5 Witchy Books I Loved + 5 New Witchy Books on My Radar

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Give me a mysterious old house, a woman with magical powers, a few family secrets, and maybe a handsome supernatural love interest, and I am a VERY happy reader. 😂

There is just something about witchy books that makes them especially appealing this time of year. Maybe it’s the cooler weather, the changing leaves, or the fact that Halloween gives me an excuse to embrace all things spooky and magical.

But here’s the thing: I don’t necessarily need my witchy books to be scary.

Sometimes I want a gothic mystery featuring a woman accused of witchcraft. Sometimes I want historical romance mixed with magical folklore. And sometimes I want an immersive supernatural love story that I can completely lose myself in.

Over the years, I’ve read quite a few witchy books here on The Lit Bitch, so I thought it would be fun to put together a slightly different kind of Halloween reading list.

First, I’m sharing five tried-and-true witchy books I’ve actually read, reviewed, and enjoyed. These are older favorites from my reading archive that deserve another moment in the spotlight.

Then, because apparently my TBR pile isn’t nearly long enough already, I’m sharing five new and upcoming witchy books that have caught my attention in 2026.

The first five are personal recommendations. The second five are books on my reading radar that I haven’t reviewed yet, so we’ll have to see whether they become future favorites!

Let’s get witchy! 🧙‍♀️

5 Tried-and-True Witchy Books I Recommend

1. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Oh, Matthew Clairmont. How could I possibly make a list of witchy books and leave him out? 😂

A Discovery of Witches is one of those books that completely consumed me when I first read it. I gave it five stars, and I remember flying through nearly 600 pages in just a few days because I couldn’t put it down.

The story follows Diana Bishop, a historian and reluctant witch who discovers a mysterious enchanted manuscript while conducting research at Oxford. Her discovery attracts the attention of witches, vampires, and daemons, including the mysterious Matthew Clairmont.

What I loved most was the combination of history, alchemy, supernatural intrigue, and romance. Deborah Harkness created such a rich world, and Diana is exactly the kind of intelligent, capable heroine I enjoy reading about.

And yes, the romance certainly didn’t hurt!

If you enjoy your witchy fiction with a generous helping of history and a supernatural love story, this is an excellent place to start.

Perfect for readers who love: Witches, vampires, historical research, forbidden romance, and immersive fantasy.

📖 Read my full review of A Discovery of Witches

🛒 Buy A Discovery of Witches on Amazon

2. The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston

Paula Brackston is one of those authors I turn to when I want historical fiction, folklore, and just enough magic to make everything feel a little enchanted.

And The Winter Witch is a particularly lovely example of what she does well.

Set in nineteenth-century Wales, the story follows Morgana, a young woman with mysterious abilities who enters an arranged marriage with a farmer named Cai.

I loved Morgana’s character, the Welsh countryside, the horses, and the way the romance developed between Morgana and Cai.

What makes this book special is that the magic doesn’t completely overwhelm the story. Instead, it’s woven into the historical setting, the characters’ lives, and the folklore surrounding them.

I gave this one 4.5 stars, and it remains a great choice for readers who want a little romance and historical atmosphere with their witchcraft.

If you like your magic subtle and your historical romances atmospheric, this is one worth picking up.

Perfect for readers who love: Welsh folklore, historical romance, slow-building relationships, and subtle magic.

📖 Read my full review of The Winter Witch

🛒 Buy The Winter Witch on Amazon

3. The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox

If you’re looking for something with serious gothic atmosphere, Hester Fox has you covered.

I absolutely loved The Widow of Pale Harbor and gave it five stars!

Set in nineteenth-century Maine, the story centers on Sophronia Carver, a mysterious widow living in an isolated mansion. The townspeople are suspicious of her, and rumors swirl that she might be a witch.

Then a series of unsettling events begins to shake the community, drawing a newcomer into the mystery surrounding Sophronia and her home.

What I especially enjoyed was the combination of gothic suspense, romance, and Edgar Allan Poe-inspired atmosphere.

Now, this is more of a historical gothic mystery involving accusations of witchcraft than a traditional fantasy about witches casting spells. But if your idea of a perfect Halloween read includes an eerie mansion, a mysterious woman, and plenty of secrets, this is a wonderful choice.

I actually enjoyed this one even more than The Witch of Willow Hall!

Perfect for readers who love: Gothic mysteries, historical romance, spooky coastal settings, and women rumored to be witches.

📖 Read my full review of The Widow of Pale Harbor

🛒 Buy The Widow of Pale Harbor on Amazon

4. The Witches of Cambridge by Menna van Praag

Not every witchy book needs to be dark and mysterious.

Sometimes I want something whimsical, romantic, and just a little magical, and The Witches of Cambridge fits that mood beautifully.

This story follows a group of women connected to Cambridge University who possess magical abilities. But despite their gifts, they still struggle with the same complicated relationships, friendships, and emotional problems the rest of us do.

And that’s one of the things I appreciated most about this book.

Magic doesn’t automatically fix everything, and the characters still have to work through their problems like everyone else.

I gave this one four stars and thought it was one of Menna van Praag’s strongest novels. I especially enjoyed the relatable characters and the way the magical elements blended into everyday life.

If you prefer magical realism and a little romance over haunted houses and dark curses, this might be the book for you.

Perfect for readers who love: Magical realism, friendship, romance, and whimsical witchcraft.

📖 Read my full review of The Witches of Cambridge by Menna van Praag

🛒 Buy The Witches of Cambridge by Menna van Praag on Amazon

5. The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel by Alyssa Palombo

Now THIS is a book that practically screams Halloween!

If you love The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod Crane, and a good gothic romance, The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel deserves a spot on your fall reading list.

Alyssa Palombo reimagines the familiar Sleepy Hollow story from Katrina’s perspective, giving readers a more romantic and emotional look at the characters.

I gave this one 4.5 stars, and I particularly loved the autumn atmosphere, Katrina’s relationship with Ichabod, and her friendship with Charlotte, who is rumored to be a witch.

I would have liked a little more of the Headless Horseman, but I still thought it was an excellent fall read.

Like The Widow of Pale Harbor, this is more of a gothic historical romance with witchy folklore than a story centered on spellcasting.

But honestly, between Sleepy Hollow, a mysterious spellbook, and all that wonderful Halloween atmosphere, how could I leave it off this list?

Perfect for readers who love: Sleepy Hollow, gothic romance, folklore, historical fiction, and atmospheric autumn reads.

📖 Read my full review of The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel

🛒 Buy The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel on Amazon

5 New Witchy Books on My Reading Radar

5 New Witchy Books on My Reading Radar

Of course, finding five witchy books I’ve already enjoyed doesn’t mean my TBR is getting any shorter.

Quite the opposite, actually. 😂

There are some fascinating new and upcoming releases featuring witches, magical houses, historical secrets, and supernatural mysteries that have caught my attention.

I haven’t read and reviewed these next five books, so they’re not personal recommendations just yet. They’re simply titles I’m curious about and considering adding to my reading pile.

And if you’ve already read any of them, I would LOVE to know what you thought!

6. Birth of the Witch by Nora Roberts

Expected publication: November 17, 2026

Nora Roberts writing a new witchy fantasy-romance trilogy? Well, THAT certainly got my attention.

Birth of the Witch is the first book in the Coven of Three trilogy, with a story involving witchcraft, family connections, reincarnation, and a battle against darkness.

The story begins with a young girl persecuted for witchcraft in the seventeenth century before moving forward centuries to a young woman discovering the truth about her magical heritage.

I’m particularly intrigued by the combination of past lives, historical witchcraft, and a present-day heroine coming into her powers.

This sounds like the kind of sweeping, magical story I could easily see myself getting lost in once the weather turns cold.

And since this one is still upcoming, there’s plenty of time to add it to the holiday reading list!

🛒 Preorder Birth of the Witch on Amazon

7. The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman

Published September 2026

Okay, here’s a funny coincidence!

Earlier in this very post, I recommended The Witches of Cambridge by Menna van Praag, a book I read and enjoyed several years ago.

But apparently 2026 decided we needed ANOTHER book called The Witches of Cambridge! 😂

This one is by Alice Hoffman, the author of Practical Magic, which immediately makes it interesting to me.

Set in 1950s Cambridge, Massachusetts, the story follows two young women who become involved with a secret society of witches at Radcliffe College known as the Lilith Society.

Historical fiction, witchcraft, a secret society, and Alice Hoffman? Yes, please!

I’ve always loved the idea of magic hiding just beneath the surface of ordinary life, and this sounds like a fascinating setting for that kind of story.

With all the renewed excitement around Practical Magic, this seems like an especially fun time to explore another witchy story from Hoffman.

And no, despite the identical titles, this is NOT the same book as Menna van Praag’s novel!

🛒 Buy The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman on Amazon

8. A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin

Published September 2026

Historical fiction involving witch trials and women fighting to survive? Yes, please.

A Time of Witches combines historical secrets, accusations of witchcraft, and storylines unfolding across different time periods.

The historical storyline takes readers into seventeenth-century England, when accusations of witchcraft could have devastating consequences for women and their families.

Meanwhile, a present-day storyline explores a mysterious family legacy and secrets that have survived for centuries.

What interests me most is the combination of dual timelines, historical persecution, and a modern woman uncovering connections to the past.

I already enjoy historical fiction, and Madeline Martin is an author whose work has caught my attention before, so this sounds particularly appealing.

I’m curious to see how the author handles the history alongside the more mysterious, supernatural elements.

🛒 Buy A Time of Witches on Amazon

9. The Witch by Freida McFadden

Published October 2026

Okay, now THIS is an interesting addition to the list.

Freida McFadden is known for psychological thrillers, so seeing a book called The Witch immediately made me curious.

I’m used to thinking of witchy books as historical fiction, gothic romance, or supernatural fantasy, so the possibility of something with a psychological-thriller twist sounds like a fun change of pace.

I’m especially interested in seeing how McFadden approaches the witch theme and whether the story leans into superstition, secrets, or something genuinely supernatural.

This might be the perfect choice for readers who want their October books to be more suspenseful than romantic.

I haven’t read it yet, but it’s definitely one I’m curious about!

🛒 Buy The Witch on Amazon

10. House of Spells and Secrets by Ivy Cassidy

Published March 2026

Give me a mysterious ancestral house, sisters with a complicated family history, a magical legacy, and long-buried secrets, and you already have my attention.

House of Spells and Secrets follows three sisters who return to their family home and begin uncovering secrets about their mother’s past.

As they investigate, they discover that their family’s history involves more magic than they ever realized.

I love books that combine old houses, complicated family relationships, and secrets stretching back through generations.

This one sounds like it could deliver all of those things with a wonderfully witchy twist.

I’m particularly interested in the sister relationships and the historical atmosphere, and I’m curious to see whether the magical elements make this more of a cozy read or something darker.

Either way, it sounds like an intriguing addition to my witchy TBR!

🛒 Buy House of Spells and Secrets on Amazon

So Many Witchy Books, So Little Time!

One of my favorite things about witchy fiction is just how much variety there is.

You can find historical stories about women accused of witchcraft, gothic mysteries filled with rumors and secrets, romantic fantasies with actual magic, and dark thrillers that take the witch theme in an entirely different direction.

For my tried-and-true recommendations, I’d start with A Discovery of Witches if you want supernatural romance, The Winter Witch if you’re in the mood for historical magic, or The Widow of Pale Harbor if you want something wonderfully gothic.

And as for the newer releases? I’m especially excited about Birth of the Witch by Nora Roberts and intrigued by Alice Hoffman’s The Witches of Cambridge.

If you’re still looking for more spooky reading inspiration, check out my favorite supernatural books featuring vampires, witches, werewolves, and more] and my haunted house book recommendations, and my creepy books that aren’t straight-up horror.

Now I want to know: What’s your favorite witchy book? And which new witchy release should I move to the top of my TBR?

Tell me in the comments because I’m always looking for an excuse to add another book to my reading pile.

Happy witchy reading! 🎃🧙‍♀️