Louisa Morgan’s THE GREAT WITCH OF BRITTANY has plenty of promise. Its heroine, Ursule Orchière, is a young witch in 18th-century France, a loner amongst the Romani, a people who are even further isolated by their neighbors. When her magic begins to emerge as she matures, Ursule finds herself under siege from twin threats: the pain wrought by uncaring men and witch burners seeking to persecute those with power.

"Community and sisterhood, both found and familial, provide treasured moments of warmth and nourishment that quietly work their magic."

Ursule’s interpersonal dynamics with the others in her life prove fascinating. Her mother, Agnes, starts as her protector until the parent-child relationship reverses itself in startling fashion. The terror experienced by women whose lives were threatened by those trying to kill females they believed to be witches seeps from the pages. Still more women in Ursule’s life are alienated because they don’t fit into the rigid stereotypes of motherhood, and Morgan rigorously explores the difficulties of living with these standards.

The same applies to matters of love. The roles men play in Ursule’s life don’t always conform to the ideals of happily-ever-after, which proves intriguing as the heroine matures and decides what she wants in her own life. Community and sisterhood, both found and familial, provide treasured moments of warmth and nourishment that quietly work their magic.

Ultimately, Morgan focuses on these interpersonal relationships so much that the story’s pacing suffers. Chapter after chapter goes by with little happening except Ursule arguing with her daughter, mother or employers. The occasional triumph or tragedy offers an emotional high or low, and magical moments definitely stand out. But the drama is reserved for the appearance of witch hunters or the disappearance of a lover. Morgan barely nods to the rich time period (the French Revolution and the rise and fall of Napoleon) in favor of depicting Ursule milking goats yet again, getting this historical fantasy stuck in the mud.

Ursule wouldn’t have to get involved in kingmaking or military matters. But seeing the ramifications of her magic outside her small circle, or examining how the changing world around her impacted women and the Romani, would have been welcome.