#a secret history of witches

“On this Sabbat of Mabon, we honour our foremothers: sweet Nanette, great Ursule, the prophetess Liliane, the Lady Yvette, Maddalena of Milano, Irina from the East, and all those whose precious names have been lost. We vow to pass the craft to our daughters so long as our line endures.” 

A Secret History of Witches is a story of mothers, daughters and the power of women.

The Orchieres are Romanis from France who flee to England after being pursued by Witch Hunters. The family is large and wide but the book focuses on a group of sisters, particularly the youngest, Nanette. The sisters are descendants of the Great Ursule, a powerful witch who used the last of her magic to save her family. The sisters fear that their line and the magic of their grandmother is at an end…until Nanette starts showing signs of power.

A Secret History charts the Orchiere witches through the centuries until WW2, the power of the witches passing from mother to daughter. Every daughter is different, every daughter marks her own path. The stories fuse into one and don’t feel rushed. The story of one daughter expands on the story of the mother and so forth. Morgan’s writing is so clear and alive that her characters really come to life in the short time that we get to know them. 

 The story is a bit repetitive at times and I thought elements of the final partwere a bit silly but this is a real page turner. It’s a lovely, warm story that deserves to be read by the cosy fire with a cup of tea.