W is for Witch
Hello!
Witches are typically practitioners of magic who channel natural, spiritual, or mystical forces to affect the world. They often draw their power from rituals, potions, and/or a connection with the unseen. Witches can be healers, seers, necromancers, or even shapeshifters. Some are solitary figures, living on the outskirts of society, while others belong to covens or secret magical orders.
Witches appear in many cultures. European folklore often paints witches as women with secret knowledge—sometimes benevolent herbalists, other times cursed or condemned figures accused of consorting with demons. African and Caribbean traditions include powerful witch-doctors and spiritualists who interact with spirits and ancestors. On the other hand, Asian legends feature witches as mystics, shamans, or ghostly beings, often tied to natural or ancestral magic.
These varied traditions have influenced how witches appear in modern fantasy as both feared outcasts and powerful beings. In fact, fantasy literature presents witches in a wide range of roles:
The Wise Witch – A mentor figure who offers guidance.The Wicked Witch – A villain wielding dark magic, such as the iconic Wicked Witch of the West.The Reluctant Witch – A character discovering her powers and learning to control them, often central to coming-of-age tales.The Elemental Witch – A magic-user tied to earth, fire, air, or water, drawing power from the natural world.Modern portrayals include witches of all genders and alignments, exploring complex themes of identity, empowerment, and resistance.
Witches carry rich symbolic weight in fantasy. Often existing outside societal norms, witches could symbolise autonomy and resistance, or hidden truths, ancient lore, and the pursuit of wisdom—sometimes at a cost. In many stories, witches embody humanity’s unease with things it cannot control or understand.
Whether casting protective charms, cursing enemies, or speaking with spirits, witches remain important figures in the world of fantasy.
References and further reading: https://devingackle.com/2021/10/10/20-mythological-witches-spooks-and-creepy-creatures-perfect-for-halloween/; https://monster.fandom.com/wiki/Witch_(folklore)
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Nightmares. Shadows. Truth. A warrior’s quest for vengeance reveals a dark secret.
Zera’s life as a Volcan Knight shatters when she discovers an ancient sacred order’s dark secret: Project Reversal, an experiment that created the monsters that killed her daughter. Together with Sam, her steadfast partner, and a team of loyal Knights, she ventures into abandoned facilities and treacherous mountains, following the trail of a mysterious predecessor named Kael.
As Zera’s powers grow stronger, so do the attacks from the Devourers, who seem to hunt them with newfound intelligence. Deep beneath the city, in forgotten tunnels and hidden chambers, a horrifying revelation awaits. Each step closer to the truth reveals more corruption within the ancient Volcan Order, forcing Zera to question everything she believes.
If the Knights fail to expose the truth behind Project Reversal, the price will be paid in more than just lives. But what happens when the protectors become the threat they’ve sworn to eliminate?
This pulse-pounding supernatural dark fantasy is perfect for readers who love Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo. If you crave heart-pounding action, ancient conspiracies, and supernatural powers, you’ll be captivated by this haunting tale of betrayal and redemption.
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The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy: (Dawn of Purple and Grey, Days of Wind and Snow, Night of Rites and Wraiths)
When sixteen-year-old Shael helps a mortally wounded messenger, he entrusts her with delivering to the queen three magical statuettes stolen from the Hyllethans, her country’s feared enemies. But Shael accidentally cuts her fingers while handling the statuettes and magic links her to them—any breakage or pressure on the clay is felt on her flesh. Shael’s fate is now inexorably tied to the Hyllethans, the statuettes, and the political turmoil in the land.
In the sacred temple of Basica, Maia is about to achieve everything she has worked for: becoming a Sentinel, one of the Goddess’s elite protectors. But she harbours a dangerous secret—fire bends to her will, a power that would see her condemned as demon-born if discovered. Worse still, the flames carry echoes of memories that are not her own, whispering of a past she cannot remember and a destiny she never chose.
When an Imperial envoy arrives for the Summer Solstice ceremony, he claims to know who she is and what she is capable of, threatening to unravel everything Maia has built. His knowledge could shatter her future—or unlock a destiny greater than she ever imagined.
Torn between the lure of safety and power within the temple and the dangerous truths hidden in her past, Maia must decide: will she cling to the life she has fought for, or risk everything to uncover the truth? And when the boy who has always stood by her offers a different kind of future, will she follow duty—or her heart?
Perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes and From Blood and Ash, Fire Dance is a tale of ambition, tainted love, and the fire that burns within.
Haunted by memories that are not her own, Maia and her love, Ryse, are desperate to leave the world that has shaped her and return to Phaen. Only their presence there can stop their homelands from plunging into a devastating war. But duty comes at an unbearable cost: losing a brother who refuses to flee, a child who carries the past in his veins, and an enemy who wields a stolen weapon that could change the fate of civilizations.
But when she risks their cover to save a galley under attack, an Imperial princess and a ruthless general entangle Maia in a dangerous game of power and betrayal. In a world of shifting allegiances, hidden truths, and long-buried treachery, the race to escape turns into a battle of wits, deception, and impossible choices.
With time running out, Maia must choose: surrender to the lure of power which this world offers and risk losing those she loves, or reclaim the future that was stolen from her.
Perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes and From Blood and Ash, Fire Storm is a tale of fate, forbidden power, and the fire that binds past and future.
Colours of Fantasy (FREE DOWNLOAD)
Not enough time to read, but love fantasy?
Colours of Fantasy is an anthology of short stories that range from magical realism to sci-fi fantasy. They are short enough to be easily read while commuting or during a lunch break. Read about paintings that are truer than true-to-life, or the heart-wrenching decision Poseidon’s human son-in-law has to take, or perhaps you’ll prefer a glimpse of life after an apocalypse, or a story about a space pirate with an uncomfortable past.
And if you like longer reads, Colours of Fantasy gives you a taste of Book One of two series: The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy and Fire Dance Chronicles.
Till next time! Wishing you a great two weeks with a good book!
Caroline
