As your resident story witch, I’ve been thinking…have you ever been reading a book—like maybe a cozy mystery, a lush piece of women’s fiction, or even a thriller—and thought, Wait a second… I think this character might be a witch?
🙋🏼♀️I have!
The thing is, it’s clear to me that not all witches wear pointy hats or stir cauldrons. Some of them are hiding in plain sight. They bake sourdough that just so happens to heal emotional wounds, tend to rose gardens that bloom out of season, or whisper secrets to the wind when no one’s listening. As a writer who spends a lot of time conjuring stories with magical threads and creating magical characters just like these (and, um, maybe a few actual spellbooks 🤫), I know the signs.
So here you go. Here are 10 signs your favorite book character might just be a witch in disguise:
1. Plants just… love them
Their herbs grow faster than anyone else’s. Their succulents never droop. The roses climb their cottage like it’s a fairytale. Green thumbs? Maybe. But it’s more likely the plants are responding to magic.
2. They’re drawn to old things
Antique keys, weathered journals, dusty spellbooks (ahem, a grimoire), chipped teacups that belonged to their grandmother. If they’re always rummaging through flea markets like they’re on a treasure hunt, that’s a witchy clue.
3. Strange coincidences happen around them
They light a candle and someone calls. They think about a person and that person shows up. Coincidence… or, I submit, intuitive magic humming just under the surface.
4. They have a deep connection to the moon
They don’t need a calendar to know it’s a full moon. They feel it. Maybe they make moon water or charge their crystals. Or maybe they just stare out the window a little too long when the moon is high.
5. They keep unusual pets
A cat that seems to know too much. A raven that visits every morning. A scruffy dog that growls at all the wrong people. Familiars come in many forms.
6. They know things they shouldn’t
Not in a spooky, jump-scare kind of way. More like, they understand people deeply, or sense what’s going to happen before it does. It’s intuition turned all the way up.
7. They’re obsessed with tea, herbs, or baking
Chamomile for sleep. Lavender for calm. Rosemary for clarity. Or maybe their cinnamon scones always leave you feeling just a little bit braver or happier. That’s a little bit more than just culinary skill!
8. They live in a place that feels… alive
The house creaks at the right moments. The garden seems to rearrange itself. The attic holds secrets. Witches often live in spaces where magic seeps into the walls.
9. They have an heirloom that feels powerful
It could be a locket, or a mirror, or a book passed down through generations. These objects remember. And often, they’re the key to unlocking the character’s true nature.
10. They believe in magic, even if they don’t call it that
They talk to the wind. Make wishes in secret. Trust their dreams. They might not know they’re a witch, but you can feel the magic in the way they move through the world.
Whether you’re reading a mystery with enchanted dress patterns (hello, Harlow Cassidy! 👗), or a magical realism tale where bibliomancy informs everything or the house itself holds secrets (hello, The Bibliomancer’s Daughter and The House of Spells and Secrets 🐦⬛), these signs are my favorite breadcrumbs to follow as both a writer and reader.
Next time you find yourself falling for a character who seems a little too in tune with the world, ask yourself: Is she just quirky… or is she quietly conjuring magic beneath the surface?
Witchily yours,
Melissa / Ivy 🖤
Your Story Witch
✨ May your characters be complicated, your tea strong, and your books full of secrets.