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Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

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Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

By: Grady Hendrix
Narrated by: Leslie Howard, Hillary Huber, Sara Morsey
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About this listen

AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

The twisted, unforgettable horror novel from Grady Hendrix,
New York Times bestselling author of How to Sell a Haunted House and The Final Girl Support Group.

‘A chillingly addictive Southern Gothic tale’
COSMOPOLITAN

‘I did an evil thing to be put in here, and I’m going to have to do an evil thing to get out.’

They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast. And they’re sent to the Wellwood House in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret, give them up for adoption, and most important of all, to forget any of it ever happened.

Fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at the home in the sweltering summer of 1970, pregnant, terrified and alone. There, she meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament. Rose, a hippie who insists she’s going to keep her baby and escape to a commune. Zinnia, a budding musician who plans to marry her baby’s father. And Holly, barely fourteen, mute and pregnant by no-one-knows-who.

Every moment of their waking day is strictly controlled by adults who claim they know what’s best for them. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her an occult book about witchcraft, and power is in the hands of the girls for the first time in their lives. But power can destroy as easily as it creates, and it’s never given freely. There’s always a price to be paid . . . and it’s usually paid in blood.

‘At turns frightening, anxiety-producing, infuriating, beautiful and sad’
NEW YORK TIMES


Praise for Leslie Howard, Hillary Huber and Sara Morsey:

'Leslie Howard, Hillary Huber, and Sara Morsey's gripping narrations bring this story to life . . Their combined performances enhance the narrative's tension, making it an unforgettable experience with vivid storytelling and a stand-out narration' - AudioFile Magazine

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls was a No. 5 Sunday Times bestseller the w/e 18th January.

©2024 Grady Hendrix (P)2024 Penguin Random House LLC
Editors Select Fantasy Gothic Historical Fiction Horror Supernatural Thriller & Suspense Scary Exciting Tear-jerking

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What listeners say about Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

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  • Overall
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Extraordinarily Spellbinding Horror

Extraordinarily This fantasy horror about women and body autonomy is both gripping and challenging, and doesn't hold back on it's punches as it touches on abuse, racism, misogyny and consent, and the issue of abortion. Set in the 1970s in a home for girls whose pregnancies are unwanted by their families, it describes in detail their trauma and rejection by their families and then adds witchcraft and institutional abuse to boot. The characters are well drawn, the stakes ratcheting up as more antagonists are added to the mix. This is a violent book, but it is not without hope, although I would have enjoyed insight into the other characters, as engaging as Fern is as the narrator. Rose, Zinnia and Holly are all interesting characters central to the plot, but there was rich terrain to mine from all the characters, some more thinly rendered than others. This is a complement to the author as I was left so curious about so many of the characters inner worlds. It's action packed and filled with vivid descriptions and ultimately works as a supernatural horror with a strong and very human story to tell.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

the voice, my god.

the howling, chanting and screaming is really too shrill and nail-on-chalkboard annoying. it should really be thought how it is heard. I had to rip my earphones out, my teeth still hurt. DONT LISTEN TO IT WHILE DRIVING OR DOING ANYTHING!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Second half felt very YA…

The first two thirds of this novel brought me so much reading/listening-joy! Thank you for that! However it started to loose pace and gusto after that. The characters sort of faded and almost became caricatures of teenage girls, not far from a form very similar to Twilight-esque young-adult fantasy fiction. Didn’t engage until the end. Unfortunately.
Oh and the numerous onomatopoetic birthing scenes really didn’t feel realistic or recognizable.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Grady always delivers.

Another great read from Grady Hendrix. This one definitely tugs at your emotions. Fantastic story though.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Just general Hendrix standard

Up to par with all of Grady hendrix’s other novels. I agree with others that bits could have been cut out and there was no need for the length but overall a great story that gave you all the emotions you’d expect.
The narration was also great apart from the birth part I felt was a bit cringy and we didn’t need all the moans read aloud

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A story about women, witches and mothers

The story was beautyfull, touch ing, sad and Sometimes scary and suspensefull. Well written and very engaging told by the reader.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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all the emotions, I am not ok!

horror with heart, soul and a massive dose of humility. I cried. I cried again. excellent performance from the narrator and possibly Hendrix best work, his social commentary is second to none.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

narrator was great

powerful story however, I feel like the witchcraft element of the story was completely lost.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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This one hit hard!!

This was one of the most traumatising horror books I have ever read, but it didn’t hit me where I thought it would! Maybe because I am a dad of 2 girls that made the true horror of the book, take shape and the trauma felt so real!!

I loved this! But I felt sorry for the narrator as she had some really hard scenes( mostly of noises and screams) to articulate but 10/10 for effort but it took me out of the story a little!

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Outstanding

I absolutely loved this it had me crying on my dog walk what an intense emotional rollercoaster

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