The Race for the Darkhold Unfolds in ‘Agatha Harkness: Fall of the Coven’

This spring, follow Agatha Harkness as she is yanked out of the past and into high school. From discovering first love to battling an ancient foe, the young witch from Salem will dive headfirst into the modern day as she races to save her coven. From Penguin Random House, witchcraft, rivalries, and romance await in Agatha Harkness: Fall of the Coven, releasing May 5, 2026.

Synopsis

Agatha Harkness is a powerful witch stuck living amongst an untalented group of witches in 1690s Salem, Massachusetts. That’s all right—the dreary coven meetings and fake herbal potions will all be worth it once she finally gets her hands on one of the most magical artifacts in existence: the Darkhold, a book of extraordinary power. But just as it’s within her grasp, disaster strikes the coven! 

Agatha is about to reluctantly save the day when she is rebuffed by the nosy, stuck-up Martha. Now, thanks to the interference, Martha, Agatha, and the Darkhold have been unceremoniously dropped in one of the most terrifying locations a witch has ever encountered—modern-day high school.

Armed with just her smarts and her spells, Agatha embarks on a quest to recover the Darkhold and an incognito Martha. Along the way, she encounters a meddlesome crow, a potential first crush, and a new coven. She almost starts to feel like she’s found her home, until Martha returns from the shadows—this time with dire consequences.

AGATHA HARKNESS: FALL OF THE COVEN
Written by Sara Shepard
Hardcover | 320 Pages
$19.99
May 5, 2026

Excerpt

A sneaky smile plays on Martha’s lips. “Can’t do that, Agatha.”

My limbs turn to stone. As I said, I use my real name among the Salem coven because these witches are too daft to know how important I am. But the way Martha says it now—it’s with meaning. Like she knows what my name signifies. But the only way that’s possible is . . .

A fierce wind kicks up inside the little cottage. I whirl around as my meager possessions start to spin, tornado-like, into the air. One of my hats whips like a kite. The wind lifts a teacup high only to slam it hard into a wall, shattering it to pieces.

“What the—?” I whisper, just as another gust of wind shoves me against the wall and pins me there. I struggle to break free but it’s like the wind has two monstrous, invisible hands that are pressing against my chest and restraining me. In the middle of the room, untouched by the wind completely, Martha stands with her head tipped back. Her laugh is loud and throaty.

That’s when I understand. This isn’t about getting me in trouble with the coven. This isn’t about figuring out if I stole the coven’s money. I’ve underestimated Martha.

She’s not like the other witches here. The strange, volatile weather in Salem—it’s been her doing. She’s a Tempestarii. A weather witch. These sorts of witches have the power to create atmospheric conditions of their choosing—sometimes to disrupt, sometimes to benefit, but more often than not, the violent storms are manifestations of their wild swings of emotions. I can’t tell if she’s just really moody right now or has created this tornado in my house to throw me off guard—it’s probably a little bit of both. There’s one thing I do know, though.

She wants the Darkhold, like I do.

Power surges through my fingers. I shrug my shoulders, break free of the wind’s hold, and fight my way through the hurricane to get back to her. Then I raise my hands toward her, lightning zapping on my palms.

Martha just chuckles. “I’m not scared of you.”

Before I can strike her, she sends the wind blowing so hard that the walls of my cottage start to buckle and snap. Then, she whirls around and points her finger at a spot in the corner. An eerie circle of blue light appears, its energy force field sending off a big wave of heat.

I blink hard, amazed at what I’m seeing. Martha has just opened a portal.

The ghastly blue glows against Martha’s features, making her skin look corpse-gray. Her hair whips around with every gale of wind. She steps toward the glowing gate, but I lunge and grab the end of Martha’s long cloak before she can get too far.

“That’s my bat,” I say through clenched teeth. “If you wanted it, you should have found it yourself.” Except then I remember: Weather witches usually have no power of clairvoyance. She needed me to find the Darkhold—that’s why she’s been watching me so carefully. It’s been her plan to steal it from me all along.

I need to stop her.

I step back so I can get a good aim and send a bolt of energy at Martha’s shoulder, but she ducks out of the way just in time. Flames hit the cottage’s thatched wall instead, and the whole thing ignites. The fire leaps up the walls and to the ceiling. Smoke billows into the room. I can’t deal with that now, though. I wheel around—Martha has moved again. The bat is shoved under her arm, and she’s just feet away from the shining gate that leads to another place and time. No.

I’m about to scream, but then I stop myself. Out the window, faint voices ring out. It’s men from the village. They probably see the smoke, the cabin buckling from within.

I point at the portal. “Shut that down. They’re going to see—they’ll think it’s the devil. They’ll go after the coven.”

Martha narrows her eyes. “Oh, like you care about the coven?”

She sends another gust of wind my way. It hits me square in the chest, and I fly backward against the far wall and sink to the floor. By the time I’ve scrambled up, Martha is stepping through the glowing door, the struggling, flailing bat in her hands.

“No!” I scream, but it’s too late. She disappears into the shimmering, breathing circle.

As soon as she’s gone, the gale-force wind inside my little cabin dies down. All my floating possessions drop to the floor with thuds or earsplitting shatters. But the fire is still raging. The room is filled with smoke so thick it makes my eyes water and my lungs burn. It won’t be long before my entire cottage is gone and the fire leaps to the other homes. The men’s voices grow closer, too. There are gruff, angry shouts. Someone yells, “This way!” As I peer out the window, I spy torches on the path.

They’re going to see this. All of this.

I turn back to the glowing portal. It’s surprising that it’s still here—usually, after someone dives through one of these, the passage to another time seals up immediately. It feels like I must make a choice. I must either close the portal or dive through it before the villagers see. It could lead anywhere, though. Somewhere far worse than this. Somewhere far more dangerous. It would take me away from Prudence, leaving her completely alone. But wherever the portal leads, the Darkhold might be there. And there’s no way I’m letting Martha run away with it. Besides, if I can get the Darkhold back, I’ll be able to save Prudence. I’ll be able to fix everything.

And so, with bits of my cloak sparking with fire, I leap for the portal door, praying I haven’t made a terrible mistake.

About the Author

Sara Shepard is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars series, The Lying Game series, The Heiresses, The Elizas, The Perfectionists series, and Reputation. She is also the author of the Penny Draws series for middle grade readers.

Pre-order Agatha Harkness: Fall of the Coven now and pick it up wherever books are sold on May 5, 2026!