The Green Rose

The Green Rose

✨WITCHCRAFT WEDNESDAY✨

Rosa was barely six years old when Mama Maëlys had rescued her from the cold wintery streets. The old witch taught her shape-shifting magic, and it was all thanks to her that, after many years of practicing, she found herself in the baron’s service.

This time I would like to share with you an excerpt from The Green Rose – a fictional short story from The Book of Forgotten Witches.

Rosa followed Mama Maëlys to the parlour where a hidden door in the bookshelf opened with a creak. A spiral staircase lead down into a secret underground cellar that had been transformed into a witch’s kitchen. Cauldrons of all sizes were lined up in the circular room, dusty vials stood on an old wooden table along with two frogs and a pair of crow’s feet, and poisonous mushrooms with a vast array of herbs hung from the beams. In the middle sat a magical stove whose flame never died out.

“So, tell me how your last transformation went!” Mama Maëlys said.

“I didn’t make a single mistake, and I even fooled the baron himself for a second!” replied Rosa proudly, now washing out some vials.

“That’s wonderful. I know how skillfully you’ve learned to transform, but I feel I must remind you of the most important thing of all – magic has a price. Small spells cost only a little, but big ones have a high fee. Look here!” Mama Maëlys pointed at the fire burning in the middle of the kitchen. “It’s not difficult to convince that flame to keep burning forever. It’s just a matter of agreement but I must also give the fire something in return.”

“What did you give?” Rosa raised her head.

“That’s our secret, dear,” she said with a smile. “Transforming, however, has a high price, so it’s important to only use it for worthwhile reasons. Remember that.”

~~~

Will she take Mama Maëlys’s advice? Read the full story of The Green Rose in The Book of Forgotten Witches!


With over 80 stunning, spooky illustrations, The Book of Forgotten Witches is the perfect gift for the witchy people in your life. Available in hardback, ebook and audiobook from early September 2024.