For those of us looking for something with a little education along with our scares, look no further than Literary Witches: A Celebration of Magical Women Writers. The book features 30 women writers, both living and dead, who have used their skills to magic up some stunning and memorable literary works.

[alert variation=”alert-info”]Publisher: Seal Press
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Kindle
Purchase: Powell’s | Amazon | iBooks[/alert]

This is a cute gift book with a touch of spooky humor. Their birth dates (and death dates where applicable) appear under their nameplate as well as a list of genres they were known for. Each author is accompanied by a creepy portrait that hints at some of the themes in their works. The page facing the portrait contains a short fictional horror bio – again based off of the topics or themes found in their works – and below that is an actual bio of the author and a few recommended readings.

The authors included are some big names, such as Toni Morrison, Virginia Woolf, and Mary Shelly, but also includes plenty of lesser known or niche writers such as Forugh Farrokhzad, and Anna Akhmatova. The illustrations are lovely, with the right touch of the macabre. Again, this is a gift book, so it’s enough to whet the appetite for people interested in learning about the featured authors, but is certainly not an in-depth biography. This is a wonderful book that will feel right at home in many a reader’s collection.

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