.... ...

Set in New York City in the 1800's this novel focuses on the lives of three witches.
Eleanor, descended from a long line of witches, Moth (now Adelaide) a see-er, and 17 year old Beatrice who is just beginning to realize her powers.
Although flawed, the witches are enchanting and heroic. They cater to Manhattan's high society ladies, specializing in cures, palmistry and potions. They support one another and their secret potions to support women's health concerns.
With many threads to follow this is a supernatural story full of magic, ghosts, fairies and a talking raven.
I do hope the author chooses to carry on with their story.

When I was given The Witches of New York by Ami McKay to read from Netgalley, I was so excited! I seem to have a particular affinity to witches and will eagerly devour most novels. My concern was that I haven’t read either of the other books by Ami but I didn’t need to. The Witched of New York stood up as its own story and never did I feel I missed anything.

Set in 1880 New York, two strong, independent women run a tea shop at a time when it wasn’t exactly safe to do so. Even more interesting is the fact that proprietresses Adelaide Thom and Eleanor St. Clair are also practicing witches. Business is booming as they cater to high society ladies of Manhattan, so much that they take on a shop girl, Beatrice Dunn. As Eleanor’s apprentice, Beatrice learns the trade and also shockingly, that she herself is also a witch.

As far as plots go in historical fiction/fantasy goes, McKay really hit the mark. The story flowed effortlessly, the characters were very real, relatable and rich. While The Witches of New York isn’t one that is action packed or fast paced, it still made for a great read for when you just want to let the story take you away somewhere.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this one, I felt the ending was a bit weak, though I think it was by design to leave you wanting more and hinting at the possibility of a sequel. Me, I hope so as I don’t think Adelaide, Eleanor and Beatrice are finished with their craft.

In her new novel, McKay returns to late 19th century New York City, and revisits the character of “Moth” from her last novel, The Virgin Cure. Now known as Adelaide, she has opened a tea shop with another woman named Eleanor St. Clair. Eleanor is a medical student and a “keeper of spells” – in other words, she identifies herself as a witch. Two hundred years after the Salem Witch Trials, she is able to practice small acts of “witchcraft” such as palmistry and discussing women’s health issues, but the world is still a dangerous place for strong women such as Eleanor and Adelaide.

The two women use their shop, named Tea and Sympathy, to help the women of Gilded Age New York with many problems, including reproductive issues that are largely ignored by the male doctors of the time. They work in secrecy, making their potions and cures seem trivial to outsiders – but in fact, their work is fundamental to the rights of women.

Adelaide and Eleanor are soon joined by a third woman, Beatrice – desperate for employment, she shows up unexpectedly at the tea shop and becomes Eleanor’s apprentice. As she works in the shop, she begins to see things and hear voices, and she can’t be certain whether she is touched by magic or if she is going mad. Eleanor has a healthy respect for Beatrice’s new powers, but Adelaide sees a profit to be made from them – she introduces Beatrice to Dr. Quinn Brody and has him test her for the ability to communicate with spirits. However, Adelaide’s exploitation of Beatrice’s condition will put all three women in danger.

When Beatrice unexpectedly disappears from the tea shop, there is no way of knowing whether she is running from her friends or whether she has been taken against her will. As Eleanor and Adelaide work to find her, they are forced to confront their own pasts as well. Their journey exposes the dangers of being strong, powerful women at a time when this labelled them as witches.

This novel is well-researched and well-written – it is a history of women’s rights at a time when there weren’t many. It shows the strength that can be found when women work together, to gain control over their own reproductive health. These three women are forced to navigate the glamour and the dangers of the city using any means possible, even witchcraft. The novel is atmospheric and even sometimes magical, but the plot is unfocused and loses momentum at times. While it is not as strong as McKay’s first novel, The Birth House, it is still a compelling story that will likely be followed with a sequel or even a series. If it does, I will certainly keep reading about these strong, impressive women.

I received this book from Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.