Books from the Backlog #285

Posted September 28, 2023 by Carole in Books from the Backlog / 10 Comments

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

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This week’s neglected book

Books from the Backlog #285The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
Narrator: Gabra Zackman
Published by Hachette Audio, Redhook on October 13, 2020
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Historical
Length: 16 hours 3 minutes
Pages: 528
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon | Audible | B&N | Kobo | Libro.fm

"A gorgeous and thrilling paean to the ferocious power of women. The characters live, bleed, and roar. "―Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Fantasy Novel • Named One of the Best Books of the Year by NPR Books • Barnes and Noble • BookPage

In the late 1800s, three sisters use witchcraft to change the course of history in this powerful novel of magic, family, and the suffragette movement. 

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.

An homage to the indomitable power and persistence of women, The Once and Future Witches reimagines stories of revolution, motherhood, and women's suffrage—the lost ways are calling.

Praise for The Once and Future Witches:

"A glorious escape into a world where witchcraft has dwindled to a memory of women's magic, and three wild, sundered sisters hold the key to bring it back...A tale that will sweep you away."―Yangsze Choo, New York Times bestselling author 

"This book is an amazing bit of spellcraft and resistance so needed in our times, and a reminder that secret words and ways can never be truly and properly lost, as long as there are tongues to speak them and ears to listen."―P. Djèlí Clark, author The Black God's Drum

For more from Alix E. Harrow, check out The Ten Thousand Doors of January.

Why did I add The Once and Future Witches to my bookshelf?

I can’t believe that I haven’t read this book yet. I have loved everything that I have read written by Alix E. Harrow so the odds are good that this will be a book that I will really enjoy. I bought a hardcover copy soon after its release and picked up a copy of the audiobook a bit later. But I still haven’t read it! I really need to stop accepting so many books for reviews so I can focus more on the books that I bought just hanging out on my shelves.

What are your thoughts? Have you read this book?  Would you recommend it?

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10 responses to “Books from the Backlog #285

  1. I’ve been trying to do the same in not accepting so many review books! It’s hard sometimes because I do want to read some of those books too and they’ll eventually be in my TBR pile! Lol. I’m really curious about this author’s newest book coming out next month! I wanted to go to the tour stop she’s doing with V.E. Schwab but when I learned it was just a discussion/Q&A with no signing, I decided it wasn’t really worth it. I’m OCD sometimes about having books signed and wanting my series all finished and whatnot. So not only was I not going to meet Schwab at a more intimate signing, but I can’t meet Harrow either! Oh well. Maybe they’ll cycle back around to do an actual signing one of these times!

  2. Oh man, you sound like me admonishing myself to read more from my shelves. New releases are sooo tempting, though. Yes, this does sound perfect for the spooky season. Hope you enjoy it when you get the chance to read or listen in.

  3. We read this for COYER book club last year and I was glad to have people to talk with about it. I think I was the one who recommended it, at least I own it. It’s good. The narrator is one of my favorites.

  4. I have several books by this author on my TBR and I’ve really been wanting to try her books. This looks like a great read! Hopefully you get to it soon.