Curses and Hexes: Welsh Enchantress Rhiannon In Welsh folklore, the mention of curses and hexes often brings to mind the enchantress Rhiannon. Rhiannon, whose name translates to "great queen" in Welsh, is a fascinating character known for her magical abilities and the curses she is said to have cast. Legend has it that Rhiannon was a powerful sorceress who possessed extraordinary beauty and captivating charm. However, her enchanting allure brought her both great acclaim and great suffering. She was married to Pwyll, the prince of Dyfed, but their happy union was marred by a curse that prevented them from having a child. The curse was believed to have been placed on them by an enemy of Rhiannon, jealous of her beauty and desiring her as his own.
Jul 17, 2018 | ISBN 9781524704452
Pull back the curtain on the real history of magic and discover why magic really matters If you read a standard history of magic, you learn that it begins in ancient Egypt, with the resurrection of a goose in front of the Pharaoh. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat.
The curse was believed to have been placed on them by an enemy of Rhiannon, jealous of her beauty and desiring her as his own. Frustrated by the curse and her inability to bear a child, Rhiannon took matters into her own hands. Using her mastery of magic, she conjured a spell to lift the curse.
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A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family—and a new love—changes the course of her life.
As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules… with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos “pretending” to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.
But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and… Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.
As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for…
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What People Are Saying
⭐️ “Mandanna crafts a cast of winningly quirky characters, each with their own part to play in Mika's path to belonging. This charming romantic fantasy is a gem.”—Publishers Weekly (STARRED review)
⭐️ “This book is like a warm welcome home and is sure to find itself being a comfort read for many… Mandanna’s first adult novel is a positively adorable romantic fantasy.” — Library Journal (STARRED review)
⭐️ “A magical tale about finding yourself and making a found family that will leave the reader enchanted.” — Kirkus (STARRED review)
“The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a warm and witchy hug of a book. Full of endearing characters, romance and found family, it's the cozy magical romance you've been waiting for. I absolutely adored it!”—Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne
“This gorgeously cozy romantic fantasy sparkles with real magic, love, and joy. A perfect comfort read.”—Stephanie Burgis, author of Scales and Sensibility and Snowspelled
“Witty, witchy, and wonderfully romantic, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches will warm your heart with its endearing characters, grumpy-sunshine love story, and gorgeously sparkling magic.”—India Holton, bestselling author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
“Absolutely charming, adorably witty, and features an endearing cast of characters and a wonderfully tricky and romantic plot. This is a lighthearted tale of a coven everyone will long to join!”—Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches
“Sangu Mandanna spins a bewitching tale of found family, magic, and the power of love. Dark humor and bright writing abound in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and readers are sure to be charmed.”—award-winning author Suleikha Snyder
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Read the free bonus epilogue (Major spoilers for the book included, so please only read it after you’ve read the book!)
(NOTE: If you know me from my children’s books, please note that The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is aimed at an adult audience! Content warnings you may want to be aware of: a lot of swearing, some on-page sex, discussions of trauma and past abuse, and references to the racism and homophobia experienced by the characters.)
Hardcover $28.00 Jul 17, 2018 | ISBN 9780143130635 | 6 x 9 --> | ISBN 9780143130635 --> Buy
The spell included offerings of food and drink to the gods, as well as a promise to care for a child presented to her. The gods accepted her offerings and granted her the ability to conceive. Rhiannon gave birth to a beautiful son, but tragedy struck once again. The child was stolen from her while she slept, and Rhiannon was falsely accused of killing him. As punishment, she was forced to sit at the gates of the kingdom, telling her story to all who passed by. This curse, known as the "Curse of Rhiannon", was believed to bring bad luck and misfortune to anyone who heard it. Despite her hardships, Rhiannon eventually reunited with her son and regained her position as princess of Dyfed. She became known for her wisdom and fair ruling, as well as her continued involvement in magic and witchcraft. Her fame as a sorceress grew, and she was often sought after for her ability to cast curses and hexes. The curses and hexes attributed to Rhiannon were said to be incredibly potent and difficult to break. They were believed to bring ruin and misery to those who incurred her wrath or crossed her path. Rhiannon's spells were said to involve intricate rituals and incantations, often requiring specific ingredients or items to be used. While Rhiannon's curses and hexes have become renowned in Welsh mythology, it is important to remember that these folktales are just that - tales passed down through generations. The power of curses and hexes is a subject of belief and skepticism, varying from person to person. Nevertheless, the legend of Rhiannon and her magical abilities continues to captivate and intrigue to this day..
Reviews for "Rhiannon's hexes and curses: Exploring their origins and effects"
1. Sarah - 1 star
I was really excited to read "Curses and Hexes Welsh Enchantress Rhiannon" as I am a fan of supernatural books. However, I was extremely disappointed with this novel. The storyline was predictable and lacked depth. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real development. The writing style was also quite weak, with awkward dialogue and unrealistic interactions between characters. Overall, I found "Curses and Hexes Welsh Enchantress Rhiannon" to be a major letdown and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating read.
2. James - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Curses and Hexes Welsh Enchantress Rhiannon" based on the intriguing title and promising synopsis. Unfortunately, the book fell short of my expectations. The pacing was slow and the plot lacked excitement. I found myself losing interest and struggling to finish the book. The characters were also unremarkable and I didn't feel any connection to them. While the concept of curses and hexes could have been fascinating, the execution in this novel was underwhelming. Overall, I was disappointed by this book and would not recommend it to others.
3. Emma - 2 stars
"Curses and Hexes Welsh Enchantress Rhiannon" had the potential to be an engaging read, but it ultimately fell flat for me. The writing was mediocre, with awkward sentence structures and repetitive descriptions. The characters lacked depth and their actions often felt forced and unrealistic. Additionally, the pacing of the story was quite slow, which made it difficult for me to stay engaged. While the idea of Welsh enchantresses and the concept of curses and hexes intrigued me, the execution in this book left much to be desired. I would not recommend this novel to those looking for a captivating supernatural story.