9 Riveting Historical Fiction Books About Witches

This literary debut, perfect for fans of Margret Atwood, is inspired by the seventeenth-century witch hunts in England that claimed the lives of innocent women. Set in 1645, our main character, Martha, lives out her peaceful life as a midwife and healer in the sleepy coastal village of Cleftwater. Since childhood, Martha has been mute. Her idyllic life is put in jeopardy when witchfinder Silas Makepeace appears in town. Day by day, her neighbors are captured and wrongly accused. Martha can only watch in silent horror, until she is forcibly selected to help examine the alleged witches. Between the immersive atmosphere, the shockingly true events from history, and Martha’s riveting search for the truth, THE WITCHING TIDE is a historical fiction tale unlike any I have ever read.

Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic series holds a special place in my heart and on my bookshelf. MAGIC LESSONS is the prequel to it all. Maria Owens, born in 1600s rural England and abandoned by her family, is taught the “Nameless Arts” by her adopted caretaker. As Maria grows, she not only learns the craft of witchery but also how to love. When the man Maria falls in love with ultimately leaves her, her love turns into a passionate obsession. She follows him to Salem, Massachusetts, where a family curse is bestowed upon her and every generation to come. This beguiling and spellbinding tale is perfect for autumn and packed with strong women, healing powers, and the greatest magic of all: love.

SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD is a tale of mystery and murder set in 1699 South Carolina. After inexplicable tragedies befall Fount Royal, the citizens believe their local widow Rachel Howarth should be tried for witchcraft and sentenced to death. But the young clerk Matthew, tasked in aiding the trail, believes Rachel’s innocence. Taking matters into his own hands, Matthew launches and investigation for the truth. This immersive novel, packed with history, is a long one at nearly 800 pages, but readers are sure to be swept up in the intricate mystery that McCammon weaves. You won’t be able to put this one down. 

This new debut by Emilia Hart spans three time periods—2019, 1619, and 1942—as it explores three women and their connection to the natural world. The three characters are separated by centuries but are linked by similar misfortunes that result from misogynistic men. Present-day Kate flees to Weyward Cottage to escape her abusive husband; Altha of the seventeenth century is subjected to the accusations of the witch trials; and Violet, trapped in the turmoil of World War II, is disowned by her father after her mother’s death. All she has is a locket with the letter “W” and the word “weyward” scratched into the baseboard of her room. Each of these women has the determination to survive against all odds, making WEYWARD another captivating historical tale about fierce witchery.

We are taken to the lavish yet gothic setting of 1890s Paris in THE WITCH OF PAINTED SORROWS. In this first book of a witchy historical series, Sandrine Salome flees New York to her grandmother’s Parisian mansion to escape an abusive husband. But when she arrives, Sandrine finds that the house is empty and boarded up. Despite her grandmother’s warnings to stay away, Sandrine is captivated by the mansion and soon meets Julien, the architect hired by her grandmother. A newfound passion emerges between Sandrine and Julien, until darker forces begin to take hold. The legend of La Lune, a sixteenth-century witch, haunts Sandrine’s grandmother’s home and eventually begins to take hold of her, too. Spooky, supernatural, and packed with romance, this tale of mystic witchery is quite unique.

Alinor, a seventeenth-century English woman, seeks refugee from her abusive husband. In a graveyard, she waits for a promised ghosts that is supposed to declare her free. Instead, she meets James, a young man on the run. Unaware of the dangers that will come, Alinor follows James through the treacherous marshland. But a woman with a smart mind, skilled in herbs, and without a husband evokes suspicion in their new town. During this time of witch-mania, the villagers fear Alinor’s ambition and threaten lethal consequences. Gregory’s novels are absorbing and meticulously researched, making TIDELANDS an intriguing historical witch pick.

THE THIRD WITCH is a twist on the Shakespearean play Macbeth, told from the point of view of the third witch who sings “bubble, bubble, toil and trouble.” This witch, Gilly, is a teenage girl, fostered by two women in the woods after Macbeth strips her of her family. Seeking revenge, Gilly disguises herself as a boy and sneaks into Macbeth’s castle, but once she arrives, her plans continue to go awry. This delightful reimagination of a Shakespearean character is a fun and fast-paced read.

A. K. Blakemore has a new novel on the horizon this year, reminding me of her captivating historical witch novel, THE MANNINGTREE WITCHES. In this beguiling story set in seventeenth-century England, Manningtree has stood as a man-less town since the English Civil War began. One of the many women in town, Rebecca West, finds herself caught up in the hysteria of witch accusations. There is a new man in town, Matthew Hopkins, a self-proclaimed witch-hunter, who leads the charge against the women of Manningtree. Blackmore provides an interesting perspective on the group of women who are wrongly accused of malicious witchcraft. The tension gradually builds in this atmospheric novel as Rebecca, fearless and powerful, refuses to be intimidated by the patriarchy.

CONJURE WOMEN, set in the South around the time of the Civil War, brings a new sort of historical magic to the pages. This novel follows three slaves: a healing woman, Miss Maybelle; her daughter, Rue; and their master’s daughter Varina. As the war begins, the birth of a cursed child spreads fear through the local townspeople. Told in alternating time periods, this novel is brimming with outstanding historical research, memorable characters, and the remarkable strength of powerful women.