The Witching Hour

About “The Witching Hour”

The Witching Hour is the first novel in Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches series. It follows the Mayfair family of New Orleans, a lineage of witches who are closely bonded and gain strength from each other's deaths. Each generation has a witch who receives the powers of Lasher, a mysterious spirit who offers gifts, protection, and excitement. Lasher's current witch is Deirdre, who is in a catatonic state after psychological treatments. Her daughter, Rowan, left the family and became a neurosurgeon with the ability to heal cells and see people's true intentions. She rescues Michael, who later gains powers and returns to New Orleans to find her. Michael learns about the Mayfair witches' history, while Rowan returns for her mother's funeral and discovers her family's dark past. Rowan aims to stop Lasher, while Michael's purpose remains unclear. Lasher is drawn to Rowan's abilities, seeing her as a path to his ultimate goal.