Revenge and Redemption in the Dead Witch Walking Series

Dead Witch Walking Series is a popular urban fantasy book series written by Kim Harrison. The series follows the story of Rachel Morgan, a witch turned bounty hunter, as she navigates the dangerous streets of Cincinnati. Set in an alternate universe where supernatural beings exist, Rachel finds herself caught in a world of vampires, werewolves, and other magical creatures. The main idea of the Dead Witch Walking series is the journey of Rachel Morgan as she tries to make a living in a world that despises witches. After leaving her job at the Inderland Security (IS), Rachel starts her own freelance bounty hunting business. Her adventures take her through various cases, bringing her face-to-face with both friends and enemies.

In fact, a commonly held belief in the pagan community is that whatever you do unto others, you should be prepared to have come back on you.

And, of course, there was the dark chapter in America s own history when, in 1692, dozens of men and women as young as four years old were arrested and charged with suspicion of witchcraft in and around Salem, Massachusetts. Szymanski-Lockett was an elementary school teacher for 28 years, and she said she kept her spirituality hidden due to the stigma surrounding witchcraft and potential repercussions.

Her adventures take her through various cases, bringing her face-to-face with both friends and enemies. Throughout the series, Rachel's character development is a central theme. She matures and becomes more powerful as she learns to navigate the intricacies of the supernatural world and balances her relationships with supernatural creatures.

On Halloween, real witches set the record straight

PHOENIX – Flying broomsticks, evil spells and pointy hats usually come to mind when people think of witches. But Rosemary Szymanski-Lockett, a retired elementary school teacher, and Stefani Michelle, who has a communications degree, don’t fit that description.

Halloween is here, and so are the classic images of haggard green faces with big warty noses toiling over bubbling cauldrons. But practitioners of witchcraft want to set the record straight.

Szymanski-Lockett is the high priestess of the Sacred Spiral Pagan Church of Arizona, where witchcraft is about using the energy in the universe to help people acquire and achieve their goals.

“The craft is more about healing and just being thankful and being grateful for this beautiful planet we live on,” she said. “It’s not anything like you see in the movies.”

Negative images of witches in Western society go back as far as the 12th century, when religious leaders began to view the long, benign practice as dark and devil-worshipping. Over the centuries, the condemnation grew into witch hunts and trials, which led to the current stereotype of witches as scary, black-clad creatures emerging on Halloween to cast spells.

Witches in popular culture often are depicted as evil sorceresses, but some real witches embrace the stereotype and dress up that way for Halloween. (Photo by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)

“I don’t have a wart on my nose,” said Michelle, a psychic witch, Reiki master and yogi who works at Vision Quest Psychic Bookstore in central Phoenix, where there’s no indication of the coming holiday – nary a tombstone or zombie in sight.

Michelle said witchcraft is about controlling individual energy and working toward a certain goal or outcome, with a vast majority of practitioners doing so in a positive way, “because we want to see positive change, because we want to see people unite and come together.”

Szymanski-Lockett was an elementary school teacher for 28 years, and she said she kept her spirituality hidden due to the stigma surrounding witchcraft and potential repercussions.

“They think of witchcraft as what you see in the movies; that we all dance around at midnight and summon the devil and all this stuff,” she said on a Zoom call from her kitchen, which is adorned with a spice rack and magnets on the refrigerator. “When in reality, we don’t even believe in the existence of the devil.”

Codey Cropper, local practitioner of witchcraft, was raised to believe that mysticism was evil, but he said he found love, acceptance and personal power through practicing.

“For the first time in my entire life, this was the first time I was able to pray and feel comfort in the divine,” Cropper said. “It is a little frustrating to see that at times, and it does suck to always see it be painted in such a negative light.”

Cropper said in any form of religion or practice there will always be people who take it too far.

Stefani Michelle, psychic witch and author, says one misconception of witchcraft is that it focuses on controlling energy in a negative way. (Photo by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)

“Anything can be used to manipulate,” Michelle said. “There is a very small percentage of people who use it (witchcraft) in a manipulative way.”

There are many ways to practice, she said, including divination, prayers, spells and crystals. There’s green witchcraft, fairy witchcraft and kitchen witchcraft, to name a few.

Cropper said the broad social and cultural scope of witchcraft is accepting of people from any walk of life and any form of practice.

“I feel like it’s a perfect practice for people to grow and learn and fall into themselves,” he said.

And they don’t mind if you dress up like a witch on Halloween.

“If it makes you feel cool and it gives you empowerment, do it,” Cropper said.

“I love to see it,” said Michelle, adding that even her daughter is planning to dress as a witch. “I think it is wonderful.”

Olivia Munson expects to graduate in spring 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in women and gender studies. Munson, who has reported for the D.C. Bureau, Times Media Group, The State Press and The Arizona Republic, is working in the Phoenix News Bureau.

Breanna Isbell expects to graduate in May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in sports journalism and a minor in fashion. Isbell, who is interning with RightThisMinute, is working for the Phoenix sports bureau.

Sierra Alvarez expects to graduate in May 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication. Alvarez is assigned to Cronkite News this semester.

"Wicca is a branch of witchcraft," says Blake. "All witches are not Wiccans, although all Wiccans are witches."

Her determination to prove herself and challenge the status quo creates an engaging narrative that keeps readers hooked. The series also explores themes of loyalty, friendship, and the consequences of one's actions. Rachel forms unlikely alliances and faces betrayals, making the reader question the true nature of trust and alliances. The world-building in the Dead Witch Walking series is intricate and captivating. Kim Harrison creates a vibrant portrayal of an alternative Cincinnati, rich with magical creatures, magical laws, and politics. The series also touches upon social issues such as discrimination and prejudice faced by supernatural beings, mirroring real-world injustices. Overall, the Dead Witch Walking series is a thrilling and immersive urban fantasy series that captures the reader's imagination with its intricate world-building, compelling characters, and captivating storyline. It is a must-read for fans of the urban fantasy genre and anyone looking for an engaging and thought-provoking read..

Reviews for "The Importance of Choices and Consequences in the Dead Witch Walking Series"

1. Jessica - ★☆☆☆☆

I really wanted to like the Dead Witch Walking series, but unfortunately, it fell completely flat for me. The main character, Rachel Morgan, was just so annoying and unlikable. She constantly made stupid decisions and put herself in danger, and I found myself rolling my eyes at her throughout the entire book. Additionally, the plot was confusing and convoluted, with a lot of unnecessary side stories that didn't add anything to the overall story. Overall, I was disappointed and won't be continuing with this series.

2. Michael - ★★☆☆☆

I had high hopes for the Dead Witch Walking series, but it just didn't deliver for me. The world-building felt weak and underdeveloped, and I often found myself confused about the rules and limitations of the supernatural elements in the book. The romance subplot also felt forced and rushed, with no real chemistry between the characters. Although there were some interesting ideas, the execution fell short, and I couldn't fully invest in the story or characters. It's a shame because I had heard such great things about this series.

3. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆

I wanted to like the Dead Witch Walking series, but I found the writing style to be mediocre at best. The dialogue was clunky and awkward, and the pacing was all over the place. There were times when the story dragged on and on, and then suddenly rushed through important plot points without giving them the attention they deserved. Additionally, the character development felt lacking, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters on a deeper level. Overall, I found the series to be underwhelming and won't be continuing with it.

The Themes of Justice and Revenge in the Dead Witch Walking Series