7 differences between Mayfair Witches and Annie Rice's novel, explored

Mayfair Witches returned with its second season on AMC on January 5, 2025, after a long wait of two years. The show tells the story of Dr. Rowan Fielding, a neurosurgeon whose life turns upside down when she finds out she is a witch whose dynasty has been haunted by an evil spirit.

The series is based on late author Anne Rice's popular supernatural horror novel trilogy, Lives of the Mayfair Witches. While the show’s premise is the same as the books, the creators have made some changes to the plot to suit the television format.

From combining two characters into one to introducing new concepts, the AMC series deviates significantly from the source material. Here are 7 major differences between Mayfair Witches and Anne Rice's novel trilogy.

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7 big differences between Mayfair Witches and Anne Rice's novel trilogy

1) Cortland and Carlotta Mayfair are not siblings in the novels.

In the novels, Cortland Mayfair and Carlotta belong to different generations of the Mayfair family, which showcases their long family history. On the other hand, the show depicts them as siblings who are much closer in age.

This change creates rivalry and tension between them and makes their relationship and interactions more relatable to the audience. The plot also establishes the theme of a power struggle within the family.

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2) Ciprien Grieve is formed from two characters

In the book, Rowan Mayfair has two influential men in her life: Michael Curry and Aaron Lightner. Michael is her love interest who acquires psychic powers after a near-death experience.

Meanwhile, Aaron serves as a mentor from the Talamasca, a secret organization that monitors supernatural events. The show merges these two characters into Ciprien Grieve, a Talamasca agent with psychic powers.

This change simplifies the story by reducing the number of male characters around Rowan. However, book readers are disappointed with the change as they feel it removes the essence of complex relationships from the story.

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3) Lasher is more sinister in the books.

Mayfair Witches has toned down Lasher’s personality. In the books, the spirit haunting the Mayfair family is far more evil and sinister. He manipulates and tortures Rowan to get what he wants.

However, in the TV series, he is shown to have a charming personality. He is still manipulative but is also charismatic, which makes his character a little likable. The show portrays Lasher as more seductive and less terrifying.

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4) Rowan’s appearance differs in the show and books.

Another significant change in Mayfair Witches from Anne Rice's novels is Dr. Rowan Mayfair’s looks. In the books, she is described as having platinum blonde hair and gray eyes. In the series, Alexandra Daddario plays her, who has dark brown hair and striking blue eyes.

Explaining why the protagonist’s appearance differs in the series, showrunners Michelle Ashford and Esta Spalding stated they wanted to cast an actress who could embody the personality of the character, and Alexandra was the perfect fit for it.

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5) The addition of Witch Hunters

Witch Hunters are an integral part of the plot in the series; however, they are the original creation of the showrunner and do not exist in the books. These hunters are a direct threat to the Mayfair family, which increases the stakes for the witches.

The books, however, focus more on the Mayfair witches’ personal problems and the Talamasca’s observations. By including a new threat, the AMC series makes the story more engaging for the viewers.

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6) The Mayfair Emerald’s power

In the novel, the Mayfair Emerald is a symbol of Lasher’s control over a Mayfair witch. The TV series turns it into a powerful magical object. Wearing the emerald in the show is like signing a contract with Lasher, which gives him significant control over the wearer.

The show also redesigns the emerald as a key-shaped pendant, suggesting it might unlock some mysteries in the future seasons. In the books, the Mayfair Emerald is simply a jewel without any key.

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7) The Mayfair family’s history is explored in depth in the books

Anne Rice’s books delve deep into the Mayfair family’s history and explain the origin of their powers. This backstory is largely absent in the show.

Mayfair Witches instead focuses on present-day events and offers only brief glimpses of the family’s past. While this streamlines the narrative, it leaves out the lore that adds depth to the book's story.

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Mayfair Witches season 2 airs new episodes on AMC on Sundays.