The Ex Hex and Other Spooky Books I Want to Read!

 Last October, I read a novel called The Ex Hex, which tells the story of Vivienne Jones, a witch who puts a spell on an ex of hers, Rhys Penhallow, and has to deal with the many unexpected consequences of her spells, before using magic again in collaboration with her ex to reverse the damage and havoc that she has caused. Though I didn’t recognize them at the time, the book was full of many witchy-archetypes that we’ve learned about through our popular media presentations over the course of the semester. Vivienne has a familiar, a cat named Sir Purrcival.  She lived in a coven of sorts with her best friend Gwyn and Vivienne’s aunt Elaine, who are both practicing witches.  Her aunt went all out for Halloween every year, and they attended the town festival that occurred every October, and was a centerpiece of the town’s social scene. As I read the book, it reminded me of a mix between Halloweentown, due to both works taking place in towns with a heavy emphasis on witchcraft, and Hocus Pocus, due to the similarities between the covens in both movies (although The Ex Hex used magic mostly with a good intention, while the witches in Hocus Pocus harmed children to find the fountain of youth for themselves).  

 

While I’m not one who loves to read super gory horror stories, both reading The Ex Hex and learning more about witchcraft this semester made me curious to see what other novels are out there that focus on witchcraft. I remember Izzy mentioned that when she visited Salem, she discovered a whole bookstore that only sells books relating to witches, and I was fascinated this, both because of my love of bookstores and because it confirmed that there must be more lighthearted yet spooky novels out there. 

 

In researching to find more witchy reads, I learned that the author of The Ex Hex is coming out with a sequel, titled The Kiss Curse later this fall!  

 

In talking to my friends about this course, most of them mentioned reading The Crucible in high school, which they were shocked to find out that I never read and didn’t read for this course, though we learned about Reverend Samuel Parris and Tituba, who feature in the classic. Leaving this class with a greater understanding of witchcraft, the trials, and the culture that allowed them to happen, I am really interested in reading this play. 

 

I also found another book called Wild and Wicked Things, which tells the story of a young woman living after the first World War who discovers that her neighbor is a witch, and gets drawn in to a more supernatural world. I love historical fiction, and will definitely add this one to my list as well. 

 

Another book that caught my eye is These Witches Don’t Burn.  The plot describes an “Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air,” (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36484081-these-witches-don-t-burn), and drama with a new girl at school.  This reminded me of The Craft film, and seems like a lighter read than The Crucible, but still in touch with the traditional themes of witchcraft in the Eastern US (and many other places)—othering, feminism, and Wicca.

 

I will definitely be adding these books to my list.  Has anyone else read any witchy books outside of the course that they’d recommend?