A Spell for Change - by Nicole Jarvis (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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...

Review Quotes

"Tense, wonderfully atmospheric, and perfectly paced, A Spell for Change is an excellent blend of history, fantasy, and horror, with a dash of romance thrown in to sweeten the brew. Nicole Jarvis casts a spell with this novel just as surely as her characters do!" Alyssa Palombo, author of The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel

"Captures the dark heart of rural life at the turn of the century, when three outcasts forge unexpected alliances to challenge the dangerous forces haunting their small town in the shadow of the mountains. With writing so vivid you can taste the sweet tea and smell the cold minerality of underground caves, this is an essential read for anyone who has ever yearned to be more than their circumstances allow." Alisa Alering, author of Smothermoss

"A Spell for Change delivers on all the best aspects of a fantastical Southern Gothic, alive with magic as prickly, painful, and stubborn, as the characters learning to wield it. Jarvis's characters are as vivid in their struggles as their joys: Nora Jo, a witchy bookish schoolmistress hiding her love for the girl nextdoor, Kate, a preacher's granddaughter and a prophet, and Oliver, a prodigal son returned, forever ravaged by ghosts of war both physical and metaphysical. You won't be able to look away as lives and loves crash and tangle together in a struggle against powers of darkness as real as the trauma, prejudice, and hard living realities of rural mountain life." Gabriella Buba, author of Saints of Storm and Sorrow and Daughters of Flood and Fury

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.