Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Redhook (2018), Edition: Unabridged, 528 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Literature. Romance. HTML: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… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member veeshee
I really wanted to love this novel but I didn't. The book is broken down into multiple parts such that each witch from the next generation gets her own story. I love the idea of magic being passed down from mother to daughter but I think that is where the problem of this novel lay: for each
I received this novel as an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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generation, the story from the previous generation must be recounted, and the same reactions from the newest witch are described, and it just starts to become repetitive. It's hard to break from that cycle when it is that very cycle that is being described in the novel. I think that out of all of the witches that were described, there was only one that was truly different from the rest. While I get that the same traits and powers will run in the family, the personalities of the different witches were too similar for my taste. And as I mentioned, the concept was interesting in the beginning but the story itself was too cyclic and repetitive to maintain my interest. The author did put a valiant effort in trying to tie in different historical events to change things up between generations, but the scenarios remained the same. I also wish there had been more supernatural elements; I would have loved to read about the different spells and things that they learned and the reasons why they did certain rituals. For me, there was just not enough of a unique story and so, I'm giving this a 2/5 stars.I received this novel as an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Witches. What woman has not been called a witch in the course of her life, often for nothing more than standing up for herself or expressing a dissenting opinion? Strong, intelligent, and independent women have always made men uncomfortable for as long as the patriarchal society reigns supreme. In
What is compelling about the Orchiere women is their acceptance of their powers through the generations and the differences one generation can make when it comes to personality. For each teenage girl just learning about the matriarchal history, there is a mother with a different agenda. The familial relationships – strained, close, and everything else in-between – are the strongest sections of the story, as they show that sometimes no matter what you do, your children will follow their own path. The use of the passage of time is also quite interesting. Each generation has a differing opinion of magic and a varying level of acceptance of her powers, but this acceptance does not necessarily diminish as time progresses. Modern does not always mean one scoffs at magic. There could almost be a separate study on the events of the time versus the character’s acceptance of her powers; I can see this as a potential book club discussion point.
The remainder of the novel follows a fairly repetitive format with a story that is as familiar as it is comforting. Like many a fairy tale, some of the stories have a happier ending than others. All provide some form of life lesson, and all reiterate the idea that men are not comfortable around independent and strong-willed women. This latter message is disheartening for rather than encouraging women to stand tall and be proud of who they are, the message of the Orchiere women is to hide who they are and always defer to the men in their lives. This is not quite the message I want to pass along these days.
Educational A Secret History of Witches is not, but it is entertaining and harmless, for the most part. I do wish those strong-willed Orchiere women who failed to kow-tow to the men had happier endings. It is such a slight thing, and yet anything that perpetuates the norm these days is questionable. The idea of witches has always been a threat to the patriarchy, and Ms. Morgan fails to capitalize on that threat by showing that a family that hides to survive but loses their independent identity in the process.
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A Secret History of Witches, no one knows this truth more than the Orchiere women.What is compelling about the Orchiere women is their acceptance of their powers through the generations and the differences one generation can make when it comes to personality. For each teenage girl just learning about the matriarchal history, there is a mother with a different agenda. The familial relationships – strained, close, and everything else in-between – are the strongest sections of the story, as they show that sometimes no matter what you do, your children will follow their own path. The use of the passage of time is also quite interesting. Each generation has a differing opinion of magic and a varying level of acceptance of her powers, but this acceptance does not necessarily diminish as time progresses. Modern does not always mean one scoffs at magic. There could almost be a separate study on the events of the time versus the character’s acceptance of her powers; I can see this as a potential book club discussion point.
The remainder of the novel follows a fairly repetitive format with a story that is as familiar as it is comforting. Like many a fairy tale, some of the stories have a happier ending than others. All provide some form of life lesson, and all reiterate the idea that men are not comfortable around independent and strong-willed women. This latter message is disheartening for rather than encouraging women to stand tall and be proud of who they are, the message of the Orchiere women is to hide who they are and always defer to the men in their lives. This is not quite the message I want to pass along these days.
Educational A Secret History of Witches is not, but it is entertaining and harmless, for the most part. I do wish those strong-willed Orchiere women who failed to kow-tow to the men had happier endings. It is such a slight thing, and yet anything that perpetuates the norm these days is questionable. The idea of witches has always been a threat to the patriarchy, and Ms. Morgan fails to capitalize on that threat by showing that a family that hides to survive but loses their independent identity in the process.
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LibraryThing member lauriebrown54
Starting in Brittany in 1821, this is the history of one family of witches, the Orchieres. They are Romani, and therefore automatically suspect whenever someone wants to persecute a witch. Which is why one night Grand-mere Ursule gives her life to hide the family from a witch hunting priestI,
Seventeen years later, having found an abandoned farmstead and settled on it, the priest who had been searching for them on the night Ursule died finds them again. Nanette, the youngest girl of the family, finds that Ursules power has passed to her, and she and her sisters make a spell of protection. And so it goes through the generations; in each generation, there is one powerful woman. Others may have the knack of potions or small spells, but only one carries the power to activate the crystal.
We meet five generations of women. Some I adored; one I disliked intensely. Fortunes change through the years- drastically. Some are lucky in love; some are not. Some are dedicated to honoring the wheel of the year; some don’t perform the rituals for years. In the final book, the power of the Orchiere line becomes crucial to the protection of England. Through it all, their power and religion must be kept strictly secret.
I really enjoyed this book. The details of the lives of the women- especially during their years on the farm- bring the story to life. These are vivid, strong women. The only flaw in the book is the last book; after the body of the book is told in a way that one could easily believe it could have happened, the last book is rather over the top. It makes use of a historic person who seems like an unlikely witch, although it *would* explain her amazingly long life! I’d say four and a half stars out of five.
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telling them to flee across the channel to Cornwall, taking the family’s two treasures: the grimoire, and the large crystal that was dug from the mud many generations ago.Seventeen years later, having found an abandoned farmstead and settled on it, the priest who had been searching for them on the night Ursule died finds them again. Nanette, the youngest girl of the family, finds that Ursules power has passed to her, and she and her sisters make a spell of protection. And so it goes through the generations; in each generation, there is one powerful woman. Others may have the knack of potions or small spells, but only one carries the power to activate the crystal.
We meet five generations of women. Some I adored; one I disliked intensely. Fortunes change through the years- drastically. Some are lucky in love; some are not. Some are dedicated to honoring the wheel of the year; some don’t perform the rituals for years. In the final book, the power of the Orchiere line becomes crucial to the protection of England. Through it all, their power and religion must be kept strictly secret.
I really enjoyed this book. The details of the lives of the women- especially during their years on the farm- bring the story to life. These are vivid, strong women. The only flaw in the book is the last book; after the body of the book is told in a way that one could easily believe it could have happened, the last book is rather over the top. It makes use of a historic person who seems like an unlikely witch, although it *would* explain her amazingly long life! I’d say four and a half stars out of five.
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LibraryThing member mfbarry
‘The Secret History of Witches’ by Louisa Morgan tells the multi-generational stories of the Orchieres’ witches, their lives, loves and the how witches were hunted over more than 100 years.
Under normal circumstances, I don’t read books where there are different narrators – it is not a
I enjoyed the change of pace with the each section of the story. It starts with a family farm where each member needs to contribute in order to survive and how the death of each person causes another family member to assume their role/work – even if it isn’t to their liking. At the end of the story (in the late 1940 after WWII ended), you realize how different the world was – not only seeing 2 world wars but also how different the family structure was. Farms were not a central point and families existed in a very different aspect from the previous generations. These historical shifts helped to outline how each witch saw her ‘gift’ and how they ultimately chose to use it.
There are many novels of witches, especially generational witches, but ‘The Secret History of Witches’ put a nice spin on the genre. The historical aspect and research is what puts this novel in a different category – each character seemed to behave exactly as they should not a historical character with modern day sensibilities. There were a few sections of the novel where the story went on a little long or seemed to end quickly but on an overall basis, I would recommend this book without reservations.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Under normal circumstances, I don’t read books where there are different narrators – it is not a
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technique that I like. I have a difficult time telling unreliable narrators apart and determine the objectivity of the rest of the novel. In this case, the different narrator tells the stories of an Orchieres witch in a linear timeline but they also provide a unique perspective of each woman. The author did a nice job of imbibing the historical aspect of each era with how much each believes or doesn’t believe. I enjoyed the change of pace with the each section of the story. It starts with a family farm where each member needs to contribute in order to survive and how the death of each person causes another family member to assume their role/work – even if it isn’t to their liking. At the end of the story (in the late 1940 after WWII ended), you realize how different the world was – not only seeing 2 world wars but also how different the family structure was. Farms were not a central point and families existed in a very different aspect from the previous generations. These historical shifts helped to outline how each witch saw her ‘gift’ and how they ultimately chose to use it.
There are many novels of witches, especially generational witches, but ‘The Secret History of Witches’ put a nice spin on the genre. The historical aspect and research is what puts this novel in a different category – each character seemed to behave exactly as they should not a historical character with modern day sensibilities. There were a few sections of the novel where the story went on a little long or seemed to end quickly but on an overall basis, I would recommend this book without reservations.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member Soraya71
This is the story of the Orchieres woman from 1821 to WWII. We follow each mother/daughter as they navigate their world, their place in society and discovery of their shared power. The stories follow a similar set up and I found them to be to short to have a stake in their outcomes. There were a
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few exceptions but for the most part while interesting it wasn't until the second to last woman Mowren that the emotional stakes were raised and you felt invested in what happens to this line of incredible people. The last daughter Veronica Selwyn's story really was where the story blossomed, you felt her suffering, her loss and the brutal sacrifices of war. I actually teared up at the loss of two characters and felt like if I had been given that kind of detailed care for the rest of the book this would be a saga worthy of the strong woman of the Orchiere clan. The timeline perhaps would have been better served over the course of several books rather then trying to fit 100 plus years in one book. But lets talk about the ending, its not an easy ending and I was surprised to not have a conclusion but its left to the reader to determine the rest of the story and I find I'm OK with that. Show Less
LibraryThing member SumisBooks
Was an ok read. It got daunting for me to have to switch through so many different perspectives throughout the book. Though the stories are linked, they are all separate and read like an anthology. I did not care for this style. Others may not mind it.
LibraryThing member Sarah_Gruwell
Star Rating - 3.5
Exploration of multiple family generations and witch-craft is what drew my attention to this book. I adore a good family exploration and after a couple years ago, I’ve been fascinated by witch history and the persecution thereof. Given some of the lukewarm reviews I’ve read for
I adore what the author did with her characters. She made each woman stand out so well, from personality quirks to how they utilized their magic to how that same magic influenced them. Some used their power for personal gain with personalities to match that outlook. Others were the true definition of self sacrifice to carry on the family line. Each woman stood out as distinct in each decade as we explore the Orchiere line.
I loved how the author handled the witchcraft throughout history, though this was one of the areas that felt a bit off for me as well. Starting in the beginning of the 19th century through to WWII, the author explores this family of witches facing the various dangers of their calling. Literal witch hunts to the danger of losing hearth & home or marriages all make an appearance. And how these ladies face these dangers further illustrate their different personalities and life outlooks.
The one area I felt where things got a bit unrealistic was the fervor of those literal witch hunts in the early 19th century. Now I’ve never experienced back water small country town life, especially in an era such as the early 1800s, so I can’t speak on how realistic these reactions to witchcraft were. However, I felt like the pastor led mobs in Parts 1 and 3 came off as hard to believe in the day and age of scientific thought and reasoning. They felt like they should have been in the witch crazy times of the 1500s or 1600s.
The story flowed pretty well, keeping the audience engaged from one gal to another. I enjoyed each woman’s life journey as she dealt with the issue of continuing her line for herself, and building her power. Alternately with murdered companions or cliff edge dangers, the exciting parts gelled well with the slower story aspects.
Yet, there were times when the story felt rushed in places, too. This was especially evident to me in the last part, Veronica’s story. Her involvement in the war effort with her coven felt rushed, one moment the war was just starting and the next we’re at D-Day. The focus on her discovering her powers/heritage and seeing how that impacted her life was interesting. Yet, I felt like something was missing with the glossing over of other areas. The other parts didn’t seem to have this so much as Veronica’s story, but it stood out hard here.
Overall, this was a well done work of generational historical fiction, exploring the lives of women through the last two centuries, their families, and how witchcraft affects all. Despite some flaws on story rushing or a few examples of unrealistic story aspects, this is still highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a side of fantasy to their historical fiction, the study of witches/witchcraft through the ages, or the story of women in history and their struggles.
Note: Book received for free from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Exploration of multiple family generations and witch-craft is what drew my attention to this book. I adore a good family exploration and after a couple years ago, I’ve been fascinated by witch history and the persecution thereof. Given some of the lukewarm reviews I’ve read for
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this work, my expectations weren’t as high as they might have been. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised. So despite a few glitches, the mixture of fantastic characterization and suspenseful storytelling kept me spellbound.I adore what the author did with her characters. She made each woman stand out so well, from personality quirks to how they utilized their magic to how that same magic influenced them. Some used their power for personal gain with personalities to match that outlook. Others were the true definition of self sacrifice to carry on the family line. Each woman stood out as distinct in each decade as we explore the Orchiere line.
I loved how the author handled the witchcraft throughout history, though this was one of the areas that felt a bit off for me as well. Starting in the beginning of the 19th century through to WWII, the author explores this family of witches facing the various dangers of their calling. Literal witch hunts to the danger of losing hearth & home or marriages all make an appearance. And how these ladies face these dangers further illustrate their different personalities and life outlooks.
The one area I felt where things got a bit unrealistic was the fervor of those literal witch hunts in the early 19th century. Now I’ve never experienced back water small country town life, especially in an era such as the early 1800s, so I can’t speak on how realistic these reactions to witchcraft were. However, I felt like the pastor led mobs in Parts 1 and 3 came off as hard to believe in the day and age of scientific thought and reasoning. They felt like they should have been in the witch crazy times of the 1500s or 1600s.
The story flowed pretty well, keeping the audience engaged from one gal to another. I enjoyed each woman’s life journey as she dealt with the issue of continuing her line for herself, and building her power. Alternately with murdered companions or cliff edge dangers, the exciting parts gelled well with the slower story aspects.
Yet, there were times when the story felt rushed in places, too. This was especially evident to me in the last part, Veronica’s story. Her involvement in the war effort with her coven felt rushed, one moment the war was just starting and the next we’re at D-Day. The focus on her discovering her powers/heritage and seeing how that impacted her life was interesting. Yet, I felt like something was missing with the glossing over of other areas. The other parts didn’t seem to have this so much as Veronica’s story, but it stood out hard here.
Overall, this was a well done work of generational historical fiction, exploring the lives of women through the last two centuries, their families, and how witchcraft affects all. Despite some flaws on story rushing or a few examples of unrealistic story aspects, this is still highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a side of fantasy to their historical fiction, the study of witches/witchcraft through the ages, or the story of women in history and their struggles.
Note: Book received for free from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Told as a series of stories about different generations of women who were witches. With power that they use in different ways and always having a girl child, often outside of wedlock and the different ways they chose to survive.
It sounds all my catnip but because there are the stories of several
Honestly it felt like someone writing a literary novel with paranormal leanings.
It sounds all my catnip but because there are the stories of several
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women I didn't feel like I really got to know any of them. It finished with a witch who works against the Nazis during World War II and I understand that there's a sequel, but I really don't care. It was readable but I didn't really feel that I really cared or that I understood the why of a lot of their dealings.Honestly it felt like someone writing a literary novel with paranormal leanings.
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LibraryThing member Veronica.Sparrow
A Secret History of Witches is the story of five generations of witches and their trials and tribulations. Each witch has her own story to tell and the choices she makes in her life. I found that I enjoyed the earlier generations rather than the later ones. The background general history was
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fascinating but I found it a bit less believable as the stories became closer to modern times. I also found the stories were a bit uneven and more developed with the earlier generations. Overall, I did enjoy the book especially as a testament to the idea of strong and empowered women. Show Less
LibraryThing member cassie.peters1
Wonderful book
I really enjoyed reading this book. I fell in love with the characters and didn't want to put the book down to go do something else.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I fell in love with the characters and didn't want to put the book down to go do something else.
LibraryThing member libraryhead
Not good. Why did I keep reading this?
LibraryThing member Auntie-Nanuuq
It took me Four (4) 3 week renewals to finally read this because I didn't like this book at first, however, once I began to read it I found it so compelling it took me only 3 nights to finish it.
It is the history of the five Romani generations of Orchiére women, all gifted with the power of
Then continuing with Nanette's daughter Ursule, grand-daughter Irène, great-granddaughter Morwen, and her great-great granddaughter Veronica who is called to work w/ the Queen during WWII.
From Brittany to Cornwall to Wales to London an intense, well-written & book of powerful/gifted & spirited women, which I found to be a compelling read...
It is the history of the five Romani generations of Orchiére women, all gifted with the power of
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crafting. The history of Grandmére Ursule: her daughters: Isabelle, Louisette, Florence, Fleurette, Anne-Marie, & Nanette (the one to inherit their mother's gift).Then continuing with Nanette's daughter Ursule, grand-daughter Irène, great-granddaughter Morwen, and her great-great granddaughter Veronica who is called to work w/ the Queen during WWII.
From Brittany to Cornwall to Wales to London an intense, well-written & book of powerful/gifted & spirited women, which I found to be a compelling read...
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LibraryThing member LyndaInOregon
This lackluster novel about several generations of witches grinds it way through 130 years before finally petering out in an open-ended conclusion that leaves several questions unanswered. One hopes there is no sequel in the offing.
First and foremost, the characters in Morgan’s tale are all
Which brings up another issue and is something that has annoyed this reviewer for years in novels of the occult. Why do the charms and spells need to be in badly-written quatrain format? Why can’t one just say “Farmer Brown is a mean nasty man and he should come down with a bad case of boils until he learns to be nicer”? No, it has to be crunched and cajoled and massaged into something like “Mother Goddess, heed my call, / Farmer Brown is worst of all. / Bless the kettle as it roils, / Curse his ugly form with boils”. Or something equally banal. All the characters in ‘Secret History’ commit this particular sin in one way or another, until one wishes Mother Goddess would apparate at some point and say “Just spit it out, girl!”
Morgan also manages to ignore the entire Romani culture, despite repeatedly telling the reader that it gave birth to her characters. In fact, there’s a whole lot of telling going on here, and not much showing. The characters move around the chessboard Morgan has set up for them, going through the motions that will advance the plot, with nary a surprise or an emotional punch to be had.
First and foremost, the characters in Morgan’s tale are all
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denied, for one reason or another, the kind of lifelong study of the craft deemed de rigueur in most literature for a successful practitioner. In this world, however, it’s apparently enough to be born into the line and then, when the time is right, you simply light the candle, sprinkle a little salt around, mouth a few lines of tortured doggerel and presto!, you’re a successful spell casting, crystal gazing potion brewing witch. Which brings up another issue and is something that has annoyed this reviewer for years in novels of the occult. Why do the charms and spells need to be in badly-written quatrain format? Why can’t one just say “Farmer Brown is a mean nasty man and he should come down with a bad case of boils until he learns to be nicer”? No, it has to be crunched and cajoled and massaged into something like “Mother Goddess, heed my call, / Farmer Brown is worst of all. / Bless the kettle as it roils, / Curse his ugly form with boils”. Or something equally banal. All the characters in ‘Secret History’ commit this particular sin in one way or another, until one wishes Mother Goddess would apparate at some point and say “Just spit it out, girl!”
Morgan also manages to ignore the entire Romani culture, despite repeatedly telling the reader that it gave birth to her characters. In fact, there’s a whole lot of telling going on here, and not much showing. The characters move around the chessboard Morgan has set up for them, going through the motions that will advance the plot, with nary a surprise or an emotional punch to be had.
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LibraryThing member DebTat2
Spanning from Brittany in the 1820’s to London during World War II, this is a family saga with a twist.
The book almost reads like a book of 5 short stories. Stories that are connected yet complete in themselves. Told in separate sections starting in 1821, each section focuses on the life of each
The different women in each story are all distinct characters and not all are very pleasant or likeable! I did find that some stories were better than others with the best being Nanette’s story which takes us through the main storyline and taking us on to the next generation.
The world war 2 part will require you to suspend reality and embrace the magic of the witches and even though it maybe a stretch of the imagination it is a great addition to the book bringing real life history and giving it a whole new magical spin to it.
The only thing i am a bit disappointed in was the ending but perhaps it’s been left open for a sequel. I really hope so!!
The book almost reads like a book of 5 short stories. Stories that are connected yet complete in themselves. Told in separate sections starting in 1821, each section focuses on the life of each
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of the 5 witches in the Orchiéres families descendants and revolves around the relationships between mothers and daughters, each generation’s loves rivalries, and the fight they face to keep their beliefs and craft hidden.The different women in each story are all distinct characters and not all are very pleasant or likeable! I did find that some stories were better than others with the best being Nanette’s story which takes us through the main storyline and taking us on to the next generation.
The world war 2 part will require you to suspend reality and embrace the magic of the witches and even though it maybe a stretch of the imagination it is a great addition to the book bringing real life history and giving it a whole new magical spin to it.
The only thing i am a bit disappointed in was the ending but perhaps it’s been left open for a sequel. I really hope so!!
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Awards
Endeavour Award (Finalist — 2018)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
528 p.; 8.25 inches
ISBN
0316508586 / 9780316508582
Local notes
FB Five generations of powerful mothers and daughters