Grady Hendrix’s ‘Witchcraft for Wayward Girls’: A Review

INTRO: GRADY HENDRIX – MODERN HORROR MEISTER

Alright, my fellow denizens of dread, gather ’round! Tara here, your resident queen of the creepy, your maven of the macabre, your… okay, you get it, I’m obsessed with horror. And what have I been up to of late? Well, I just finished devouring Grady Hendrix’s latest horror novel “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls,” which was released in January 2025, and my brain is still doing the post-exorcism jitterbug.

So, here’s the thing with Grady. You either love him, or you haven’t read him yet. I fall firmly into the “love him, will probably build a shrine to him” category. He has this uncanny ability to take something familiar, something almost cozy, and twist it into a pretzel of pure, unadulterated terror. Like, he’ll lure you in with a vintage vibe and then BAM! You’re neck-deep in a supernatural nightmare. And “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls”? Well damn, he’s done it again.

WELCOME TO WELLWOOD HOUSE: WHERE SHAME MEETS THE SUPERNATURAL

The premise? It’s the summer of 1970, and our protagonist, Fern, finds herself shipped off to Wellwood House in St. Augustine, Florida. But this isn’t just your average summer camp. No, Wellwood House is a home for unwed mothers, a place where pregnant teenage girls are sent to hide their “shame” from society.

Now, I’m a sucker for anything that blends historical settings with horror, so I was already hooked. But Hendrix doesn’t just throw in a few vintage references and call it a day. He dives deep into the societal pressures, the institutionalized misogyny, and the sheer, unadulterated weirdness of being a pregnant teenager in 1970s America.

FERN: A HEROINE WHO FEELS REAL ENOUGH TO HAUNT YOU

And Fern? She’s not your typical horror heroine. She’s messy, she’s flawed, and she’s genuinely scared. She’s dealing with an unplanned pregnancy, with the judgment of society, and with the creeping realization that Wellwood House might be hiding some dark secrets. She’s relatable in a way that makes the horror hit even harder. You’re not just watching Fern navigate this terrifying new world; you’re right there with her, feeling the cold tendrils of dread wrapping around your own heart.

THE ATMOSPHERE: BREATHING IN THE SCENT OF DREAD

What really sets “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls” apart, though, is its atmosphere. Hendrix has a knack for creating these incredibly vivid, almost tangible settings. Wellwood House feels like a real place, with its sterile corridors, its oppressive rules, and its unsettlingly cheerful staff. You can practically smell the disinfectant, hear the muffled sobs of scared young women, and feel the weight of societal expectations pressing down on you.

SCARES THAT SLITHER UNDER YOUR SKIN

And the scares? Oh, the scares are chef’s kiss. Hendrix doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares (though there are a few expertly placed ones to keep you on your toes). He builds the tension slowly, methodically, like a spider weaving its web. He uses unsettling imagery, graphic birth scenes, and the looming threat of dark magic to create a sense of unease that permeates every page.

WITCHCRAFT AS REBELLION: RECLAIMING FEMALE POWER

One thing I particularly loved was how Hendrix explores the concept of female bodily autonomy and the ways in which it’s been suppressed throughout history. These girls in Wellwood House, they’re not just casting spells for kicks. They’re fighting back against a society that wants to control them, to silence them, to erase them. Their dabbling in witchcraft, introduced when Fern meets a mysterious librarian who gives her an occult book, becomes an act of rebellion, a way to reclaim their power in a world that’s determined to strip it away.

THE REAL MONSTERS: SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION AND DARK SECRETS

It’s not just about the supernatural either. The novel delves into the very real horrors of systemic oppression and the way it can fester and rot over time. There are whispers of mistreatment, of forced adoptions, of a darkness that lurks beneath the surface of the seemingly benevolent institution. You get the feeling that everyone at Wellwood House is hiding something, and that those secrets are far more dangerous than any ghost or demon.

AN ENDING THAT LINGERS LONG AFTER THE FINAL PAGE

And the ending? Man, the ending. I won’t spoil it for you, but let’s just say it doesn’t disappoint. It’s a mix of satisfying resolution and lingering unease, the kind of ending that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page. It’s a testament to Hendrix’s skill as a storyteller, his ability to craft a narrative that’s both thrilling and thought-provoking.

THE SLOW-BURN APPROACH: A DESCENT INTO MADNESS

Now, let’s get real for a minute. Some people might find “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls” a little slow-burn. It’s not a non-stop adrenalin-fueled joyride of gore and mayhem. It’s more of a slow, steady descent into madness, a gradual unraveling of reality. But for me, that’s what makes it so effective. The slow burn allows the tension to build, the atmosphere to thicken, and the horror to seep into your bones.

FINAL VERDICT: A TRIUMPH OF HORROR

Ultimately, “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls” is a triumph, and one of my favorite Grady novels. It’s a masterclass in atmospheric horror, a chilling exploration of women’s rights and bodily autonomy, and a reminder that sometimes, the scariest monsters are the ones lurking in the shadows of our own history. It’s a book that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading, a book that will make you question the things you thought you knew about the past, a book that will make you appreciate how far we’ve come – and how far we still have to go.

Rating

So, if you’re a fan of Grady Hendrix, and if you love historical horror with a witchy twist, if you’re looking for a book that will genuinely creep you out while making you think, then I highly recommend “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls.” Just be prepared to lose some sleep, to question your sanity, and to maybe, just maybe, start looking at old institutions with a newfound sense of suspicion.

Before I wrap this up, I want to let you all know that, now that I’ve read all of Grady’s works to date, I’ll be dropping an upcoming post that’ll feature my personal ranking of his novels. This will be available soonish! And please leave some comments below if you’ve read the novel and want to share your thoughts.

Until next time, spooky friends. Stay creepy, stay curious, and keep reading horror!

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