Welcome to Litsy!

My first 5* of the year. This was a fabulous multi layered story - yes there is the love and bond of the 3 sisters and the pain and trauma of a difficult family history, then there is a world of female oppression, the witchcraft, the love of stories and words and all of it done against a clever historical backdrop that acknowledges the racism of the suffrage movement. The power of women, of words and of wanting was powerful stuff this IWD

So far loving this book. 📕

It took time to get drawn into the book, but glad I stuck with it. Set in ‘New Salem‘ in 1893, where there is no such things as witches. Fairy tales are woven into this tale of 3 estranged sisters finding each other again as they learn their history and fight for women‘s and witches rights. The audio version definitely helped keep my interest. Some bits were slow, but the reader was wonderful and the music interspersed throughout was charming.

I really liked the beginning and the end but I found myself slogging through the middle. It could just be the holidays interrupted my flow.

#readingbracket2023 #fiction

A few relevant titles for today‘s photo challenge prompt: “witch.”

#scarathlon #hhc #halloweenhexescoven

@dabbe @BookmarkTavern @Liatrek @JessClark78 @Chrissyreadit @TheDaysGoBy @vonnie862 @Sresendez12 @Nessavamusic @JessieKB

So good!

This book is all about the power of women and the evil people that try to stifle it. This author is very clever. I would give it even more love if it wasn't quite so long.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Almost forgot! This counts for the prompt #nonbinaryortrans for #booked2023. Here‘s a cool book club kit that gives historical context and where a lot of the names in the book came from 😊
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/OFW-Book-Club-Kit.p...

Oh my gosh, I don‘t know if I can put into words how much I loved this book! I seem to have a witchy theme going recently and was so pleased to see the parallels between this and Hester.
“A witch is merely a woman who needs more than she has.” 🐦‍⬛ 🦉 🦅 #pantone2023 #tenderpeach #TBRtarot #March @Clwojick

Unpopular opinion: I wanted to love this book. I like the story premise but, I found it unnecessary long. I found that some expressions, actions, concepts were not in accordance to the time, maybe it was me. It didn‘t work for me the integration of those children‘s rhymes with the story, I found them nonsense. They were in the middle of an argument or battle whatever and you are going to recite “London bridge is falling down? Humpty Dumpty?⬇️

I wasn't sure if this would be a good book for me. I anticipated it might be a little dull or a little too intense, but I wound up loving it! I especially liked the adaptation of fairy tales and other well-known works as the hidden words of spells. This was just the book I needed this month. #LGBTQ #LGBTBookClub #Witches

Lunch break at the lake. It‘s iced over so I stayed inside the car but still nice to see water.

I have absolutely LOVED everything I've read from this author, and this book was no exception. This is a tale of three sisters who found magic and witchcraft and used it to fight for women's rights during a time when women had none.

Hello folks!

This is your mid-month reminder that discussions for this month's pick (tagged) will be posted on January 29th. Content warnings can be found at: https://schizanthusnerd.com/2020/09/14/the-once-and-future-witches/

Here is the vote for next month's pick:
https://forms.gle/wvNXNTsRM3tNe5dX6
As usual, let me know if you have any issues or concerns.

#LGBTbookclub is open to all!

Hmm, I am considering DNFing this one, even though it's the January pick for #lgbtbookclub. I am not emotionally connecting with the story or characters at all. I liked the writing at first, but I guess something about it is not drawing me in. Almost 12 hours more is a lot when you're already feeling meh! Thoughts anyone? #QueerBooks

Also got started with a new book. I doubt I‘ll finish this before the new year but it‘s been in my #tbr for so long!

I‘m on a long vacation, but it‘s coming to a close so quickly. I don‘t want this holiday the end so I can just keep reading.

I'm starting the January pick for #LGBTbookclub a bit early since my hold on the library audiobook came in much quicker than I expected. I really like it so far, it has a dreamy fairy tale vibe but like the old school Brothers Grimm kind, dark and witchy. The #audiobook voice actor is very good. #QueerBooks #LGBTQBooks @AbigailJaneBlog

Repost for @AbigailJaneBlog

This is our January pick for the #LGBTbookclub! Discussions will be held on Jan 29th.
Original post
https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2518301

Yeah, no. Language is way too flowery, and the book‘s pace suffers as a result #bookspin #bail #dnf

Really liking the writing and setting so far but already there are parts that feel like they could be cut in this 500 page book.

#Scarathlon Daily Photo Prompt Day 13: #Witch

I just started this, but it‘s been on my Kindle #TBR for awhile. I‘m getting Hocus Pocus meets Magic Lessons vibes, so far.

#TeamSlaughter @Clwojick

#ScarathlonDailyPrompt #Witches #TeamMonsterMash +6pts

#ScarathlonDailyPrompt @StayCurious
#TeamMonsterMash

On my TBR list. Now is a good time to read this one.

#Scarathlon2022

I loved this book and the parallels between suffrage and witchcraft. That's what lured me in and kept me there for the very long read. It delivered on what it promised in the blurb. I even learned about the misogyny of pockets (ps google it because while the link to withcraft is not hard to believe, it isnt entirely factual). I read the majority of it yesterday while enjoying a raspberry mocha.

#OminousOctober #Witch

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#Scarathlon2022
@StayCurious

Their teachers were desperate need and decades of rage; the hoarded words of their mothers and grandmothers; one another.

Look at this stellar stack of library holds that just came in! I‘m still recovering from a concussion so it may take me awhile to get through these. Where would YOU start?? 📚

Post vacay bath time! Most stressful vacay ever so this is needed 😂

“Every woman draws a circle around herself. Sometimes she has to be the only thing inside it.”

Powerful book.

Very well done alternate reality where women are being held down because there were witches in the world. But three sisters find the ways and the words and decide to bring back the magic and free their sisters from men who beat and control them.

A really enjoyable read with some amazing world building

Catching up (again) on #TarotTakeover!

Day 3 was Five of Wands, and the tagged book came to mind, with all of the conflict, struggle, and opposition that the women, suffragettes, and witches experienced. I loved this book! ❤️

Loved this book! It was a little bit slow in the beginning as it was obvious that the sisters weren‘t telling each other important things and that was keeping them apart, but they came together and then it just kept getting better and deeper. I loved all the characters, even Gideon Hill (though I suppose that‘s more of a “love to hate”). And such beautiful writing.

“Men really ought to try offers of fealty rather than flowers.”

Book club time. I enjoyed this—especially the relationships between the sisters—but the pacing felt like it became slowed down and unfocused, especially in the second half. The beautiful prose, which was a strength, also became a weakness in that it started to feel indulgent. Points that felt insightful and strong the first time, started to feel a little overdone at the cost of more action. Luckily I don‘t seem to be alone at book club.

Finished one book club read, on to the next! Plus, Boston cream donut 😋

‘𝕿𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊‘𝖘 𝖓𝖔 𝖘𝖚𝖈𝖍 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖆𝖘 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖈𝖍𝖊𝖘, 𝖇𝖚𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊 𝖚𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝖔 𝖇𝖊.‘

𝐌𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞 🖤

#theonceandfuturewitches

Also starting this one tonight lol I am reading way too many books at once right now! This is my second #roll100 pick

All women are witches. I love how nursery rhymes, sayings, and myths were all used within this story. Three witches are needed to bring back the magic of witches. Bella, Agnes, and Juniper set New Salem wishing that they never came to town.

Bandit looked as tired as I was by the time I finished this one... but not because I didn't enjoy it, just because I don't usually read such long books. This one was totally worth it though! Beautiful writing, a gripping story, and powerful, intersectional feminist themes. I also loved the way she weaved fairy tales into her magic system 🕯🖤
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book 6 of 2022

On page 460 of 530! I've been at this one for two weeks. I don't usually pick up books over 400 pages, and while I'm frustrated with how long it's taking me to get through it, I have no regrets. Hoping to finish tonight 🏆

There‘s no such thing as witches, but there used to be. #firstlinefridays

I'd been procrastinating this because of how long it is, but I'm now doing it as a buddy read and picking it up is always one of the best parts of my day. Beautiful writing. Fascinating story. I'm all in.

Perfect bookmark for this book

In bed now and starting this. It‘s been a long day, so I‘m happy to just relax with a book.

Omg.. is this why women's jeans never have real pockets anymore?!!! They gave us a chance in the 90s, then we got a little too "witchy" ?

First day back to work post-holidays was... long. Closing my laptop and running straight to my book!!