V.V. James' Sanctuary is one of my favorite books this year. In the modern-day United States created in this book, witches are accepted as part of society. Your grandma probably visits the local witch's booth to cure her ailments. The witches don't do spells that harm, only help. They are just another alternative to Western medicine.
But what if you visited the local witch and asked her to do something illegal and she refused?
That's what happens in Sanctuary, Massachusetts, a small town with a Salem-era history of killing and persecuting witches. Sarah, the local witch, has three best non-magical friends - Abigail, Bridget, and Julia - who are part of her coven. Their children have grown up together and are about to embark on college adventures and futures. But when Abigail's son Daniel suddenly dies, this mother's grief is strong. So strong that she asks Sarah to use her magic to bring Daniel back. Sarah refuses because it's illegal, but Abigail reminds her that she's done it before.
And thus begins the breakdown of Abigail, Sarah and Abigail's friendship, and the sanity of the town of Sanctuary. Angry that Sarah won't help, Abigail wages a war on witches, and Sarah's non-magical daughter Harper is accused of killing Daniel - with magic. Abigail convinces the town that Sarah has bewitched them, but really it's Abigail's lies that have the town under a spell.
What is at the truth of all these lies? What is the truth behind how Daniel died? Detective Maggie Knight is dispatched to investigate, and the presence of magic in the accusations makes her job that much harder. If Harper is found guilty of murder, she will immediately be executed because she's a witch.
I loved the twists and turns that this book took, but heed my warning: this book will haunt you! Once you get about halfway through, you better just lock yourself in a room and turn off your phone so you can finish the whole thing without stopping. I was so invested in these characters and so hurt by the way people were acting (a bunch of people afraid of something different than them - sound familiar?) that I often had lingering feelings of unease after finishing a chapter.
You might figure out the ending. I didn't. It was quite a surprise. And because of that, this is one of my favorite books of 2020!
If your book club needs a new book to read, then definitely choose this one. A Reading Group Guide and author Q & A in the back will be especially helpful to foster discussion.
Sanctuary is published by Gollancz and is on bookstore shelves now. I received a free e-ARC to review.
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