The Great Witch of Brittany

The rollicking tale of Ursule Orchiere will engage any fan of Louisa Morgan’s earlier work, but for new readers The Great Witch of Brittany is an excellent introduction to the writer.

Born Romani, Ursule and her mother make a living telling fortunes. While her mother is the seer, Ursule assists behind the scenes until her thirteenth birthday when it is revealed that she is the true witch in the Orchiere line. While this should be an exciting moment, it is fraught with peril as the women in the age of witch hunters will stop at nothing to root out women with power.

Fans of Deborah Harkness and Paula Brackston will appreciate the sweeping nature of this story as Ursule’s life stretches over decades. It is as much a story about mystical power as it is about the pain and beauty of being a woman in an age that seeks to keep women silent. There are a few heavily foreshadowed twists, but other more surprising moments balance those to make The Great Witch of Brittany a fun read.