Witches have long been associated with producing and using philters, or love potions, in their various spells and rituals. These potions are believed to have the power to influence the thoughts and emotions of others, particularly in matters of love and desire. Philters can be created using a variety of ingredients, some of which may come from the natural world, while others may be uncommon or even rare. These ingredients can include herbs, spices, flowers, and animal parts, among other things. The process of creating a philter involves combining and sometimes brewing these ingredients together with the intent of harnessing their magical properties. This can be done through various methods, such as steeping them in liquids like water or alcohol, or grinding them into powders.
Above everything else, the book shines as character study, exploring Ursule as a woman, a daughter, a mother, and a legend. Despite being known as one of the greatest witches to have ever lived, this is the true story of Ursule which shows that she was not always wise, nor was she always responsible with her powers. As a young woman, she was more often than not driven by selfish desires, though in many cases, you could also hardly fault her for wanting so desperately to protect her loved ones. On her journey to self-discovery, she weathers through many mistakes and suffers terrible losses, but somehow always manages to overcome these challenges, emerging stronger and more confident of herself on the other side.
Getting the full story from a single perspective also led to more stability and coherence, which could be why I also found this novel so much easier to get into. As a young woman, she was more often than not driven by selfish desires, though in many cases, you could also hardly fault her for wanting so desperately to protect her loved ones.
This can be done through various methods, such as steeping them in liquids like water or alcohol, or grinding them into powders. Once the philter is created, it is typically stored in a bottle or container and used as needed. Witches may employ different methods to administer the potion, such as placing a few drops into a person's drink or food, or even applying it directly to their skin.
The great witch of brittany
27 January 2022
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Beautifully told story of origins
This was my first Louisa Morgan book and what I can say is that I really enjoyed it, and it certainly won’t be my last. In fact, in that respect I have a question about this author’s other books – do I need to read them in a certain order? I think all the books are standalone stories but just thought I’d check.
Anyway, this book tells the story of Ursule Orchiere, how she came to know magic, her ability to read the ancient Grimoire passed down by the Orchiere women and the tenacious way she holds together her family.
The story starts when Ursule is a young girl and we get a feel for the life she lives. Her mother tells fortunes and Ursule collects the coins. Ursule has been fed stories of the Orchiere women and their magic and longs to inherit magic of her own and be part of the story. These are difficult times for women. Witch hunters obsessively search for their next victim to feed the flames and women with knowledge of herb lore are persecuted.
I loved the way Ursule tells her story. The scene is set really well and I just found myself sinking into the tale with ease. There is a palpable sense of fear and a genuine feeling of helplessness amongst the travellers. Gangs of men literally swoop indiscriminately through the camps snatching up women to terrorise and torture. Ursule’s mother finds herself accused and from here things take a different turn but I won’t go further into the story.
What really appealed to me with this story is that it was so easy to get into. The sense of period is beautifully evoked. The hard lives that people led really comes across well and the strong family ties also simply ooze off the page. If you put the witching elements to one side this feels like an impressively rendered historic piece and the descriptions and writing just pulled me in. It just felt like an incredibly comforting read somehow – which, given the darker elements of the story, is an impressive achievement.
On top of this I really liked Ursule and her familiar Drom. I’m not sure that any of the other characters were as well drawn but given that Ursule is the central figure I didn’t have any issues with this. In fact, the other characters felt almost greyed out which felt somehow appropriate given the lonely way Ursule lives. She is a loner, not necessarily by choice, and in fact even though she eventually feels as though she’s surrounded herself with loved ones she still very much comes across as a lone figure.
In terms of criticisms I don’t have any. I can say that this is not a book that you can read quickly and to be honest I don’t think you should try to wolf this down in a couple of sittings. This is a book to be savoured and enjoyed. So, if you fancy a piece, very female centric, focusing on witchcraft and strong family ties, that actually has a kind of payback for the magic used, then give this a go. It really is a delicious morsel.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this. It felt like the right book at the right time and it worked really well for me. A lovely story of inherited magic and one woman’s life and struggles.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4.5 of 5 stars
For more from Louisa Morgan, check out:
The belief in the power of philters dates back centuries and can be found in folklore and literature from various cultures. While some may view philters as harmless or merely symbolic, others may genuinely believe in their ability to affect the emotions and actions of others. It is important to note that the use of philters, like other forms of magic and witchcraft, is highly debated and often viewed differently depending on cultural and personal beliefs. While some may see them as a tool for manipulation or unethical practices, others may view them as a means of self-expression or personal empowerment. Overall, the production and use of philters by witches have a long and storied history. Whether one believes in their magical properties or not, they continue to captivate the imaginations of people around the world as symbols of love, desire, and the mystical power of witches..
Reviews for "The Dark Side of Witches' Philters: Dangers and Precautions"
1. Mary Smith - 1/5 - I was really excited to read "Witches produce philters in these" as I am a fan of fantasy novels. However, I was extremely disappointed with this book. The storyline was confusing and poorly developed, and the characters lacked depth and motivation. The writing style was also lackluster, with choppy sentence structures and a lack of descriptive language. Overall, I found this book to be a complete waste of time and would not recommend it to anyone.
2. John Thompson - 2/5 - "Witches produce philters in these" had an interesting concept, but it fell short in execution. The plot seemed promising, but it quickly became convoluted and hard to follow. The characters were one-dimensional and I struggled to connect with any of them. Additionally, the writing style was often repetitive and lacked creativity. While there were some moments of intrigue, they were overshadowed by the overall disappointment of the book. I was hoping for a captivating read, but unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations.
3. Sarah Johnson - 2/5 - As a fan of witchcraft and fantasy novels, I was initially drawn to "Witches produce philters in these." However, I found the book to be highly repetitive and predictable. The plot lacked originality and failed to create a compelling narrative. The characters were also underdeveloped and their actions often felt forced. The writing style was average, with nothing particularly remarkable or engaging. Overall, it was a disappointing read that did not meet my expectations. I would not recommend this book to fellow fans of the genre.