Content levels
Trigger warnings
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
Fairytales made witches villains. Now they’re taking their story back. Tibby never thought she’d end up in a prison for witches. She isn’t one, or so she claims. But on her first night at the Grimm Brotherhood’s Reformation Centre, she meets four infamous witches the world has branded wicked. As they share their real stories, Tibby begins to wonder if they’re not so different after all. When the Brotherhood threatens to erase their memories and their magic, the women stage a daring escape. But freedom isn’t enough. To truly reclaim their power, they must untangle the twisted fairytales written about them, confront the men who tried to silence them, and light a fire that could spark a rebellion. In a world built to turn women against each other, Tibby has to choose: stay quiet and survive, or rise and be remembered. A witchy fairytale rebellion for fans of Alix E. Harrow, T. Kingfisher, Naomi Novik and Gregory Maguire.
Is The Old Crones Club: A Fairytale Retelling from the Wicked Witches appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
Contains themes of imprisonment, memory erasure threats, and institutional oppression of women. Violence is present in the escape and rebellion plot but not graphically detailed. Focuses on feminist themes and reclaiming agency.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include captivity, gaslighting, and memory manipulation (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens will connect with the themes of finding your voice, questioning authority, and the power of female friendship against injustice.