The Great Witch of Brittany: A Novel
Set in the late 1700s, a tale of magic and fate, triumph and heartbreak, and the powerful bonds between mothers and daughters unfolds in this spellbinding novel from a master storyteller. Brittany, 1762 There hasn't been a witch born in the Orchière clan for generations. According to the elders, that line is dead, leaving the clan vulnerable to the whims of superstitious villagers and the prejudices of fearmongering bishops. Ursule Orchière has been raised on stories of the great witches of the past. But the only magic she knows is the false spells her mother weaves over the gullible women who visit their fortune-telling caravan. Everything changes when Ursule comes of age and a spark of power flares to life. Thrilled to be chosen, she has no idea how magic will twist and shape her future. Guided by an ancient grimoire and the whispers of her ancestors, Ursule is destined to walk the same path as the great witches of old. But first, the Orchière magical lineage must survive. And danger hovers over her, whether it's the bloodlust of the mob or the flames of the pyre. Return to the world of A Secret History of Witches with the bewitching tale of Ursule Orchière and her discovery of magical abilities that will not only change the course of her life but every generation that comes after her. For more from Louisa Morgan, check out: A Secret History of Witches
The Witch's Kind
The Age of Witches
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
Thank you to NetGalley and to Redhook Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Louisa Morgan has a beautiful way with words and of historical witchy things. As I read the story of Ursule Orchiere, I found it beautiful and incredibly descriptive. I felt that the timing and the environment in which was described around Ursule was very realistic and made the reader feel as though they were there with Ursule throughout her journey. I was enthralled by her early years with the caravan and as each "Book" proceeded, it blended beautifully with Ursule and the prior ancestresses before her and after. As Ursule discovers more and more about her craft and the powers within, it is an exciting yet cautionary time as being perceived as a witch in the time and setting is very dangerous. It certainly kept the momentum of the book and helped the reader understand all that was at stake. It was a beautiful read.
Louisa Morgan has a beautiful way with words and of historical witchy things. As I read the story of Ursule Orchiere, I found it beautiful and incredibly descriptive. I felt that the timing and the environment in which was described around Ursule was very realistic and made the reader feel as though they were there with Ursule throughout her journey. I was enthralled by her early years with the caravan and as each "Book" proceeded, it blended beautifully with Ursule and the prior ancestresses before her and after. As Ursule discovers more and more about her craft and the powers within, it is an exciting yet cautionary time as being perceived as a witch in the time and setting is very dangerous. It certainly kept the momentum of the book and helped the reader understand all that was at stake. It was a beautiful read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
Ursule was the daughter of a gypsy fortune teller, a descendant of the Orchieres witch bloodline even though the bloodline hadn’t produced a witch in generations. At 13, Ursule came into her powers and this story tells how she grew in power. Even after having to hide her powers to shield herself and her mother Agnes, from the witch hunters, Ursule and her mother had to run for their lives, finding safety on a farm as dairy workers. This is a multi-generational story that follows Ursule’s life as a daughter, mother, and witch.
Ursule was not always wise in using her powers, as a young witch she was often selfish using her powers for her own desires or when the need arises, to protect her loved ones. This is a great story of self-discovery of the life she lived, the mistakes she made, and obstacles that challenged her and overcame ultimately molding her into a strong independent woman.
This is a wonderfully told story of family, love, life, and loss and I was in tears by the end. I will definitely have to pick up the second book, A Secret History of Witches to read what happens to the Orchieres family.
Ursule was the daughter of a gypsy fortune teller, a descendant of the Orchieres witch bloodline even though the bloodline hadn’t produced a witch in generations. At 13, Ursule came into her powers and this story tells how she grew in power. Even after having to hide her powers to shield herself and her mother Agnes, from the witch hunters, Ursule and her mother had to run for their lives, finding safety on a farm as dairy workers. This is a multi-generational story that follows Ursule’s life as a daughter, mother, and witch.
Ursule was not always wise in using her powers, as a young witch she was often selfish using her powers for her own desires or when the need arises, to protect her loved ones. This is a great story of self-discovery of the life she lived, the mistakes she made, and obstacles that challenged her and overcame ultimately molding her into a strong independent woman.
This is a wonderfully told story of family, love, life, and loss and I was in tears by the end. I will definitely have to pick up the second book, A Secret History of Witches to read what happens to the Orchieres family.
The first half of this book was pretty good. My concerns didn’t start until about half way through. I’m not going to say too much because I don’t want to spoil anything for any potential reader, but I will say this: it was too long. By about page 315 I was practically seizing in disbelief at how many more pages there were left to read. I could take or leave this one.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.