The Geography of Witch Fiction: Which Region Draws You In?
Discover the hidden magic, dark legends, and unique powers of witches across seven regions—New England, England, Scotland, Scandinavia, France, Italy, and Germany.
I have known for a while now that my obsession with witch stories is growing wild. The funny thing is, many of these women branded as witches in history were no different than you or I.
Witches were the women who stood out and took risks.
The ones we would now call bold and brave were once penalized for such admirable traits.
I wanted to take a deeper dive into the history of witches around the world and see the differences and similarities (because why not?)
Without further ado... bring on the witches!
- New England (Salem)
These witches are 100% their own breed - light on the spells and heavy on the fear, control, and survival. And witchcraft here isn't about what you do, it is about what you are perceived to be. Big difference.
A huge contribution factor was the brutal weather. Long crippling winters and isolated settlements between towns. Simply crossing into the woods (the devils territory) was enough to brand you a witch!.
The biggest red flag was the power of accusation.
Anyone, I mean ANYONE , could accuse another of witchcraft.
Zero proof required.
- England
English witch stories are terrifying not because of magic, but because they show how easily ordinary people can destroy someone they’ve known all their lives.
English witch stories are quiet, muddy, and intimate.
The cruelty happens close to home.
These witches were the ones living next door. The women facing struggles like poverty, a disability or widowed. They were the ones simply trying to survive.
They were the stain on the community that did not deserve life or kindness. (apparently).
- Scotland
Buckle up! Scotland is where witch stories stop whispering and start screaming.
Scottish witch stories are raw, violent, and furious—for good reason.
Scotland had one of the most brutal witch-hunting records in Europe, and its fiction carries that trauma in its bones.
Scotlands witch trials were brutally enforced. In 1563, witchcraft was punishable by death.
Torture is normalized... and confession is inevitable.
Got a life problem? blame a witch!
- Scandinavia
Scandinavian witch fiction is about isolation, nature, and the thinness of the world—the sense that something old is watching, waiting, and patient.
These witches were rarely portrayed as malicious.
They were wise women, healers, and Seers. Their magic comes from the weather, animals and the land.
The two working as one for something powerful.
Scandinavian witches are referred to as observant, eternally powerful and quiet.
Unlike fantasy heavy witch stories, there are no flashy spells or dramatic rituals. Spells were buried in snow, whispered in the wind or passed along in silence.
These witch stories resonate with readers who find comfort in quiet strength and solitude.
- France
France is subtle, cerebral, and morally complex—witch stories here often explore power, society, and the collision of old beliefs with new ideas.
France witches were often healers and intellectuals. Magic is not flashy—it’s a survival tool and sometimes a subtle form of rebellion.
This witch is rarely portrayed as evil, and rarely hunted. Their power lies in the knowledge of herbs, remedies and poisons.
In fiction, these witches often outmaneuver authorities rather than confront them directly.
They were more political than supernatural.
- Italy
Italy is a unique witch geography because its stories are intimate, secretive, and tied to family and folk tradition.
Unlike the fury of Scotland or the political subtlety of France, Italian witch fiction is about hidden power and old magic.
Italian witches are often midwives, healers, or wise women living quietly in small communities. They often inherit their knowledge from previous generations of mothers and grandmothers with practical magic tied to survival, health and fortune.
Magic here is part of everyday life. The environment supports secrecy rather than danger.
It was a good place to be a witch!
Witches may move through time, but they never leave the land behind—and the landscapes that shaped them continue to haunt our stories today.
(Don't you just love that??)
Some of my favourite witchy books...
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, The Last Witch, The Lighthouse Witches, The Crimson Moth, The Powerless Series.
Just keep reading.. Just keep reading...
Until next time,
Sheila
