Top Ten Tuesday used to be a weekly post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, but was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl. “It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.” This is definitely something I can understand and want to participate in.
I can’t believe how fast October has gone by! It’s already the last week of the month, and today’s prompt is a Halloween Freebie, so I decided to lean towards my favorite type of spooky season books to read featuring witches. I’m going to try to include a range of genres and some less popular books. Here are some of my favorites:
- The Witching Hour by Anne Rice. I first read this in my teen years, and the sprawling family saga of witches stole my heart. Periodically, I reread the series and it’s just as good as the first time.
- I’ll Make a Spectacle of You by Beatrice Winifred Iker. After starting the ARC of this book, I was so enthralled with this story of hoodoo, rootwork, and conjure set at an HBCU.
- The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow. A historical fiction novel featuring witches and a sapphic romance subplot that is incredible.
- Circe by Madeline Miller. This is an older book, but I love how Circe’s punishment winds up giving her the freedom to be herself.
- A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. A series that I quickly became obsessed with, I binge read the entire series about a witch and a vampire who fall in love. It’s so complex and wonderfully written.
- Weyward by Emilia Hart. This story featuring three women at different periods in time, and I loved seeing women take control over their lives when they’re given no options.
- The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith. A YA book, this one had a great story about witches and a bit of romance as well.
- The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore. This historical fantasy reimagines the role of Baba Yaga, and pits her against a corrupted tsar.
- VenCo by Cherie Dimaline. I was completely caught off guard at how much I loved this story about a group of women who were called to participate in something larger than themselves.
- The Witch in the Well by Camilla Bruce. I really enjoyed this book set in Norway between two former friends, with the specter of a witch haunting the story.
What are your favorite books about witches?
Categories: Top Ten Tuesday
Leah's Books 
Though I’ve read very few (or maybe none) witch-y books, I do recognize some of these! Circe created lots of buzz when it released and of course I know lots of readers love A Discovery of Witches too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those are both really great titles. I hope you have a wonderful week!
LikeLike
Me, too, Leah. Where did October go? What a wonderful list. Still haven’t read The Once and Future Witches or CIRCE, but my daughter loved the latter. Thanks for sharing.
https://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2025/10/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-halloween.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is it just me, or does time go faster as we get older? Thank you, and I really hope that you get around to reading Circe or The Once and Future Witches. I really loved both of those.
LikeLike
I listened to the audiobook for Once and Future Witches a few years ago in the spring. A couple of times I was out walking near the river and the book was perfectly suited for the setting. And VenCo is such an amazing read!
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/halloween-creatures-book-tag-2025-edition/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! Walking in nature during springtime would totally suit a reading of The Once and Future Witches. I’m so glad to find another person who has read VenCo – that really was amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that I need to dabble my toe into some of these books, thanks Leah.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, that’s a huge compliment! Any of these would be a great read. I love how diverse the prompt lets us be – books featuring witches can be many different genres. If you ever need a specific rec, you know where I am!
LikeLike
These look good. Every year I say to myself that I want to read more witchy books, but I never seem to get round to them!
Have a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can feel that deep in my soul – I always plan to read a bunch of witchy books in October and by the end of the month, I might have read one. But there are so many cute, cozy stories featuring witches. I’m hoping to come across a good cozy mystery series featuring witches.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are 😭 I’m adding them to my Goodreads list so that I don’t forget them 😂 maybe one day I will then get a copy and read it 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We went for similar topics this week, and managed to match up on three of the books!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s awesome! I love finding other bloggers who I have overlap with, especially on a freebie prompt. I’m willing to bet that visiting your blog adds at least one new book to my TBR.
LikeLike
I think the only book that I’ve read including witches is Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel haha! I’ve never thought to read any witchy books before but may have to check some out next year thanks to this post 🙂
Here’s my TTT post – https://justreadjessie.blog/2025/10/28/top-ten-tuesday-halloween-freebie-pumpkins/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I learned something new today – I didn’t know there was a Hocus Pocus book or sequel! I’ve loved the first movie since it came out, and I really enjoyed the second. Hopefully you find some books from my list that pique your interest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t read any of these titles yet. If you haven’t read Cackle yet, you might like it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hopefully some of them make it onto your TBR. I haven’t heard a single person have something negative to say about Cackle, so I think I might check it out from the library if possible. Thanks for the rec!
LikeLike
Fun post! I also did a witchy post for my TTT Halloween Freebie list, but it’s all middle grade books. I also loved Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire by Don Martin, which is YA so it didn’t make my list. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that’s such an awesome idea! I have only recently discovered how good MG books can be. I loved Nevermore: The Chronicles of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend, even though I can’t really remember if there are witches in it. Can’t wait to check out your list and expand my TBR.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the witches in Throne of Glass. You get to know them. I just read a book about old witches. That Old Witch. I was a good and funny one but it was slow. It gives the Golden Girls vibes. It was cute. Here is my TTT.
https://dmhoisington.wordpress.com/2025/10/28/top-ten-tuesday-7/
LikeLiked by 1 person
How could I have forgotten about Manon and the other witches in ToG? They weren’t my favorite at first, but she completely won me over. A book about witches that gives Golden Girls vibes sounds pretty intriguing!
LikeLike
I love witch stories as well! I’ve only read The Witch in the Well, will have to check out the others.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s actually funny, because I love reading books featuring witches but I don’t read any super-scary books. Camilla Bruce has a wonderful way of writing, and I haven’t disliked any of her books yet. Looking forward to see your post!
LikeLike
I love witchy books so much! I definitely need to add some of these to my TBR!
I hope you have a spooky week and a Happy Halloween! 🎃💀👻
My TTT: https://essentiallyash.blogspot.com/2025/10/top-ten-tuesday-halloweeeeeeen.html
Ash @ <a href=”https://essentiallyash.blogspot.com/“>Essentially Ash</a>
Want to follow me on <a href=”https://linktr.ee/essentiallyyash“>Bookstagram, booktok, add my snapchat or check out my photography?</a>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! These are some of my favorites, and really enjoyed all of them. Hopefully you enjoy them as much as I did!
LikeLike
I loved The Once and Future Witches and meant to include that on my list but it somehow got left off. VenCo and The Witch and the Tsar sound good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s always one standout that gets overlooked. I forgot about the witches from Throne of Glass. VenCo and The Witch and the Tsar are outstanding reads.
LikeLike
Other than PRACTICAL MAGIC and a bunch of fiction and non-fiction about the Salem Witch Trials, I haven’t read many books about witches. Ghosts are more my speed. Must be the genealogist in me…ha ha.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL that’s funny. I tend to be more scared of ghost stories than I am of witches, but Practical Magic is amazing! The whole series is wonderful, and I have always been fascinated with the witch trials. Hopefully I’ll find some good nonfiction about it – those are still fascinating.
LikeLike
I loved Circe, had to DNF Weyward.
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2025/10/28/top-ten-tuesday-creatures-of-the-night-2-0/
LikeLiked by 1 person
It feels like Circe is one of those books that almost everyone enjoys, but I’m not surprised about Weyward. I loved it, but I saw some mixed reactions when it came out.
LikeLike
I loved The Witching Hour!! It’s an old fave of mine too – I also read it when I was in my teens. I love the whole middle part that is the History of the Mayfair Witches. I also loved A Discovery of Witches!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The whole middle part that is the huge, sprawling family saga was my favorite part of The Witching Hour too! And I’m not surprised that you loved A Discovery of Witches, since our taste really does overlap on some genres and topics.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t read a lot of books with paranormal or witches, but I did read Weyward. I also enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, The Winter of the Witch (The Winternight Trilogy, #3), and The League of Gentlewomen Witches.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved The Winternight Trilogy, but I haven’t read the other ones. I might have to check them out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
YES! Witchy reads are my favorite! Bring on the spooky book recs! 🎃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! I love finding someone who enjoys the spooky witchy reads without having things get too scary.
LikeLike
A Discovery of Witches was great! The show was good too, the first season, but not the second, which was unfortunately a snoozefest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved both the book and the show, but I agree, the second season wasn’t as good.
LikeLike