A Resistance of Witches

Name: A Resistance of Witches
Price: 24.99 AUD
Availability: PreOrder
ISBN: 9781804994764

Morgan Ryan

$24.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Penguin (Transworld)
07 May 2026

Second World War fiction; Fantasy; Historical fiction

1940, and Hitler's armies are storming across Europe. The future looks bleak. In Britain, the Royal Academy of Witches emerges from the shadows to help the war effort. Its mission - to find an ancient magic artefact that, were it to fall into Nazi hands, could help Hitler fulfil his twisted Aryan dream . . .

'Prime Minister Churchill, the Witches of Britain are at your service . . .'

1940, and war rages across Europe. The future looks bleak. But now, emerging from the shadows, the Royal Academy of Witches offers its help. And so it is tasked with finding an ancient artefact that, were it to fall into Nazi hands, would help Hitler fulfil his twisted Aryan dream . . .

Stubborn, plain-spoken and from an unimpressive family, Lydia Polk never expected to be chosen to work under Isadora Goode, the Grand Mistress of the Royal Academy of Witches.

Now, three years into her apprenticeship, and with Hitler's armies rampaging across Europe, the Witches of Britain have joined the war effort - but not without some resistance from within, the British government having originally forced the witches into hiding.

As Lydia's power grows, she too joins the cause, tracking down magical relics in order to keep them out of Nazi hands. But a Nazi witch infiltrates the Academy with heart-breaking consequences and suddenly Lydia's mission becomes even more urgent . . . Somewhere out there, hidden amidst the chaos of war, is the Grimorium Bellum - an ancient book that Hitler craves, a book so steeped in dark magic that it has the power to wipe out civilisations - an artefact that Lydia must find and secure at all costs.

Dropped into the heart of Occupied France, Lydia finds allies in Rebecca Gagne, a French resistance fighter with a secret, and Henry Boudreaux, a Haitian-American art historian who seems to possess a little magic of his own. But tracking down this book is only half the battle - for the Grimorium Bellum seems to have a dark agenda all of its own . . .

By: Morgan Ryan
Imprint: Penguin (Transworld)
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 127mm, Spine: 35mm
Weight: 500g
ISBN: 9781804994764
ISBN 10: 1804994766
Pages: 416
Publication Date: 07 May 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Morgan Ryan is the author of stories born from a lifelong love of magic, a fixation on historical minutiae that borders on the obsessive, and a tendency to fall down rabbit holes. She was raised in a family of writers in upstate New York and received her degree in theatre performance from Northeastern University. She now lives in Chicago with her husband. A Resistance of Witches is her first novel.

Reviews for A Resistance of Witches

Enchanting, immersive, and beautifully written. A Resistance of Witches is historical fantasy at its absolute best. -- ALEXIS HENDERSON, bestselling author of An Academy for Liars Morgan Ryan's historical fantasy debut is World War II meets A Discovery of Witches . . . a witchy war-time delight. -- KATE QUINN, bestselling author of The Briar Club An expertly woven story of fate, witchcraft, and war that will both thrill you and tug at your heartstrings, A Resistance of Witches is an enchanting and pulse-pounding debut. -- KRISTIN HARMEL, bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names A wonderful, sometimes terrifying, always exciting tale of courage and devotion and honour, and heart-rending sacrifices made for a great cause. Morgan Ryan has deftly explored the breadth of the power of the craft, for good and for ill. I feel sure every lover of witch literature will be enchanted. -- LOUISA MORGAN, author of A Secret History of Witches This book conjures a devastating emotional punch. * SFX * If you’re looking for your next page-turner, we’ve been hooked on Morgan Ryan’s debut novel. * Take a Break * With fascinating worldbuilding set against a rich and thoroughly researched moment in history, this debut novel is nothing short of wildly entertaining; it’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to dip their toes into historical fiction or fantasy, and its urgent pace will have readers in a white-knuckle grip from start to finish. An exciting, fast-paced blend of historical fiction, spy drama, fantasy, and romance. * KIRKUS *starred review * A thrilling, fast-paced and delightful adventure into the heart of witchy, war-torn London and occupied France. Wonderfully immersive and unputdownable—I was transported to a rich, alternate world where magic, secrets, and dark mysteries colour impossibly high stakes. Yet the heart of this book lies in its tender human relationships, where love, longing, and death entangle. -- YANGSZE CHOO, bestselling author of The Fox Wife and The Night Tiger Riveting, atmospheric and darkly magical...If this book is anything to go by, Morgan Ryan is sure to become an instant pre-order author for fantasy readers in the future. * CultureFly *