Highlights

• Magic in fantasy opens up possibilities and brings characters like wizards and witches to life, offering unique takes on familiar stories.
• Witches are popular in the media for practicing magic, and manhwa creators put their own twists on witch-centric tales for an engaging read.
• Stories like
  This witch of mine
  explore dark themes like eternal love through the lens of near-immortal witches, creating emotionally engaging content.

Magic is an integral part of fantasy in any medium, whether it's a power of control or a phenomenon that occurs in the world. It opens up many possibilities in a story and, most importantly, can bring to life characters like wizards who study it or sorcerers who are born with it.

Witches These are popular character types that appear in contemporary media and fairy tales, often as women who are feared or admired for practicing magic outside the norm. The word "witch" itself has its own connotations, but what makes stories about witches interesting is how authors and artists put their own spin on the idea. The creators behind these manhwa are no different, each giving their own interpretation to the idea of witches.

10 Follow the breadcrumbs

MyAnimeList Score: 6.36

• Chapters: 70
• Published: 2021 to 2022
• Genres/Themes: Fantasy, Romance, Isekai, Reincarnation
• Author: Soreum-idang
• Illustrator: Gyeoni

In the original "Hansel and Gretel" story, the two siblings managed to escape the witch by pushing her into her own oven, and then lived happily ever after. In this manhwa, the protagonist is reincarnated as Yielle, the witch from the fairy tale, and instead of trying to eat the children, she helps them. A new story begins when the three begin traveling together.

Depending on how it's done, retellings of famous fairy tales can be a bit bland, especially when nothing changes from the source material. This retelling of "Hansel and Gretel" is very sweet, but maintains a good dose of drama to keep the story interesting. There are also some small interactions with other fairy tales, Easter eggs that are fun to explore and add more depth to the setting.

9 Her Majesty the Witch

MyAnimeList Score: 6.84

• Chapters: 71
• Published: 2021 to 2022
• Genres/Themes: Fantasy, Romance
• Author: Hyojin Yang
• Illustrator: Gray Cat

Sistina is a normal girl who also happens to be a witch. She lives her days peacefully delivering bread to the townspeople. However, during an innocent delivery, she discovers she is the late emperor's granddaughter, and with no other blood relatives, she must assume the throne. With no other choice, Sistina must manage the empire's finances and politics, while also finding her destiny as a witch.

Witches in this world are accepted by society as rare individuals, meaning there's no real prejudice against them. While this makes for a more peaceful setting, it also means there's no conflict regarding this side of the story, relegating the witch aspect to a secondary detail. The story is entertaining at first glance, presenting a comical situation with a humorous solution, but there's nothing deeper to the plot.

8 The Sacred Speaks

MyAnimeList Score: 6.82

• Chapters: 60
• Published: 2022 to 2023
• Genres/Themes: Fantasy, Romance
• Author: Minato
• Illustrator: Roju

To save their sacred kingdom, the people of Cairon hunt and kill those who are strange and unnatural. After killing all the superhuman Nox, they set their sights on the Tempey witches, who can compel the beasts to do their bidding. One day, the kingdom's most devout knight, Sir Macklart, captures the witches' leader, a red-eyed woman named Vienie, but instead of resisting, she offers to help hunt down her kind.

This manhwa has a rich and interesting story that subverts many expectations, but with only 60 chapters, some ideas don't get enough time to develop. While this doesn't affect the central plot, the story as a whole is weaker because of it. This manhwa also uses religious ideology and chauvinistic behavior as plot devices, which may not appeal to some readers.

7 The Tyrant's Tranquilizer

MyAnimeList Score: 6.72

• Chapters: 109
• Published: 2021 to 2024
• Genres/Themes: Fantasy, Romance, Isekai, Reincarnation
• Author: Forgiven
• Illustrator: Yeonju

After reading the disturbing ending of her favorite web novel, Lee Suyeon was reincarnated as Amelie Bourbon, the tragic supporting character who dies at the beginning of the story. To escape her fate, Amelie decides to run away, but first she must learn to use her magical powers as a witch. Despite her efforts, she still becomes entangled with the emperor and the calamity within him.

This manhwa is actually a fun and interesting read, given its average score. While it's generally lighthearted, there are still darker moments that add depth to the characters and setting. The romance between Amelie and the emperor is well-paced, leaving room for some drama without dragging it out too much. This manhwa doesn't do anything particularly stand out, but it's a good story with good art to accompany it.

6 The Evil Little Princess

MyAnimeList Score: 6.97

• Published: 2021 to present
• Genres/Themes: Fantasy, Reincarnation
• Author: Sohee Cha
• Illustrators: Hwasom and Chouchou

As the strongest witch on the continent, Arina believed she had nothing to worry about, especially with 300 years of experience under her belt. Then she fell in love with a human and helped him ascend to the throne, only to face betrayal and death in return. She is then reborn as Liona, the youngest daughter of the Hasys Empire, where she must fight for her life in the succession struggle and exact revenge.

Although it's a typical reincarnation manhwa, there are many charming aspects to this story. One is the presence of real danger in the story. Most of the protagonists fear a distant event that will end their lives, but Liona actively participates in the battle for succession. Liona is a very active protagonist, helping to move the story forward, unlike some other shojo manhwa.

5 Absolute Witch

MyAnimeList Score: 7.68

• Chapters: 83
• Published: 2006 to 2010
• Genres/Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
• Author: Tae Yeon Kim
• Illustrator: Tae Yeon Kim

Despite the imposing title, Absolute Witch is a coming-of-age story. Skyla Pendleton is an orphan taken in by a band of pirates, and for fifteen years, they raise her as their daughter. She's young and impressionable, and doesn't know much about the world, but she's happy to be free, doing whatever she wants. This manhwa is about her journey to meet her husband, Jewel Valentine, and the many changes she goes through along the way.

For those who enjoy classic shojo manga, this manhwa is perfect, as it uses an art style similar to 90s shojo and writing to match. This story focuses on character growth and progression, exploring the cast and their motivations, but lacks action, making the pacing feel slow.

4 Witch hunt

MyAnimeList Score: 6.99

• Chapters: 88
• Published: 2014 to 2016
• Genres/Themes: Fantasy, Supernatural, School
• Author: So Park
• Illustrator: So Park

In this world, witches are born from the wishes of humans, and depending on the wish, the witch's power and abilities vary. Among them, there was a single witch who was more powerful than the others and was able to create incredibly strong demons. One day, however, that witch changed, and her demons began hunting other witches for sustenance. Her name was Suri, and now she would right her wrongs.

This manhwa has a great concept and setting, incorporating excellent worldbuilding in a familiar setting, which helps the reader adjust to the story's magical elements. All the characters also feel real, each with their own flaws that motivate their individual journeys, and these details make the story much more complex and rewarding.

3 Wait where the shooting star falls

MyAnimeList Score: 7.28

• Published: 2018 to present
• Genres/Themes: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
• Author: Manmulsang
• Illustrator: Manmulsang

In a world where witches fall from the sky, a mysterious problem arises when a witch dies and her familiar cat is still alive after her death. At the same time, a newly fallen witch comes of age but receives no companionship. To uncover the truth behind these circumstances, Effie and Bibi must work together.

Few manhwa manage to take advantage of an online format, often segmenting pages and panels in a traditional way. Wait where the shooting star falls, the author uses the manhwa's verticality to enhance the story's atmosphere. Coupled with a unique and vibrant art style, the story's mood is clearly communicated. The already excellent writing helps create a package that contains a modern and unique fairy tale.

2 The spark in your eyes

MyAnimeList Score: 7.37

• Published: 2020 to present
• Genres/Themes: Drama, Fantasy
• Author: Wall
• Illustrator: Wall

In her kingdom, she is known as a war heroine and a just figure, the Sun Knight. To her enemies, she is a feared opponent and an unstoppable force, the Sun Witch. With her magical powers and immortality, she was feared by both friend and foe, but few know her true identity or her current state after the war. Her name is Hildegar, a young woman suffering from an unknown illness, and her only hope is an apothecary named Erkin from the conquered north.

The spark in your eyes is a captivating and fantastical story that portrays Hildegar's life in the post-war period. The consequences of her actions during this period are realized in this story, for better or worse. The main cast is made up of many wonderfully complex and interesting characters, each struggling with addictions that may affect the others and the state of the story.

1 This witch of mine

MyAnimeList Score: 7.98

• Episodes: 62
• Published: 2015 to 2018
• Genres/Themes: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
• Author: Hey-oon
• Illustrator: BUT

Witches are portrayed differently from story to story, and in some cases, they are even seen as inhuman. In This witch of mine, witches are near-immortal beings who use magic to satisfy their selfish desires, often at the expense of humans. This manhwa is a series of stories that shows witches navigating feelings of love and how these eternal existences can allow them to love the humans they encounter.

While there are many stories in this manhwa, none of them fall short. Each conveys its own values and lessons, while being completely different yet intimately connected. Each is incredibly emotional, displaying its own form of tragic love.