48 pages • 1 hour read
Alix E. HarrowThe Once and Future Witches
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2020A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Alix E. Harrow's novel The Once and Future Witches, set in the late 19th century, the estranged Eastwood sisters reunite in New Salem with the aim of restoring lost magic and challenging patriarchal oppression through their involvement in the women's suffrage movement and labor unions. The story explores themes of sisterhood, resilience, and the resurgence of covert female resistance against overt male abuse. The book contains instances of physical and emotional abuse.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow has generally received praise for its rich prose and feminist themes. Reviewers admire the complex, well-drawn characters and the blend of historical and fantastical elements. Some critics note that the pacing can be slow, and the plot a bit predictable. Overall, it’s celebrated for its empowering message and vivid world-building.
Who Should Read The Once and Future Witches?
Readers who enjoy The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow likely appreciate historical fantasy with strong feminist themes, much like in Naomi Novik's Uprooted or Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale. Fans of rich, lyrical prose and tales incorporating folklore in a reimagined historical setting would find this book appealing.