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.
I received an electronic ARC copy of The Seven Wonders: Stories about Witches by the wonderful Mirari Press (@miraripress) in exchange for a review. I’ve been a bit late to the review because I’ve had to sit with my feelings. As you do with fantastic stories.
Witches throughout the centuries have represented both the othered or outcast as well as the forbidden and the taboo. What I really loved about all these stories was how varied they all were in conveying that. Magic is a wonder to behold. It is what makes you different, strong, someone to be admired or feared. Each tale had a different take on those themes with such authenticity (as well as that iconic South African flare for telling stories) that I couldn’t help but get sucked in. I kept saying, “This is my favourite one…. no wait this one!”
“Mud Witch” by Ciaran R Maidwell takes us to the Karoo with a girl who your heart breaks for. Maidwell’s writing sucks into this world and the magical and darker elements creep in behind you, much like the cruel world around Mieke. This is a story I wished to not see end and world that I would love to return to and sincerely hope Ciaran does!
“Witchling” by Mia Haven is perfect for fans of Shameez Patel, Cassandra Clare or any fan of strong female characters in a complicated Magical world.
“Shooting Star” by Manjari Jogi takes us to India with our witch, Kashwini, running from those who would harm her. The themes of identity, survival, defiance as well as community fly at you with a punishing pace.
“The Shaman and the Witch” by Nadia Cassim is another great look at lost identity as reclaiming your power.
“Unfamiliars” by Francesco Nassimbeni reads like that start of a Middle Grade fantasy series ala Percy Jackson, I mean this in the best way. I gave me the same feelings as a South African cartoon “URBO: The Adventures of Pax Afrika” – which I really loved, and I will stay mad at the SABC for cancelling it!
“A Spell for Healing Death” by Luke Wildman is a poignantly beautiful tale of grief. Merle is grappling with the loss of his wife, the village witch, and stumbles among a spell of hers that hints at resurrecting someone from death.
“Lifael” by Felix Lamont was an interesting one. The writing style almost reminded me of Rudyard Kipling in its formal language and symbolic esque characters.
In short, all these tales get my imagination going, my heart strings tugged on and my brain interpreting. If that is not what a good short story anthology should do, I don’t know what is.
I would love to hear what you thought of these stories. What were your favourites? I keep changing my mind!
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.
The Seven Wonders: Stories about Witches, is an anthology comprising of 7 short stories.. but make them *different* by adding a little South African flavour to them.
These 7 stories will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions; you'll view witches through different lenses and different cultures as well as being exposed to different magic systems.
Witches to me have always meant beauty, power, feminine rage to its core and this anthology delivers on all of that and more. I had originally planned to read a story per day to savour the experience, but I couldn't put this down. As a South African, I feel as though the diversity within these stories really do represent us.
I love anthology books as I feel there's a perfect story for everyone in it. I highly recommend diving into this and finding your perfect fit! And let me know which is your favourite.
Stories in this anthology include:
• 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
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.