My Top 5 90s Witches and the Books That Give the Same Vibes
I grew up raised by the 90s witches and all the chaotic, moody icons who made magic feel real. Here are my top five witches that shaped me, plus book recs that give the same nostalgic energy.
Why the 90s Witches Still Matter
I wasn’t literally raised by witches (tragic, I know), but the witches of the 90s basically molded my personality. They were chaotic, rebellious, powerful and so painfully relatable.
Now, nearly three decades later, we’re seeing their comeback: in fashion, in fiction, and on screen. And we certainly see them also in books about witches. But no one’s topped the original wave of 90s witches who taught us that magic is messy and power doesn’t come without a price.
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Honorable Mentions: The Softer Side of 90s Witches
An absolute 90s classic, but for me, more of a casual watch than a formative one. Still, Sabrina deserves her spot as the gateway witch for a generation.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
An absolute 90s classic, but for me, more of a casual watch than a formative one. Still, Sabrina deserves her spot as the gateway witch for a generation.
The Sanderson Sisters (Hocus Pocus)
Campy, chaotic, and the reason “Halloween witchcore” exists. They’re not my personal icons, but the 90s witch scene wouldn’t be the same without them.
Top 5 Iconic 90s Witches (and the Books That Channel Their Magic)
#5. Sarah Michelle Gellar in Simply Irresistible (1999)
A kitchen witch rom-com where love and cooking get bewitched. Cozy, romantic, and soft magical realism perfection.
Book Pairing: Love’s a Witch by Tricia O’Malley
A small-town paranormal romance featuring a cursed family, a grumpy Scotsman, and generations of bad love luck.
Vibe: Cozy witch, low-stakes magic, 90s magical realism revival.
#4. Willow & Tara from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy gave us vampires and chaos, but Willow and Tara gave us heart. Their witchcraft arcs explored identity, love, and power, making them some of the most enduring 90s witches in pop culture.
Book Pairing: The Marionettes by Katie Wismer
Witches, vampires, blood magic, academy, trials, betrayal. Dark, dramatic, and Buffy-coded in all the right ways.
Vibe: Queer magic, dark academia, supernatural angst.
Grab The Marionettes on Amazon
#3. The Owens Sisters from Practical Magic (1998)
Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock as boho witches running from a curse, making midnight margaritas, and solving a little murder? Core memory unlocked.
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Book Pairing: Cackle by Rachel Harrison
Feminist, funny, and spooky with small-town magic and new-witch energy.
Vibe: Cottagecore witch, sisterhood, found family, female power.
#2. The Halliwell Sisters in Charmed
Prue, Piper, Phoebe. The holy trinity of 90s witches. Family legacy, forbidden love, demon drama-peak weekly television.
Book Pairing: Heart of Darkness by Lauren Dane
Witch dynasties, underground magic clubs, and plenty of dangerous romance.
Vibe: Family coven energy, steamy spellcasting, 90s paranormal drama.
Grab Heart of Darkness on Amazon
#1. The Craft (1996) – The Witch Movie That Defined the 90s
Fairuza Balk. Neve Campbell. Skeet Ulrich. The We are the weirdos, mister scene. It’s the blueprint for every witch story that followed.
Book Pairing: Hollow by Karina Halle
A sexy gothic Sleepy Hollow retelling with covens, curses, and dark academia.
Vibe: Witchcore meets gothic romance, The Craft’s moody literary cousin.
Upcoming Witch Book Inspired by the 90s
Only Spell Deep by Ava Morgyn
Keep an eye out for Only Spell Deep by Ava Morgyn (2026), pitched as Rebecca meets The Craft. It promises gothic vibes, millennial nostalgia, and everything we love about dark feminine magic.
Grab Only Spell Deep on Amazon
Why the 90s Witches Still Cast a Spell Today
The 90s witches were messy and powerful, not perfect. They taught us that sisterhood could save us, love could curse us, and being “the weird girl” might just be our superpower.
And honestly? That magic still hits.
So, which 90s witch raised you? Were you a Charmed girl, a Craft goth, or a Practical Magic romantic? Drop your coven allegiance in the comments below and if you want even more book recs, check out my lists of books about witches on the blog. And if you haven’t met some of these, you’ll have to add to your What to watch List.
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I definitely felt the nostalgia. It’s funny you did this topic because I was just thinking how PNR was making a resurgence with some great new series.