Y’all it’s October again. And you know what that means! That it was January two days ago and time is moving too fast. What am I even doing with my life? But also Halloween! If you want to get your scare on, here is a list of lesser-known horror book recommendations. But if you are more into the witchy vibes rather than a straight-up spook, we recommend the following books to you:-
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
This is the only book in the list that does not take a sympathetic attitude toward the witches. But I remember reading this in school and being so impressed by them a lot. The witches brought the whole kingdom to upheaval with a few words.
Granted the witches are not a huge part of the whole story but they feel ever present in the back of the story. Like puppet masters. And you are left with a lot of questions about them. What do they want, what is the endgame? Do they predict the future or do they manipulate them? Do they see something in Macbeth that they recognize as evil tendencies unacted upon? Or are they capable of influencing everyone with this prophecy business?
They are elements of chaos that have no other endgame other than wreaking havoc.
While there is no personality trait given to the sisters other than evil and mysterious. They feel larger than life because of this. More mythical creatures than flesh and blood. So the end effect is extremely foreboding.
Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
So Pratchett decided to do his own take on Macbeth and even added a hint of Hamlet to it. And we have the sixth book in the Discworld series – Wyrd Sisters.
The Witches subset of the Discworld series is the best one followed by Death books. The Wyrd Sisters is the best in the Witches Series.
If you are worried about straight up jumping into the middle of the series, there is no need to worry about it. It will not ruin your enjoyment of the book in any way.
Most people know the basic plot of both Macbeth and Hamlet. So they can sort of predict where the plot for this book might go. But Pratchett uses it to his advantage. He has fun playing with and subverting the reader’s expectations. Besides, the characters and the dialogues are what make this book so great rather than the plot.
Unlike the menacing Wyrd Sisters of Macbeth, our three witches are all too human and loveable. And instead of being side characters, the book focuses solely on them.
The best thing about this book is the humour. You will laugh out loud at various portions of the book. But that does not mean that this is a light book. Pratchett is always satirical and no matter how funny his books may be, they always have a point. There is a lot of anger hidden behind the jokes. Anger about how women accused of being witches have been treated in the past.
House of Many Ways by Diana Wynn Jones
Everyone has read Howl’s Moving Castle mainly because of how great the anime was. But, trust me, the third book in the series is where it is at.
The late Diana Wynn Jones was the best fantasy writer for children to date. She never talks down to the children or tries to simplify things for them. And that is one of the reasons why her books are suitable for people of all ages as well.
The main character in this book is Charmain Baker, a novice witch. The story starts after she moves into her great-uncle’s house which does not follow any rules of space or time. She feels out of her depth as she struggles with this new environment. All the while, she is discovering her own magic powers.
Add to this mix a magical dog, a Lubbock, and a fabled Elfgift and you have the perfect recipe for a great adventure. This book is a delight from start to finish and this is more of an adventure rather than a spook. Well, except for the Lubbock.
“As always, in times of trouble, she knew what she wanted to do. “I’m going to read a book,” she said.”
― Diana Wynne Jones, House of Many Ways
Chocolat by Joanne Harris
A witch moves into a sleepy French village and starts a chocolate shop. Just the premise of it oozes cosiness. Along with Vianne, we get to know the colorful characters of the conservative village.
Most people know of the movie and sadly, the fact that Vianne is a witch is not clearly stated in the movie. But the book is a low fantasy with low stakes. And despite the conflicts that arise, it is ultimately wholesome.
Vianne’s magic is soft and evocative. It is tied to tarot cards, winds, and chocolate. She is able to percept into the private unhappiness of the villages. And provides a cure for it in the form of decadent, tempting chocolate. This is a book for all the senses and will no doubt get you in the mood for something dark and delicious.
“Happiness. Simple as a glass of chocolate or tortuous as the heart. Bitter. Sweet. Alive.”
― Joanne Harris, Chocolat
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
This book does not just feature witches, it features witch-finders, angels, demons, raining fish, aliens, a young Antichrist, the four bikers of Apocalypse, satanic nurses, and a book of prophecy.
The book features two witches– Agnes Nutter and her descendant Anathema Device. Both are named after women who were accused of being witches and killed in Lancashire.
So Agnes has predicted when the world will end in her book. And as the date comes near, all signs of the Apocalypse start appearing. But a devil and an angel are trying their best to prevent this from happening. And the Antichrist is not where everyone thinks he is.
This one is the funniest book on the list. And you need to pick this one up if you are in the mood for crying till tears roll from your eyes.
“Most books on witchcraft will tell you that witches work naked. This is because most books on witchcraft are written by men.”
― Terry Pratchett, Good Omens
Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono
Yes, this is the book that the famous Studio Ghibli anime is based on. And it is a travesty that seven more books in the series have not been translated outside of Japanese yet.
Our young witch Kiki follows the witch’s tradition and leaves her home after her 13th birthday. She needs to find a new town to call home for a year.
Despite being a children’s fantasy, this is another book that would appeal to adults as well. The magic in the book is low-key. Since it is catered to children, nothing bad happens in the book.
This is not a long read but it is a sweet one. You feel for Kiki not just as a witch trying to live in a world where magic is slowly disappearing. But also as a teenager who is trying to figure things out on her own.
“humans are so quick to decide that anything they don’t understand is evil.”
― Eiko Kadono, Kiki’s Delivery Service
Flying Witch by Chihiro Ishizuka
This is the only entry in this list that is a manga series rather than an actual book. But this one fits the bill perfectly.
On the surface, this one is pretty similar to Kiki’s Delivery Service. Both books follow novice witches who move to a distant place as a part of their witch training. And both have black cats. But this is where the similarities end.
The manga is a slice-of-life with lots of situational comedy thrown into the mix. For people who are looking to get into manga, this is a perfect one to start with. There is also an anime based on the manga of the same name but to date, there is only one season of it.
