The Age of Witches

New York in the 1890s: Young and wealthy horsewoman Annis is raised by her father and her mysterious stepmother Frances. Frances, of humble origins and driven by ruthless ambition, constantly strives to improve her social position, preferably by marrying Annis off to an English aristocrat. Neither Annis nor her father suspect that Frances is a dark witch, who uses her powers with no regard for others to achieve her goals. Fortunately, Annis has a powerful ally in Harriet, her great aunt, who also possesses magical powers. Louisa Morgan did a great job and wrote a really good and very convincing novel. Magic and witchcraft are a natural given in "The Age of Witches", thus the book does not feel like a fantasy novel at all, but rather reads like an episode of "Downton Abbey" with potions and voodoo. The novel is very well written, the author's extensive and versatile choice of words and the amount of research, which must have formed a huge part of the writing process, are remarkable. Due to the four different character perspectives, the novel is also incredibly entertaining. While the male character is rather weak, the three women are very strong - this is a narrative of powerful women, after all. The novel even offers some subtle (and not so subtle) early feminist thoughts, which perfectly align with the historical setting. "The Age of Witches" is a great choice for readers, who would not necessarily choose a fantasy novel, but like a touch of magic. The novel is a fine blend of various genres.