Listen free for 30 days

  • The Once and Future Witches

  • Written by: Alix E. Harrow
  • Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
  • Length: 16 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (354 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Once and Future Witches cover art

The Once and Future Witches

Written by: Alix E. Harrow
Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $39.38

Buy Now for $39.38

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

In the late 1800s, three sisters use witchcraft to change the course of history in this powerful novel of magic, family, and the suffragette movement.

In 1893, there's no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box.

But when the Eastwood sisters - James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna - join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women's movement into the witch's movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote - and perhaps not even to live - the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive.

There's no such thing as witches. But there will be.

An homage to the indomitable power and persistence of women, The Once and Future Witches reimagines stories of revolution, motherhood, and women's suffrage - the lost ways are calling.

Praise for The Once and Future Witches:

"A gorgeous and thrilling paean to the ferocious power of women. The characters live, bleed, and roar. I adore them, and long for witchcraft to awaken in all of us. Harrow makes it feel possible, and even likely." (Laini Taylor, New York Times best-selling author)

"A glorious escape into a world where witchcraft has dwindled to a memory of women's magic, and three wild, sundered sisters hold the key to bring it back...A tale that will sweep you away." (Yangsze Choo, New York Times best-selling author)

"This book is an amazing bit of spellcraft and resistance so needed in our times, and a reminder that secret words and ways can never be truly and properly lost, as long as there are tongues to speak them and ears to listen." (P. Djèlí Clark, author The Black God's Drum)

For more from Alix E. Harrow, check out The Ten Thousand Doors of January.

Named One of the Best Books of the Year by NPR Books • Barnes and Noble • BookPage

©2020 Alix E. Harrow (P)2020 Redhook
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ2S+

What the critics say

"A gorgeous and thrilling paean to the ferocious power of women. The characters live, bleed, and roar. I adore them, and long for witchcraft to awaken in all of us. Harrow makes it feel possible, and even likely."—Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author

"A glorious escape into a world where witchcraft has dwindled to a memory of women's magic, and three wild, sundered sisters hold the key to bring it back....A tale that will sweep you away."—Yangsze Choo, NYT bestselling author of Night Tiger and The Ghost Bride

"This novel cleverly connects the dots between the suffragist movement of the past to the Me Too movement of today. Compelling, exhilarating, and magical, The Once and Future Witches is a must-read."—Booklist (starred review)

What listeners say about The Once and Future Witches

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    228
  • 4 Stars
    77
  • 3 Stars
    35
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    5
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    225
  • 4 Stars
    51
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    192
  • 4 Stars
    63
  • 3 Stars
    31
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    4

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

enthralling story!

absolutely loved this book! the narrator was fantastic 👏 the characters were all different and unique and really brought the story to life. the twist was great.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story!

There were parts of this book that gave me chills...brought me back to my childhood and made me question everything!
The author is one heck of a wordsmith who understands how to weave a gut wrenching yet beautiful tale. Loved it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The power of women.

Beautifully read. This may be my new favourite. A powerful novel that balances the story of magic with the will of a woman perfectly. I will gift it to my daughter's when they are a bit older.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It’s An Amazing Book!

I had to redo my review.. at first I wasn’t too sure but this book is a wonder. The writing is captivating and the story a unique magical tale that you will fall into and become immersed in. Definitely recommend it and I’ll do a full review soon. But buy this book! You won’t regret it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Yes!!

This is what my daughters will be reading instead of Little Women! Great characters, great setting, great plot! So much fun to read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

"The Once and Future Witches" is Spellbinding

It took me a couple chapters to 'get into' this book. But I became more and more engaged as it progressed, and it resulted in several nights of late-hour listening. Little by little I came to 'know' the characters, and there were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing most of the time. It was interesting to hear the various spells - basically childhood rhymes that were modified from male to female versions. I also really enjoyed the narrator's interpretation. She enunciated clearly, and I felt her expression was bang on in any scene. Overall, a really enjoyable 'read', and I'm going to look for other books by this author, and this narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I can't stop listening

I love this book, and everytime I listen to it I pick up more detail and Nuance that I missed before., I love the narrator, I love the richness story and the way it makes me feel powerful and like I'm a part of something greater. What an incredibly vast world harrow has created. HUGE bonus points for lesbian and trans characters whose stories are treated really well.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A compulsive read...

I couldn’t put this down... I particularly loved the way nursery rhymes and Grimms fairytales were incorporated into the story... Gabra Zackman was an excellent narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

very moving

I love the combination of family history, magic and fantasy, women's rights, and breathtakingly descriptive and rich writing. The narrator suited perfectly. Highly recommended

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The narrator is exceptional.

This story was a wonderful listen. I truly enjoyed the story! The narrator makes it even better. An exceptionally moving performance.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful