Guest post written by Something Wicked author Gretchen Rue
Gretchen Rue lives in the Canadian prairies, which affords her ample time to read during six months of winter. She plays cat mom to four mostly indifferent fur children, and plant mom to roughly 100 very demanding flora. When she isn’t sipping tea and working on her next novel, she enjoys swimming, hiking, and watching baseball. Something Wicked by Gretchen Rue is published by Aria and it’s out now!
It seems like everywhere you look these days there’s an abundance of witchy literature to choose from. The newfound fascination with witches in fiction (and non-fiction) has created such a surfeit of options, that it can be hard to know where to even start. Since I am part of the problem (so to speak!) I thought it might be fun to offer you a quick breakdown of some of my personal faves. While this is by no means a complete list of witchy books I’d recommend (that would take a much longer list) I thought I’d try to offer a little something from multiple genres to give all readers a jumping off point. If you want more recommendations come find me on social media and ask.
Without further ado, let’s jump into my recommendations. And what better time to delve into witchy books than with fall creeping in a little more every day? So, grab a cup of tea, your favourite cozy blanket, and a nearby furry friend, and let’s get reading.
The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hisock
I’m staring things off with a non-fiction option for anyone who wants to learn more about the modern practice of witchcraft. This is a very friendly overview for beginners of how to take time to enjoy the natural world around you and use what is available to is from our very own gardens to create a sense of everyday magic. It’s a great place to dip a toe in and see if the practice might resonate with you, or even just give you an opportunity to better appreciate the beauty of the everyday.
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
This book, along with Allen’s The Sugar Queen are not explicitly “witch” books, but for anyone craving Practical Magic vibes it is an absolute joy to read. Garden Spells is the story of two sisters, Claire and Sydney, a magical apple tree, a special small town, and a legacy of one family and their abilities. It’s whimsical, charming, and utterly spellbinding. A must for your fall cozy TBR.
In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace
If what you’re craving is an actual cozy, then look no further. A fellow Canadian (I need to represent!) Auralee Wallace has created a sweet, lushy crafted, and immensely readable world with her Evenfall Witches series. There’s a little communing with the dead, some deep family ties to magic, and of course plenty of low-stakes suspense that you’d want from a good cozy mystery. A bonus on this one is that while book two ended on a cliff-hanger, the series had gained a ton of recent momentum thanks to TikTok, so fingers crossed for a third book!
Black Magick by Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott
I can’t praise this graphic novel series highly enough. The strong and original writing from Rucka combined with Nicola Scott’s incomparable art work makes this one you simply cannot put down. The story centers on Rowan Black, a detective with a deep secret: she is also a witch. The story delves into some pretty dark territory, so this one is definitely adults-only, but it’s absolutely worth reading, and is complete, so no lingering stories, just a lot of great art and a unique premise.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
You want cozy and charming in spades? Check. You want a little dose of romance with enemies to lovers sprinkled in? Check. You want ooey gooey found family warmth with magic overtones? Check check check. I can’t resist a book with a prickly librarian hero and young wards with a lot to learn (side recommendation of Witch Hat Atelier manga here). If you want a contemporary witchy read with great vibes and more than just a romance plot at its center, then this is the one for you.
Bonus: Something Wicked by Gretchen Rue
You didn’t think I’d build this list and not mention my own book, did you? While I won’t be too self-congratulating, I will say if you want a dose of the small-town vibes of Gilmore Girls, a lot of flirty banter, an adorable private detective who is accidentally mostly undressed when he meets our heroine, and a fat orange cat who you will fall in love with, all wrapped in a story about a woman looking for a second lease on life and finding actual magic in return (plus a murder mystery), then this one is for you.
