15 Tales of Women & Witchcraft
Elizabeth’s story: “Why They Watch Us Burn”
Scorn the witch. Fear the witch. Burn the witch.
History is filled with stories of women accused of witchcraft, of fearsome girls with arcane knowledge. Toil & Trouble features sixteen stories of girls embracing their power, reclaiming their destinies and using their magic to create, to curse, to cure—and to kill.
A young witch uses social media to connect with her astrology clients—and with a NASA-loving girl as cute as she is skeptical. A priestess of death investigates a ritualized murder. A bruja who cures lovesickness might need the remedy herself when she falls in love with an altar boy. A theater production is turned upside down by a visiting churel. In Reconstruction-era Texas, a water witch uses her magic to survive the soldiers who have invaded her desert oasis. And in the near future, a group of girls accused of witchcraft must find their collective power in order to destroy their captors.
This collection reveals a universal truth: there’s nothing more powerful than a teenage girl who believes in herself.
A Junior Library Guild selection
“Undeniably resounding . . . will leave readers more than a little bewitched themselves. Standouts include . . . Elizabeth May’s The Handmaid’s Tale–esque “Why They Watch Us Burn,” [which] ends the collection in a chilling near-future in which women are rounded up and accused of witchcraft.” (Booklist ★)
” ‘Why They Watch Us Burn’ is a haunting dystopian story.” (School Library Journal)
“This powerful and diverse collection is perfect for fans of female-led fantasy stories. No damsels in distress to be found here.” (Kirkus ★)
“[a] provocative, eclectic collection.” (Publishers Weekly ★)
“I’m dubbing Elizabeth May’s “Why They Watch Us Burn” as the official story of the #MeToo movement.” (Kirkus Reviews)
“A whole lot of magical fun, and a definite must-read for all the witches in your life.” (Bustle)
“Undeniably resounding . . . will leave readers more than a little bewitched themselves. Standouts include . . . Elizabeth May’s The Handmaid’s Tale–esque “Why They Watch Us Burn,” [which] ends the collection in a chilling near-future in which women are rounded up and accused of witchcraft.” (Booklist ★)
” ‘Why They Watch Us Burn’ is a haunting dystopian story.” (School Library Journal)
“This powerful and diverse collection is perfect for fans of female-led fantasy stories. No damsels in distress to be found here.” (Kirkus ★)
“[a] provocative, eclectic collection.” (Publishers Weekly ★)
“I’m dubbing Elizabeth May’s “Why They Watch Us Burn” as the official story of the #MeToo movement.” (Kirkus Reviews)
“A whole lot of magical fun, and a definite must-read for all the witches in your life.” (Bustle)