This was one of the best fiction books I've read in a while. I was so engrossed, in fact, that I read it from start to finish without stopping: took me about four hours. It tells the stories of five generations of natural witches, from the early 19th through the mid-20th centuries, with all their trials, tragedies and triumphs. The Orchiere (Orchard) clan are of Romany descent, and have passed two priceless heirlooms down through multiple generations, for each successive generation to use to perpetuate the ancient craft: a grimoire, essentially a magical textbook, which includes instructions on how to create magical objects such as amulets, how to perform spells, charms and divination, composed in Old French by generations of Orchiere women for their descendants; and a scrying stone, which allows the user to view past, present and sometimes future, as well as all the ancestors before them.
This well-told tale follows witches, some good, others not so good, along their life journey, from birth to death, in some cases: Nannette, granddaughter of Ursule, a witch of the old traditions, who passes down her knowledge to the only girl in the family with the gift of magic; Nannette's daughter Ursule, named for her great-grandmother; her daughter Irene, a scheming witch who uses a forbidden love spell to ensnare a wealthy suitor and sacrifices all to rise above her humble station; her daughter Morwen, who abandons wealth and privilege for freedom and true love; and Veronique, who lost her mother at birth, but finds strength to survive England during WWII with some surprising allies, not just American ones.
This book carefully and powerfully reconstructs the lives of women who could be actual figures, placing them in some of the most significant events of the last two centuries, following them throughout their lives as they carefully conceal their secret from even those closest to them: husbands, relatives, friends, business associates, and religious zealots, who never stop hunting them. It is powerfully emotive and engaging such that I could scarcely put it down. It draws on a surprising amount of research regarding pre-Christian pagan and Druid beliefs and practices, incorporating a surprising amount of realism which capably enhances the accounts of each figure. I won't give away too many spoilers here; I just highly recommend you read it for yourself, if you're a fan of this genre, or of women's literature in general, as it definitely advocates female empowerment.
This isn't the kind of book I read frequently, but it was definitely one of the best I've read in this genre. Anything I read from cover to cover in one sitting gets a five-star review from me. I look forward to seeing what other offerings the author has, now and in the future.
This well-told tale follows witches, some good, others not so good, along their life journey, from birth to death, in some cases: Nannette, granddaughter of Ursule, a witch of the old traditions, who passes down her knowledge to the only girl in the family with the gift of magic; Nannette's daughter Ursule, named for her great-grandmother; her daughter Irene, a scheming witch who uses a forbidden love spell to ensnare a wealthy suitor and sacrifices all to rise above her humble station; her daughter Morwen, who abandons wealth and privilege for freedom and true love; and Veronique, who lost her mother at birth, but finds strength to survive England during WWII with some surprising allies, not just American ones.
This book carefully and powerfully reconstructs the lives of women who could be actual figures, placing them in some of the most significant events of the last two centuries, following them throughout their lives as they carefully conceal their secret from even those closest to them: husbands, relatives, friends, business associates, and religious zealots, who never stop hunting them. It is powerfully emotive and engaging such that I could scarcely put it down. It draws on a surprising amount of research regarding pre-Christian pagan and Druid beliefs and practices, incorporating a surprising amount of realism which capably enhances the accounts of each figure. I won't give away too many spoilers here; I just highly recommend you read it for yourself, if you're a fan of this genre, or of women's literature in general, as it definitely advocates female empowerment.
This isn't the kind of book I read frequently, but it was definitely one of the best I've read in this genre. Anything I read from cover to cover in one sitting gets a five-star review from me. I look forward to seeing what other offerings the author has, now and in the future.
