A Secret History of Witches

by Louisa Morgan

The Romani had always been targets, and were always wary. When the blood fever came upon the people, when they were overcome by lust for the smell of burning flesh and the dying screams of accused witches, there was neither law nor reason in the land.

The exercise of power has a price.”

“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.”

“Irène, love is the most perilous emotion there is. When you force it—when you use it as a weapon—terrible things can happen. You cannot create real love with a potion or a spell.”

“Labor postponed is labor increased.”

“Knowing things makes you powerful, Morwen. You will learn that as a female, there are few enough sources of power.”

Your father, like most men, is terrified of a woman who doesn’t fit his ideal of womanhood, because he doesn’t know how to control her. You need to remember that any frightened man is a dangerous one.”

Remember that we women of the craft have more power over it than most. And remember that there is power in words. Power in ritual.”

“Think about what the craft can do. Women like us heal illnesses doctors can’t, and though I don’t recommend it, we can cause illnesses, too. We can hide ourselves when we don’t want to be seen. We can change the weather, or change a man’s mind. We live our lives the way we want. We don’t need men to take care of us, which many men, and some women, too, think is unnatural. They find it terrifying.”

You, my aunt, our grandmothers—they were women of power. Men fear such women. They might not put you to the flame, as they once did, but they will not hesitate to harm you in other ways, ways that can make your life unbearable.”