A Secret History of Witches

July 31, 2017
Set in western Europe and spanning five generations, Morgan’s novel is a lengthy and repetitive novel that lacks intrigue and detail. The Orchiéres—Nanette, Ursule, Irene, Morwan, and Veronica—are a line of witches. Magic is passed down from mother to daughter, each one receiving her powers as she hits puberty. Each daughter is tasked with protecting the family’s secrets and ensuring that the line continues by giving birth to more daughters. While each woman’s story has individual elements that sets it apart from the others, each does not stray far from the formula of hitting puberty, discovering their power, fighting with their mothers, and finding a man to help them bear children. As far as the magical elements go, the incantations are unimaginative, coupled with clichés typical of witch stories, such as Nanette’s black feline companion and the emphasis on Ursule’s elderly and cloaked appearance when Morwan first meets her grandmother. The novel moves quickly through each generation’s story, leaving the reader with little attachment to these women and their struggles. The cast of supporting characters, and the male characters in particular, are not given enough room on the page to have any lasting impact on the reader, and their relationships to the Orchiéres are used primarily as vehicles for plot progression.

August 1, 2017

This historical novel by a pseudonymous author of award-winning sf named Louise Marley (The Child Goddess) is extremely ambitious in its time line, covering the lives of five generations of women. From Brittany to Cornwall and much of Great Britain, and from the mid-1800s to World War II, this tale revolves around the Orchieres women who have a magical secret that they protect at any cost and who pass down their knowledge and experience from mother to daughter. In each subsequent generation, a new lesson is learned, and usually brought forward. VERDICT While the plot plods a little bit in the beginning, and the jumps forward in time may disconcert casual readers, overall this compelling read will appeal to those who enjoyed the supernatural aspects of Katherine Howe's The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. Morgan's title, however, has more romance and a heavier emphasis on familial relationships.--Elizabeth McArthur, Bexar Cty. Digital Lib., BiblioTech, San Antonio

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2017
From 17th-century France to World War II London, Morgan's debut novel leads readers through five generations of witches.The Orchiere women have the gift of magic, seen first with Ursule, the elderly matriarch of a Romani family hunted through France by a witch-hating priest. In her last act, Ursule foresees a home for her children along the Cornwall coast and sacrifices herself to ensure safe passage. Nanette, a child when her grandmother dies, inherits Ursule's scrying stone and her powers...but also the hateful priest and new threats in the form of wary Cornish locals. Nanette's brief affair with a traveling tinker produces a daughter--and a reason to stand her ground and destroy the priest with magic, buying the family a little time. But ultimately, her daughter (another Ursule) will need to face the same forces of prejudice and fear...as will her daughter, Irene...and her daughter....This is a cyclic tale, but as time passes and focus shifts from mother to daughter, the plot becomes captive to that cycle. There will predictably be a handsome man to capture the attention of each Orchiere woman and a daughter to inherit magic, face bigots, learn that it has a cost, and provide a next chapter; repeat until done. The high-water marks (such as a poignant confrontation between grandmother Ursule, daughter Irene, and granddaughter Morwen) get lost to the next generational leap. Even in the last segment, with Nazis to defeat and the London Blitz to weather, what should be the tensions of war yield to an unsatisfying love triangle and the same old Orchiere concerns. History buffs will enjoy the solid research and romance fans will find tragic fodder aplenty, but the story repeatedly abandons each heroine just as things get interesting, instead retreading old ground with new faces.

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Five generations of a clan of witches, portrayed by narrator Polly Lee, flee persecution in Brittany for the unknown shores of the United Kingdom. The atmospheric opening scene, fraught with tension and determination, is captured perfectly by Lee's hushed voice and careful cadence, setting the emotional tone for what lies ahead. Each generation faces challenges inherent in practicing its craft in a world that fears their power. The complex relationships between mothers and daughters are enriched by Lee's strong characterizations, which capture time periods, ages, genders, and social class. Her narrative talents shine further as she moves smoothly between French, British, and American accents. Spellbound listeners won't want this story to end. J.R.T. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

August 1, 2017
Epic in scope and heartbreakingly tender in its portrayal of mothers and daughters through time, this novel spans five generations of witches. Starting in France in 1821, a family of misfit gypsies passes down their magical knowledge through the generations via a scrying crystal and dreamy, half-forgotten spells. The historical backdrops are well researched and it's fascinating to glimpse the rise of modern Europe up through WWII. These clever witches play a critical and surprising role in the outcome of that war. Each chapter feels like a complete short story, and the tales are woven together with the enduring threads of family, healing, love, and magic. Each witch has her own prejudices and tragedies to conquer, and Morgan deftly characterizes each woman as unique in both flaws and supernatural gifts. The magic itself is subtle and rarely used, so most of the book focuses on the deeply held beliefs and complicated relationships within a family that values the profound elements of nature and the enduring power of women versus a society that demeans and threatens both. Recommended for fans of Nora Roberts' O'Dwyer trilogy and readers of feminist fantasy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)