The Witches Who Went to War: The Real History Behind Her Darkest Hour
When
I started writing Her Darkest Hour, I wasn’t just inspired by the idea
of witches in wartime—I was captivated by the real, historical belief
that magic could be used to defend Britain.
In researching the
book, I discovered a lineage of magical resistance stretching back
centuries. In 1588, when the Spanish Armada threatened England, tales
emerged of magical circles cast to summon storms. During the Napoleonic
Wars, rural communities quietly turned to cunning folk—herbalists,
charmers, and wise women—to protect them from invasion.
But
perhaps most fascinating of all is the rumour that during WWII, a group
of witches gathered in the New Forest to perform a ritual known as the
Cone of Power. Their aim? To stop Hitler from setting foot on British
soil. It sounds like folklore—but it’s part of Britain’s strange, often
forgotten magical undercurrent. The war wasn’t just fought on beaches
and battlefields. It was fought, too, in glades and gardens, by those
who believed the spiritual realm had a part to play.
That hidden
history became the beating heart of Her Darkest Hour. Eliza Maclean, a
young Scottish witch, is drawn from her quiet life on the Isle of Mull
into a war she never expected to fight. Recruited by MI5, she finds
herself hunting a German spy in Cambridge—but with magic, not guns.
I
wanted to honour both the women who stepped into wartime roles and the
lesser-known stories of those who used ancient knowledge to protect what
they loved. Eliza’s magic is not flashy or cinematic—it’s rooted in
emotion, empathy, and intuition. And that, perhaps, is what made it so
powerful.
In the end, this book is a tribute to the quiet
guardians of our past—those who lit candles, traced symbols, whispered
prayers to old gods, and believed, fiercely, in their country’s
protection.
What if those rituals worked?
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy discovering Eliza’s journey in Her Darkest Hour.
Suzy Henderson
Author of Her Darkest Hour
#HerDarkestHour #HistoricalFantasy #WartimeWitches
Her Darkest Hour
by Suzy Henderson
Publication date: May 8th 2025
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Historical
In the shadow of war, a young woman must choose: deny her magic or wield it to stop a traitor before Britain falls.
England, 1939. A young witch. A nation at war. A spy hiding in plain sight.
As war looms over Britain, Eliza MacLean wants nothing more than an ordinary life. Raised on the Isle of Mull, she’s spent years denying her gifts—just as her mother insisted. But her grandmother taught her differently, whispering ancient knowledge of herbs, charms, and spells.
When her grandmother dies, Eliza seeks refuge in Cambridge with her cousin and the women of the WVS. But beneath its spires and blacked-out streets, Cambridge hides more than just scholars and soldiers. A secret network of witches is working to protect Britain from an enemy who knows magic is real—and seeks to weaponise it.
Drawn into the fight, Eliza is thrust into a world of espionage, deception, and occult warfare. Her rare abilities catch the attention of MI5 agent Alex Fletcher, who needs her help to unmask a deadly spy before it’s too late.
As she learns to harness her power, Eliza finds herself torn between duty and love, risking everything for Jim, a fighter pilot whose fate seems written in the stars. But war is ruthless, and magic has a price.
With the spy closing in and the war reaching new heights of peril, Eliza’s only hope of saving those she loves is to embrace the very magic she’s spent a lifetime hiding—no matter the cost.
But some powers were never meant to be used.
Perfect for fans of A Discovery of Witches and The Rose Code, Her Darkest Hour blends historical fiction with supernatural intrigue in a gripping tale of war, witchcraft, and sacrifice.
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Suzy Henderson is the author of The Beauty Shop, Madame Fiocca, and SPITFIRE, novels which are set during the turbulent times of World War Two. She also writes romance and recently released a novella, Christmas in the Highlands, a best seller on Amazon UK.
Her debut novel, The Beauty Shop, was awarded the B.R.A.G. Medallion. It is based on the true story of pioneering plastic surgeon, Sir Archibald McIndoe, and the Guinea Pig Club – an exclusive club for RAF pilots and airmen who required plastic surgery as a result of their war injuries and were under the care of this enigmatic New Zealander.
Madame Fiocca is also based on a true story. This gripping adventure follows the tempestuous life of SOE heroine, Nancy Wake before and during the Second World War.
Suzy lives with her family on the edge of the Lake District, where she can be found rambling around lakes, country lanes or roaming the fells. Armed with a pen, a love of reading and a growing obsession with military and aviation history, she is often lost in the 1940s, writing historical fiction.
To receive all Suzy's latest book news, do join her reading group here & claim a free story: https://www.suzyhenderson.com
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