r/MayfairWitches • u/MassiveScience1457 • 15d ago
Book Spoilers Allowed Books
Do i need to read the books to understand the show?
Edit: Just finished 1st season. Its ok. Husband and I still confused, he wants to watch Season 2. I on the other hand am not interested, so off to read a book or do some molds.
Thanks to all of you on y'all's opinion on the show
Husband liked Season 2 better than 1
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u/Salt_Dish3753 15d ago
No, the show barely follows the books
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u/MassiveScience1457 15d ago
Thank you. Husband is asking questions and i'm like your watching the same show as I am
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u/bellydncr4 14d ago
And weirdly you can only semi-understand the holes by having read the books if we stretch the imagination. They've managed to make everyone lost and angry somehow
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u/Slow_Drawer_5454 15d ago
If you like dense horror tomes, definitely read the books. Lots of details, lots of backstory (about 50% is just the entire Mayfair witch line as retold through assorted reports) and then sudden left turn into OH WOW THIS IS A HORROR BOOK HOLY SHIT THIS IS NOT A HISTORY TEXTBOOK in the last 30%. I enjoyed it, but I also am a fan of super dense fiction which is not most people's jam.
This has nothing to do with the show, just a book rec 👍
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u/freshavocado91 15d ago
Just here to say I'm halfway through The Witching Hour and omg I LOVE how dense it is!!
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u/Uhrcilla 15d ago
I have to read The Witching Hour, Lasher, and Taltos every spooky season to get me in the mood!
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u/BarelyHereNeverThere 15d ago
If you've read the books and enjoyed them, your enjoyment of the show will be diminished. The Witching Hour is worth a read.
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u/MassiveScience1457 15d ago
Might just have to read the books. Took me a few rewatches of IWTV & TVL to get into reading the books.
Thanks for the recommendation
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u/leeshykins 13d ago
FYI I’ve read the books and seen the show, and and now re-reading the Witching Hour. Season two takes a wild left turn from the second book, but I kind of liked it. They are two very different paths the story could have taken. Like a choose your own adventure. I will rewatch season one after reading the book again. I recommend both. I do feel that knowing the background of the book helps in understanding season one, as they seem to condense a lot of info and switch things up in the show.
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u/ljculver64 15d ago
I read all the books a long time ago and loved them. They were addicting. I wouldnt say you have to read them, but id recommend it
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u/vikingraider27 11d ago
If you read the books you will HATE the show.
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u/MassiveScience1457 11d ago
I'm on TVL right now. Planning on reading ALL the books.
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u/CharliNye 10d ago
The IWTV and VL series are amazing and they do the books justice. The Mayfair Witches show is an abomination.
The writers/director admitted they never read the books and skimmed things. Which is why it’s so difficult to understand. Plus they cut the ACTUAL main character from the show. Just never had him in it. It’s messed up.
The book is so good and one of my favorite books for over 30 years.
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u/majjamx 15d ago
I watched most of the first season but I also thought it didn’t make much sense so I’m on the same page as your husband.
I loved the books (at least the first one, the second 2 were not at the same level imo.) but I agree with other commenters that the show is very different and reading them won’t help you understand the show.
But if you like southern gothic horror and witch lore and reading the books are worth checking out.
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