THE WITCHES OF NEW YORK by Ami McKay

A wonderful story of witchy goodness.

While in Canada a year ago, I came across a novel by American-Canadian author Ami McKay, called The Witches of New York. I must have picked it up and reshelved it half a dozen times, uncertain because it was the story of three witches in New York City in the late nineteenth century. Fantasy and witchcraft are not my usual fare - but I made note of the title and returned to Australia.

Curiosity got the better of me and I ordered The Witches of New York after being unable to find it in Australia. I recently felt moved to start reading it, and what a surprise I received!

The story centres around Adelaide and Eleanor, two witches running a tea store in New York in the late 19th century. They find themselves with an apprentice, a young country lass named Beatrice. This corresponds with the arrival of Cleopatra’s Needle in the Central Park. (Incidentally, I have seen this obelisk in person but knew nothing of it’s history, until now…and I shall take far closer interest next time in I am in the Big Apple!).

The story deals in several themes - the strength of female friendships, the existence of ghosts and society’s fascination and fear of witches and demons. I know very little of witchcraft but this book does make it seem awfully good fun!

There are also serious themes - the fear of men when they encounter powerful women (something we still grapple with in the twenty-first century), the cruelty of the Church against those they see as a threat to their power (see previous commentary) and the lack of value put on the lives of women (need I say it?). I cannot help but wonder if the work of women to protect themselves and each other from the cruelty of men is called witchcraft, in order to minimise its power and purpose.

Given the last book I read about witches was, in fact, The Witches by Roald Dahl, I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. In short - I loved this book! I don’t know if it was a ghost or a witch or just intuition that drew me to it, but I believe whatever it was got it right. I’ll be thinking about Beatrice, Adelaide and Eleanor for some time yet. If witches aren’t your usual cup of tea (pun intended!), I encourage you to set that aside and dive in. At just over 500 pages, it takes some time to really hit it’s stride, but it is worth it.

The Witches of New York did, indeed, cast it’s spell.