Seven stories of power, defiance, and wonder—where magic lingers, fate shifts, and witches rise.
The Seven Wonders is an anthology of witchcraft in its many incarnations: gothic, modern, and utterly strange. From rural South Africa to eerie academies, from hedge witches whispering secrets to forces that defy understanding, these seven tales explore the trials of power, the cost of magic, and the unbreakable bonds that tether witches to their craft.
In a world that has long feared and vilified witches, this collection reclaims them as heroines – figures of resistance, wisdom, and transformation. Whether through fire, foresight, or forbidden rites, each story unveils a different Wonder – some dark, some wondrous, all unforgettable.
The stories appearing in this anthology are:
Mud Witch – Ciaran R. Maidwell
Witchling – Mia Haven
Shooting star – Manjari Jogi
The Shaman and the Witch – Nadia Cassim
Unfamiliars – Francesco Nassimbeni
A Spell for Healing Death – Luke Wildman
Lifael – Felix Lamont
4.5 stars
The Seven Wonders is an astonishingly strong anthology. Not only are the individual stories well written but the anthology itself is put together beautifully, giving us a full 'life cycle' of a witch from creation to initiation to life's work, death, and lingering mythology. While certain themes are prominent throughout: sacrifice, community, a connection to the natural world, this isn't an anthology that limits itself to one interpretation of witch. There are healers and guardians, hedge witches with small magick, and primordial practitioners with powers to warp the cosmos. Shoutout to The Shaman and The Witch by Nadia Cassim for featuring three different magical traditions!
One of the great things about niche indie published books is being able to read other people's reviews. Approaching this as an avid horror reader, it surprised me to see The Seven Wonders marked out as tending toward a dark interpretation of witchcraft. It felt the opposite to me! The stories are predominantly uplifting moments of triumph in an adverse world! I don't think either reading is wrong, merely an indication of where our baselines as readers are at. This also contains an equal number of character forward studies and more plotty stories. As an adventure lover, I enjoyed the plot heavy entries more but that's another instance where personal preference sways me.
My favourites are:
Lifael by Felix Lamont, the closing story, slammed the door on this anthology with a tale that continues to resound in my brain. Darker than the preceding entries, Lifael features a Queen engaging in black magic and the King's soldier sent to condemn her. The witchcraft in Lifael is an old magic, from beyond the confines of space and time, thinning the divide between humanity and the old gods.
On literally the other side of the book, Mud Witch by Ciaran R. Maidwell opens this anthology with a witchy, queer coming of age story. Set in the Karoo within the dusty borders of a small community, we follow a young girl struggling with loneliness and the loss of her mother, reaching for comfort in the earth. There is a sinister edge to this one that took me by surprise, in a good way.
A Spell for Healing Death by Luke Wildman was the most emotional read for me. Via the framework of a ritual spell, we see the main character process his grief at the loss of his wife. I teared up more than once!
If you're looking for something you can easily pick up and put down while handing out Halloween candy, The Seven Wonders is it. Guaranteed to keep the Samhain vibes immaculate.
I requested and received a copy for review from Mirari Press as part of their Luminary Programme.
The Seven Wonders is a beautifully written and thought-provoking collection that explores the many faces of witchcraft—from the gothic to the modern, from eerie forests to sun-baked rural villages. Each story in this anthology offers a unique take on what it means to be a witch, delving into themes of power, resistance, transformation, and survival.
The collection features a diverse range of voices and settings. We’re taken from rural South Africa to haunting magical academies, introduced to hedge witches, shamans, and spell-casters who grapple with forces both external and internal. There’s a lyrical intensity to the writing that kept me engaged throughout, and every story felt purposeful and well-crafted. Standouts for me included Mud Witch and Witchling—both of which lingered with me long after reading.
That said, it’s worth noting that the tone of the anthology leans quite dark. These stories don't shy away from the heavier aspects of magic and myth—grief, sacrifice, pain, and vengeance all play their parts. While I appreciated the depth and artistry, I found some of the stories emotionally heavy, and at times a little more intense than I personally prefer.
Still, for readers who are drawn to the shadowy corners of witchcraft fiction—who want complex characters, rich atmosphere, and a touch of the unsettling—The Seven Wonders is a compelling and rewarding read. These witches aren’t here to charm you; they’re here to challenge, transform, and reclaim.
Not sure how to feel about this anthology. My issues aren't with specific writing styles but the collection as a whole.
The last three stories were probably my favorite. At the same time, Unfamiliars doesn't fit with the rest: it should really be in is own young-readers anthology.