Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast. And they’re sent to Wellwood House in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret, to give them up for adoption, and most important of all, to forget any of it ever happened.
Fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at the home in the sweltering summer of 1970, pregnant, terrified and alone. Under the watchful eye of the stern Miss Wellwood, she meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament. There’s Rose, a hippie who insists she’s going to find a way to keep her baby and escape to a commune. And Zinnia, a budding musician who plans to marry her baby’s father. And Holly, a wisp of a girl, barely fourteen, mute and pregnant by no-one-knows-who.
Everything the girls eat, every moment of their waking day, and everything they’re allowed to talk about is strictly controlled by adults who claim they know what’s best for them. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her an occult book about witchcraft, and power is in the hands of the girls for the first time in their lives. But power can destroy as easily as it creates, and it’s never given freely. There’s always a price to be paid…and it’s usually paid in blood.
In Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, the author of How to Sell a Haunted House and The Final Girl Support Group delivers another searing, completely original novel and further cements his status as a “horror master” (NPR).
Reviews
"Hendrix’s genius as a horror writer is his ability to develop complex, human-scale emotional arcs. He gilds these dramas with a glorious, gory layer of monsters and magic, but in his work, the uncanny exists primarily to symbolize real-world issues... At turns frightening, anxiety-producing, infuriating, beautiful and sad, “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls” is a perfect horror for our imperfect age."
"Another stellar novel from Hendrix, a perfectly constructed story that has a strong emotional core, compelling plot, unforgettable characters, and 360 degrees of terror. For fans of horror that empowers the powerless as written by Gwendolyn Kiste and Gabino Iglesias and by Tananarive Due in The Reformatory (2023)."
"Hendrix offers an utterly engaging commentary on society and why things are viewed as right versus wrong, along with a generous dollop of magic."
"A pulpy throwback that shines a light on abuses even magic can’t erase."
"Hendrix perfectly captures the girls’ youth and loss of innocence, as well as the power of their friendships. This is sure to be another hit for Hendrix."
"An engrossing, compelling read."
"Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a horrifying and humorous send up of the culture surrounding unwed mothers in the 1970s that is both timely and timeless."
"There's spells, there's witches, and then there's the magic Grady Hendrix conjures up in this amazing novel."Stephen Graham Jones, New York Times bestselling author of I Was A Teenage Slasher
"Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is terrifying, darkly funny, moving, immersive, and deeply relevant—a page-turner that will keep you up until one in the morning. I devoured every page of it. Grady Hendrix is at the top of his game."Simone St. James, New York Times bestselling author of Murder Road
"Grady Hendrix’s Witchcraft for Wayward Girls will delight fans new and old with his convincing rendering of characters juggling pregnancy and magic, childhood and adulthood, helplessness and power – and of course good and evil. Another nail-biter not to be missed!"Tananarive Due, award-winning author of The Reformatory
"Grady Hendrix again brings to life a fully realized ensemble of characters who you'll cry with and root for while deftly molding the historical novel, the supernatural, and gritty, all-too real life horrors into a morally complex and genuinely haunting and moving tale. I couldn't put it down once I started."Paul Tremblay, bestselling author of Horror Movie and The Cabin at the End of the World
“This book is so twisted and smart, it could hide behind a spiral staircase. It's got such a warm beating heart, and it broke mine several times. As soon as I finished I wanted to start all over again.”Catriona Ward, author of The Last House on Needless Street and Nowhere Burning
"Grady Hendrix does it again, only better: A magical look into the lives of teenage girls, of making the jump from powerlessness to power, of facing your fears and finding your coven. Enchanting and entertaining, but ultimately the novel's greatest strength is its fearless truth-telling. Press this book into the hands of the young women you know."Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor
"Captivating from the start, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls takes readers on an incredible journey exploring female victimization and empowerment...that may or may not entail tapping into the dark magic within. A phenomenal read for witches everywhere!"Carissa Orlando, author of The September House
There’s a solemn maturity to Wayward Girls matching its primal horror... Levity doesn’t come in the form of Hendrix’s usual lighthearted wit but in the tender friendships formed by teens trapped in an unthinkable nightmare. It’s those friendships and the immediacy of their loss of agency that drives Wayward Girls, giving it rich complexity right through to its emotionally satisfying conclusion. It’s an affecting journey that casts a harrowing spotlight on a more insidious corner of history and immerses with its powerful portrayal of rebellion."
"'Witchcraft for Wayward Girls'" showcases Grady Hendrix at his most inspiring and insightful, igniting a vibrant spark within you to challenge the patriarchy while stirring your imagination. This isn’t merely another entry in the horror genre; it is a powerful celebration of empowerment."
"A coven of pregnant girls, lava lamps, bloody sacrifices, and pink everywhere you turn, Grady Hendrix’s Witchcraft For Wayward Girls is his magnum opus. It’s every bit as whimsical as you’d expect of the How To Sell A Haunted House author, but achieves the highest power of fiction and puts the reader in the shoes of those who experience a struggle some may otherwise never have known."
"At its core, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a dark, unforgettable tale of empowerment, rebellion, and the cost of claiming one’s voice in a world determined to silence it. While the political undertones may occasionally feel heavy-handed, the novel’s raw emotional power and its unflinching portrayal of dark magic make it a standout read."
Awards & Accolades
LibraryReads pick for January 2025!
Amazon Editors Pick: "Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, January 2025"