WitchmarkWitchmark
Score Modern
What it's about
C. L. Polk's debut is a stunning, addictive fantasy that combines intrigue, magic, betrayal and romance.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Nebula Award finalist. The New York Times called it thoroughly charming and deftly paced.
You'll love it if you liked
The Midnight Bargain
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
A Closed and Common OrbitGood to know
It's the first of a series and includes a slow-burn romance.
By the numbers
- Readers52 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics24 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller22 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz7 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #270 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #987 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1829 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Gripping, Epic
More by C. L. Polk
If you like this, read next
Gideon the Ninth
All Systems Red
Promises in Death
Innocent in Death
The Blind Assassin
Jade CityExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Witchmark worth reading?
Yes. It was a Nebula Award finalist. It ranks #1,829 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Witchmark about?
C. L. Polk's debut is a stunning, addictive fantasy that combines intrigue, magic, betrayal and romance.
How long does it take to read Witchmark?
About 7 hours (295 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Witchmark?
If you liked it, try The Midnight Bargain by C. L. Polk, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke or A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers.