The heart wants what the heart wants, and our hearts want books.

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It’s a little bittersweet to be discussing our final witchy read together the day before Virtual Book Club. The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix has a group of Charleston women coming together for a typical discussion of “inappropriate book titles” when we discuss their antics via a free virtual meeting platform of our choice tomorrow, Friday, October 30th at 7:30 p.m. CST.  Be sure to register here to get in on the fun and create our own group of readers that can exercise great power when we work together.

If I didn’t already love author Ami McKay from her author’s notes and acknowledgements at the end of The Witches of New York then the first lines of her website bio would have sealed my fate forever. It reads: “My first kiss was in the reference section of a Carnegie Public Library in rural Indiana. I strongly suspect there was magic afoot.” There is magic in every line of this music theorist turned novelist’s words about women finding their coven and together being unstoppable against the people who wish them harm. McKay has written three novels, one novella, a memoir, and three stage plays, and still composes music. She lives in Nova Scotia.

The Witches of New York was everything I expected of a book about Gilded Age women and so much more. Just as the advertisement that Beatrice Dunn follows to St. Clair and Thom’s Tea and Sympathy shop states, “those adverse to magic need not apply,” anyone who denies the power of women working together need not read this book for you will be proven wrong. The first few chapters of the book seem disjointed, but any reader will begin to see the threads that connect the characters, both female and male, realizing that McKay is preparing to pull them all together into a story greater than the sum of its parts. Just like magic.

Witches: The Transformative Power of Women Working Together is a nonfiction title we purchased and placed on our TBR for this month but the title goes to prove what Ami McKay (and Grady Hendrix!) wrote about. Women and especially witches get the job done. (Hamilton reference for the win!) What I really loved in The Witches of New York was not just how our three main witches worked together but how women on their periphery brought their own power, influence, and magic to make change happen in the lives of Adelaide Thom, Eleanor St. Clair, and Beatrice Dunn. My favorite is Judith Dashley. Her name being this amazing amalgamation of my mother’s name and my own (Judith D. and Ashley) certainly doesn’t hurt but the way she grows from meddlesome customer to a member of their coven “framily” is a joy to see. Additionally, the visiting women from the spirit world are sometimes spooky but always a catalyst for change.

I give The Witches of New York four stars and I will definitely be reading Half Spent Was the Night: A Witches’ Yuletide before the end of 2020. It’s a novella continuing the story of Eleanor, Adelaide, and Beatrice. The rest of McKay’s backlist is also on the TBR. I hope that Judith Dashley is a part of it!

Is there a book that you kept putting off because it was going to be the end of a season and you wanted it to last a little longer?

~Ashley

Dear readers, any day of the week I’m interested in a well-written tale of someone finding themself, and jumping into being that new-found person with both feet.  Should we all be so lucky to find ourselves and get to live into it.  I realize that happens through hard work and dedication, but it’d be much more fun if it happened in response to a job ad instead, as it happens for Beatrice in The Witches of New York.  Bonus points for strong, independent women cheered on by the smart, supportive men in their lives and further bonus points for magic.  (And if you enjoy all this, you’ll love next week’s books too.  Yes plural, just minus the magic, although I’m inclined to believe there’s always magic in a well-written tale.)

We’ve been loving this month’s witchy reads and today’s title is no different.  Going back to Alice Hoffman’s words, the women of The Witches of New York are all on the periphery of society for one reason or another, but they’re also all focused on helping others and following their own, albeit “abnormal” path.  I say abnormal, because in the Gilded Age, getting married, having babies, and taking care of one’s family and home seemed to be the only normal thing for a woman to do, as even a spinster teacher was subject to judgement and restrictions.  Thank goodness for all that has happened in the past 100 years and for all those who diligently fought for the progress we’ve made.  Sadly we have more to go, but alas back to the book at hand.  I’m also thankful for one thing that hasn’t changed, a group of women working together towards a common goal is a force to be reckoned with, both in the 1880s, the 1980s, and today (yes, that is The Witches of New York, The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, and today).  As this tale gets started, just as Ashley mentions, it feels disjointed because we have several threads waiting to be braided together in this gorgeous story.  I was not surprised to learn that Ami McKay is a composer because the writing has a sort of ebb and flow in places as a melody and chorus would, but it also flows together seamlessly, even with the different dialogues and threads that do come together.  

The most interesting thing I found about The Witches of New York wasn’t the magic (even though I adored every. single. magical. word), it was the glimpse into Gilded Age New York, specifically the more hidden aspects like the women’s asylum / prison that holds weekly dances for gentlemen visitors and the viewings at the morgue.  I’m not sure how I thought the remains of individuals were identified at the time, but it certainly wasn’t by creating a display that reminded me of a holiday shop window.  Another thing I enjoyed is the menfolk.  We have several supporting gentlemen in this cast as well as a couple of men whose story we get from their perspective.  While all of these men support the progression of the plot, they also (mostly) support the women in their work and desires.  Yes friends, even in the Gilded Age, it was possible for men and women to work towards a goal set by women, and it was possible for men to support independent women and not be intimidated by them (or at least not intimidated to the point of trying to prevent their success).  

The most disappointing piece about the story of Beatrice Dunn is that Ashley and I can’t go to St. Clair and Thom’s Tea and Sympathy for a nice cuppa from Eleanor, a chat with Adelaide and her cards, and a visit with Beatrice to see how she’s fairing.  Also disappointing, predictably the lack of a nice, extended epilogue.  As Ashley shared, McKay takes care of this, we think, with Half Spent Was the Night: A Witches’ Yuletide and I am HERE. FOR. IT because I need to know what happens next.  I also give The Witches of New York a solid four stars.  I’m not sure I’ll be rereading The Witches of New York, but it would be a delightful comfort read for a cool fall or winter day, and I’m definitely here for more from Ami McKay as her style is unique and delightful. 

What book have you read lately that didn’t start how you expected but became glorious before the ending?

~Nikki

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Today is pumpkin day for my little, so there is all sorts of fall excitement happening here.  I’m going to should on myself very soon and (finally) get out the few pieces of Halloween decor I have, and maybe a fall item or two as well.  I need my giant googly eyes up, but I haven’t decided where they’re going yet.  I am also ready for more vampires in my list.  My Adam and I started watching The Vampire Diaries this week.  We’re a few episodes in, and so far I’m loving it (and laughing at all the wrong places).  But you know what, I need more vampires!  I’m hopeful that  The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix will fit the bill, and that you’ll join us in reading it, or at least discussing it at Virtual Book Club on Friday, October 30th at 7:30 p.m. CST.  Be sure to register here, because we’re changing up our platform (yes again, because we like free) and need to get you the details.  

Oh readers, is it just me, or sometimes do you want to crawl into the pages of a book so you can hangout with the characters?  I would definitely be a liability in a good fight (or really any fight), so I’d want to jump in on the calm pub or camp fire scenes to hang out.  Blood & Honey is definitely one of those books.  Ashley and I both adore YA titles (although this is more NA I think) and an ensemble cast.  While Blood & Honey (and Serpent & Dove) only feature two points of view in the books, they do feature an ensemble as they go on a bit of a hero’s journey, so it counts for me.  I would also be delighted to hang out with Shelby Mahurin at a pub or around a campfire (but this Instagram Live from Tuesday will have to do), that’d be super fun too!  

How to explain this book, as Serpent & Dove at our September book club, I will only try so hard to not spoil the first book.  Be warned.  Here’s my reader’s digest review of Blood & Honey:  Five stars, will reread before reading Gods & Monsters, and I really appreciate the ending.  (If there wasn’t a next book expected, I’d be rereading sooner to see what else I pick up on the second time, and I may yet!)  The arc of the book has ended, we see what has to happen to end the arc of the trilogy, and the issues of the first part of the third book are set up, and OH I AM SO EXCITED to see how that happens because it’s going to be a wild ride!  The internet has seemed all up in arms about the title of the third book in this trilogy, but y’all, Gods & Monsters makes sense to me after reading the first two books.  Also, if you don’t like spoilers, don’t read the reviews online.  I had one spoil something big for me and I am still mad!  

Now, here’s the part you should skip if you want to go into Blood & Honey not knowing anything, but I won’t be including spoilers for book two.  I’m really excited about the new characters introduced in this installment, and am looking forward to digging in with some of them in the next volume in the series.  I appreciated the foreshadowing that happens throughout the book, as it does in Serpent & Dove.  Some readers may be surprised at how the action unfolds, but others will see some things coming because of the genius with which the story is told.  The character development from our starring couple is actually my favorite part of the story.  Lou and Reid are both struggling with themselves, with each other, and with the world at large, and that piece alone is a journey, plus the hero’s journey to defeat La Dame des Sorcières.  Because the narrative comes from both their perspectives we get each side, and how their pride and communication struggles don’t help the situation.  This piece is so real and relatable that it’s a joy, and also sometimes a challenge, to read.  Other things I really enjoyed about this are the sass, because Lou is still full of it, and how the landscape plays into the story, as when they’re traveling through La Fôret des Yeux (translation: the forest of eyes) and Les Dents (translation: the teeth).  I just kept imagining the Forbidden Forest by Hogwarts only darker and spookier, and I’m here for it!  The writing is purposeful and descriptive, but not over done (which I think can be a fine line in YA/NA), but it’s really the plot and the characters that have me singing the praises of this series, and wishing there was a Liddy-like song I could sing to encourage readers to dive in!  

I do want to include some warnings for readers.  Blood & Honey is darker than the first book.  It’s not excessive, and it feels consistent with where it needs to go to progress the characters on their journey, but this is not an uplifting read (see also: book #2 in a dramatic trilogy).  Because it’s fantasy, it still felt like an escape to me, but please time it well for you, especially if you’re a mood reader or a highly sensitive person.  And a note for readers who have concerns about the raciness of their content – the marketing copy is wrong on this one – the romance is not red-hot. [Ashley here: and we would know, we read lots of schmexy times, especially on the weekend.]  It’s the same as in Serpent & Dove.  DM me if you want more details on either book’s steam level.  While I adore this series and want everyone to read it and chat with us about it, our ultimate goal is to help readers find titles that are right for them, so if this isn’t for you, skip it, or if you’re unsure, let’s chat!  

What books did you try on a whim and end up wanting to crawl into?  

~Nikki 

I need to say, again, for the record, that I love my book buddy who brings me amazing books to get lost in. In our intro to Witchy Reads book month we discussed September’s Virtual Book Club Pick Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin, but we didn’t discuss the author herself. Mahurin admitted in her IG chat with Sarah J. Maas that Nikki mentioned above that the kernel of inspiration for her debut novel’s Les Dames Blanches was when Jamie Fraser calls his wife Claire a white witch in Season 2 of Outlander. You know that show I discussed in February that I am obsessed with (and the books of course). That season of Outlander (and the book it is based off of, Dragonfly in Amber) is set in Paris. The French folklore of the white witches shines through in Mahurin’s world building of Belleterre. Mahurin shares on her website that her imagination blossomed in rural Indiana “where sticks were wands and cows were dragons”, and now we have what is set to be three engrossing books about witches and witch hunters. Installment number 3 is set to release next August and is entitled Gods & Monsters. 

So, yeah these are some big deal things that our characters are dealing with. But these big deal plot moving situations all cause internal struggles in the minds and hearts of Lou, Reid, Coco, Ansel, Beau, and Helene Labelle… Reid’s mom! What?! And then we meet the Red Witches, led by Coco’s aunt La Voisin, some werewolves, and our favorite Chausser, Jean Luc. Because we all know now that Reid’s a witch and killed the Archbishop he can no longer be a witch hunter.

Yeah, that. It’s some life being thrown at them and so much character growth that insures and I’m here for it. And I’m here for the next book and bummed that I am going to have to wait a whole year before it’s out. But, it’ll be at the publisher’s by the beginning of November, fingers crossed, so we have great things to look forward to.

What escapist reads are getting you through the rest of 2020 and what are you looking forward to for 2021?

~Ashley

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