The Charmed literary franchise is a series of novels and short stories based on the eponymous television show, which aired from 1998 to 2006. The franchise consists of forty-three novels and eleven short stories released in two anthologies, with ten guide books. Scholarly essay collections on the show were also published. The first work in the series, The Power of Three, published in November 1999, is a novelization of the series pilot "Something Wicca This Way Comes". Writers of the novels had to obtain approval from Paramount Pictures or CBS Consumer Products to ensure that they followed the canon established for the television series. Writers Paul Ruditis and Pat Shand have discussed these regulations, primarily through their official Tumblr accounts.
Between 1999 and 2008, forty-one novels were published by Simon & Schuster and were set roughly during the same period as the events of the television series. A majority of the novels are original stories revolving around the Charmed Ones and their allies. Ten novels are set between the show's first and third season, and feature the Charmed Ones – Prue, Piper, and Phoebe Halliwell – as the most powerful witches of all time. Thirty-one novels are set after Prue's death in "All Hell Breaks Loose", starting with the novelization of the season four premiere "Charmed Again", and include Piper and Phoebe's half-sister Paige Matthews.
Two works, Seasons of the Witch (2003) and The Warren Witches (2005), are anthologies of short stories. Various authors have written works in the series, including Diana G. Gallagher and Paul Ruditis, who also co-authored two guidebooks, The Book of Three in 2004 and 2006. In 2015, HarperCollins acquired the rights to publish a second series of Charmed novels from CBS Consumer Products which owns the rights to the franchise. Two novels were published in this series — The War on Witches (May 2015) and Let Gorgons Be Gorgons (February 2016) — and its continuity fits between the events of Season 9 (2010–12) and Season 10 (2014–16) of the comic book series.
Continuity between television show and novels Writers of all officially licensed Charmed literature must obtain studio approval of the content of the works – originally from Paramount Pictures until CBS Consumer Products acquired the rights to the franchise – in order to adhere to the conventions of the Charmed canon established by the television series. According to Paul Ruditis, authors of Charmed novels and comics must maintain "the rules for playing in that universe" and "the studio still has to approve the direction we take" as writers. Following these regulations, authors are given creative license but strictly "couldn't go and rewrite history, killing off established characters or suddenly creating romantic pairings that we'd never see on the show".
Pat Shand, the writer of Charmed: Season 10, considered the novels and comics officially part of the Charmed canon and continuity. The comics reference the novels; for example, Shand consulted with Ruditis about the character Tyler Michaels in Charmed: Season 10. While Tyler had first appeared in the season four episode "Lost and Bound", Ruditis had also portrayed him in the novel The Brewing Storm (2004), and Shand wanted to avoid inconsistencies or "retreading".
First novel series No. Title Author Publisher Date Length Plot Notes1
Pocket Pulse November 1, 1999
Prue, Piper, and Phoebe Halliwell discover that they are the Charmed Ones, the most powerful witches of all time, after Phoebe reads an incantation from a book in the attic. Prue gains the power of telekinesis, Piper can stop time, and Phoebe can see the future. While adjusting to their new magical destiny, the sisters must defend themselves against a warlock who wants to kill them and steal their powers. Novelization of the pilot episode: "Something Wicca This Way Comes"2 Kiss of Darkness
Simon & Schuster February 1, 2000
Set on New Year's Eve, Prue is cursed after receiving a kiss from a stranger. She feels an uncontrollable urge to kiss other men. With the curse making her feel weaker with each kiss, if she continues she will eventually die. Piper and Phoebe work together to reverse the curse and save Prue's life. Original novel that takes place in Season 13
Pocket Pulse March 28, 2000
A group of warlocks are hunting the Halliwell sisters by infiltrating their lives under the guise of friendship. They slowly drain the Charmed Ones' powers while the sisters are unaware of their true intentions. Phoebe grows attracted to a reporter posing as a member of the warlocks' coven. Original novel that takes place in Season 24 Whispers From The Past
Pocket Pulse June 1, 2000
A demon kidnaps Phoebe and pulls her several centuries into the past. While there, Phoebe meets the two daughters of her ancestor Melinda Warren. In the present, Prue and Piper are devastated at their sister's disappearance; they believe she may have died. They begin to turn evil due to a demon's interference in the past. Original novel that takes place in Season 25 Voodoo Moon
Pocket Pulse August 1, 2000
The Halliwell sisters go to New Orleans for a vacation. However, during their first night in the city, Phoebe begins to have dreams of violent rituals taking place under a full moon. When Phoebe's new friend disappears on the night of the full moon, the Charmed Ones find themselves drawn into a demonic plot involving voodoo. Original novel that takes place in Season 26 Haunted by Desire
Pocket Pulse October 1, 2000
Phoebe enrolls in an additional college course in order to broaden her intellectual potential and becomes attracted to Brett, one of her new classmates. However, she is soon confronted by his jealous ex-girlfriend Wendy. When Phoebe works with Brett on a group assignment, she receives threatening notes and believes something supernatural is behind the messages. Original novel that takes place in Season 27
Pocket Pulse April 2, 2001
For her next photo assignment, Prue is tasked to help with the development of an article on the Carnival Cavalcade. While Prue hates the circus, Piper and Phoebe are excited to see the attractions and Ivan, the attractive Gypsy animal trainer. However, Phoebe has a premonition that Ivan will strangle Piper. Original novel that takes place in Season 28
Pocket Pulse April 3, 2001
Prue travels to Hay-on-Wye to acquire medieval books for a collector, and Piper and Phoebe join her on the trip. Piper researches how to create love charms with flowers, and Phoebe has a premonition of a mysterious man, Niall, holding an infant while standing on a heath. The sisters then discover that Niall is a part of a druid ceremony. Original novel that takes place in Season 29 Soul of the Bride
Pocket Books May 22, 2001
Prue competes in a competition to take an original picture for 415 Magazine. She uses an antique camera, provided by Phoebe's latest boyfriend, to take the pictures. The camera causes all of her models to collapse and the sisters must travels into the Greek underworld to rescue them. Original novel that takes place in Season 210 Beware What You Wish
Pocket Pulse July 31, 2001
Disturbed by the increasing number of tragic incidents covered in the news, Phoebe wishes she could use her power to prevent any negative event from occurring in the future. When Phoebe begins to have more premonitions than she can physically handle, Prue and Piper work together to help her. Original novel that takes place in Season 311 Charmed Again
Simon Pulse October 2, 2001
Piper and Phoebe mourn the death of their sister Prue, and are left vulnerable to demonic attack after the disruption of the Power of Three. They discover that they have a secret half-sister Paige Matthews and attempt to connect with her before The Source of All Evil turns her evil. Novelization of the Season 4 premiere: "Charmed Again"12 Spirit of the Wolf
Simon Pulse May 1, 2002
A resort in the Sierra Nevada is cursed by recurrences of supernatural omens. The owners are thought to be defiling the sacred tribal lands of a nearly extinct Native American group. Phoebe and Paige work with a shaman to confront the demon behind these occurrences. Original novel that takes place in Season 413 Garden of Evil
Simon Pulse July 1, 2002
Phoebe discovers that Paige's latest boyfriend is really the demon Vandalus. Vandalus traps Paige in his garden and seduces her in order to break his curse and access his full powers. Piper and Phoebe work with Cole Turner to save her. Original novel that takes place in Season 414 Date With Death
Simon Pulse September 1, 2002
While Piper and Leo Wyatt discuss the possibility of children, and Phoebe and Cole celebrate their engagement, Paige feels pressure to find the perfect partner. When she signs up for an online dating service, Piper and Phoebe discover she is being placed in a catatonic trance while on the dates. Original novel that takes place in Season 415 Dark Vengeance
Simon Pulse November 1, 2002
The Halliwell sisters are feeling overwhelmed by recent changes in their lives. Phoebe begins to lose her short-term memory, Piper loses control of her emotions, and Paige always feels exhausted. With their powers diminishing, they are vulnerable to demonic threats. Original novel that takes place in Season 416 Shadow of the Sphinx
Simon Pulse January 1, 2003
While experimenting with her magic, Paige turns herself into a cat, and cannot change herself back into her human form. Unaware of the transformation, her sisters take her to an animal shelter. Paige becomes the familiar of a cult and is sent back to ancient Egypt. Original novel that takes place in Season 417 Something Wiccan This Way Comes
Simon Pulse March 1, 2003
Witches from a coven mysteriously disappear after attending a Wiccan convention in Las Vegas. With the help of Darryl Morris, the Halliwell sisters investigate the disappearances and discover they may be connected to a group of Egyptian demigods. Original novel that takes place in Season 418 Mist and Stone
Simon Pulse May 1, 2003
Paige has difficulty consoling a young child who has gone through several caretakers and is angry at authority. Phoebe has a premonition involving the boy, but it is completely shrouded by fog. Leo reveals that the mist in the vision is because Todd's fate is not being set in stone, and the sisters attempt to reverse his destiny. Original novel that takes place in Season 419 Mirror Image
Simon Spotlight Entertainment July 1, 2003
Phoebe has a premonition that Paige is an imposter who wants to disband the Power of Three. Piper and Phoebe disagree over the best way to handle the situation, and Paige notices and feels more isolated from them. When she decides to keep her new friendship with a young male witch, the sisters begin to distrust one another. Original novel that takes place in Season 420 Between Worlds and Simon Pulse September 1, 2003
The sisters discover that buildings around the city are melting due to a plot to destroy the divide between the worlds of the living and the dead. They track the occurrences to an untrained witch named Claire Katherine "C. K." Piers, who is in possession of a book that was used to curse an evil witch 500 years ago. Original novel that takes place in Season 421 Truth and Consequences
Simon Pulse November 1, 2003
Cole becomes angry with Phoebe after discovering that she has gone on a date with another man. As the couple fight over their relationship, they find themselves caught in a demon's scheme to destroy the Power of Three. Original novel that takes place in Season 422 Luck Be A Lady
Simon Spotlight January 6, 2004