SEASON OF THE WITCH

A prequel to Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Sabrina Spellman lives with her aunts, Zelda and Hilda, and cousin Ambrose in their funeral home, which they run because “even witches need to make a living.” As the daughter of a warlock, Sabrina possesses magical abilities that may be further realized once she has her dark baptism and enrolls in the Academy of Unseen Arts. But her half-mortal self is hesitant to leave behind her friends, Roz and Susie, and her sweet, artsy boyfriend, Harvey. Pressured by Zelda to uphold the Spellman family name, she is mocked by her potential Academy peers for only being half witch, and to top it all off, she doubts Harvey’s feelings for her. She and Ambrose cast a spell which intensifies Harvey’s infatuation, leaving Sabrina overwhelmed rather than reassured. And when she turns to an admiring wishing-well spirit for help, matters only worsen. The narrative alternates between chapters told from Sabrina’s point of view and those titled “What Happens in the Dark”—the latter offering insight into various characters’ weaknesses and fears. Lack of fully rounded character development hinders readers’ full investment, but glimpses into the characters’ darker sides will pique interest. The racial makeup of the cast reflects that of the television show: Sabrina is white, Ambrose is black, and there is diversity in several supporting characters.

A creepy literary adaptation to please existing Sabrina fans and that may entice new ones.