Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

This book was such an interesting read! We rarely encounter a non-fiction solely based on this topic. It has a lot of information that will give the reader more context on famous witches from classic literature.

There were witches from different references - Roman, Greek and many more. This shows diversity of the craft and I really enjoyed the comparison among them. I must say, this is a good reference itself or a guide.

A scholarly work on the oldest literary figures of witches in history, this book covers how witches were portrayed through time from ancient Greece and in the Roman Empie. Using the literature from the time period, she explains how witches were portrayed and how that portrayal changed between Greece and the Roman Empire.

Although I knew from the title that this was a book about early witches, I did not realize just how far back in history the portrayal of witches went. This book is not a light read. In some ways, it reads more like a dissertation than a book for regular readers. That being said, it is informative and uses not just one work of literature or poetry to prove her point, but as many as she can. I believe this would be an excellent book for recommended reading for classes on Greek and Roman literature, or one on views of women in that time period.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

A particularly interesting topic is what drew me to this ARC - I was hoping for a lengthy and detailed examination of all of the classical forms of witches, from religious to folklore, and everything else in between. I do think that this book was a bit short, and there could have been inclusion of a few more 'fleshed out' witches and topics. There were definitely a few gaps in the narrative, and while there was some good context, there was probably a bit more of the concept of witchcraft that I might have anticipated, as well as the eventual reaction to them in society.

It was meticulously researched, however, and it was apparent that the author had more than done her research into the topics. I was heartened to see references to modern interpretations and representations of some of the witches, and I very much enjoyed picking through the notes at the end to find more information on all of the topics covered.

I think this was a really interesting dive into the early days of witches and witchcraft, and while there were a few components missing, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Looking forward to seeing more from this author in future on historical topics!

Witchcraft, power, and mythology—this was absolutely my kind of read.

This book hit all the right notes for me: rich in classical history, sharp in its analysis, and deeply engaging. The First Witches explores how figures like Hecate, Circe, and the infamous Thessalian witches evolved from divine or mystical beings into the terrifying, grotesque hag-witch stereotype we’re still haunted by today. Alexis Prescott does a fantastic job showing how these women were transformed through literature and social anxiety into cautionary tales—and how those archetypes still echo in modern pop culture.

I really appreciated how accessible this was. Prescott clearly knows her classics, but the writing never gets bogged down in academic jargon. She balances deep literary analysis with strong storytelling, making it easy to follow even if you’re not an expert in ancient texts.

The sections on Erictho and the Roman hag-witch trope were especially striking—how quickly divine power gets twisted into monstrosity when it threatens the status quo. It’s both fascinating and infuriating to see how enduring these patterns are.

If you’re interested in mythology, the history of witchcraft, or just powerful women being reinterpreted (and often vilified) across centuries, this is a must-read. Thought-provoking, well-researched, and genuinely compelling.

In *The First Witches*, Alexis Prescott embarks on a bold and eloquent reclamation of ancient womanhood, tracing the earliest archetypes of the witch through the classical traditions of Greece and Rome. Far from sensationalism, this work is a meticulously researched and culturally resonant examination of how women—mystics, healers, sibyls, and seers—became entwined with the language of power, fear, and the supernatural.

Prescott's central argument is both timeless and timely: that the image of the "witch" is rooted not in fantasy, but in a long-standing cultural discomfort with female autonomy, intellect, and spiritual authority. Drawing from classical literature, historical sources, mythology, and early philosophical texts, she excavates the legacies of figures such as Medea, Circe, and Hecate, placing them alongside real women accused of—or revered for—possessing esoteric knowledge.

The writing is clear and evocative, rich in historical detail while also accessible to readers outside of classical studies. Prescott does not merely recount stories; she interprets them, interrogating the cultural forces that shaped the portrayal of these women as dangerous, seductive, or subversive. In doing so, she draws a powerful through-line between ancient suspicions and later witch persecutions, revealing a continuity of patriarchal anxiety surrounding female power.

Of particular merit is the author's sensitivity to ambiguity. She resists reducing her subjects to modern labels or flattening their complexity. These women are neither romanticized as feminist icons nor dismissed as mythic curiosities—they are studied as dynamic agents within their own cultural and religious contexts. Their magic, often tied to herbal knowledge, liminality, or prophecy, becomes a site of both empowerment and marginalization.

**Final Verdict**:
*The First Witches* is an incisive and beautifully argued contribution to the history of women, belief, and authority. Alexis Prescott casts new light on ancient narratives and, in doing so, challenges enduring assumptions about gender and spiritual legitimacy. A must-read for scholars of classical history, mythology, gender studies, and all readers intrigued by the origins of the witch as a cultural figure.

**Rating**: ★★★★★

Exactly what I have been wanting - the history of witches from the Bible and various areas of mythology. Pieced together in a way that begs to be re-read and annotated a few times over. I desperately need a physical copy of this for that reason. Thank you to Netgalley and Pen & Sword for the eARC.

‘Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

The cover alone is just divine!

I was really looking forward to this read but sadly I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would :( I think this is due to it reading more like a reference book. (citations of sources of information)

A must read for any history reader.

We learn about witches from Ancient Greece, to James I and the Witch Hunts, to the forgotten Victorian witch Gahool.

This was extremely digestible even with all the new information I learned from it! You can tell that the author loves what she was writing about and it was very well researched.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the ARC! As always, all thoughts here are 100% my own.

It’s probably no shock that I love reading about classical history. And witches. So, when I came across The First Witches by Alexis Prescott, I just knew I had to read it. And let me tell you, it absolutely delivered.

This book takes you through history exploring the evolution of witches, who they are and how they were portrayed in literature. From the Illiad and the Odyssey, through Metamorphoses and Macbeth to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the book not only highlights key references but also compares the witches in question to show how socio-political influences shaped their depictions. Then, it dives into how all of this has impacted Western literature, and the Western world in general.

Even though I was familiar with some of the arguments the book presents, the way it lays everything out is both informative and super accessible. It felt like it was organizing my own thoughts, introducing me to more details and making everything click in a whole new way. And all in under 200 pages!

Plus, the footnotes and the references section are extensive and provide with even more resources and books to dig into!

All in all, I adored this book. So much so that I found myself thinking about it while watching several movies recently!

The First Witches is a fascinating look through history and classical literature studying the lineage of witches in history. If you're interested in women's history and the history of witches, I highly recommend this book. It was a fascinating look at some familiar and unfamiliar tales.

If, like me, you are interested in the history of witches then you must give this book a try. I love anything witchcraft related and this detailed piece of non-fiction helped me place many of the famous witches from classical literature. This will give a lot more context to all the retellings I am reading

There are references to witches in classical literature including Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odyssey”, Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”, Vergil’s “Aeneid”, Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”, L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and more. As for the witches themselves there are references to Medea, Circe, Hecate, Erichtho, as well as Baba Yaga and so many more.
I enjoyed the comparison of how witches were regarded in classical Greek literature as opposed to classical Roman literature, and the impact they have had on the Western World.
There are even references to witches in modern film.

Because of the richness of information I will probably have to reread it, since I won’t be able to retain all the information on these interesting women’s stories for long. This is why I think this book can be used as a reference guide, something to constantly return to.

Further, I like the presence of foot notes and an extensive sources section in non-fiction, especially anything pertaining to witchcraft because it allows me to look up a lot more information regarding the subject and it shows all the research that went into writing the book.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I have always been fascinated with witches and so when I saw this I knew it would be a fascinating read. It was very well researched without being too heavy on the facts and was such an interesting read

Absolutely brilliant! A well researched and comprehensive historical representation in a highly readable format that’s brimming with details and overflowing with all manner of witch information and depictions. While this is not a book about Salem, MA, I did grow up in that area and perhaps that’s why I voraciously devour all types of books on witches. This one was refreshingly different and incessantly compelling in an academic and literary way. Fascinating stuff I loved every minute of it!

Great book
As someone who found later in life that my family has witches in our past and current it always fascinated me
Especially when none of us knew of the past yet able do things that sadly centuries ago people would been hounded for
It's sad history that has happened and good find book that reflects this

This is interesting and I found it to be a good companion book to the witchy novels I’ve been enjoying lately. It lacks a bit of drama but if you think of it as more of a reference book I think you would enjoy it. I think a physical version of this book would be great. Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.