What do you think?
Rate this book
The Witch’s Kind
From the author of A Secret History of Witches comes an absorbing tale of love, sacrifice, family ties, and magic, set in the Pacific Northwest in the aftermath of World War II.
Barrie Anne Blythe and her aunt Charlotte have always known that the other residents of their small coastal community find them peculiar -- two women living alone on the outskirts of town. It is the price of concealing their strange and dangerous family secret.
But two events threaten to upend their lives forever. The first is the arrival of a mysterious abandoned baby with a hint of power like their own. The second is the sudden reappearance of Barrie Anne's long-lost husband -- who is not quite the man she thought she married.
Together, Barrie Anne and Charlotte must decide how far they are willing to go to protect themselves -- and the child they think of as their own -- from suspicious neighbors, the government, and even their own family...
Barrie Anne Blythe and her aunt Charlotte have always known that the other residents of their small coastal community find them peculiar -- two women living alone on the outskirts of town. It is the price of concealing their strange and dangerous family secret.
But two events threaten to upend their lives forever. The first is the arrival of a mysterious abandoned baby with a hint of power like their own. The second is the sudden reappearance of Barrie Anne's long-lost husband -- who is not quite the man she thought she married.
Together, Barrie Anne and Charlotte must decide how far they are willing to go to protect themselves -- and the child they think of as their own -- from suspicious neighbors, the government, and even their own family...
448 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2019
1201 people are currently reading
13284 people want to read
About the author
Louisa Morgan
11 books1,578 followersLouisa Morgan is the author of A Secret History of Witches, The Witch’s Kind, and The Age of Witches. She's looking forward to the publication of The Great Witch of Brittany in 2022!
Louisa is a yogini, a musician, a mom, and a dog lover. She lives in scenic Northern Idaho with her family and her spirit familiar, Oscar the Border Terrier. Visit her at www.louisamorgan.net.
Louisa is a yogini, a musician, a mom, and a dog lover. She lives in scenic Northern Idaho with her family and her spirit familiar, Oscar the Border Terrier. Visit her at www.louisamorgan.net.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 752 reviews
December 14, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and Redhook Books for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This book has an average rating of 4.03. Here I stand all alone and very confused. I came for the witches and ended up with Roswell, aliens, fish babies, and way too much time spent on Barrie Anne's backstory. The writing is good, and this was my first read of Louisa Morgan. Also, I really liked Aunt Charlotte and felt she was a fascinating person in the story. I just feel a real lack of enjoyment after concluding. Hence why I find myself at a 2-star.
Moving on....
Publication Date: 19/03/19
Goodreads Review 28/03/19
This book has an average rating of 4.03. Here I stand all alone and very confused. I came for the witches and ended up with Roswell, aliens, fish babies, and way too much time spent on Barrie Anne's backstory. The writing is good, and this was my first read of Louisa Morgan. Also, I really liked Aunt Charlotte and felt she was a fascinating person in the story. I just feel a real lack of enjoyment after concluding. Hence why I find myself at a 2-star.
Moving on....
Publication Date: 19/03/19
Goodreads Review 28/03/19
March 29, 2019
"There are universes we know nothing of, Barrie Anne. Under the water. Beyond the sky. We live in a world of mysteries."
DNF @ pg186
TW: talk of miscarriage/infertility in this review
I am so, so sad to be DNFing this book. I have never 5-starred a DNF review before, but I am with this one.
It's a gorgeously written story and the witches in it are so wonderful. I honestly adore 95% of this book, but the 5% that I personally cannot handle is the only reason I'm putting it down. There are major trigger warnings for stillbirth (not a spoiler, it's mentioned very early in the book). I thought I could handle reading past those points, but every time the narrator remembered her pain, it just sent me into a fit of tears remembering my miscarriage.
I feel awful for not finishing this because I think this author is so tremendously talented and this book would be literally perfect for me if I could work past those sections, but I can't, and even with the baby she finds and adopts in the beginning of the book, the narrator is so scared of losing her that it was sending my anxiety through the roofs thinking about how scared I was of the thought of losing my rainbow baby when he came along. So, yeah, if any of this sounds like something you can't handle, please take care of yourself. ♥ If you can handle those TWs, then please pick this book up and give it the love it deserves.
There's also a content warning for very sad references to a former f/f romance that has been severed due to homophobia and the US' mid-1900s general lack of acceptance for queer relationships.
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Redhook for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 14, 2019
4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/03/14/...
I confess, I wasn’t sure at first that I was going to read this. My experience with Louisa Morgan’s previous novel A Secret History of Witches was really mixed, and I had concerns that I was going to run into similar issues with The Witch’s Kind, its sort-of spiritual successor. Thankfully though, none of those concerns came to pass. Although this one does contain many of the same ideas, themes, and stylistic elements of Morgan’s first book, it also features a much different kind of story, which—I have no doubt—is why I enjoyed it so much more.
Set in the early-to-mid 20th century, the book follows Barrie Anne Blythe, a young woman raised by her aunt Charlotte following the deaths of her parents. In the aftermath of World War II, the two women have settled on the Pacific Northwest coast, where Barrie owns a small farmstead by the sea. One evening, she notices some peculiar lights over the ocean, but decides to push it from her mind. That is, until the next day, her dog carries home a bundle that it found on the beach. In the bundle, Barrie finds a tiny infant—a very special little girl she names Emma, after deciding to keep and raise the baby as her own. With Charlotte’s help, Barrie devises a plan to explain for Emma’s presence, protecting her foundling child from curious neighbors as well as men from the government who have been poking around town in the wake of the strange lights in the sky.
Interspersed between these chapters taking place in the post-war timeline is also a second narrative, unraveling the events of Barrie’s past beginning from the time of her childhood being raised by Charlotte. In these sections, we watch as Barrie grows into a teen and then a young adult attending college where she meets her future husband Will, followed by her time living as a disaffected wife of a deployed naval corpsman. Eventually, the timelines link up as the story unfolds to reveal how the marriage falls apart, as well as the painful and heartbreaking series of events leading up to Barrie’s move to the farm and her subsequent discovery of Emma.
I have to say The Witch’s Kind was unexpected in a lot of ways. For one, there was a twist in the story and an allusion to elements closer to science fiction than fantasy, which I hadn’t seen coming at all. That said, I didn’t enjoy myself any less because of it. The magical and paranormal aspects were still present and strong, even if the concepts themselves were a bit scattered. And besides, it was mostly the overall riveting quality of the story and the irresistible charms that won me over.
In fact, I’m still feeling a little bowled over by how much I liked this book, considering it contains several of my personal pet peeves. I’ll be going into them later, but first, I want to go into all the things I loved. Foremost of them are the characters, Barrie and Charlotte, who are both strong women who have experienced hardship in their lives. Despite the protagonist being Barrie, my favorite character was actually Charlotte, who is in every way the kind of person you wish you knew in real life. Levelheaded, dependable and caring, even when Barrie was making the stupidest life choices, I loved how Charlotte respected her niece enough to let her make her own decisions and learn from her mistakes but was also always there to support her when she needed help. Their relationship was unquestionable the backbone of this novel, the glue that held all its various parts together.
I also loved the writing. Louisa Morgan is the pseudonym of Louise Marley, who is already an accomplished author of many science fiction and fantasy novels, so I was unsurprised at the level of skill displayed in her prose. I was, however, astonished at how well the framework of story’s dual timelines worked for me. Transitions were handled smoothly in a way that did not detract from the flow, even towards the end of the book when the past started to catch up to the present. I don’t always do well with multiple timelines, but it is how the threads are woven that matters.
As for criticisms, the ones I have are relatively minor, but they still warrant discussion. As I have already mentioned, there’s the disorganized way the supernatural elements were handled. The title of the book notwithstanding, there’s only a light sprinkling of magic and “witchiness” to this story, to the point where it probably wasn’t even necessary. However, the suggestion of aliens and mermaids as well as their possible connections to Roswell were another matter, for these were more relevant to the plot, though ultimately I felt the narrative didn’t quite manage to pull all these ideas together. I was also disappointed in the portrayal of Will, whose character I found completely absurd and over-the-top. I had a similar issue with A Secret History of Witches where the oppressive bigotry and abusive personalities of some of the male characters were overdone to the extreme, making them feel more like caricatures than real people. It also irks me that Morgan’s so-called strong and independent female characters always seem to get bamboozled by the slick talk and good-looking charms of manipulative men. Over and over, Barrie claims to have gotten the true measure of Will after the nth time he treats her like trash, and yet she still can’t seem to stop falling for his obvious tricks, annoying me with her utter cluelessness.
But as I said before, despite its flaws, I still really enjoyed The Witch’s Kind—certainly a lot more than I did A Secret History of Witches. It was a story I found completely engrossing and hard to put down. At the end of the day, I’m very glad I decided it to read it, and I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical dramas about found families or women’s fiction with a touch of the supernatural.
I confess, I wasn’t sure at first that I was going to read this. My experience with Louisa Morgan’s previous novel A Secret History of Witches was really mixed, and I had concerns that I was going to run into similar issues with The Witch’s Kind, its sort-of spiritual successor. Thankfully though, none of those concerns came to pass. Although this one does contain many of the same ideas, themes, and stylistic elements of Morgan’s first book, it also features a much different kind of story, which—I have no doubt—is why I enjoyed it so much more.
Set in the early-to-mid 20th century, the book follows Barrie Anne Blythe, a young woman raised by her aunt Charlotte following the deaths of her parents. In the aftermath of World War II, the two women have settled on the Pacific Northwest coast, where Barrie owns a small farmstead by the sea. One evening, she notices some peculiar lights over the ocean, but decides to push it from her mind. That is, until the next day, her dog carries home a bundle that it found on the beach. In the bundle, Barrie finds a tiny infant—a very special little girl she names Emma, after deciding to keep and raise the baby as her own. With Charlotte’s help, Barrie devises a plan to explain for Emma’s presence, protecting her foundling child from curious neighbors as well as men from the government who have been poking around town in the wake of the strange lights in the sky.
Interspersed between these chapters taking place in the post-war timeline is also a second narrative, unraveling the events of Barrie’s past beginning from the time of her childhood being raised by Charlotte. In these sections, we watch as Barrie grows into a teen and then a young adult attending college where she meets her future husband Will, followed by her time living as a disaffected wife of a deployed naval corpsman. Eventually, the timelines link up as the story unfolds to reveal how the marriage falls apart, as well as the painful and heartbreaking series of events leading up to Barrie’s move to the farm and her subsequent discovery of Emma.
I have to say The Witch’s Kind was unexpected in a lot of ways. For one, there was a twist in the story and an allusion to elements closer to science fiction than fantasy, which I hadn’t seen coming at all. That said, I didn’t enjoy myself any less because of it. The magical and paranormal aspects were still present and strong, even if the concepts themselves were a bit scattered. And besides, it was mostly the overall riveting quality of the story and the irresistible charms that won me over.
In fact, I’m still feeling a little bowled over by how much I liked this book, considering it contains several of my personal pet peeves. I’ll be going into them later, but first, I want to go into all the things I loved. Foremost of them are the characters, Barrie and Charlotte, who are both strong women who have experienced hardship in their lives. Despite the protagonist being Barrie, my favorite character was actually Charlotte, who is in every way the kind of person you wish you knew in real life. Levelheaded, dependable and caring, even when Barrie was making the stupidest life choices, I loved how Charlotte respected her niece enough to let her make her own decisions and learn from her mistakes but was also always there to support her when she needed help. Their relationship was unquestionable the backbone of this novel, the glue that held all its various parts together.
I also loved the writing. Louisa Morgan is the pseudonym of Louise Marley, who is already an accomplished author of many science fiction and fantasy novels, so I was unsurprised at the level of skill displayed in her prose. I was, however, astonished at how well the framework of story’s dual timelines worked for me. Transitions were handled smoothly in a way that did not detract from the flow, even towards the end of the book when the past started to catch up to the present. I don’t always do well with multiple timelines, but it is how the threads are woven that matters.
As for criticisms, the ones I have are relatively minor, but they still warrant discussion. As I have already mentioned, there’s the disorganized way the supernatural elements were handled. The title of the book notwithstanding, there’s only a light sprinkling of magic and “witchiness” to this story, to the point where it probably wasn’t even necessary. However, the suggestion of aliens and mermaids as well as their possible connections to Roswell were another matter, for these were more relevant to the plot, though ultimately I felt the narrative didn’t quite manage to pull all these ideas together. I was also disappointed in the portrayal of Will, whose character I found completely absurd and over-the-top. I had a similar issue with A Secret History of Witches where the oppressive bigotry and abusive personalities of some of the male characters were overdone to the extreme, making them feel more like caricatures than real people. It also irks me that Morgan’s so-called strong and independent female characters always seem to get bamboozled by the slick talk and good-looking charms of manipulative men. Over and over, Barrie claims to have gotten the true measure of Will after the nth time he treats her like trash, and yet she still can’t seem to stop falling for his obvious tricks, annoying me with her utter cluelessness.
But as I said before, despite its flaws, I still really enjoyed The Witch’s Kind—certainly a lot more than I did A Secret History of Witches. It was a story I found completely engrossing and hard to put down. At the end of the day, I’m very glad I decided it to read it, and I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical dramas about found families or women’s fiction with a touch of the supernatural.
April 17, 2019
Such an enjoyable read! I totally enjoyed the writing, the plot, and the characters. The story is mostly about Barrie Ann and her Aunt Charlotte - their lives and the secret they share from their heritage.
Barrie Ann drops out of college to marry Will just prior to his deployment in World War II. What happens after their wedding date is the real story here. There is both heartbreak and joy in Barrie's life - and we can see this is the case with her Aunt Charlotte as well. Both Barrie Ann and Charlotte are very strong women who face hardship head-on and overcome the challenges. The dog named Willow is a treat in this book and I really want that dog! I think Willow was my favorite character!
There are paranormal elements in the story. Obviously a type of witchcraft as the title indicates, but there is a child with a special gift, some talk of aliens, and I felt the dog had some type of gift as well.
This is the second book I've read by Louisa Morgan. I read A Secret History of Witches earlier and enjoyed it as well. Both books portray strong women. I look forward to new works by this author as I truly like her writing style and character development.
Thanks to Louisa Morgan and Redhook Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Barrie Ann drops out of college to marry Will just prior to his deployment in World War II. What happens after their wedding date is the real story here. There is both heartbreak and joy in Barrie's life - and we can see this is the case with her Aunt Charlotte as well. Both Barrie Ann and Charlotte are very strong women who face hardship head-on and overcome the challenges. The dog named Willow is a treat in this book and I really want that dog! I think Willow was my favorite character!
There are paranormal elements in the story. Obviously a type of witchcraft as the title indicates, but there is a child with a special gift, some talk of aliens, and I felt the dog had some type of gift as well.
This is the second book I've read by Louisa Morgan. I read A Secret History of Witches earlier and enjoyed it as well. Both books portray strong women. I look forward to new works by this author as I truly like her writing style and character development.
Thanks to Louisa Morgan and Redhook Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
February 18, 2019
A very mixed feelings here. It was in between 2 stars and 4 stars in parts, for me.
The writing: was lovely and there were lot of things I enjoyed. Especially the narration was pretty nice and the descriptive part about nature, animals and places was definitely defined and well executed. I didn't care for the mixture of fantasy characters.
The present day was more enjoyable to read than the going back to past.
The husband was a bit laughable as a character - was a bit too over the top to be taken seriously.
Overall it was a bit too drawn out and could have been a tad tighter.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC.
The writing: was lovely and there were lot of things I enjoyed. Especially the narration was pretty nice and the descriptive part about nature, animals and places was definitely defined and well executed. I didn't care for the mixture of fantasy characters.
The present day was more enjoyable to read than the going back to past.
The husband was a bit laughable as a character - was a bit too over the top to be taken seriously.
Overall it was a bit too drawn out and could have been a tad tighter.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC.
October 7, 2020
*****SPOILERS*****
Release Date: March 19th, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 3.75
About the book: Barrie Anne Blythe and her aunt Charlotte have always known that the other residents of their small coastal community find them peculiar -- two women living alone on the outskirts of town. It is the price of concealing their strange and dangerous family secret.But two events threaten to upend their lives forever. The first is the arrival of a mysterious abandoned baby with a hint of power like their own. The second is the sudden reappearance of Barrie Anne's long-lost husband -- who is not quite the man she thought she married.Together, Barrie Anne and Charlotte must decide how far they are willing to go to protect themselves -- and the child they think of as their own -- from suspicious neighbors, the government, and even their own family. . .
What I Liked:
1. The cover
2. The promise of a book about witches
3. The book flowed
What I Didn't Like:
1. Didn't need to be this long
2. The husband did not to be that evil.... Was too much!
Overall Thoughts: Honestly I thought I was getting a book about witches and that was not what I got. This is a hybrid book it a woman that has a gift of knowing the future. Our main character shows no signs. She finds a baby after there's a bright light and crash into the water. Baby is alien but with gills so she can swim. OK. Still no witches! Main character marries when she is young to this so over the type villain that all I could picture him doing was tying her to the train tracks and twirling his mustache. He's a bag of shit. He hits her, steals from the military (I wasn't mad about this it's the 40s and they were doing so many shady shit to people back then), steals the baby to sell her to scientists. So much was weird about this book. Why would the military let her keep the house that was bought with money from the drugs her husband stole? Where the fuck are the witches??? Not sure why a queer character was thrown in this book only to have her called offensive queer names. That went no where!
Final Thoughts: There's no witches here 🤷🏻♀️.
Release Date: March 19th, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 3.75
About the book: Barrie Anne Blythe and her aunt Charlotte have always known that the other residents of their small coastal community find them peculiar -- two women living alone on the outskirts of town. It is the price of concealing their strange and dangerous family secret.But two events threaten to upend their lives forever. The first is the arrival of a mysterious abandoned baby with a hint of power like their own. The second is the sudden reappearance of Barrie Anne's long-lost husband -- who is not quite the man she thought she married.Together, Barrie Anne and Charlotte must decide how far they are willing to go to protect themselves -- and the child they think of as their own -- from suspicious neighbors, the government, and even their own family. . .
What I Liked:
1. The cover
2. The promise of a book about witches
3. The book flowed
What I Didn't Like:
1. Didn't need to be this long
2. The husband did not to be that evil.... Was too much!
Overall Thoughts: Honestly I thought I was getting a book about witches and that was not what I got. This is a hybrid book it a woman that has a gift of knowing the future. Our main character shows no signs. She finds a baby after there's a bright light and crash into the water. Baby is alien but with gills so she can swim. OK. Still no witches! Main character marries when she is young to this so over the type villain that all I could picture him doing was tying her to the train tracks and twirling his mustache. He's a bag of shit. He hits her, steals from the military (I wasn't mad about this it's the 40s and they were doing so many shady shit to people back then), steals the baby to sell her to scientists. So much was weird about this book. Why would the military let her keep the house that was bought with money from the drugs her husband stole? Where the fuck are the witches??? Not sure why a queer character was thrown in this book only to have her called offensive queer names. That went no where!
Final Thoughts: There's no witches here 🤷🏻♀️.
March 24, 2019
Review to follow.
January 19, 2019
Not sure what to tell you about this mixture of witches, mermaids, aliens, g-men and WWII that would make you want to read it. It's just a light dusting of all of that but it works so well that I kept turning the pages this morning until I missed breakfast. Sincerely hope there is a part two, not that the ending wasn't great..but well you will see. It's good.
March 21, 2020
I fell in love with A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan last year and I was ecstatic when my hold came in for The Witch’s Kind by Louisa Morgan. Both books are standalone novels but share similar witchy themes. The book takes place in the Pacific Northwest and introduces Barrie Ann Blythe, post WWII. She lives alone on a farm. One day, her dog Willow brings her a baby that she pulled from the water, wrapped in a blanket. That is mysterious enough but it doesn’t take long to see the baby has other mysterious qualities. Barrie Ann only trusts one person, her aunt Charlotte. Charlotte has a way of knowing things. Over the years Charlotte has told Barrie about the family trait, a trait that could be dangerous if anyone ever found out. Now they must protect the baby at all costs.
Louisa Morgan’s books speak to my soul. I can never find anything that I don’t like about them. Her writing is utterly enchanting as if there is magic in the words themselves. The pace is steady and enjoyable. The story does jump back and forth between WWII and post WWII but it is not jarring and it flows perfectly from one scene to the next.
The characters are delightful. I absolutely adored Barrie and found that I could relate to her. She makes mistakes but she learns. She also finds herself struggling to understand the world around her, which anyone could relate to. Her development is perfection. Then there is Charlotte. She is Barrie’s rock. She is the embodiment of wisdom and comfort. She will go above and beyond for family.
One of the things I love most about Louisa Morgan’s books is the themes of life experience, love, acceptance, and family. The witchy theme while very much present isn’t the main theme. It just accents the other themes. Now, be warned this book does explore issues like pregnancy loss and domestic violence and manipulation. However, I couldn’t have loved this book more. Out of the 2 books I have read by Louisa Morgan, I have loved both. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Louisa Morgan’s books speak to my soul. I can never find anything that I don’t like about them. Her writing is utterly enchanting as if there is magic in the words themselves. The pace is steady and enjoyable. The story does jump back and forth between WWII and post WWII but it is not jarring and it flows perfectly from one scene to the next.
The characters are delightful. I absolutely adored Barrie and found that I could relate to her. She makes mistakes but she learns. She also finds herself struggling to understand the world around her, which anyone could relate to. Her development is perfection. Then there is Charlotte. She is Barrie’s rock. She is the embodiment of wisdom and comfort. She will go above and beyond for family.
One of the things I love most about Louisa Morgan’s books is the themes of life experience, love, acceptance, and family. The witchy theme while very much present isn’t the main theme. It just accents the other themes. Now, be warned this book does explore issues like pregnancy loss and domestic violence and manipulation. However, I couldn’t have loved this book more. Out of the 2 books I have read by Louisa Morgan, I have loved both. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
May 29, 2019
A quaint and provincial story of maybe witches I guess?
This is a weird sort of book, and I still can't quite figure out what it was trying to be. Maybe it was a tragic romance, maybe it was an empowerment fantasy, maybe it was a lean towards suburban fantasy in the American countryside. Maybe it's just a quaint little story that doesn't really go anywhere?
It has a split narrative, but they are separated by less than a year, and given that we are told what happens in the past narrative fairly early on in the present narrative there is no mystery here. I'm left falling back on my old adage that 99% of non-linear narratives exist to obfuscate the lack of plot.
There are pretty much 3 characters in this book, the rest appear as set dressing. The two leading women are well fleshed out and do feel to an extent authentic, but the third is an evil hopeless man who is built up to be completely irredeemable and therefore receives no redemption or anything interesting to do. His transparent machinations are frustrating to read, as everyone save Barrie (the main character) is well aware of them- reader very much included.
This book would have been served better by a stronger focus. Otherwise, I start to pick away all the unnecessary elements and find very little left underneath. Lean more into the weird fantasy angle, or the husband who goes missing in wartime angle, or the quaint provincial town politics angle. All of these could have made for an engaging story, but as it is we're left with a whole load of not a lot.
This is a weird sort of book, and I still can't quite figure out what it was trying to be. Maybe it was a tragic romance, maybe it was an empowerment fantasy, maybe it was a lean towards suburban fantasy in the American countryside. Maybe it's just a quaint little story that doesn't really go anywhere?
It has a split narrative, but they are separated by less than a year, and given that we are told what happens in the past narrative fairly early on in the present narrative there is no mystery here. I'm left falling back on my old adage that 99% of non-linear narratives exist to obfuscate the lack of plot.
There are pretty much 3 characters in this book, the rest appear as set dressing. The two leading women are well fleshed out and do feel to an extent authentic, but the third is an evil hopeless man who is built up to be completely irredeemable and therefore receives no redemption or anything interesting to do. His transparent machinations are frustrating to read, as everyone save Barrie (the main character) is well aware of them- reader very much included.
This book would have been served better by a stronger focus. Otherwise, I start to pick away all the unnecessary elements and find very little left underneath. Lean more into the weird fantasy angle, or the husband who goes missing in wartime angle, or the quaint provincial town politics angle. All of these could have made for an engaging story, but as it is we're left with a whole load of not a lot.
February 4, 2019
I’m in a weird place with this book where I don’t know if I like it.
There were things I loved. I loved the author’s voice – it’s charming and has a fable-like quality. I also liked that she surprised me. When you find out what is special about the baby…let’s just say it’s something you likely won’t see coming.
But I didn’t like some of the characters, didn’t like the flashbacks (I definitely was more into the ‘present day’ story), and found our main character’s husband to be almost a caricature rather than a character.
The storytelling itself is slower and more methodical than one might expect and maybe that was my issue. It’s a quiet read and I prefer a read that’s more…energetic.
It wasn’t bad and there are some things that I absolutely loved, but ultimately, it left me a bit dissatisfied.
There were things I loved. I loved the author’s voice – it’s charming and has a fable-like quality. I also liked that she surprised me. When you find out what is special about the baby…let’s just say it’s something you likely won’t see coming.
But I didn’t like some of the characters, didn’t like the flashbacks (I definitely was more into the ‘present day’ story), and found our main character’s husband to be almost a caricature rather than a character.
The storytelling itself is slower and more methodical than one might expect and maybe that was my issue. It’s a quiet read and I prefer a read that’s more…energetic.
It wasn’t bad and there are some things that I absolutely loved, but ultimately, it left me a bit dissatisfied.
January 21, 2019
Lightly paranormal, but really more about the binding and loosening of various types of relationships. Are there witches? Sure. Are there aliens? Maybe. Is Willow one damn fine dog? Heck yeah! Nicely paced with slow spells to appreciate a hot summer garden, and rushing bits of panic and fear pushing the plot along. Hope there is a second generation follow up. Recommended for book groups who are safe havens to discus marital intimidation.
July 16, 2022
I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the author’s previous books. There wasn’t enough witchiness in this one.
April 23, 2019
Barrie Anne Blythe thought her life was going to be like a movie, filled with a passionate love and the acceptance and admiration of everyone around her.
But having grown up with her aunt, who happens to have a very particular and magical gift, Barrie Anne's dream of fitting in never truly came to be. Then, to her romantic heart's delight, she meets Will and is swept away in the beauty of the moment, and since World War II is an ongoing nightmare, Barrie makes the decision to marry him before he is drafted.
But heartbreak has a very specific way of seeping into your life, and as Barrie battles the demons of her disappointment, grief and loneliness, a beautiful and magical stranger will come along who will put Barrie Anne's life in retrospect, making her realize there is nothing she wouldn't do for love.
·
It shouldn't be a surprise, by now, that I am completely in love with Historical Fiction. There is just something so cathartic about the fact that I can go back in time and experience the world and its customs as they were, nevermind that these stories are usually fictional. Now, before I start talking about what I loved about the book, I would like to mention that some people have been left disappointed by the narrative because it was not as magical and witch centered as they hoped it would be. To this I tell you, go back and re-read the synopsis. This is a work of Historical Fiction sprinkled with a few speculative aspects and if you are hoping it will revolve around the craft, you will be sorely disappointed.
If you plan on reading The Witch's Kind, I would like for you to keep in mind that this book is heavy with loss and grief but more specifically, the stillbirth the protagonist experiences shortly before the story starts. Every chapter is laden with pain and the memory of what was and what could have been. It was a heartbreaking experience but I think the author did an amazing job and explained everything with respect.
The Witch's Kind takes place during different timelines, all of which tell of the young woman Barrie Anne was and the person she came to be. The jump between timelines was flawlessly done and getting to know the main character's past as well as her present was one of my favorite aspects of the book.
And speaking about my favorite parts of the story, I want to talk about Barrie Anne's aunt and how incredible their relationship is! Charlotte is quite possibly my favorite character; her unwavering love for and loyalty towards her niece are remarkable and something I could have read about forever. She is an artist who has weathered her fair share of heartbreak and if it wasn't a spoiler, I would tell you all about it.
The magical aspect is subtle but so beautiful and pure I could cry just thinking about it! Whenever the Blythe's family ability was mentioned my heart felt like it was going to burst with love and something akin to pride. I LOVE the way Louisa Morgan explained the magical aspect and think it added the perfect addition to this stunning tale.
Ultimately, The Witch's Kind is about knowing that even if it's not possible for you to fit in everywhere you go, there will always be a few people you can call home. It's also about healing after extreme emotional pain and knowing that life does get better, eventually.
If you enjoy Historical Fiction, please pick this up. If strong familial bonds are something you enjoy encountering in literature, this is the book for you. And if you need a story that is going make you appreciate life a little bit more, I highly recommend you give this a chance.
I am giving this a million stars!
But having grown up with her aunt, who happens to have a very particular and magical gift, Barrie Anne's dream of fitting in never truly came to be. Then, to her romantic heart's delight, she meets Will and is swept away in the beauty of the moment, and since World War II is an ongoing nightmare, Barrie makes the decision to marry him before he is drafted.
But heartbreak has a very specific way of seeping into your life, and as Barrie battles the demons of her disappointment, grief and loneliness, a beautiful and magical stranger will come along who will put Barrie Anne's life in retrospect, making her realize there is nothing she wouldn't do for love.
·
It shouldn't be a surprise, by now, that I am completely in love with Historical Fiction. There is just something so cathartic about the fact that I can go back in time and experience the world and its customs as they were, nevermind that these stories are usually fictional. Now, before I start talking about what I loved about the book, I would like to mention that some people have been left disappointed by the narrative because it was not as magical and witch centered as they hoped it would be. To this I tell you, go back and re-read the synopsis. This is a work of Historical Fiction sprinkled with a few speculative aspects and if you are hoping it will revolve around the craft, you will be sorely disappointed.
If you plan on reading The Witch's Kind, I would like for you to keep in mind that this book is heavy with loss and grief but more specifically, the stillbirth the protagonist experiences shortly before the story starts. Every chapter is laden with pain and the memory of what was and what could have been. It was a heartbreaking experience but I think the author did an amazing job and explained everything with respect.
The Witch's Kind takes place during different timelines, all of which tell of the young woman Barrie Anne was and the person she came to be. The jump between timelines was flawlessly done and getting to know the main character's past as well as her present was one of my favorite aspects of the book.
And speaking about my favorite parts of the story, I want to talk about Barrie Anne's aunt and how incredible their relationship is! Charlotte is quite possibly my favorite character; her unwavering love for and loyalty towards her niece are remarkable and something I could have read about forever. She is an artist who has weathered her fair share of heartbreak and if it wasn't a spoiler, I would tell you all about it.
The magical aspect is subtle but so beautiful and pure I could cry just thinking about it! Whenever the Blythe's family ability was mentioned my heart felt like it was going to burst with love and something akin to pride. I LOVE the way Louisa Morgan explained the magical aspect and think it added the perfect addition to this stunning tale.
Ultimately, The Witch's Kind is about knowing that even if it's not possible for you to fit in everywhere you go, there will always be a few people you can call home. It's also about healing after extreme emotional pain and knowing that life does get better, eventually.
If you enjoy Historical Fiction, please pick this up. If strong familial bonds are something you enjoy encountering in literature, this is the book for you. And if you need a story that is going make you appreciate life a little bit more, I highly recommend you give this a chance.
I am giving this a million stars!
March 22, 2019
To be honest, I don’t know where to even begin with this novel. This was one of the best books I have read so far this year. It’s not just a historical fiction novel. You have diversity, war, loss, abuse, a bit of fantastic elements. Not really witches. More, women in a family with premonitions around water. You slip into life of being a naive young woman thinking she has everything going for her at that particular moment. The character development is amazing. Every single moment in this book is a spoiler so it’s hard to review this. All I can say is to give this a try. I was hooked from the first page and could not put it down until it was finished. I cannot wait to read more of Louisa Morgan’s books. Thank you so much to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.
December 10, 2021
Such a well written story. I enjoyed reading from the first page until the last. I always love reading about how a person finds their gifts. This one put me to tears. Her will to live and protect life was powering. Domestic violence during an era where woman were not believed. Strong character building. Determination at its finest.
September 15, 2020
I liked this book nice ending
October 25, 2025
3.5 stars
April 22, 2021
The main character, Barrie Ann, irritated me so much that I believe it colored the entire book negatively. So this review will mainly be a rant.
Barrie Ann is naïve, overdramatic, and just generally unlikeable. She marries a guy she's only known for six months. She thinks it is okay to adopt a baby that her dog found. She doesn't want to call attention to herself so she doesn't call the authorities. About 22% into the book when she's unhappy with her fiancé she drops a thermos and questions her life in a particularly dramatic fashion. She insults her aunt telling her that she's never been in love when Charlotte doesn't agree with Barrie Ann marrying Will. Yeah, Will is an absolute turd and you feel sympathetic for her, but who woulda guessed the marriage would be a bad one?!
The author repeats characteristics ad nauseam. Yes, we get it Willow is a special kind of dog. Yes, we get it that Emma has eyes that match the sea. Yes, we get it that Barrie Ann is pregnant in certain chapters by your frequent mentioning of her swollen belly. Yes, we know Aunt Charlotte gets "feelings" that are supernatural and can't be fully explained.
Because of the title of the book, you think it is going to be a lot about witches...its really not. In fact, Aunt Charlotte says they are not witches but they just have natural gifts. So there's just this mish mash of witches (but not witches), supernatural/psychic abilities, aliens, and water babies.
All of these irritations led me to scream at the book all the time so it was hard for me to find any good in it. Too bad!
I received this book as a part of a Goodreads Giveaway.
Barrie Ann is naïve, overdramatic, and just generally unlikeable. She marries a guy she's only known for six months. She thinks it is okay to adopt a baby that her dog found. She doesn't want to call attention to herself so she doesn't call the authorities. About 22% into the book when she's unhappy with her fiancé she drops a thermos and questions her life in a particularly dramatic fashion. She insults her aunt telling her that she's never been in love when Charlotte doesn't agree with Barrie Ann marrying Will. Yeah, Will is an absolute turd and you feel sympathetic for her, but who woulda guessed the marriage would be a bad one?!
The author repeats characteristics ad nauseam. Yes, we get it Willow is a special kind of dog. Yes, we get it that Emma has eyes that match the sea. Yes, we get it that Barrie Ann is pregnant in certain chapters by your frequent mentioning of her swollen belly. Yes, we know Aunt Charlotte gets "feelings" that are supernatural and can't be fully explained.
Because of the title of the book, you think it is going to be a lot about witches...its really not. In fact, Aunt Charlotte says they are not witches but they just have natural gifts. So there's just this mish mash of witches (but not witches), supernatural/psychic abilities, aliens, and water babies.
All of these irritations led me to scream at the book all the time so it was hard for me to find any good in it. Too bad!
I received this book as a part of a Goodreads Giveaway.
November 2, 2019
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 -- it could have easily been a 4 star read for me. With enthusiasm I opened The Witch's Kind and immediately lost myself in the novel. A historical novel centered around the beginning of WW2. The background story of Barrie Ann's relatives. The description of the farm, waterways and beaches were so well written and developed. The novel revolves around Barrie Ann and her Aunt's relationship, which neither would survive without the other. The family history of being able to see the future by touching water. The Witch's Kind had it all. But then it took an unbelievable science fantasy turn. I don't want to include any spoilers but I nearly did not finish it for this reason -- and for this reason only. Just could not get over the "alien" inclusion.
March 20, 2019
Louisa Morgan's best-selling The Secret History of Witches followed a matriarchal line of witches through the generations, each witch getting her own chapter. The Witch's Kind takes a different but equally successful approach, following the story of one woman living before, during and after World War II. When fate brings a baby into her life, it also illuminates the magic she holds inside her. This is a book about mother-love and failed romance, farming and the lure of the water. Set on the Olympic Peninsula, it captures the Port Townsend and Hood Canal of another time. Magic is not the main focus of the book, but it is the atmosphere that is essential to its being.
March 7, 2019
4,5 stars
This book was a very fast and comfortable read.
What marked me particularly since the very beginning of my reading was its timeless quality: This is a book that I could have read many years ago, after rummaging in my parents' bookcases. The writing is classic and an easy flow, with interesting and credible characters. The story is slow but with a very good rhythm, it was quite a page-turner for me! I was very afraid in the beginning, when I understood that the story will be switching, chapter after chapter, between "now" and "the past". But as a fact the story is very linear, each story completing the other one perfectly, and no frustration nor difficulties were met. A rarity for me, as I don't care much for flashbacks. But the writing construction is very clever and the reading absolutely effortless.
The historical context was interesting two, especially the point a view and the role of women during war time. One of the main theme of the story is clearly feminism, how woman are perfectly able to leave alone, all alone or between women, without any men - especially bad ones. All the main characters of the story are female, except one, and he's not a good person. The tone isn't one against men, not al all, some are presented as good and honorable persons. But the writer chose to show a situation where a young woman has to live with an abusive, elusive and lying husband.
Even if the story is quite mundane, with a lot a every day details, it's never boring. There is a special intensity, a momentum toward something. A thing that is going to happen, we don't know what, nor when, only that we'll be surprised, and maybe also scared.
The fantasy aspect is minimalist, as reduced to one only thing, but it's also central, and mysterious, and very well developed. The reader just has to know and accept that it's not a classical fantasy book, much more a classical story with a tiny shinning magical spot.
I'll certainly read more books of the author, to begin with "A Secret History of Witches".
I've rated this one four stars and a half, and not five, for two reasons: firstly I'm a little frustrated about the magical point, I would have like to know how it has evolved later on. I'd appreciate an epilogue about fifteen or twenty years later on, maybe? The second point is about the husband psychology; I thought it was a little caricatural in the end, a bit "too much", too "black or white". I quite understand the necessity of such a dark exposition, but still, more subtlety would have been welcome (even if it would have made the story... different. Sorry to be so unclear but I don't want to spoil!).
To conclude a book I recommend to all readers who love classical stories with good characters, a strong atmosphere, some hidden magic and a lingering mystery. For Daphne du Maurier's fans for instance, or Elizabeth Goudge's ones.
(I thank Netgalley and Redhook Books for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)
This book was a very fast and comfortable read.
What marked me particularly since the very beginning of my reading was its timeless quality: This is a book that I could have read many years ago, after rummaging in my parents' bookcases. The writing is classic and an easy flow, with interesting and credible characters. The story is slow but with a very good rhythm, it was quite a page-turner for me! I was very afraid in the beginning, when I understood that the story will be switching, chapter after chapter, between "now" and "the past". But as a fact the story is very linear, each story completing the other one perfectly, and no frustration nor difficulties were met. A rarity for me, as I don't care much for flashbacks. But the writing construction is very clever and the reading absolutely effortless.
The historical context was interesting two, especially the point a view and the role of women during war time. One of the main theme of the story is clearly feminism, how woman are perfectly able to leave alone, all alone or between women, without any men - especially bad ones. All the main characters of the story are female, except one, and he's not a good person. The tone isn't one against men, not al all, some are presented as good and honorable persons. But the writer chose to show a situation where a young woman has to live with an abusive, elusive and lying husband.
Even if the story is quite mundane, with a lot a every day details, it's never boring. There is a special intensity, a momentum toward something. A thing that is going to happen, we don't know what, nor when, only that we'll be surprised, and maybe also scared.
The fantasy aspect is minimalist, as reduced to one only thing, but it's also central, and mysterious, and very well developed. The reader just has to know and accept that it's not a classical fantasy book, much more a classical story with a tiny shinning magical spot.
I'll certainly read more books of the author, to begin with "A Secret History of Witches".
I've rated this one four stars and a half, and not five, for two reasons: firstly I'm a little frustrated about the magical point, I would have like to know how it has evolved later on. I'd appreciate an epilogue about fifteen or twenty years later on, maybe? The second point is about the husband psychology; I thought it was a little caricatural in the end, a bit "too much", too "black or white". I quite understand the necessity of such a dark exposition, but still, more subtlety would have been welcome (even if it would have made the story... different. Sorry to be so unclear but I don't want to spoil!).
To conclude a book I recommend to all readers who love classical stories with good characters, a strong atmosphere, some hidden magic and a lingering mystery. For Daphne du Maurier's fans for instance, or Elizabeth Goudge's ones.
(I thank Netgalley and Redhook Books for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)
March 26, 2019
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Having been a fan of Morgan's ever since A Secret History of Witches, I knew I had to pick up The Witch's Kind. But The Witch's Kind is softer, it's less focused on witches, then it is focused on trusting your own intuition. The way women ignore their gut reactions, or their instincts are twisted against them, their memories prone to re-writing. There's a quiet tension that builds throughout the book as we jump from the past to the present. We witness the unfolding of these relationships, the dissolving of feelings, and the emergence of new emotions.
full review :https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Having been a fan of Morgan's ever since A Secret History of Witches, I knew I had to pick up The Witch's Kind. But The Witch's Kind is softer, it's less focused on witches, then it is focused on trusting your own intuition. The way women ignore their gut reactions, or their instincts are twisted against them, their memories prone to re-writing. There's a quiet tension that builds throughout the book as we jump from the past to the present. We witness the unfolding of these relationships, the dissolving of feelings, and the emergence of new emotions.
full review :https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
January 9, 2020
Where do you even begin with this book for a review. I originally was on the thought this book would be about witches considering the title and about ww2 times by the synopsis but boy was I under the wrong idea. This book bounces between two different points in Barrie's life and they only converge within the last say 50 pages or so and quickly the book comes to a lack luster end. An end I saw coming but not so upbrutly and with minimal conflict. The book was very confusing to me as whole having everything from mermaids, to aliens, to your typical towny gossip and run of the mill terrible rushed marriage woes. I wouldn't say the book was bad and the confusion kept me pacing through to see how everything would connect but I felt the book didnt have much depth and seemed kind of jumbled.
August 9, 2021
I loved the vividness of the setting, and the two main characters were engaging, especially Aunt Charlotte, (artist, water witch, lesbian, and all round awesome person). Her niece, Barrie, was compelling, most of the time, but I found her gullibility and self-blame about Will to be overdone, especially near the end, when she REALLY should have known better. That final stupid mistake, was just too much to believe and knocked my rating down from four stars to three.
December 28, 2018
The Witch’s Kind features interesting characters about whom we learn more and more in a story that unfolds by jumping back and forth between the 1930s and 1940s. The author writes lovingly and engagingly of gardens, dogs, and family ties, but don’t think this is sleepy or pastoral. I read it in a day because I wanted to find what happened in these characters’ pasts and what would happen to them next.
As an aside, yesterday I finished another book set on the West Coast which also featured plants, animals and some supernatural elements that was *totally* unlike this, but also good: Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton.
As an aside, yesterday I finished another book set on the West Coast which also featured plants, animals and some supernatural elements that was *totally* unlike this, but also good: Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton.
March 19, 2019
3.5 Stars
I want to like this book so much more than my intellectual reaction to it. It wasn't the book I thought it was going into it, though I grew to love the two protagonists, Aunt Charlotte and her niece Barrie Anne Blythe. I also enjoyed Willow and Emma. My main question is... Is this really a book about witches? I'm not 100% sold on the idea.
I found the historical aspect of the story (post- WWII) to be of interest (how people recover from war), and I liked the slow revelation of witchery and the lesbian aspects (really, how many people are in total denial about their spinster aunts, I wonder?) but some of the secondary characters, in particular, Will, are just so two-dimensional and obvious that I occasionally felt annoyed. (You could see Will for who he was from the very beginning! No depth!)
I've seen some reviewers compare this novel to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, and that's just a disservice to Morgan's writing here. While she explores relationships, magic, and love, the strongest aspect was the alien aspect for me, rather than any conventional witchcraft theme. It's not the X-Files exactly, but I'm not sure that readers picking up this book are going to get what they anticipated. Not that that's always a bad thing... Yet the story flows and I found the interrelationship between Barrie Anne, Charlotte, Willow the Dog and Emma to be a moving one.
A pleasant read if you don't go into it expecting some intergenerational family witchcraft story by Alice Hoffman!
I received a Digital Review Copy from Redhook Press in exchange for an honest review.
I want to like this book so much more than my intellectual reaction to it. It wasn't the book I thought it was going into it, though I grew to love the two protagonists, Aunt Charlotte and her niece Barrie Anne Blythe. I also enjoyed Willow and Emma. My main question is... Is this really a book about witches? I'm not 100% sold on the idea.
I found the historical aspect of the story (post- WWII) to be of interest (how people recover from war), and I liked the slow revelation of witchery and the lesbian aspects (really, how many people are in total denial about their spinster aunts, I wonder?) but some of the secondary characters, in particular, Will, are just so two-dimensional and obvious that I occasionally felt annoyed. (You could see Will for who he was from the very beginning! No depth!)
I've seen some reviewers compare this novel to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, and that's just a disservice to Morgan's writing here. While she explores relationships, magic, and love, the strongest aspect was the alien aspect for me, rather than any conventional witchcraft theme. It's not the X-Files exactly, but I'm not sure that readers picking up this book are going to get what they anticipated. Not that that's always a bad thing... Yet the story flows and I found the interrelationship between Barrie Anne, Charlotte, Willow the Dog and Emma to be a moving one.
A pleasant read if you don't go into it expecting some intergenerational family witchcraft story by Alice Hoffman!
I received a Digital Review Copy from Redhook Press in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2020
Are you a fan of historical fiction? WWII era? Witches? Did you say yes? Then you’re going to love this one!
I’m not a big historical fiction reader but when you throw some paranormal elements in there then I’m hooked! Louisa Morgan has such a great way of weaving both magica and history together you come out with a sigh of happiness after reading her words. I really love the way Morgan writes. It’s everything I want from historical fiction, truly.
The attention to detail in this book had me visualizing the story so specifically I want to jump into the book. I loved that we were introduced to different creatures and water magic. It was beautiful. This book focused more on a slower movement with its descriptions and foreshadowing. While I enjoyed this read I still love A Secret History of Witches a bit more but I’m super excited for her 3rd instalment coming soon!
**Thank you HBG Canada for sending a copy of the ARC to me in exchange for an honest review.**
I’m not a big historical fiction reader but when you throw some paranormal elements in there then I’m hooked! Louisa Morgan has such a great way of weaving both magica and history together you come out with a sigh of happiness after reading her words. I really love the way Morgan writes. It’s everything I want from historical fiction, truly.
The attention to detail in this book had me visualizing the story so specifically I want to jump into the book. I loved that we were introduced to different creatures and water magic. It was beautiful. This book focused more on a slower movement with its descriptions and foreshadowing. While I enjoyed this read I still love A Secret History of Witches a bit more but I’m super excited for her 3rd instalment coming soon!
**Thank you HBG Canada for sending a copy of the ARC to me in exchange for an honest review.**
September 22, 2019
Louisa Morgan is an excellent writer on a sentence level. Her prose is lovely, and I felt myself drawn into the story, eager to read. I liked the small bits of fantasy included. But...it's not that great of a plot. It relies on some tropes of motherhood and I sometimes found myself rolling my eyes. Yet I couldn't help but read on, it's such a good read on a prose level, and I liked her characters.
April 19, 2019
This was a Goodreads giveaway win.
Such a good book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will absolutely read more by this author!
Such a good book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will absolutely read more by this author!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 752 reviews