The Witching Hour is the first in what might be called Rice's Witch Chronicles. Published in 1993, the novel Lasher, and in 1994, the novel Taltos: Tales of the Mayfair Witches continue the story.

Aaron Lightner, a significant secondary character, was introduced in The Queen of the Damned (1988). Lasher, a demon, has no counterpart in previous Rice novels, although he resembles the vampire Lestat in his charismatic irresistibility.