A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan

A sweeping historical saga that traces five generations of fiercely powerful mothers and daughters -- witches whose magical inheritance is both a dangerous threat and an extraordinary gift. Brittany, 1821. After Grand-Mere Ursule gives her life to save her family, their magic seems to die with her. Even so, the Orchires fight to keep the old ways alive, practicing half-remembered spells and arcane rites in hopes of a revival. And when their youngest daughter comes of age, magic flows anew. The lineage continues, though new generations struggle not only to master their power, but also to keep it hidden. But when World War II looms on the horizon, magic is needed more urgently than ever -- not for simple potions or visions, but to change the entire course of history. Praise for A Secret History of Witches: "I loved it. A beautiful generational tale, reminiscent of Practical Magic. . .. Grounded and real, painful and hopeful at the same time." —Laure Eve, author of The Graces "Historical fiction at its absolute finest....Deliciously absorbing." —Boston Globe "At once sprawling and intimate, A Secret History of Witches deftly captures the greatest magic of all: the love between mothers and daughters." —Jordanna Max Brodsky, author of The Wolf in the Whale For more from Louisa Morgan, check out: The Witch's Kind The Age of Witches

As a fan of multigenerational sagas and fantasy, I was thrilled to hear that a book liked A Secret History of Witches was being published. The book spans over a hundred years across five women in the Orchiére line, from their initial homes in France to living in England and then Wales. While I loved the strong sense of place and the descriptive elements of nature, food, and the homes, I felt that the character development was a bit frustrating. The five women's stories felt a bit too alike at times, and two characters' petulance or selfishness ended up placing others in serious danger. It highlights the power of continuity but not the power of change or growth.

Men also are considered fairly secondary, and the manipulation that men typically exhibit against women is turned on its head in this book. I thought it was interesting to see how certain relationships were more nuanced than others, but overall I felt like the romantic relationships in this book felt problematic.

I enjoyed this book and felt like it was a pleasant diversion and a good way to spend a Saturday in early fall. I'm curious to see what Louisa Morgan writes next under this pseudonym. In doing a little side research, I was intrigued to find that she is a practicing Roman Catholic given the subject matter and the Orchiéres' relationship to both Anglican and Catholic priests.