Five for Friday – Fictional Witches

I can’t find who started the Friday Five book blog meme. It seems to crop up in many different style such as “Five for Friday”, “Five on Friday” , “FridayFive Challenge”. I also can’t find a topic list like you would have for the Six on Sunday meme. Therefore I am just doing my own thing and setting my own topics just so I can chat books with you.

I have decided to do have a spooky/witchy theme to this months Friday Five posts. For this weeks topic I have chosen:

My Five Favourite Fictional Witches

In order to narrow the list down I am being very strict and I am only picking characters that fit your stereotypical kinds of witches. Women preforming spells and rituals to preform magic. Your more traditional image of a coven with a spell book etc. There are sill so many to choose from even narrowing the list to those specifications so these are just five of my favourites.

Granny Weatherwax ,
Nanny Ogg and
Magrat

Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, Witches Series

My Review of Wyrd Sisters

I have only read 3 of the Witches books from the Discworld series so far, but so far I adore these characters. I love how each of them represent such different caricatures of witches. Granny Weatherwax is out seasoned and traditional witch, she flies her broom disapproves of the use of frivolous magic and keeps to the set ways. Granny Ogg is your local mystic/healer woman, she had a huge family heals all the villages ills and makes moonshine but she doesn’t do a lot of ‘magic’. Magrat is a new age witch, she believes in rituals and crystals, she wants to be a bit more modern in her approach. I love how Pratchett uses these characters to retell Macbeth and Fairy-tales. They are loveable and very funny characters with so much depth to them.

Judith,
Lizzie
and Autumn

Witches of Lychford
Paul Cornell

My Review of Lost Child of Lychford

I have read two books in this five book series and I have fallen in love with these ladies. Again like Pratchett they represent all different types of witch and of woman. There is a real Maiden Mother, Crone feel to their relationship. Judith is the seasoned witch of the old ways. She is in her 70s and takes no nonsense but she also has her own secrets and is too stubborn to seek help. Lizzie is the nurturer, she is a vicar and new to her craft but takes on the mothering role. Autumn is the more hippy dippy style she owns a witchy story so its again crystals and candles and files more of the maiden role. They complement each other so well and create a really fun group of women to read about.

Niamh,
Leonie,
Elle

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven
Juno Dawson

My Review of HMRC

Another amazing group that spans a whole range of what makes a witch. We have a mix of powers and personalities. I loved how their personalities influenced how they used their powers making them so personal even when they had the same training. The friendships just make this book fantastic.

Juniper,
Beatrice,
and Agnes

The Once and Future Witches
Alix E. Harrow

My Review of The Once and Future Witches

These witches are also sisters and I loved all of them. The way their magic compliments each other and how it is woven into the narrative about the suffragette movement. The magic they use really highlights their plights and personalities. Harrow just creates amazing characters and I really love them.

Mildred Hubble
and The whole of Ms Cackles Academy

The Worst Witch
Jill Murphy

The OG witch school Ms Cackles Academy is classic witchcraft through and through, from broomstick riding to potions class with it’s bubbling cauldron there is nothing not to like about all the witchy goodness. I love how much Mildred tries to be a good witch, how she fails but dusts herself off and tries again. She is a brilliant character always pushing herself.