The Oracle Glass Author:Judith Merkle Riley Seventeenth-century Paris. Geneviève is a skinny, precocious girl with a mind full of philosophy and the remarkable power to read the swirling waters of an oracle glass. Left for dead by her family, she is taken in by the ingenious occultist La Voisin, who rules a secret society of witches that manipulates the rich and the scandalous all ... more »the way up to the throne. Tutored by La Voisin, Geneviève creates a new identity for herself--as the mysterious Madame de Morville, rumored to be one hundred fifty years old.
Soon, even the reigning mistress of the Sun King himself consults Madame de Morville on what the future holds for her. And as Madame de Morville, Geneviève can revel in what women are usually denied--power, an independent income, and the opportunity to speak her mind. But beneath her intelligence and wit, and in the face of unexpected love, Geneviève is driven by the obsessed spirit of revenge....« less
I enjoyed this book very much. It appears to have been well researched and is about Paris, the court of Louis XIV and the scrambling for influence and power among the nobility of his court. The main characters and prime movers in the novel are the witches of Paris; the fortune tellers, the clairvoyants, and charalatans that help the nobility try to move up the ladder of success at court; aiding on occasion their future by the use of poison and various means of betrayal. "The Witches" are a historical fact and held a great following among the nobility who believed in their powers and their ability to corrupt. It would be helpful for the reader to have some knowledge of the period of time which covers the resplendant court of the "Sun King", or the book could be confusing with its' large cast of characters. Genny Sikes
I read this book long ago. Now I am preparing to travel with a group to France. I wanted to own the book so I could review, soak up some atmosphere, and share it with my traveling companions.
I've read this book so much that even though it has been awhile since I've read it, it is still one of my favorites that I cannot part with. Merkle Riley captured me from the first few pages and she didn't disappoint. Each character in the book goes through a transformation of some sort and the description of the era kept me turning the page.