Spellbook Saturday: A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan

hedgewitchbotanicals

3 weeks ago

I had high hopes for this week’s #spellbooksaturday feature, though ended up feeling somewhat neutral towards…

A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

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.
[source: bookshop.org]

I was very excited to dive into Morgan’s work, given both the subject and the praise heaped upon her writing, but found myself rather nonplussed. Morgan’s ambition outstrips her skill as a writer, and in giving such detail to such a sprawling narrative, the story often reads more as a series of events than a story, with only occasional emotional resonance.

Have you read A Secret History of Witches? What were your thoughts? Share in the comments!

I have a Bookshop.org list of #spellbooksaturday features for folks to peruse, but in the spirit of transparency, as a Bookshop.org affiliate, I receive a small percentage of book sales purchased through my links. If you find that off-putting, feel free to shop directly through bookshop.org or your own local bookseller! My only goal here is to resist Amazon and the mega-rich.