A Spell for Change

In this sumptuous, atmospheric historical fantasy set in post-World War One Appalachia, three outcasts with misunderstood magical gifts search for their place in the world while battling the dark forces that circle their community.

Perfect for fans of Katherine Arden and Susanna Clarke.

Kate Mayer has always been troubled by visions of the future. No matter what she does, her disturbing premonitions come to pass--often with terrible consequences. But Kate has a secret: swirling, romantic dreams of a strange boy, and a chance meeting in the woods.

Oliver Chadwick Jr. returned from the Great War disabled, disillusioned, and able to see the dead. Haunted by the death of his best friend, Oliver realizes that his ability to communicate with spirits may offer the chance of closure he desperately seeks.

Nora Jo Barker's mother and grandmother were witches, but she has never nurtured her own power. Always an outsider, she has made a place for herself as the town's schoolteacher, clinging to the independence the job affords her. When her unorthodox ideas lead to her dismissal, salvation comes in the form of a witch from the mountains, who offers her a magical apprenticeship. Yet as she begins to fall for another woman in town, her loyalties pull her in disparate directions.

Rumors of a dark force stalking the town only push Kate, Oliver, and Nora Jo onwards in their quest to determine their own destinies. But there are powers in the world stronger and stranger than their own, and not all magic is used for good...

Author: Nicole Jarvis
Publisher: Titan Books (UK)
Published: 05/06/2025
Pages: 480
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 7.70h x 5.10w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781835410943


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 03/01/2025 pg. 87
Publishers Weekly 03/24/2025
Booklist 04/02/2025

About the Author
Nicole Jarvis writes speculative history novels. A graduate of Emory University with degrees in English and Italian, she lives in Georgia with her partner and works in marketing for Penguin Random House. She is the author of The Lights of Prague, A Portrait in Shadow, and A Spell for Change. Nicole loves musicals, pottery, and learning about strange histories. Instagram/X: @nicolejarvis.