Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Synopsis
Deep in the woods lives the old witch called the Ugly One. All she wants is to forget that she was once a loving mother and a healer, blessed and powerful within her magic circle, and not a witch, claimed by the devils. Then one day she hears the footsteps she dreads. Then real voices - children's voices. The Ugly One longs to take care of sturdy, sensible Gretel and her young brother Hansel. They are such good children, such delicious, beautiful children. But demons' voices scream in her head: "Eat them!" How can she! ...How can she not?
Is The Magic Circle appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 13 and up.
This dark retelling of Hansel and Gretel from the witch's perspective explores demonic possession, maternal grief, and the loss of self through dark magic. Contains disturbing themes of cannibalism (resisted but urged by demons) and psychological horror, though not graphically depicted.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include child harm, self-harm, and mental manipulation (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens will be captivated by this sympathetic reimagining of a classic villain as a tragic figure fighting against demonic forces to protect the children she once loved.