Truth be told, I read witchy books (and magical realism, in general) all year long. Definitely not just during Spooky Season! But that wasn’t going to stop me from putting together a reading list of witchy reads at this time of year.
I don’t know about you, but I always feel a little witchy as September blends into October. Whether that means I’m reading magical tales, working on witchy crafts, or decorating with a little more eeriness.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
All of these things make Spooky Season feel more present and more tangible to me. But reading witchy books is really my favorite way to lean into the season. And let me tell you- there are a LOT of magical titles to choose from. But these are the enchanted titles I chose to include in this reading list.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
As per the norm, I enjoyed some more than others. But I actually enjoyed all of these titles- maybe it’s because I love this genre or maybe I just picked really well. Either way, let me tell you a little bit more about each one. And if you end up reading any of them, I hope you’ll let me know!
Books and Bewitchment
I absolutely ADORED Books & Bewitchment– for whatever reason, it hit all the right notes with me. The story revolves around sisters, a quirky inheritance in an even quirkier town, and a hometown romance. I found all of the characters to be enjoyable and memorable- both main characters and supporting folks, alike.
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And the small town setting had all the right quirks and personality- like Stars Hallow but with magic. Speaking of magic, I found the use of “knacks” in this book as a clever carrier for magical gifts!
I enjoyed this one so much that I’m already excited about the next one in the Arcadia Falls series.
Darker Witchy Books: Cackle
Plenty of the witchy books that I’m drawn to are more light-hearted takes on witchy life and romance. And don’t get me wrong- I adore those kinds of stories! But Cackle is a very different story. Though it has plenty of light-hearted moments, there’s a glimpse into something darker. Between that and yet another fun small town setting, I couldn’t put it down.
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The story revolves around a young woman starting over after a devastating breakup. And by doing so, she relocates from New York City to a charming small town in upstate New York. The ending is both expected and unexpected, and readers need to be comfortable with spiders from the jump (just a friendly FYI). But for anyone looking for less romance, more young-woman-coming-into-her-own-power, then this book is for you.
The Amalfi Curse
I genuinely loved this book- it combines witches, pirates, and the lush backdrop of coastal Italy. Admittedly, though, I listened to The Amalfi Curse as an audio book. Either way, I found the story and the setting exciting, seductive, and engaging.
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Not only does the story focus on sea witches, but there’s definitely a thriller element to it, as well. This is my second Sarah Penner read that I’ve really enjoyed (I read her debut novel for this reading list post). So I’ll definitely keep reading titles that she publishes.
Witchy Books about Salem: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
Even though I originally read this when it first came out ~17 years ago, I re-read it again with fresh eyes. And you know what? The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane is still an enjoyable witchy read, especially for history lovers.
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History lovers who are intrigued by the Salem witch trials, in particular. This witchy book involves a peculiar old house in Salem and a bewitching mystery. It’s also a far more academic read compared to the other titles in this witchy reading list. But that makes the historical nature of the story feel more eerily plausible. It’s also less focused on romance and more focused on the historical mystery.
Spells for Forgetting
Most of the witchy/magical realism books that I read are rompy romances- and I LOVE that about them. They’re fun and bouncy with plenty of silliness and spice to keep me turning the pages.
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But Spells for Forgetting was much more of a suspense/mystery, which made it a very exciting read. The atmospheric vibes of the setting were fantastic, too- I’d LOVE to visit a place like that island in real life. But either way, as much as I love my witchy books to be campy romcoms, this was a nice (and magical) departure.
Ironically, this is the second Adrienne Young novel that I’ve found in my neighborhood Little Free Library. Clearly, she has some fans in my neck of the woods!
The Ravenswood Witch
I love it when a book- especially one with suspense- surprises me, and one of the twists in this one absolutely got me. I don’t want to go into greater detail because I don’t want to accidentally give anything away!
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I picked up The Ravenswood Witch because I love witchy stories and magical realism. As it turned out, though, this one wasn’t quite what I was expecting. But it was still a very gothic, atmospheric read that provided a much-needed escape. It also featured ravens prominently throughout the story, which I particularly loved.
The Kiss Curse
The Kiss Curse is Book #2 in a series- I read the first one, “The Ex Hex” for last year’s Fall Reads blog post. Since I enjoyed the first book, I couldn’t help but pick up the second one when I found it used at a local bookshop. As expected, The Kiss Curse is a fun, fast read with LOTS of scrumptious magic and witchiness.
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What I wouldn’t give to live in a town with a college that secretly educates witches and hosts one Fall festival after another. Either way, as soon as I can put my mitts on The Wedding Witch (#3 in this series), I’ll read it next.
Witchy Books for Spooky Season
I hope you found some enchanted reading inspiration from these suggested witchy books. More so than movies, more so than projects or decor, it’s the books that bring me closest to Spooky Season.
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I could probably do a dozen blog posts just like this, focusing on enchanted, magical reads with gifted female characters. But, we’ll start with this one and see where it goes. As always, if you read any of these titles and love them, too, please let me know! Most of them are older titles and should be relatively easy to find at used bookshops and libraries, too.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
And if you live in the Charlotte area, I’ll be sprinkling this stack in Little Free Libraries across the city. Who knows…maybe you’ll cross paths with one of them sooner than you’d expected…
Read on!
S
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Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
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