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The Witches of New York (Witches of New York, #1)

Ami McKay

Start date: October 1, 2018

Finish date: October 31, 2018

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Oct 20, 2018 Brina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: witches, historical-fiction, new-york-city

On a windy, autumn day, Ami McKay's Witches of New York turned out to be the perfect seasonal read. Last year I was captivated by Rules of Magic, so there is something about witches and New York City that is just, for lack of a better term, magical. McKay takes readers back in time to 1880 New York where witches were no longer burnt at the stake but were still persecuted for being different, powerful women. This is the scenario that McKay has created for her protagonists as well as the secondary On a windy, autumn day, Ami McKay's Witches of New York turned out to be the perfect seasonal read. Last year I was captivated by Rules of Magic, so there is something about witches and New York City that is just, for lack of a better term, magical. McKay takes readers back in time to 1880 New York where witches were no longer burnt at the stake but were still persecuted for being different, powerful women. This is the scenario that McKay has created for her protagonists as well as the secondary female characters as they struggle to assert themselves in a modernizing world.

The 1880s while modern still has room for plenty of Magic. New York City was not yet lit by electric light so did have the moniker the city that never sleeps. Yet it was home to the women's suffrage movement, temperance movement, and a slew of women looking for increased rights in a still new nation. Tucked near the bustling fifth avenue we find St Clair and Thom's Tea and Symphony Shop where witches Eleanor, Adalaide, Beatrice concoct potions, spells, and of course teas to assist women from all walks of life as they face the challenges of a modernizing society. Chastised for being witches, the women are powerful in their own right yet stronger together and draw on their magical families and friendship to overcome those who still thought of witches to be menaces to society.

McKay creates characters with rich histories and freely flowing story that I literally read in a day. The writing was not spectacular but the something about magic, witches, New York City, and the gilded age are elements that I always enjoy reading about. Together they create an atmosphere of hope that is electric, and I fell for the characters from the first pages. Having read Harry Potter countless times, especially at this time of year, I'm always on the look out for books that contain elements of magic to them. Witches of New York, while not the best of writing, for fit the bill perfectly, especially on a crisp, windy, fall day.

Writing 3 stars
Story 4 stars
3.5 stars overall ...more

123 likes · Like · see review

Mar 24, 2019 Nancy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-books

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about time in New York during 1880. This story involves three ladies who are discovered to be witches who run a tea shop and the problems they encounter with those wanting to rid the world of witches. Besides the three witches in the tea shop there are also the Dearlies who are in charge of dreams, a raven named Perdu who can talk and says he is not a bird and of course a ghost or two! The story is very cleverly written and it kept me engaged throughout the whole boo ...more

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Oct 28, 2018 Tasha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was a fun read, perfect for this time of year (October). Lots of fun characters and the setting was made real with interesting snippets of odds and ends throughout the book. It introduced me to an interesting (and probably very creepy) place and a unique historical voyage. It definitely ended in a way that sets things up for a sequel, which I think would be fun. I haven't read any other books by the author and it seems to those who have read her other stuff this one is not as strong. ...more

7 likes · Like · see review