Author: Luanne G. Smith
Publisher: 47North
Publication Date: 1 October 2019
Pages: 263
Format: eBook - PDF
Genre: Paranormal
Source: ARC via NetGalley
A young witch emerges from a curse to find her world upended in this gripping fantasy of betrayal, vengeance, and self-discovery set in turn-of-the-century France.
For centuries, the vineyards at Château Renard have depended on the talent of their vine witches, whose spells help create the world-renowned wine of the Chanceaux Valley. Then the skill of divining harvests fell into ruin when sorcière Elena Boureanu was blindsided by a curse. Now, after breaking the spell that confined her to the shallows of a marshland and weakened her magic, Elena is struggling to return to her former life. And the vineyard she was destined to inherit is now in the possession of a handsome stranger.
Vigneron Jean-Paul Martel naively favors science over superstition, and he certainly doesn’t endorse the locals’ belief in witches. But Elena knows a hex when she sees one, and the vineyard is covered in them. To stay on and help the vines recover, she’ll have to hide her true identity, along with her plans for revenge against whoever stole seven winters of her life. And she won’t rest until she can defy the evil powers that are still a threat to herself, Jean-Paul, and the ancient vine-witch legacy in the rolling hills of the Chanceaux Valley.
The Vine Witch was a promising debut novel. The premise was interesting and there was just the right level of world building to present the magic and the time period without going over the top with detail. Elena was a compelling heroine whose trials I was keen to follow. The only thing that didn't work so well for me was the romance aspect, which felt a bit insta-love. I didn't quite see why they would fall for each other and so quickly. But overall this was a quick, entertaining read that I recommend to readers who enjoy historical, magical tales.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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