The Witches of New York

Starred review from June 5, 2017
In this weighty, wonderful novel, McKay (The Virgin Cure) takes a sidelong glance at misogyny through a veil of witches, ghosts, and other mystical entities in 1880 New York. Seer Adelaide Thom and witch and apothecary Eleanor St. Clair are the proprietors of Tea and Sympathy, a tucked-away shop where ladies in the know can find a cure for what ails them, including sleepless nights, broken hearts, and unwanted pregnancies. The magical pair’s largely under-the-radar life is abruptly thrown into a tailspin by the arrival of Beatrice Dunn, a kindhearted young witch who’s unaware of her latent powers. Knowing the trio will become a formidable force against evil, a watchful demon begins to plot their destruction—and plenty of mortal men also feel threatened by these women of intellect, self-sufficiency, and independent means. McKay seamlessly combines several plots and juggles a large cast with grace. Skillful worldbuilding, fascinating characters, and a suspenseful plot make McKay’s novel an enchanting, can’t-put-down delight. The door is left open for a sequel, and readers will hope McKay takes Adelaide, Eleanor, and Beatrice on further adventures of witchery and self-determination.

Julia Whelan's glorious narration of Ami McKay's dark tale about witches in late-nineteenth-century New York keeps listeners engaged through a long, lumbering plot. Whelan's delightful Dearlies (dream sprites), her precocious raven, and other nonhuman characters lend an air of whimsy and playfulness to a disturbing story of misogyny and mysticism. She evokes chills with her portrayal of the evil minister, Reverend Townsend, and disdain for the close-minded citizens. McKay has created a large cast, and Whelan keeps each character distinct throughout. Combining these wonderful character portrayals with a strong sense of time and place carries the listeners through the plodding middle of the story to an intense ending. J.F. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

Starred review from May 15, 2017
Old New York shows its magic and its darkness in McKay's (The Virgin Cure, 2012, etc.) latest novel.It wasn't easy for 17-year-old Beatrice Dunn to make it to Manhattan in 1880, but she experienced a pull to the city that felt otherworldly. Open to witchcraft and magic, Beatrice makes her way to Tea and Sympathy, a small tea shop near Madison Square Park that specializes in more than just the newest brew. Its owners, Adelaide Thom and Eleanor St. Clair, provide a variety of services to their predominantly female clientele, including access to marital aids and abortifacients. While the women who come into the shop are seeking the means to control their own destinies, the shop's unique product line makes it a target of religious fanatics and zealots aiming to rid the world of evil and witchcraft. The atmosphere becomes even more dangerous with Beatrice's arrival; it is discovered that she possesses the power to communicate with the dead. Though Adelaide and Eleanor help her learn the intricacies of her gift, her ability places her in grave danger. With a remarkable cast of characters--from the obsessive and maniacal Rev. Townsend, who aims to rid society of witchcraft, and the occasionally helpful ghost of his victim, suspected witch Lena McLeod, to the talking raven, Perdu, and a cast of mysterious and meddlesome creatures called Dearlies who inhabit the tea shop--McKay has crafted a stunning work that bridges the gap between historical and contemporary women's issues. The novel is ambitious in its scope yet still delves deep into the thoughts and motivations of characters who normally exist on society's outskirts--or even beyond the earthly realm. Working alongside the women's suffrage movement, these "witches" demonstrate that there are many routes to take toward freedom and autonomy. While Tea and Sympathy seeks to be a refuge for women in need, paranoia and fear of the unknown are sweeping through the city's most devoutly religious circles. The novel is brimming with the spirits of those who have been lost to others' devotion and fear, and McKay's elegant prose bridges the gap between the real world and the spiritual realm with skill and compassion. A sprawling tale of persecution and hysteria set in the vivid world of New York City's Victorian era.

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Starred review from June 1, 2017
New York in 1880 is ablaze with fascinating ideas. The spiritualism craze is in full swing; scientists seek proof of the occult, and Egyptomania spreads as the ancient obelisk known as Cleopatra's Needle makes its journey toward Central Park. Against this backdrop, Beatrice Dunn sets out for the city, an advertisement in hand for a position as shopgirl at Tea and Sympathy, where those averse to magic need not apply. The shop is run by calm, wise Eleanor St. Clair and mercurial Adelaide Thom, both witches with unique gifts. As Beatrice begins to discover her own powers, dark forces arise to stalk the witches of New York. In best-selling McKay's (The Virgin Cure, 2012) enchanting novel, the characterization is particularly adept, with these dissimilar but intriguing women the fixed point around which Gilded Age New York swirls. The writing, from the spells and fables of Eleanor's grimoire to Anthony Comstock's puritanical correspondence, is woven together with depth and intensity into a vibrant tapestry. McKay's treatment of the spiritual and unseen, and how it anchors the lives of these unconventional women, affords a lyrical, multidimensional version of magic realism that is entirely bewitching. Highly recommended.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)