... a bewitching coming-of-age story ... hooks you in from the start, its characters lively and complex and layered ... has a decidedly feminist tone to it, and this theme of women’s freedom through magic or self-means runs throughout the story. It is not overbearing in its portrayal of the limited choices afforded to women in the past, but it is a gentle reminder of how far (yet also how little) women have come in terms of economic freedom ... a delightful read imbued with magic that tells a story of power and legacy. Whole essays can and have been written about the word witch, and what it means to each progressive generation of women, who have increasingly reclaimed the word or identity. By setting this story during a time of social change in New York, The Age of Witches also becomes a novel about learning to embrace your own magic and power and using it for good.
Morgan’s beautifully conjured tale of three women, social mores, and the sanctity of self-determination is thoroughly enthralling ... Teens who like tales of witchcraft and magic will enjoy the spells cast in this Gilded Age tale about a young woman's future.
An Austen-esque romance, a heart-racing mystery full of dangerous twists and an anxiety-inducing yet enthralling family feud ... anything but a traditional tale of good versus evil ... The Age of Witches’ eloquent, flowery prose will please fans of Victorian British classics, and her detailed descriptions and attention to detail bring the locations and historical period to vivid life. New Yorkers will certainly recognize familiar locations in the picturesque setting, and for romance fans, the chemistry between Annis and an eventual suitor is palpable and skin-tingling. The Bishops’ magic is powerful yet elegant, far from some gaudy Halloween spectacle, and requires wisdom and skill to wield ... a perfect brew of meticulous skill and focused intention as the Bishops battle over their entangled lineage and futures.
The author continues building mystery and intrigue with her impressive vocabulary, weaving a compelling tale of love and magic in historic America and England ... This is a must-read for those who like magic, love, and a little bit of feel-good feminism in their historical fiction.
Morgan sets her robust tale of matriarchal magic in a lushly depicted Gilded Age New York ... By alternating perspectives between the characters, Morgan manages to elicit sympathy for each member of her large cast despite their conflicting desires. Even Frances is humanized beyond the typical wicked stepmother archetype. Readers will root for these powerful women as they struggle to overcome the social limitations of their time, whether through magic or force of personality.
Women’s inability to control their own destinies is clearly a theme here, but the novel’s heavy-handed treatment makes this message more burdensome than enlightening ... Morgan's failure to differentiate between voices—conversations between Annis and Frances are nearly indistinguishable from those between the marquess and his mother in both subject matter and vocabulary—makes it difficult for the reader to connect with the characters’ plights, even at the novel’s climax, as does a jarring opening that quickly alternates between point-of-view characters and pauses several times for lengthy backstory. For all of Frances’ dealings in darkness, an unnecessary attempted rape scene caused by black magic provides the story’s only true moment of suspense ... An underwhelming novel that often gets too heavy-handed with its theme.
