to read a digital ARC of The Once and Future Witches, which I consider to be a glorious feminist approach to Witchcraft in literary form. The plot revolves around three sisters: James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna, who have - at different times in their lives - escaped their abusive father and drifted to the town of New Salem. Though at first, none of them are aware of their other sisters’ presence. An ominous magical occurrence draws them together, though at first the bond between them is frayed. Remembrance of their grandmother’s tales Witchcraft and the poetry of spells help fortify them - and their allies - against the oppressive dangers of the patriarchy and the witchfinders who would do them harm.I loved the research Harrow must have put into crafting this lengthy and beautiful novel. Her historical knowledge of witches, fairy-tales and nursery rhymes are woven together to create a magical realist world and I loved each and every page. It is my sincere hope that Alix E. Harrow will write many more novels, as I’ll be front of the queue for anything she sets her mind to write!The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow will be published on 15th October, 2020.Review by Amanda Kennedy on 02/09/2020. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.