I'm a descendant of a Salem witch — and proudly take the opportunity to bring this up any time there is a “tell us a fun fact” ice breaker. I was elated when the Netflix original series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina first aired in October 2018, and devoured it in just a couple of days (during the first semester of my dual-degree master's program, no less!). I was similarly excited about the second season in April 2019, but this time proceeded through the episodes in a reverently slow fashion, savoring each one. To get me in the mood for the third season [Ed. Note: The third season premieres tomorrow!], I read and reviewed the following prequel novel we received in the office.

Season of the Witch by Sarah Rees Brennan (Scholastic, July 2019) delivers the Sabrina spirit in full. The book returns to the time before Sabrina was baptized as a witch. Sabrina’s first-person perspective alternates with an omniscient third-person narrative focusing on various members of her friend and family circles, and I enjoyed this access to the inner psyche of so many of the secondary characters. The chapter featuring Roz, Sabrina's best friend, was of special interest to me; I found that I related to her character more fully than I had in the series. The way Roz struggles with anxiety around her preacher father’s teachings and her friends' probable damnation made me realize how similar we are: Deciding that you do not agree with everything you have been taught growing up is a difficult process, one you sometimes wrestle with on a daily basis.

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Ed. Note: Fellow Sabrina fans, Brennan also wrote a second book, Daughter of Chaos (Scholastic, December 2019), which coincides with season 2 of the television show. Be sure to check that out as well before you binge-watch season three (or afterward if you'll need something to tide you over until season four)!

Related: An interview with Monstrous Affections: An Anthology of Beastly Tales contributors Sarah Rees Brennan and M. T. Anderson and editors Kelly Link and Gavin Grant