It’s the last weekend of October, which means two things: 1 I benefitted from an extra hour in bed this morning; and 2 it’s time for a Halloween themed prompt for the last Autumn Feels prompt for Six for Sunday!
Six for Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely Steph at ALITTLEBUTALOT. You can find a list of prompts from July to December 2019 here
Witch-y Books
Today’s post has been surprisingly difficult, I’ve spoken about magical, witch-y books in a previous Top Ten Tuesday post and I don’t want to be too repetitive! There are so many fabulous magical books which I’m sure will feature on so many Six For Sunday posts this week so I’m trying to avoid mentioning too many of them! That’s the only reason you’re not seeing things like Harry Potter, The Worst Witch and Meg & Mog.
Witch Wars by Sibéal Pounder
When Fran the Fabulous Fairy turns up in Tiga Whicabim’s shed to tell her she’s a witch, Tiga doesn’t believe her. Or at least not until Fran points out that TIGA WHICABIM is actually an anagram of I AM A BIG WITCH . . . and takes Tiga through the drainpipes to compete in a challenge to crown the next Top Witch of Ritzy City. No one expects a witch from ‘above the pipes’ to be a serious contender, but soon Tiga and her new best friend, Peggy Pigwiggle, are at the head of the pack! Does one of them have what it takes to win?
There will be spells. There will be shrunken heads. But most of all, there will be serious shoe envy. Perfect for fans of Sarah Mlynowski’s Whatever After series and filled with hilarious black-and-white illustrations, delectable dresses, and ridiculous riddles, Witch Wars is whimsical, magical fun!
I’ve only read the first of this series but I absolutely loved it! The idea of an X Factor / Survivor style competition to decide on who is the next ruler of Sinkville – Fantastic! The characters both the good and the bad guys are wonderful to read about and there are some fantastic illustrations by the wonderful Laura Ellen Anderson to add the cherry on top!
Read my review of Witch Wars here
Everless by Sara Holland
Time is a prison. She is the key. Packed with danger, temptation and desire – a perfect read for fans of The Red Queen.
In the land of Sempera, the rich control everything – even time. Ever since the age of alchemy and sorcery, hours, days and years have been extracted from blood and bound to iron coins. The rich live for centuries; the poor bleed themselves dry.
Jules and her father are behind on their rent and low on hours. To stop him from draining himself to clear their debts, Jules takes a job at Everless, the grand estate of the cruel Gerling family.
There, Jules encounters danger and temptation in the guise of the Gerling heir, Roan, who is soon to be married. But the web of secrets at Everless stretches beyond her desire, and the truths Jules must uncover will change her life for ever … and possibly the future of time itself.
I absolutely adored this book, the tale of the Alchemist and the Soccoress that runs throughout is wonderful, and Jules and Liam are fantastic characters! The sequel Evermore was equally enthralling! I’m so looking forward to Sara’s new book next year. It’s a different series but from the sampler seems equally wonderful!
Read my Everless and Evermore reviews!
Everdark by Abi Elphinstone
It is midnight in Crackledawn – a midnight full of magic. Sea dragons stir in the depths of the ocean, silver whales surface beneath the moon and sand goblins line the shores. Everyone is waiting for the phoenix, the guardian of the kingdom’s magic, to rise up from the forests of Everdark.
But there is no sign of the phoenix tonight. Something else surges up out of Everdark instead: a harpy bent on stealing Crackledawn’s magic.
It is up to an eleven-year-old girl called Smudge and an eccentric monkey called Bartholomew to set sail beyond the legendary Northswirl and stop the harpy before it’s too late.
So, grab your compass and roll down your sail – the first adventure in THE UNMAPPED CHRONICLES is about to begin…
Everdark features a Harpy rather than a witch but I’m still claiming it for this post! Both Everdark and the first full story in The Unmapped Chronicles – Rumblestar were magical adventures and I defy anyone adult or child not to enjoy them!
See my Everdark and Rumblestar reviews!
Gilded Cage by Vic James
In modern-day Britain, magic users control everything: wealth, politics, power—and you. If you’re not one of the ultimate one-percenters—the magical elite—you owe them ten years of service. Do those years when you’re old, and you’ll never get through them. Do them young, and you’ll never get over them.
This is the darkly decadent world of Gilded Cage. In its glittering milieu move the all-powerful Jardines and the everyday Hadleys. The families have only one thing in common: Each has three children. But their destinies entwine when one family enters the service of the other. They will all discover whether any magic is more powerful than the human spirit.
Have a quick ten years. . . .
I’m quite sure Bouda would not allow anyone to refer to her as a witch – She’d have them imprisoned without a second thought. However she – along with the rest of the Equals – is capable of Skill, a form of magic. As such I’m counting it! This is such an incredible trilogy and I feel it’s much overlooked so I’m counting it in here!
The Last Chance Hotel by Nicki Thornton
Seth is a kitchen boy at the remote Last Chance Hotel. His father has long ago left, leaving him imprisoned until he is old enough to set out on his own. If there’s any hope he has, it’s to be the greatest chef that ever lived… just like his father.
One night, a band of magicians begin to arrive to participate in a secret meeting — a Prospect Selection Procedure to determine the most talented magicians in the world, judged by their leader Dr. Thallonius. Seth has one task: to make Dr. Thallonius the greatest dessert he’s ever tasted. Then, maybe he will help Seth find a way to freedom.
But when the doors to the private meeting open, and Dr. Thallonius lay dead on the floor, the group blames the dessert, which means that it’s Seth who will pay the price. But Seth knows he’s innocent, and only has so much time to eliminate each suspect and prove his innocence.
So this talks about magicians rather than witches or wizards but we’re not talking slight of hand tricks here, this is a secret meeting to gain an invite into the magical world. The magical world is shrinking and only allowing the current magical families to access it is no longer enough! Not everyone agrees with Dr. Thallonius’s ideas though, as soon becomes apparent when he is murdered! This book mixes magic with one of my faves; a murder mystery! Be sure to check out my full review when I post it tomorrow!
Natural Causes by James Oswald
A young girl’s mutilated body is discovered in a sealed room. Her remains are carefully arranged, in what seems to have been a cruel and macabre ritual, which appears to have taken place over 60 years ago.
For newly appointed Edinburgh Detective Inspector Tony McLean this baffling cold case ought to be a low priority – but he is haunted by the young victim and her grisly death.
Meanwhile, the city is horrified by a series of bloody killings. Deaths for which there appears to be neither rhyme nor reason, and which leave Edinburgh’s police at a loss.
McLean is convinced that these deaths are somehow connected to the terrible ceremonial killing of the girl, all those years ago. It is an irrational, almost supernatural theory.
And one which will lead McLean closer to the heart of a terrifying and ancient evil . . .
This is definitely the biggest stretch on this list, I’m not sure there are any witches in this series from James Oswald exactly, but there are definitely some supernatural elements and I love it so I’m going to count it!
Check out my review for one of the later books in the series – Written In Bones
They were my #SixforSunday! If you’ve taken part leave a link to your post below and I’ll be sure to check it out!
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