The October Witches

In The October Witches, the Merlyns and the Morgans have been locked in an unhappy alliance for as long as any of them can remember. Forced to come together each October to unlock their month of magic, simmering tensions underplay the ancient ritual. Gifted with power from the stars, a heady month of mystery, mayhem and magic is at their fingertips.

The youngest Merlyn, Clemmie, receives her power for the first time but her sense of joy at joining her family in their October fun is marred by sinister mutterings from their Morgan cousins. Whilst the Merlyns engage in benign magic, their cousins hatch a devious plan to harness the October magic for a powerful dominance.

What ensues is a magical adventure at the borderlines of worlds. The 'Young Hags' of each family (so called by their aunts) are thrown together as the older witches are locked in a battle to retain or regain the powers that they believe are their divine right. The strange appearance of a postman called Arthur and the delivery of a mighty enchanted sword only add to the mystery. Can the Young Hags work together to defeat the evil Morgans or will their quest for domination destroy the Merlyn magic forever?

This is a sparkling tale of spirited young witches, exploding pumpkins and an enchanted clifftop castle. There are age-old battles between good and bad, young and old and pointed references to Arthurian legend. This is a hugely fun read that also manages to make serious points about family and home. Those who enjoyed The Worst Witch as much younger readers should happily progress to this wonderful series.

350 pages / Reviewed by Clare Wilkins, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 11+

The October Witches is a truly wonderful book - the perfect read for those 'ber' months. It is full of magic, gigantic pumpkins, and a bumbling postman who somehow makes his way through the magic force field which surrounded the Merlyns' house to deliver the parcels. There is also a tiny magical pony that Clemmie keeps in her pocket.  Clemmie is the youngest Merlyn daughter and has yet to receive her magical powers. She is hopeful that this October, the stars might descend on her for the first time. As a new witch she knows that her power may be unpredictable and difficult to control.

We learn of a family rift between the Merlyns and the Morgans, the two branches of the family tree. In the past this resulted in the two families only being able to use their magic during the month of October but, as Clemmie receives her magical stars, she can now form the fifth point of her family star which will enable her mother and aunts to channel their magic into a vessel that could make their magic last all year round. This bold experiment to harness their magic lands the coven in mortal danger. The Morgans notice the magic shift and the family is in peril.

The October Witches is a cosy read to curl up with and enjoy. I loved the relationship between the characters and the aunts were wonderfully described. I particularly liked Aunt Prudie! Their individual personalities really shone through. I loved the way that Mirabelle used her magic to divide their one bedroom into two and give it a complete makeover. The friction between the Merlyns and the Morgans meant that the plot became quite fast-paced and I was turning the pages quickly - though I didn't want the book to come to an end. I really hope there is a sequel!

352 pages / Ages 10+ / Reviewed by Clair Bossons, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 11+