The Witches of New York - Ami McKay
It’s 1880. Two Hundred years after the Salem Witch Trials. Adelaide Thom left her life in the sideshow to open a tea shop with Keeper of Spells, Eleanor St. Clair. Together they cater to Manhattan’s high society, specializing in cures and potions. Beatrice Dunn arrives at their door, becoming an indispensable tool to both women. Beatrice is also a magnet for unusual occurrences until one day, she disappears. As Adelaide and Eleanor fight to find Beatrice, they are confronted by accusations. In a time when women are persecuted for speaking their minds, are any of them safe?
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I read The Witches of New York last fall. It had been on my reading list for a while but I procrastinated in picking it up. I was worried it wouldn’t be as good as I had hoped and didn’t want to be disappointed (we all know that feeling, right?) But when the trees started turning and scarfs, jackets, and pumpkin spice everything came out full force, it felt like I needed to get into the spirit of Fall. What better way than a book about witches?
I was pleasantly surprised at how good the story was and I devoured every word. The oppression of women in the 1800s, the religious and mystic undertones of the narrative, the historic events woven throughout the plot, every part of this book brought something exciting and interesting. Modern women living ahead of their time.
The book takes place in 1880, a time when independent women were outcasts who were considered strange and even dangerous, best not to be associated with. Eleanor and Adelaide are both looked down on by society for being independent, unmarried women. Owning a teashop where high society women seek cures and answers to life’s problems doesn’t win Eleanor and Adelaide any favours in a male-dominated society. Eleanor, raised as a witch, knows the strength and danger of her powers and struggles to keep her true nature a secret. Even more dangerous for her, being gay in a time of oppression. She must hide every true thing about herself yet still, she trudges on, doing what she believes is right and following her heart, no matter how many times it gets broken along the way. Adelaide, raised in a brothel, used time and again by cruel masters, men, even her own mother. An outcast because of her “promiscuous ways” and her scarred face. She trusts no one, not even herself. Doubtful of her powers but certain of her sway on men she strong-arms her way through life, fighting for everything she has. Both are searching for something more. Enter Beatrice, a young optimistic woman who stumbles into their lives. Headed to New York to become a working woman and make something of herself she is thrust head-first into the world of magic. Haunted by visions of the dead, she turns to Eleanor and Adelaide for help in understanding this new part of her. This new friendship signals new beginnings for all three women and helps them to understand their own worth. Their budding relationships become the most relatable part of the story, from friendships to romances, they stumble through it awkwardly and hesitant.
As strong and independent as these women are, their mysticism begins to clash with religion and they must struggle to stand against persecution. The majority of New York’s Christian society does not believe nor buy into the spells and enchantments that Eleanor and Adelaide are accused. There is a small group of Christians, however, that believe that ridding the world of evil their duty and that they must do whatever it takes to stop dark powers from gaining control. Reverend Townsend, believing himself to be doing “God’s work”, sees no problem in kidnapping innocent women. He hunts down women that are smart, accomplished, or promiscuous as these are traits he sees as signs of evil-doing. He tortures and kills with no proof of wrongdoing, taking sexual pleasure from the “good work” that he has accomplished. He is too corrupt himself to see that it isn’t God’s work that he is doing, it’s something much darker. He isn’t helping rid the world of evil, he’s inflicting it on the world. When he sets his sights on Beatrice, Eleanor and Adelaide put all their differences aside to fight back and protect their own. Horrifyingly enough, there are people exactly like him still kicking around today. I think that’s what makes his character such a terrifying villain.
The typical spell making and potion brewing, reading of tea leaves and tarot cards, speaking to the dead and telling the future, working “light” magic to do small tasks and provide society with answers and cure-alls, this book was strongly reminiscent of Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. Taking this journey with Beatrice in discovering the supernatural world and not only the dangers but the delights within was a fantastic reprieve from real life and responsibilities. One of my favourite things about this book was how real-life events were worked into the plot. Throughout the book, there is newspaper clippings and updates on the journey of Cleopatra’s Obelisk to its home in Central Park. This mysterious object is alluded to be the cause of all the supernatural occurrences and the root of Beatrice’s new powers. Tying the real-life happenings of this event into the story of these three witches made it seem so much more enchanting and mysterious. I’d fly to New York just to see the Obelisk because of this book. I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for the perfect read to get you into that Fall spirit.
Happy September,
-Taylor