Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “A Secret History of Witches” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

A Secret History of Witches

Louisa Morgan (Goodreads Author)

3.78 · Rating details · 10,263 ratings · 1,252 reviews

An ancient and dangerous power is being handed down from mother to daughter through some of the most consequential historic events of the last two centuries.

After Grandmére Ursule gives her life to save her tribe, her magic seems to die with her. Even so, her family keeps the Old Faith, practicing the spells and rites that have been handed from mother to daughter for gener ...more

Get A Copy

Audiobook, eAudiobook, 484 pages

Published September 5th 2017 by Orbit

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about A Secret History of Witches, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Wicca and other Pagan-based Fiction

506 books — 955 voters

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

Best Magical Realism: Witchy Fiction

186 books — 289 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.78 ·

Rating details

· 10,263 ratings · 1,252 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of A Secret History of Witches

Aug 12, 2017 Josie rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Set in Europe this story follows a family of witches spanning five generations and chronicles how the magic is passed down from mother to daughter and their efforts to keep their craft a secret. I really did not care for this book, it lacked any detail and intrigue. The story of each daughter just seemed like the same story repeated over again with minor alterations of detail. Girl is puzzled by secrecy of mother, receives her powers at puberty, fights with mother, finds baby daddy, bears daught Set in Europe this story follows a family of witches spanning five generations and chronicles how the magic is passed down from mother to daughter and their efforts to keep their craft a secret. I really did not care for this book, it lacked any detail and intrigue. The story of each daughter just seemed like the same story repeated over again with minor alterations of detail. Girl is puzzled by secrecy of mother, receives her powers at puberty, fights with mother, finds baby daddy, bears daughter, repeat. The story was so bland and void of detail it almost felt like reading a textbook, even the suspenseful parts with a fiery witch hunter on their trail just fizzled out to nothing. My feminist soul was also cringing the entire time. I recognize that during this time period women had very few rights, but this family it set up right at the beginning to be a matriarchal society with the grandmother at the head whose orders are followed by all, including the men. Then upon her death all of a sudden we forget about all that and we resort back to sexist gender roles. Our one protagonist at one point when finding she is pregnant actually thinks "she was breeding".....what?? I was looking forward to a story full of strong women doing awesome witchy things, nope. They can do all sorts of crazy things at the tip of a hat, yet still meekly follow the orders of the men around them...who are in full knowledge of their capabilities. Found that extremely hard to accept. And the sexism is not only limited to the women, the men are also described as being incapable of crying or really any emotion at all, get those gender stereotypes out of here! We are talking about a book with witches and magic, how about a little mutual respect and equality within the family. The book wasn't even saved by interesting descriptions of magic for me. There was no consistency with the magic system , it worked sometimes and appeared to have limitless power, and then didn't for no particular reason, and back and forth. The magical elements were just extremely unimaginative in general and didn't hold any interest. Flat characters, static plot and loads of sexism, I'd give this read a pass.
For more reviews and other bookish things visit my blog https://unlikelymagic.com ...more

flag 95 likes · Like · see review

Sep 06, 2017 Judy rated it really liked it

Intriguing book covering five generations of witches from a Romani tribe of gypsies. The craft is passed from mother to daughter and the story is organized with a section of the book on each witch - Nanette, Ursule, Irene, Morwen, and Veronica. Each of the stories is similar in that the craft was passed from mother to daughter, witches are prosecuted and they fear this and hide their craft, etc. But each has a different level of power. A strong mother-daughter bond as well as a historical family ...more

flag 37 likes · Like · see review

Oct 09, 2017 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it liked it

Shelves: review-copy, arcs-and-galleys, audiobook

3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/10/16/...

A Secret History of Witches is one of those stories that span many generations, following a magical line of women through the ages starting from early 19th century Brittany up to the end of World War II. Told in five parts, the story first begins with the life of Nanette Orchiére, the youngest of six sisters. Descended from the Romani, her family has always been persecuted for their heritage but also for their women’s gift 3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/10/16/...

A Secret History of Witches is one of those stories that span many generations, following a magical line of women through the ages starting from early 19th century Brittany up to the end of World War II. Told in five parts, the story first begins with the life of Nanette Orchiére, the youngest of six sisters. Descended from the Romani, her family has always been persecuted for their heritage but also for their women’s gift of magic, as seen in Nanette’s grandmother, the powerful witch Ursule Orchiére. For the sake of her clan, Ursule had sacrificed her life when Nanette was just a little girl. Now the family lives on a secluded farm along the Cornwall coast, keeping to themselves lest they draw the attention of the town’s leery priest.

Still, the sisters fear that the Orchiére gift will die with their generation—that is, until Nanette falls pregnant following a brief tryst with a traveling farrier. The birth of a baby girl, named Ursule after Nanette’s legendary grandmother, gives them all hope that their magical lineage will indeed survive. And so, we continue the story with the life of this Ursule, following her as she learns the secret ways of her inheritance, until she too meets a handsome stranger and conceives a daughter, Irène, passing on her powers. Self-centered and viciously ambitious, Irène disdains the farming life and so goes on to charm her way into a marriage with a nobleman, giving birth to Morwen. And Morwen, after escaping to London in order to get away from her horrible mother, ends up finding love for herself, giving birth to Veronica in the early 20th century. Following in the footsteps of the Orchiére women who came before her, Veronica must also find her own way to her magic and claim her birthright. But even though more than a century has passed since this story first started and Europe is on the cusp of the Second World War, she will encounter many of the same challenges and uncertainties that her ancestors faced, despite the changing times.

Whether you’ll like A Secret History of Witches is going to highly depend on how you feel about multi-generational novels. Do you prefer stories that focus on just one or a few characters the whole way through? If yes, then this one might be a struggle, for the people you’ll get to know and connect with at the beginning won’t be around by the end, and with each generation there are new faces to meet, new stories to learn. While certain themes will persist through all of the characters’ lives as their magical power is passed from mother to daughter, each Orchiére woman will also have their own dedicated section of the novel containing a self-contained plot arc with individual developments and conflicts. My guess is that fans of familial epics or sweeping historical sagas will eat this one right up, but those who are unused to this format might find it a bit jarring.

Myself, I don’t mind novels spanning multiple generations, but this one could have been stronger if it hadn’t been so repetitive. Each section reads pretty much the same way: the character first learns about her family’s magic, is skeptical before becoming convinced, and inevitably there will be a handsome stranger to come along to sweep her off her feet, fathering a daughter on her. More frustrating to me is that for all that the Orchiére women boast of their magic, they only ever seem to use it to snag a man or to get pregnant, which seems like a waste of their powers. The author is also very heavy handed with the message about oppressive men whose fear leads them to hate, a theme that was already firmly established by the time Nanette’s section was over, so it just became exasperating by the third time this same diatribe was repeated from mother to daughter.

Is it any wonder then that my favorite Orchiére characters ended up being Irène and Veronica? Irène was a despicable, selfish, manipulative, and shallow person as well as a terrible mother, but at least her story felt very different from the others and that alone was enough to make her section the most interesting. As for Veronica, she may have used the gift for the sake of her love interest, but at least she also put it to good use in aiding the war effort, and it fascinated me to see how witches working together were able to affect the outcome of certain battles.

Overall, A Secret History of Witches was a book that started out strong, but eventually, the cyclical nature of the women’s stories became its main weakness. In the end, only a couple of the characters stood out. That said, Louisa Morgan’s writing is solid, and I still think this novel would be good choice for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a light touch of fantasy, or for those who enjoy the drama of family sagas.

Audiobook Comments: Much like the story itself, I thought Polly Lee’s narration was decent but could have been better. Some of her accents were a bit iffy, and I’m very sure that’s not how you pronounce “Samhain”. Still, there was nothing deal breaking about the performance, though I can’t help but think the audiobook might have been more immersive had they gone with multiple narrators, one for each different Orchiére character. ...more

flag 34 likes · Like · see review

Oct 13, 2019 Ash rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: fans of family sagas

Shelves: 3-stars, fantasy, read-2019

A Secret History of Witches is a family saga that spans over a century. It stars five generations of women – Nanette, Ursule, Irène, Morwen, and Veronica – from a Romani family, the Orchiéres, and takes us from Brittany to Cornwall to Wales to London. The women of the Orchiére family carry on the family tradition of witchcraft, passed down from mother to daughter.

This book was a mixed bag for me, with some things I enjoyed and others that could have been better. What I loved the most, though, we A Secret History of Witches is a family saga that spans over a century. It stars five generations of women – Nanette, Ursule, Irène, Morwen, and Veronica – from a Romani family, the Orchiéres, and takes us from Brittany to Cornwall to Wales to London. The women of the Orchiére family carry on the family tradition of witchcraft, passed down from mother to daughter.

This book was a mixed bag for me, with some things I enjoyed and others that could have been better. What I loved the most, though, were the characters. This book places its female characters at the center of the narrative; all the main characters are women and there is a strong focus on mother-daughter relationships. Each of the five main characters had a unique personality that leapt off the page and I fell in love with them one by one. They were what brought this story to life for me.

I also enjoyed Louisa Morgan’s writing style. It was easy to sink into, with a nice flow that kept me reading all the way through this five hundred-plus page novel. I can understand why some describe this book as repetitive and weren’t drawn in to the story. The plot is very cyclical and there isn’t much action, but that’s more or less what I expect from a family saga.

The reason I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I’d hoped was that it didn’t meet my expectations for fantasy or for historical fiction; instead, it sat awkwardly between the two genres. On the one hand, there were some parts that were just too far-fetched for historical fiction. But on the other hand, there wasn’t enough magic for fantasy. I was left unsatisfied on both fronts.

The Orchiére women spoke frequently of magic, to the point where it was obviously meant to be the focal point of the story, but they rarely used it. As other reviewers have mentioned, they mostly used it to attract men who would impregnate them, which was frustrating. I often talk about missed opportunities that prevent books from living up to their full potential; this was a major one.

But overall, I did enjoy this book, even if it wasn’t quite what I’d hoped it would be. I liked spending time with Morgan’s characters. I might look into some of her other books and see if they interest me. ...more

flag 24 likes · Like · see review

Oct 24, 2017 Juli rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-review-copies-2017

A Secret History of Witches tells the tale of five generations of witches in a gypsy family. Mothers pass the gift to their daughters. They are persecuted and have to hide their powers from others. Spanning the time from the early 1800s to WW2, the book is divided into five sections, one for each of the five Orchiere family witches -- Nanette, Ursule, Irene, Morwen and Veronica.

This book was at times a little too slow moving, but there is such a strong mother-daughter love through each generatio ...more

flag 23 likes · Like · see review

Aug 22, 2017 The Library Lady rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: edelweiss, adult-fiction

I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed it, and yet I found it unevenly written. Though yes, I KNOW it is about witches, some of it went beyond my ability to suspend disbelief, not because of the magic, but because of the characters' actions. And I found the end to be abrupt and not terribly satisfying.

flag 21 likes · Like · see review

Apr 22, 2020 Heather rated it it was amazing

Absolutely adored the multigenerational journey of magical women depicted in this wonderful book!!

flag 22 likes · Like · see review

Oct 14, 2019 Joanna Smith rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, paranormal, supernatural

‘A Secret History of Witches’ is a generational tale of a long line of Romani witches and the relationship between mothers and daughters and the passing down of their shared history. It’s also a story of families fleeing from persecution, class and religious prejudices and also the importance of holding on to tradition and culture in an ever evolving modern world. The novel beautifully explores the fragility of love and the power of survival with themes that are still relevant today.

flag 21 likes · Like · see review

Oct 05, 2017 Debbie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this one. The author does a great job giving each generation its own, recognizable flavor in atmosphere and behavior. Though obviously about magic, it's a lot about relationships and how familial choices often repeat themselves no matter what the time period, but with subtle changes due to advancements in each era. I liked the “message” that using the craft always has a price, which applies to all of our lives/relationships regardless of magic or no magic. Though the family of t ...more

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

Sep 12, 2017 Anna Henke rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-fiction, us, 20th-century, dual-time-and-time-travel, fantasy, literary-fiction, 19th-century, 18th-century, netgalley

I would like to thank the publisher, Orbit Books, for providing me with a digital advanced copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I was so excited to be approved as this book is SO in my wheelhouse. A historical family saga about witches? Yes, please.

After having read the book, I have been hesitant to write this review because, honestly, A Secret History of Witches theoretically rang all my bells but failed to live up to my expectations. This was a so-so read for me. ...more

flag 15 likes · Like · see review

Oct 31, 2018 N.N. Light rated it it was amazing

A wonderful book I thoroughly enjoyed listening to. There were times I was so caught up in the story, I kept bumping into things.

My Rating: 5+stars

flag 13 likes · Like · see review

Jul 01, 2019 Olivier Delaye rated it did not like it

When I picked up A Secret History of Witches, I was hoping for a sprawling family saga a la Anne Rice’s The Witching Hour which I thoroughly enjoyed both for its beautiful prose and captivating plot. Well, hope might spring eternal but patience has a limit, and I reached mine by page 200. Not only is the story tediously repetitive with each new generation of witches basically doing the same things as the last, the characterization is also incredibly shallow and clunky in its sexist representatio ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

May 10, 2017 Mary Urban rated it really liked it

While a scrying stone or spell prove useful in this book, the real power the characters have is the undeniable strength of the mother-daughter bond. Set against tangible historical backdrops, A Secret History of Witches pursues this primal, nuanced, and complicated relationship that every woman lives with.

And not too magick-y, for the fantasy-averse.

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Dec 26, 2017 Sharon Thompson rated it it was ok

Meh! Interesting enough to finish, but rather cyclical and predictable. The last witch story almost made me stop reading because one character was so ridiculous to introduce, but I was on an airplane, so I finished it. More continuity between the witches would have helped with depth of character.

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Nov 03, 2018 S.J. Higbee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I really loved this engrossing saga about a family cursed with magical ability - and the extra spin put on events surrounding WW2 worked particularly well... Highly recommended for fans of family-based historical adventures with a twist of magic

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Jan 14, 2019 Liz Barnsley rated it really liked it

A Secret History Of Witches is a beautifully written and wonderfully absorbing read following one family of practicing witches down the ages, facing prejudice, a long heritage and a struggle to maintain their old ways.
It is also a fascinating character driven drama about the relationship between mother’s and daughters, sisters and family that is utterly gripping. Louisa Morgan weaves a spell around the reader as the torch is passed from generation to generation and merges with real life history, ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Jul 04, 2017 Laurie rated it really liked it

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, 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 ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Oct 29, 2017 Pamela rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: net-galley, 2017-books

Solid writing makes this 3 stars. I really liked the synopsis, but unfortunately, the eras for each of the witches didn't really get flushed out. Ms. Morgan keeps the witch in question in the dark (so to speak) until she becomes "a woman". Then suddenly said witch knows everything! Just as you are getting to know that character, it seems, boom - you're on to the next one.
I wanted to know more about each woman and felt disappointed with the mother-daughter relationship for most of them. Our las ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Sep 12, 2018 Evelyn Medina rated it really liked it

This was such a wonderful read! It was a bit of a slow start but it definitely picked up after a few chapters. It was so interesting to dive into this long line of witches and learn about the different family members and their powers. There’s so much history, romance, magic a bit of suspense and I loved every minute of this. The ONLY reason I took one star away is because whenever I found myself getting more and more involved in a certain witch’s story, we would move on to the next “book” or fam ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Jul 24, 2018 Heidi rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobooks

Three and a half stars: A lengthy novel that explores the tradition of witch craft over two hundred years as it is passed from mother to daughter.

It is the eighteen hundreds, witches aren’t hunted and burned at the stake like they once were, but make no mistake, being branded a witch still has devastating consequences even two hundred years past the height of the witch hunts. That is why on this particular night, the Orchiere family is on the road, fleeing the villagers who mean to persecute the Three and a half stars: A lengthy novel that explores the tradition of witch craft over two hundred years as it is passed from mother to daughter.

It is the eighteen hundreds, witches aren’t hunted and burned at the stake like they once were, but make no mistake, being branded a witch still has devastating consequences even two hundred years past the height of the witch hunts. That is why on this particular night, the Orchiere family is on the road, fleeing the villagers who mean to persecute them. Grandmere Ursule pushes out her powers to cloak them, giving her life in the process. She leaves behind her clan, but her magic seems to die with her. Until one day, the youngest of the Orcheres, Nanette, realizes her powers. The power is once again wielded and passed from mother to daughter. Will they power serve for good or ill?
What I Liked:
*A History of Witches is a lengthy, multi generational novel that spans two hundred years, over the lives of five witches. If you have the patience for this type of novel, and you don’t mind the slow pace, this is an interesting novel to take on. I rather enjoyed this tale.
*I liked that each witch was unique and each wielded the power in a different way. Some hardly used it, while others snatched it up and bent the power for their own personal gain. Of course, I found myself drawn more to certain witches than others, but they each were interesting to follow.
*I enjoyed the changing of the points of views and the changing of the times. I also appreciated that the book started in the early 1800s and spanned through World War II which isn’t the typical time frame for a witch book. It was nice to get something beyond the seventeenth century when witch hunting was at its peak. I especially liked the final chapters that were set durning World War II. I was especially surprised by how the witches wielded their powers to help the war aid, and who was involved.
*The book moves at a slow pace, and some readers might get frustrated at the pedantic pace of the story, but I rather enjoyed it. The voices shift just as each witch is coming into her power. Often the mother witch is still in the background, aging and watching her daughter and helping, while other times the witch is on her own. I liked exploring each character, watching her make mistakes, and I liked the slow pace.
*The story ends in a good spot, while the story could go on, I thought that it ended in a good place.
I listened to he audiobook version narrated by Polly Lee. I thought Ms. Lee did a good enough job with the narration, and I think that I enjoyed this book far more on audio verses if I had read it.
And The Not So Much:
*My biggest frustration with this one was the skipping ahead in time. There were several points in the book where one witch’s story is reaching the climatic point, and then the story jumps ahead into the future with the next witch’s story. I was especially frustrated when the narration shifted from Ursule to Irene because I wanted to know much more about how Irene fared after she escaped the farm. Tiny details are given, but it wasn’t enough. Then when the narration shifts from Morwen to Veronica a great deal is skipped again, and not many of the pieces are filled in.
*The overall message of the book got to be repetitive. Basically, each witch is taught to fear men and their oppressive rule. I got it the first time around, it got old after awhile.
*I also found myself wishing that the witches had learned to do more with their powers than ensnare men to propagate their line. Finally, at least Veronica does something different with her powers.

A History of Witches is a hard book to review. On one hand, I was fascinated and riveted by the tale, but I can honestly say this isn’t a book for everyone. If you like slow paced tales that cover generations and span decades, this is for you. Don’t expect a fast paced novel with lots of action, instead you get an interesting story about how each witch learns to adapt to the times and use her powers. It requires patience, but I found it worth the effort.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Apr 28, 2018 Vicki rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I absolutely loved this book. A beautifully crafted family saga spanning over five generations that held me spellbound until it's last page. Pure magic!

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Nov 27, 2018 Aleta rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I had high hopes for this book. I kept reading in hopes that the story would turn riveting, unfortunately that never happened for me. Just the same old thing throughout the generations of Witches.

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Jun 10, 2019 Veronica rated it liked it · review of another edition

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 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 ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Dec 01, 2017 Primrose Peasemarch rated it really liked it · review of another edition

My only complaint... why did it have to end already?

A truly escapist read that transported me from 1821 through the end of WW2. Tracing the lineage of mothers and daughters and their inherited gift was fascinating. Morgan crafts a tale that chronicles five generations of women in a family and their experiences with their magical inheritance. A grimoire and a crystal hold properties that speak to each woman. Each woman has an experience with the legacy left to her and how to wield the power the ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Apr 20, 2018 Surbhi Das rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018-reads

The book follows the story of 5 women from each generation, ancestors and their descendant, their love for each other and for the craft whose secret they have preserved for a very long time. Set in England, the story depicts the bond between mothers and their daughters as they struggle through changing times and some major historical occurrences, fighting their battles bravely and protecting their family, their heritage, their existence and ultimately their future
Nanette's story- 2/5
Ursule's sto ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Aug 18, 2019 Jenn "JR" rated it liked it

Really nicely written prose - though I have some issues with the progression of events (ie, rags to riches). We start off with Nanette - who is a Romani child living on the Brittany coast in the early 1800s -- her family is fleeing a witch hunter and to go across the channel to the Cornish coast where they make a new life. Only Nanette learns English & Cornish, while her (much) older sisters stick to French. Witch hunters pursue them to England.

Throughout the book - there's an emphasis on how th ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Jun 16, 2017 Hannah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book was a gem! I really enjoyed it - it's a good blend of fantasy and historical fiction. I was initially very wary of a book that carries over 5 generations, but the characters are great - starting with Nanette who is sweet - not all of the ladies of the Orchiére line are quite so sweet, but all are such motivated and powerful characters. Though there is some magic, these witches prove to be powerful, even without it. One thing I do have to say is that it felt a little anti-climactic, tho ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Dec 11, 2017 Christine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

Best book of the Year in my opinion. Beautifully written, flowed seamlessly from mother to daughter as stories of each generation unfolded.
Excellent read. Historical, gripping, fantasy, desire, war. It has it all.

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

May 24, 2019 Rachael rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I really loved this book. Each of the central women is her own person with her own distinct story and journey. The storytelling was rich with detail and emotion. I definitely recommend.

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Dec 06, 2018 Anneke Rondonuwu rated it really liked it

i find it hard to place a concise feeling towards this book. i was battling my self how am i going to rate it. well, let's put it by make a few points how i like it, and where i would like to have more improvements.

why i love it?
1. it's a history of witches! i love everything about witches. sometimes, i'd like to see myself as witches too :D. I always wonder about their histories, their crafts, and also their struggles to survive.
2. it's a a chain of fascinating stories about 5 generations of wi i find it hard to place a concise feeling towards this book. i was battling my self how am i going to rate it. well, let's put it by make a few points how i like it, and where i would like to have more improvements.

why i love it?
1. it's a history of witches! i love everything about witches. sometimes, i'd like to see myself as witches too :D. I always wonder about their histories, their crafts, and also their struggles to survive.
2. it's a a chain of fascinating stories about 5 generations of witches from France, The Orchiere family. Showing their struggles to survive their line, and how they pass on their crafts to their new generations. It shows that how a heritage becomes thinner through time. And this book also shows how ancestral karma was passed on from generations to generations.
3. The writing was very fine and easy to follow. the movement from one generation to another was nice. I really like how the author fills in information within the story, without overcrowding the story.
4. I indulged myself with Morwen's and Veronica's story! i feel more connection and see more depth within these 2 stories.

Parts that i wish were more:
1. I got bored within the first chapters, within the story of Nanette. I realized in the end that i was emotionally detached with the characters. Perhaps, because this book tells the story of 5 generations, some parts should be shorten, and sped faster. Therefore there was a very slim chance for the story to grow emotionally within me. But, no worries, after i went through Ursule's part, the story intensified, and i was drawn deeper to it. maybe, if the author made it into 5 different books it would be different (even though i can bet, i will be left angry with Irene, obviously, she was the most antagonistic character between the 5 ).
2. Since the title is: A Secret History of Witches, i was hoping to get a deeper sight about their crafts. alas, what i got mostly was about spells and potions to lure men to bed, ....and make babies. well, it was not completely wrong though.. because these women were in dire to make their family line to survive. perhaps, we need a title change a little bit? :p.... In the Book of Veronica paid them all though, because there are more to the crafts and bits of information about it (why they use salt etc)

3.75 stars

ps: i am intrigued to search about the Glamis family ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Fantasy

335 users

Historical > Historical Fiction

324 users

Fiction

234 users

Paranormal > Witches

119 users

Historical

72 users

Fantasy > Paranormal

66 users

See top shelves…

About Louisa Morgan

Louisa Morgan

442 followers

Louisa Morgan is the author of A Secret History of Witches, The Witch’s Kind, and The Age of Witches. Louisa is a yogini, a musician, a mom, and a dog lover. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and her spirit familiar, Oscar the Border Terrier. Visit her at www.louisamorgan.net. ...more

Books by Louisa Morgan

Μια κρυφή ιστορία μαγισσών (Πρώτος τόμος)

Μια κρυφή ιστορία μαγισσών (Δεύτερος τόμος)

More…

News & Interviews

Sarah MacLean on the Bareknuckle Bastards' 'Daring' Conclusion

Fans of Sarah MacLean know her as a writer of historical romances, a passionate defender of the romance genre, and a creator of some truly pun-tast...

Trivia About A Secret History ...

1 trivia question

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from A Secret History ...

“Because men believe it’s their right to tell women how to live. They tell us who to marry, what to wear, when to go out and when to stay. Some men beat their wives, and no one speaks a word about it. But despite all the power they hold over us, they feel powerless against our kind. We resist. We cause things to happen. We interfere with their plans, with what they think is the natural order. That frightens them. Men hate being afraid, so they hate us instead.” — 11 likes

More quotes…

See a Problem?

Preview — A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan

A Secret History of Witches

Get A Copy

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

Readers also enjoyed

Genres

About Louisa Morgan

Books by Louisa Morgan

News & Interviews

Trivia About A Secret History ...

Quotes from A Secret History ...

See a Problem?

Preview — A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan

A Secret History of Witches

Get A Copy

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

Readers also enjoyed

Genres

About Louisa Morgan

Books by Louisa Morgan

News & Interviews

Trivia About A Secret History ...

Quotes from A Secret History ...

new topic
Discuss This Book