Paige Crutcher’s newest novel, A Circle of Uncommon Witches, weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of generational curses, forbidden love, and the power of family bonds. Like her previous works (The Orphan Witch and The Lost Witch), Crutcher demonstrates her talent for crafting magical worlds where witchcraft feels both ancient and immediate. However, in this latest offering, she delves deeper into the complexities of love and vengeance, creating a narrative that, while enchanting, occasionally gets tangled in its own ambitions.
A Tale of Witches, Curses, and Impossible Love
In the small town of Pines, Georgia, Doreen MacKinnon faces an impossible fate: as she approaches her thirtieth birthday, she must either enthrall a human to marry her or die. This curse, cast three centuries ago by the vengeful witch Ambrose MacDonald, has plagued thirteen generations of MacKinnon witches, forcing them to choose between loveless marriages or death.
Doreen, unlike her family members who have resigned themselves to their fate, refuses to accept this binary choice. When her beloved cousin Margot succumbs to the curse and bewitches a man named Dean into marriage, Doreen becomes even more determined to break the curse once and for all. Armed with her mimicry powers—the ability to duplicate any spell she witnesses—and her indomitable spirit, she locates the Dead House where Ambrose has been imprisoned by her ancestors and sets him free.
What follows is a journey filled with danger, discovery, and unexpected connections. Doreen and Ambrose must navigate trials in a prison world created by Ada, the enigmatic Queen of the Order of the Dead, while confronting their growing feelings for each other. The narrative takes readers from a Gothic castle to the mystical Isle of Skye, where ancient myths come to life and long-buried secrets threaten to destroy everything Doreen holds dear.
Strengths: Rich World-Building and Compelling Mythology
Crutcher’s greatest strength lies in her world-building. The MacKinnon family history feels authentically rooted in Scottish witchcraft traditions, and the prison world created by Ada is vividly realized. The author expertly blends familiar witch tropes with original elements like the branch magic used for travel and the concept of “thin places” where realities blur.
The mythology surrounding the trials—tests of strength, heart, courage, and cunning—provides a compelling framework for the protagonists’ journey. Each trial forces Doreen and Ambrose to confront not only external challenges but also their own fears and prejudices, creating a satisfying character arc for both.
The novel’s exploration of family dynamics is particularly nuanced. The MacKinnon witches, especially Stella and Kayleen, are neither wholly villainous nor wholly sympathetic. Their attempts to protect their family, however misguided, are born from love and fear. Similarly, the relationships between Doreen, Margot, and their extended family ring true in their complexity.
Emotional Resonance and Character Development
The heart of the story lies in Doreen’s journey from isolation to connection. Her longing for true love and her determination to forge her own path make her an immediately sympathetic protagonist. The gradual thawing of Ambrose’s centuries-old hatred and his growing affection for Doreen is skillfully developed, creating a romance that feels earned rather than forced.
Some of the most emotionally resonant moments come through the journal entries scattered throughout the narrative. Margaret’s journal, in particular, provides a poignant counterpoint to the main storyline, illuminating the origins of the curse and Ada’s transformation from a heartbroken woman to the fearsome Queen of the Dead.
Margot’s sacrifice for Doreen and Ambrose demonstrates the depth of their bond, while also highlighting the novel’s theme that love—whether romantic or familial—often requires sacrifice.
Areas for Improvement: Pacing and Clarity Issues
Despite its strengths, A Circle of Uncommon Witches occasionally stumbles in its execution. The pacing is uneven, with some sections feeling rushed while others drag. The middle portion of the novel, particularly the journey to the Old Man of Storr, could have been tightened to maintain narrative tension.
The prison world’s rules and boundaries sometimes feel inconsistent, making it difficult to understand the stakes and limitations of the characters’ abilities. Similarly, Ada’s motivations and the exact nature of her powers remain somewhat unclear until late in the novel, which can make her feel more like a plot device than a fully realized antagonist.
The narrative also introduces several secondary characters, like Sinclair and the various ancestral ghosts, whose potential isn’t fully realized. Their stories feel incomplete, raising questions that aren’t satisfactorily answered.
Writing Style: Atmospheric but Occasionally Overwrought
Crutcher’s prose is richly descriptive and atmospheric, perfectly suited to the mystical elements of the story. Her descriptions of the Scottish landscape and the magical phenomena are particularly evocative:
“The skies were ashen. Slate-gray clouds bordered by darkness, and just beyond them it faded into a white mist that blanketed the edge of the world. The wind whipped against their faces, as cold and severe as the warning had been in Ada’s eyes when she’d made the deal with Amrose so many years ago”
However, the dialogue sometimes veers into melodrama, with characters proclaiming their feelings in ways that feel artificial rather than authentic. This is particularly noticeable in the exchanges between Doreen and Ambrose during moments of high tension.
The recurring motif of Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” (“The woods are lovely, dark and deep / But I have promises to keep / And miles to go before I sleep”) is effectively woven throughout the narrative, though its repetition occasionally feels heavy-handed.
Comparative Analysis
Fans of contemporary witch novels like Deborah Harkness’s All Souls trilogy or Louisa Morgan’s A Secret History of Witches will find much to enjoy in Crutcher’s work. Like these authors, she balances historical elements with modern sensibilities, creating a world where witchcraft feels both ancient and immediate.
Compared to her previous novels, A Circle of Uncommon Witches shows Crutcher’s growth as a storyteller. The romance element is more fully developed than in The Orphan Witch, and the mythology is more coherent than in The Lost Witch. However, she retains her signature blend of family drama and magical adventure that has earned her a dedicated following.
Final Verdict: A Flawed but Enchanting Addition to the Genre
A Circle of Uncommon Witches is a testament to Paige Crutcher’s imagination and her ability to craft compelling magical worlds. Despite its occasional missteps in pacing and clarity, the novel succeeds in creating an emotional journey that will resonate with readers long after they turn the final page.
What Works Well:
Rich, immersive world-building
Complex family dynamics
The slow-burn romance between Doreen and Ambrose
Thematic depth exploring sacrifice, forgiveness, and the nature of love
Creative magical systems and mythology
Where It Falls Short:
Uneven pacing, particularly in the middle sections
Occasionally unclear rules governing the prison world
Some underdeveloped secondary characters
Dialogue that sometimes feels stilted or overly dramatic
A resolution that wraps up a bit too neatly
For readers seeking a witchy tale with emotional depth and a unique mythology, A Circle of Uncommon Witches offers an engaging escape into a world where love and magic are inextricably intertwined. Though not without flaws, it casts a spell that’s difficult to resist.