Witches of East End (Or The Beauchamp Family) is an adult fantasy series written by Melissa De La Cruz, being a Spin-Off of her vampiric saga Blue Bloods.
The novels are set in North Hampton, Long Island, and are about a family of apparently ordinary women that are in fact powerful, immortal witches, living in secrecy due to an ancient Restriction imposed to their kind after the Salem witch trials.
In 2013, it received a live-action adaptation broadcast by Lifetime and developed by Maggie Friedman. See Witches of East End for more info on the show.
Books in the Series:
- Witches of East End
- Serpent's Kiss
- Winds of Salem
- Triple Moon
- Double Eclipse
Witches of East End contains examples of:
- Accidental Pervert: Freya's first meeting with Bran ended up with her suffering a Wardrobe Malfunction right in front of him, and his attempt to help her cover up ended up with him grabbing her breasts. Thankfully for him, she took no offense and found his bubbling endearing.
- Adaptational Sexuality: In the books Freya is bisexual, in the show she is straight. Joanna in the books is heterosexual, in the show she is revealed to be bisexual.
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: Freya is in love with bad boy (but good hearted) Killian Gardiner. She also happens to be in love with his devilish older brother, Loki. Molly's feelings for Bret Farley seem to be deeper than just attraction. Ingrid averts this trope, as she is in love with Adam Noble, the good boy in town and has rejected pervert Aland Blake and womanizer Troy Overbrook.
- All Witches Have Cats: Freya can shapeshift into a black cat, so does Molly Overbrook and Jo Noble. Also, those forms they take are the ones of their familiars.
- Artistic License – Religion: Many aspects of the Norse Mythology are changed in this series but are justified by claiming that everything that mortals know about these myths were written by the god themselves through all the centuries. Some of those things changed are:
- According to mythology Freya was a Valkyria, in the books she is not.
- Erda is the name of a character in Wagner's opera, The Rhinegold, in the books this is the name of the goddess of hearth and earth.
- The Bifrost is called Bofrir.
- In the myths, Odin has a spear called Gungnir, in the books is a sword.
- In the myths Magni and Moodi are the sons of Thor, in these books they are his twin daughters.
- Back from the Dead: Mardi and Molly were resurrected after being hit by a Subway train.
- Beauty Is Bad: Killian Gardiner is first portrayed as dashing, vain man, whom always gets what he wants, in this case, his brother's girlfriend. The Overbrook twins, Mardi and Molly, are beautiful, entitled teenagers, that cause trouble wherever they go.
- Beta Couple: Ingrid and Matt and Joanna and Norman in the first three books and Molly and Rocco in the Summer on East End series.
- Better as Friends: Freya decides not to pick any of the brothers and just be friends, even if she knows very well than in the future she is gonna have to choose one of them.
- Betty and Veronica: Ingrid and Freya fit the trope -Ingrid is shy and more conservative, while Freya is outgoing and very liberal-minded. The elder Gardiner brothers are a male version of this trope, with Killian being a good-hearted, free-spirited young man, and Bran being a serious, malicious person. Joanna and Helda could also fit perfectly on this trope; Joanna is the wholesome goddess of life and earth, and Helda is the bitter soul sucking goddess of death.
- Black Mage: Most of the villains in this series are powerful dark magic users.
- But Not Too Bi: Freya and Mardi have said to be bisexual but every single one of the romantic interests in the series are men.
- Came Back Wrong: Lionel Horning was broght back from the dead by Joanna, but unfortunately, at the moment of his dead he had swallowed the silver substance that was in the North Hampton waters and after being ressurrected he was still in contact with it in his own house. The exposicion to this magical substance and the magic of Joanna turned the hippy-art-loving Lionel into a cannibal zombie that kept drawing images of the gates of hell, the place that his soul belonged.
- Clear My Name: Frederick escapes from Limbo just to prove that he didn't destroy the Bofrir brigde.
- Cool Uncle: Freya to Ingrid's kids and Mardi and Molly (even though they aren't really family)
- Crossover: Mimi Force and Oliver Hazard are characters from Melissa de la Cruz Blue Bloods series. Freya Beauchamp also makes her first appearances in one of those books.
- Cure Your Gays: Hudson's mother attempts to do this with him.
- Dark Is Not Evil: She might be the goddess of death, but Helda is not as bad as one would expect the rulers of Hell to be.
- Dating Service Disaster: Frederick chats online with Hillary Liman, a lovely girl who turns out to be a Valkyria that has been looking for him since he escaped the Limbo to return him back there.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Ingrid Beauchamp, Mardi and Molly Overbrook.
- Description Porn: Melissa doesn't seem to shy away from describing every single item of clothing that the characters in Summer on East End wear or the food that they eat or make.
- Dying Town: After the release of the silver substance in the waters, people became sick and the sea life started to die.
- Emotional Powers: Freya's magic is a prime example of this.
- Empathy Pet: Witches share and emotional and physical connection with their familiars.
- Familiar: All witches seemed to have familiars prior to the restriction: Ingrid has a griffin named Oscar, Freya has a black cat named Siegfried, Joanna has a raven named Gillbereth, Freddie has a piglet named Gullinbursti (Buster), Mardi has a siamese cat named Killer and Molly has a Löwchen dog named Fury and Jo has a little black cat named Midnight.
- Feminine Women Can Cook: Freya Beauchamp, and later her sister Ingrid. Averted with Mardi and Molly.
- Flying Broomstick: Witches and Warlocks use broomsticks to fly even though they don't need them to do it.
- Freudian Trio:
- The Beauchamp Women: Freya Beauchamp (Id), Ingrid Beauchamp (Ego), Joanna Beauchamp (Superego).
- The Gardiner Brothers: Killian Gardiner (Id), Bran Gardiner (Ego), Trystan Gardiner (Superego).
- The Overbrook Family: Troy Overbrook (Superego) Mardi Overbrook (Id/Ego), Molly Overbrook (Id/Ego).
- Gay Best Friend: Hudson Rafferty is Ingrid's best friend.
- God Couple: Joanna (Skadi) and Norman (Njord), Killian (Balder) and Freya (before they broke up), Mardi (Magdi) and Trystan (Tyr) (before they broke up), Odin and Frigg, Freddie (Fryr) and Gert (Gerd) (before they broke up).
- Going Commando: Freya doesn't wear any underwear under her clothes. It ends up giving Bran a Naked First Impression when she suffers a Wardrobe Malfunction when they first meet.
- He-Man Woman Hater: Ever since he was rejected and mocked by the Maidens, Alberich has hated every woman no matter if they are mortals or goddesses, this is the reason why he only attacks them.
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Hollywood Homely: Ingrid is considered by many as plain-looking and has an old maid reputation, but still, she is constantly depicted as tall, thin, with bright blue eyes, fair skin and long blonde hair. - Hot God: All deities seem to be beautiful, even the old-looking ones are said to conserve some of their good looks. Also, some of the main characters are gods of beauty, Like Killian (Balder) and Freya.
- Hot Librarian: Even if her looks are usually underestimated, the beauty of the librarian, Ingrid Beauchamp, tends to catch the attention of a few man in town, like the pervert Blake Aland, the sweet detective, Matthew Noble, and even the stunning ginger god, Troy Overbrook.
- Hot Witch: Even if they are actually gods, they are known as witches and warlocks, and all are as powerful as gorgeous.
- Hunk: Killian Gardiner, Freddie Beauchamp, Troy Overbrook and Trystan Gardiner, all fit this trope as they are depicted as tall, muscular and even big-chested.
- Leg Focus: Ingrid Beauchamp and Mardi Overbrook are said to have long, beautiful legs.
- Little Black Dress: Everytime that Ingrid dresses outside of her common clothes, she wears a pretty black dress with a red cord, apparently she doesn't do to much shopping.
- Love Goddess: Freya is the current incarnation of the Goddess of Love and Passion, as such she has several powers related to sex, is incredibly gorgeous and is an extremely proficient lover.
- Mage Species: The witches magic is linked to their souls instead of their bodies, that's why they can use their powers in different incarnations. There are also different types of "witches", while most of them accept the mundane name granted to them by mortals, not all of them are the same, some are in fact different magical creatures, like elfs and giants (not literal giants), but with the ability to use magic.
- Magic Tropes
- Geometric Magic: Ingrid tends to use pentagrams in her spells.
- Language of Magic: Witches and warlocks cast their spells in ancient Norse.
- Ritual Magic: Some rare and powerful spells require some rituals to be cast properly, like Ingrid's healing and visionary spells, time travel spells, and summoning ceremonies.
- Magic Librarian: Ingrid Beauchamp's current incarnation works as a librarian.
- Magical Girlfriend: Ingrid to Matt, Molly to Rocco
- Magical Society: Composed of witches (gods), vampires (fallen angels), wolves (time keepers) pixies (elves) and other supernatural creatures.
- Magic Wand: The Beauchamp women and Arthur Beauchamp have ancient wands made entirely of dragon bone. The only reason why they are the only witches to possess them is because they hid them during the time when the Council wanted to destroy all kinds of magical items.
- Master of One Magic: Freya Beauchamp (love magic), Ingrid Beauchamp (hearth magic), Killian Gardiner (temporal magic), Jean-Baptiste Mésomier (memory magic).
- Muggle Born of Mages: Apparently, Henry doesn't have powers like his mother and sister and its just a mere mortal like his father.
- Muggle–Mage Romance: Ingrid and Matt, Molly and Rocco.
- Not That Kind of Mage: These witches and warlocks have immortal souls and long-lived bodies, and even if they die, they will reborn again, unless their bodies are taken to the Limbo or their souls are voluntarily sent to the Underworld.
- Nothing Exciting Ever Happens Here: Even though every townsfolk thinks that North Hampton is a boring, ordinary place, this foggy place has been the home of powerful creatures and the main scenery of important magical events, like the attempting doom of the worlds and the rise of powerful evil deities.
- Official Couple: Ingrid and Matt. Freya and Killian in the tv show.
- Only Known by Their Nickname
- Joanna Beauchamp's real name is Skadi.
- Ingrid Beauchamp's real name is Erda.
- Freya Beauchamp's real name is Freyja.
- Killian Gardiner is Balder.
- Bran Gardiner is Loki.
- Freddie Beauchamp is Fryr.
- Norman Beauchamp is Norjd.
- Troy Overbrook is Thor.
- Molly Overbrook is Mooi.
- Mardi Overbrook is Magdi.
- Trystan Gardiner is Tyr.
- Jean-Baptiste Mésomier is Munnin.
- Madame Grobadan is Angrboda.
- Anne Barklay is Verdandi.
- Antonio Forseti is Forseti.
- Arthur Beauchamp is Snotra.
- Gert Liman is Gerd.
- Henry Liman is Budli.
- Hillary Liman is Brunhilde.
- Cassandra Liman is Hladgudr Svanvit.
- Harold Atkins Heimdallr.
- Ivan is Johan.
- Bret Farley is Alberich.
- Mimi Force is Azrael, the angel of death.
- Our Mages Are Different: The witches and warlocks are in fact, ancient nordic gods.
- Pretty Boy: Matthew Noble is considered a handsome mortal man.
- Proud Beauty: Freya Beauchamp is aware of her stunning good looks and the effect she has on men... and women. Her twin brother, Freddie, her lover, Killian Gardiner, and the Overbrook family also fit this trope.
- Reincarnation Romance: Freya, Balder and Loki have been in a Love Triangle in many of their incarnations.
- Ring of Power: There are two magical rings in this literary universe; Odin's ring, that grants the user the ability to teleport through any universe, and the Rhinegold, an ancient cursed ring which great power can only be tamed by the daughters of thor and a descendant of the Rhinemaidens.
- Salem Is Witch Country: Ingrid and Freya were hanged in 1692 in Gallows Hill.
- Sharp-Dressed Man: The god of memory and godfather of Freya, Jean-Baptiste Mésomier, is probably the most stylish warlock you would ever meet.
- Small Towns: North Hampton fits this trope.
- Small Town Boredom: The main characters feel like this until they start to use their powers, casting spells on it's residents and using magic recklessly around the town.
- Tall, Dark, and Handsome: Killian Gardiner possesses all those traits. His brother Trystan too.
- The Beautiful Elite: Are there ugly people in this world? No! Even the minor characters are despicted as attractive, even a guy with a severe case of acne in the second book.
- The Exile: After the destruction of the Bofrir, many gods from all over the 8 eight worlds were banished to Midgard.
- The Fashionista: Mardi and Molly Overbrook.
- The Hecate Sisters: Freya (the maiden), Ingrid (the mother and sometimes the crone), Joanna (the crone and the mother).
- The Show of the Books: A lifetime original series that ran for two seasons.
- Title Drop: In the first book, Trinity Force calls Ingrid and Freya "the witches of East End".
- Training the Gift of Magic: Ingrid tries to teach Mardi and Molly how to control their impulses and not to use their powers so recklessly
- Used to Be More Social: Prior to the restriction Ingrid wasn't that lonely and shy.
- Wizards Live Longer: They can live for centuries as long as they don't die (they can reborn when their lives are interrupted)
