The Intersection of Fantasy Novels and Witchcraft

    I am avid consumer of Fantasy novels, particularly those with a female protagonist, magical powers, and romantic entanglements. As we continue to read A History of Magic, Witchcraft & the Occult, I have noticed large overlaps between my novels and many of the witchcraft practices we have discussed thus far. Up to this point, I had not even recognized these references for what they were;

I thought them simply a figment of the author's imagination. Furthermore, this class made me question my own preconceived notions of witchcraft, such as what I differentiated as a separate entity and what falls under the far-reaching umbrella of witchcraft, magic, and the occult. 

For example, in the novel Ember in the Ashes, the author, Sabaa Tahir, includes references to jinn, wraiths, ghuls, efrits, and augurs. In this particular novel, the jinn are ancient fey creatures of smokeless fire, tasked with shepherding souls to the the Afterlife. 

    Within the plot of the novel, many of these magical creatures are agents of evil sent to harass and endanger the protagonist from accomplishing her mission. Other than the jinn, which played a large role within the story, most of the magical creatures were nameless, unremarkable evil spirits, only notable for the threat they posed. Beyond the story itself, I did not take any time to research their historical and spiritual significance. Just as I did not truly understand the significance and history of these creatures, I feel that a lot of society does not take the effort to learn either. It's easier to label them as 'Other,' inadvertently grouping them together into a hodge-podge of evil spirits, than understanding the complexities and significance of each. Furthermore, I feel that this tendency is also present within society and contributes to the misconceptions of spiritual/cultural traditions and practices.