Hosted by the Top 5 Wednesday Goodreads Group
Happy Halloween 4th, everyone! It’s the best time of year, when everything’s dark and creepy and then suddenly warm and merry. And amidst all that: Wednesdays. The Top 5 Wednesday topics this month are perfect for the Halloween spirit, and this week is no exception. This week’s topic is your top five books that feature witches. They don’t have to be about witches, but witches have to be prominent in some manner. I’m giving myself a caveat and not letting myself choose Harry Potter. It is far too easy. I suggest anyone else doing this tag does the same. Fortunately, witches aren’t a rarity in literature, so I have plenty to talk about. Let’s get started!
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead: While focused on vampires, this series dips pretty heavily into witch territory. Early on, Sydney Sage starts taking lessons on magic from Ms. Terwilliger. By book four, she’s joined a coven. The magic in this series requires complicated spellwork, using a mix of natural materials and inner magic. Sydney finds herself to be a savant and soon takes the supernatural world by storm. Truthfully, the broadening of Mead’s magical world is one reason why I prefer this series to its predecessor, Vampire Academy. Definitely check it out, if you haven’t.
The Wicked Years by Gregory Maguire: This four-book saga started as a retelling of The Wizard of Oz starring the Wicked Witch of the West. It’s tells the story from Elphaba’s perspective, chronicling her entire life. Elphaba is singled out as a promising witch in college and takes magic courses. The next books follow her descendants (excluding A Lion Among Men, which I strongly suggest you do), her son Liir and granddaughter Oziandra aka Rain. They, of course, have the extensive power of the Thropp family. If you’re looking for a good adult fantasy, put this one at the top of your TBR.
Brooklyn Brujas by Zoraida Cordova: This series follows sisters, all members of a family of brujas (Spanish for “witches”). So far only the first is out, and it follows Alex Mortiz as her deathday approaches. Not a fan of magic, Alex tries to spell it away, but banishes her family to Los Lagos instead. With the help of Rishi and Nova (both vying for Alex’s heart), Alex travels to the magical realm to get them back. I like this book because it explores Latinx culture (I forget exactly which country) and how it relates to the witchery used. I’m excited to continue, especially since the next book follows her older sister Lula. If you choose to read this though, watch out for the phrase “bipolar eyes.” It’s… prominent.
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco: The newest book on the list, this book is another story of a witch. Well, at least the beginning of a life story. Tea’s tale only gets to her mid-teens before she announces she’s going to take on the kingdom. Additionally, in this world, they don’t call themselves witches: they are ashas. “Witch” is almost derogatory. Still, the novel chronicles Tea’s years of magical education and highlights the important of the ashas in society. It’s a slower read, but very well-written. If you’re into that, I say give it a shot.
Uprooted by Naomi Novik: In this novel, witches are once again in a place of honor. They protect and serve— the police of the land. Or perhaps, more accurately, the doctors and military. Agnieszka is one such witch, taken to the Dragon’s tower for her education. She grows a lot as a magic user over the course of the novel, even teaching her teacher a thing or two. She even gets to be Named sooner than most other witches because of all she’s been through. Definitely a witch book worth the read.
What books featuring witches do you like? Tell me about them in the comments!
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