The Witching Hour by Anne Rice: A Book Recommendation

The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

The Witching Hour revolves around Rowan Mayfair, a skilled neurosurgeon who discovers her unique powers shortly before rescuing a drowning man off the coast of California. Unbeknownst to Rowan, she comes from a long line of powerful witches. The man she saves is Michael Curry, an orphan from New Orleans who gains sensory powers after his near-death experience.

As Rowan and Michael fall in love, they join forces to uncover the secrets of her past and his extraordinary gift.

The saga takes us between modern-day San Francisco and New Orleans, as well as historical settings like seventeenth-century Amsterdam and a château in France during Louis XIV’s reign.

The novel reveals a complex tale of evil that originated in seventeenth-century Scotland when Suzanne, the first witch of the Mayfair family, summons a spirit named Lasher. This act leads to her downfall and inflicts torment on her descendants.

Anne Rice transports us from coffee plantations in Port au Prince to the backdrop of the Civil War in New Orleans. Guided by dreamlike imagery, we find Rowan taking increasingly daring actions in a merciless game that binds her to her ancestral heritage.

I believe nothing, and therefore like many who believe nothing, I must make something, and that something is the meaning which I give to my life. The saving of witches, the study of the supernatural, these are my lasting pleasures; they make me forget that I do not know why we are born, or why we die, or why the world is here.

Anne Rice, The Witching Hour

via @annericeauthor

If you’re giving The Witching Hour as a gift, here are a few things to consider:

The vibes are dark, mysterious, and sensual with a deliciously slow burn.

It’s the perfect book for anyone who loves historical fiction, mysteries about witches, multi-generational family dynamics, and strong female characters.

Permission to judge a book by its cover!

I’m partial to the original cover with the lightning, as pictured here by @juliaaleidareads. If you’ve read the story, you know why! I keep a copy on my bookshelf at all times.

The more recent edition is actually more lovely and @thebookish_catgirl styled their copy beautifully.

*The Witching Hour fulfilled my POPSUGAR Reading Challenge prompt for the longest book on my TBR list.