Toil & Trouble: 16 Tales of Women and Witchcraft

In this provocative, eclectic collection, 16 tales explore the many facets of witchcraft and its practitioners. Settings range from the historical to the contemporary and from factual to outright fantastical; protagonists are culturally and ethnically diverse with substantial LGBTQ representation; and the major unifying theme is female empowerment. Standouts include Tehlor Kay Mejia’s “Starsong,” the tale of an astrologer who finds her match in a scientist, and Robin Talley’s “The Legend of Stone Mary,” in which the descendant of an unjustly murdered witch faces a lingering curse. Many feel like preambles to more expansive narratives, but as standalone pieces, they surely satisfy. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. Ages 12–up. (Aug.)