Witches: Edited by Paula Guran

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13057774-witches

A bewitching brew of stories sure to enchant.

Surrounded by the aura of magic, witches have captured our imaginations for millennia and fascinate us now more than ever. No longer confined to the image of a hexing old crone, witches can be kindly healers and protectors, tough modern urban heroines, holders of forbidden knowledge, sweetly domestic spellcasters, darkly domineering, sexy enchantresses, ancient sorceresses, modern Wiccans, empowered or persecuted, possessors of supernatural abilities that can be used for good or evil—or perhaps only perceived as such. Welcome to the world of witchery in many guises: wicked, wild, and wonderful. Includes two original, never-published stories.

Contents
The Cold Blacksmith • (2006) • shortstory by Elizabeth Bear
The Ground Whereon She Stands • (2011) • shortfiction by Leah Bobet
The Witch’s Headstone • (2007) • novelette by Neil Gaiman
Lessons with Miss Gray • (2006) • novelette by Theodora Goss
The Only Way to Fly • (1995) • shortstory by Nancy Holder
Basement Magic • (2003) • novelette by Ellen Klages
Nightside • [Diana Tregarde] • (1989) • shortstory by Mercedes Lackey
April in Paris • (1962) • shortstory by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Goosle • (2008) • shortstory by Margo Lanagan
Mirage and Magia • (1982) • shortstory by Tanith Lee
Poor Little Saturday • (1956) • shortstory by Madeleine L'Engle
Catskin • (2003) • shortstory by Kelly Link
Bloodlines • shortfiction by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
The Way Wind • (1995) • novelette by Andre Norton
Skin Deep • (2008) • novelette by Richard Parks
Ill Met in Ulthar • shortfiction by Tim Pratt [as by T. A. Pratt ]
Marlboros & Magic • shortfiction by Linda Robertson
Walpurgis Afternoon • (2005) • novelette by Delia Sherman
The World Is Cruel, My Daughter • (2011) • shortstory by Cory Skerry
The Robbery • (1995) • shortstory by Cynthia Ward
Afterward • (1999) • shortstory by Don Webb
Magic Carpets • (1995) • shortstory by Leslie What
Boris Chernevsky's Hands • (1982) • short story by Jane Yolen

Some books are a quick read and some books want you to linger. Witches is one of those. I have been savoring this review copy to read when I need a spellbound little nibble. I received this book in exchange for a fair review.

As I will be reviewing this book in pieces, I wanted to start out with the first story that still has me thinking about it even after reading it months ago.  Walpurgis Afternoon was a story that crept under my skin and my psyche and made me want to stay. I loved the idea of the house that just appears one day on a suburban street. Combine that with the intoxicating inhabitants and their magical natures and you have a story that will haunt your dreams. Well, it has mine any way. 

5/5 Walpurgis Afternoon by Delia Sherman

More to come later but this is a book you should check out...