Historical Fictionistas discussion

Happy October. Our October book is The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow. Please remember to mark spoilers in your comments. I'm looking forward to the discussion on this one.

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.

I read it last year and enjoyed it quite a bit. If I have time this month I’ll skim it again.

I'm starting it tonight. is there a set reading schedule?

No set reading schedule. I hope you love it. I also read it last year and it was one of my top books of the year. I loved it so much. I really enjoy Alix E. Harrow's works.

I'm like 20% in and bored. I wish it would hurry up and get to the exciting part lol

I've been in this group for a couple years, but this is my first time participating in the group read. I will likely start it next week. Looking forward to joining you all!!

I am reading but having trouble getting interested. Should I keep trying? I hate quitting books!

The build-up took a bit for me to get into. This book is not super fast-paced but still worth the read I think. I think of the pacing like the Splash Mountain ride. Very chill for majority of the book with a major drop/explosive ending.

I agree, this is a little slow getting going...Part 2 is getting a bit more interesting though. I'm glad to hear there's an explosive ending!

This book was a did not finish for me. It is slow and just couldn't get into it.

I loved the writing in the early going and that helped carry me through. The plot does meander but I liked the evolution of the sibling relationships. And I love the way women’s and children’s lore is woven into the story, the secrets passed from mother to daughter that hold such enormous power over our hearts and minds without our fully realizing it.

I'm glad I powered through the early chapters too. By the end I couldn't put this down. This really made me think about the theme of women's empowerment and how it's the ordinary things passed down that give us that power.

Just to be a devil's advocate...thoughts on the ending? (view spoiler)[ Anyone think the author took the easy way out to give us a "happy" ending? I liked it, but I wonder if it would have had more impact if Juniper hadn't been able to visit the tower so easily. Just a thought...love to hear other opinions on it. (hide spoiler)]

I too was kept up late reading toward the end; my brain wouldn’t stop fixating on what was coming next. I do agree about the ending, though. The author’s forte seems to be world-building and atmospherics more than plotting, but I really enjoyed the alternative world she created and the ways she teased out the implications of small shifts in reality. I loved the theme of our supposed weaknesses being our strengths.

I do agree with everyone that this book can be slower and harder to get into. For me, like many others, it was worth it as I got into the heart of the book and the way the author wove into the nursery rhymes, female empowerment, and the ordinary as extraordinary. As for the ending, I didn't really question it at the time but now I am wondering how that would have changed my perception of the book.

This sounds interesting.

Hi again, all. I'm going to start reading this today! Looks very interesting. I hope it will broaden my horizons.

Starting tomorrow. I tried a sample of the audiobook a few weeks ago and loved it, so I'm excited!

I was forewarned about this being a bit more of a slow-burn type book and so was prepared going in. So far I think it's beautiful! I'm through six chapters today and the world feels very real and lived-in. I love the inclusion of fairytales and mythology, and I'm excited to see what happens!

I really did give this one a shot, but it just wasn't holding my interest. Basically, I didn't care about any of the sisters enough to continue. Some of the writing was a bit purple, as well, which threw me off. Perhaps I'll give it another try someday.

I'm still chugging along and enjoying it considerably! Should pass the halfway mark tomorrow. I got distracted yesterday by a slew of new music releases.

I just finished it. I loved it. I am so glad we read because I don’t think I would have read it otherwise.
5 stars for me

Finished yesterday and I loved it too! Probably top 5 of the year.

I'm trying though I agree with some of the other readers, the hype doesn't match the first chapters. It drags on so far, but I shall continue. I too hate not-finishing a book. I'm going to forge ahead, looking for those wonderful reviews to reveal themselves.