The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith offers a unique blend of historical fantasy, romance, and mystery, set in the enchanting vineyards of Belle Époque France. The premise is fresh and intriguing, centering on a world where witches are tied to the earth’s natural magic, specifically the cultivation of wine. While the novel’s concept is captivating, the execution is somewhat uneven.

The story follows Elena Boureanu, a vine witch who has been cursed and trapped in the form of a toad for years. Upon breaking free, she returns to her beloved vineyard to find it struggling under a new owner, Jean-Paul Martel, who is skeptical of magic. As Elena seeks to restore the vineyard’s glory and uncover the truth behind her curse, secrets unravel, and romance blooms.

Smith’s world-building shines in its creativity. The connection between magic and winemaking is beautifully imagined, with lush descriptions that evoke the charm of the French countryside. However, the magic system, while intriguing, lacks depth and could have benefited from more detailed exploration to truly immerse the reader.

The characters are engaging but somewhat predictable. Elena is a determined and likable protagonist, though her journey feels rushed at times. Jean-Paul, the rational lawyer turned vineyard owner, provides a good foil to Elena’s magical perspective, but their romantic relationship develops too quickly to feel entirely authentic. Side characters and subplots, while interesting, don’t always get the attention they deserve.

The pacing of the plot is uneven, with a strong start that loses momentum in the middle before picking up again toward the end. The mystery and revenge elements are compelling but occasionally overshadowed by the romantic subplot, which might disappoint readers looking for a deeper focus on the magical and historical aspects of the story.

Despite its flaws, The Vine Witch is an enjoyable and atmospheric read with a charming premise. Fans of light historical fantasy with a touch of romance will find much to appreciate, though those seeking a more intricate plot or complex character development might come away wanting more.

In summary, The Vine Witch is an entertaining debut with plenty of promise. It’s a delightful escapade into a magical world, perfect for a cozy weekend read, even if it doesn’t fully deliver on its potential

#TheVineWitch #LuanneG.Smith #NetGalley

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I really enjoyed the begging of the book. Smith is great at world building but after awhile the book felt tedious and I got bored reading it.

it was actually very enjoyable and i liked the characters.
actually i ended up liking the love interest more than the main character.

What an intriguing read. If you enjoy a book about witches, legends and such you would enjoy this gem of a book. The main character finds her life as she knew it taken away from her and her goal it to get it back.

Very captivating read!

I had trouble downloading this book but I ended up purchasing it because it had such good reviews and I am glad I did!

There was an interesting idea behind the story however the execution fell short. The only thing this book had going for it was the malice system and world building everything else crashed and burned or was certainly near it.

A light story, easy to read and entertaining, excellent to read over a weekend!
The Vine Witch opens in a memorable way: with a toad who lives in a swamp and who is about to break the curse that keeps her in that form to become a human again, or to be specific, a witch, a vine witch.
From that moment on, the reading slips in an almost unstoppable way, as if suddenly, a spell fell on the reader and prompted him to continue reading the story of Elena Boureanu, the witch of Château Renard in her desire to take revenge on the person who cursed her.
I think many people will like this book, if they enjoy a good book with stories of witches, love, betrayal and revenge.

I love stories of magic and witchcraft so this was right up my street. It was really enjoyable and I loved the setting for the story too.

Elena Boureanu, é uma bruxa que passou muito presa a um feitiço enquanto o legado de sua família era usurpado. Após se livrar do feitiço ela precisa lidar com séculos de mudanças e com o fato que seu legado está no controle de um homem que vai atrair sua atenção de muitas maneiras.

Um romance sobrenatural divertido de ler é perfeito para entrar no clima de Halloween!

Primeiro de uma série!

This story didn't quite work out for me. I was interested in the vine witch magic system and world-building at first, but then the story dragged on very slowly without anything happening. Unfortunately. the main character didn't develop any likable characteristics and the love interest turned out to be pretty flat as well. I think I stopped reading at about 80% since the plot started to break down and not make since around then. I wasn't interested in continuing to read something that seemed to veer wildly off the rest of the story.

i really enjoyed reading this book, the characters were great and I really enjoyed the plot itself. I look forward to more from the author.

I've tried a few times to read this so that I could give it a proper review, I was hoping that it just wasn't the right time for me to read it, and that I would eventually get to love it but I think its just not for me. The pacing felt a bit off and j just want enjoying it
But I definitely think it has a lot of potential and its definitely something a lot of people will enjoy especially fans of historical fantasies but it just wasn't quite what I expected.
I think I will try reading it again some day as I wanted to love it

This book had a lot of potential but it fell flat. The author wasn't able to do proper justice to it. It wasn't paced well, and I really couldn't root for the main characters. Ended up DNFing.

I was provided with an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I LOVED this book!!! The setting, the magic system, the characters, the story - all of it was wonderful and atmospheric and unputdownable! At under 300 pages, this was the perfect quick read for a lazy Saturday, and I immediately went and ordered the 2nd in the series (the 3rd is coming in January!) because I couldnt get enough! Perfect for those who love a witchy vibe and great story telling.

This story had an intriguing premise - a witch who helps a French vineyard succeed is cursed by a rival. But unfortunately I don't think it delivered successfully; the writing wasn't very strong, and it moved too quickly through the plot.

Dnfed--unfortunately the book was archived before I was able to read it. However, I will be back with a review if I am able to read the book in the future!

I started this book a few months ago and just couldn't get into. I ended up putting it down with no intention of finishing it. I eventually found the motivation to give it another try, and I'm glad I did.
The pacing threw me off a little, as the reason I had put off continuing was that it just seemed to drag on in the beginning, but once I picked up where I left off the story took me all over the place in a hurry, sometimes too quickly.
Elena was kind of hard to like, as shes miserable all the time (understandable, as shes cursed, then comes home to a stranger in her home) but I was still invested in her getting her revenge.
I found the romance to be forced, all of a sudden they're talking about love after saying and thinking nothing kind about eachother? Didnt feel organic, even though its 'enemies to lovers' which I enjoy.
I liked the little part in the story about the dessert shop that draws customers in with love potions added into the pastries. I like to see the ways in which this world is different because of the magic. More of this!
I definitely didnt predict the ending, not sure if I missed it or if the hint to who the owner of the watch was just well hidden.

Looking forward to reading more from this author :)

As others have mentioned, this book feels more like historical fiction than fantasy. The writing was fantastic and beautiful, but the story just didn’t hook me the way I was hoping. I think it’s just a genre preference for me, rather than the quality of the book, because I thought the writing was great!

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

I was excited to read this book because I love magical books. This one was very unique because it deals with a a woman named Elena and a man named Jean-Paul . I wish that we had more drama, magic and fighting .
I will say that although I enjoyed this book, my only dislike was the romance, it felt forced and they told us and felt out of the blue. How did we get here?
The romance was the enemies to lovers trope, which I usually enjoy but with this book it just happened.
Overall this was an okay read, I just wish there was more action or let us know its more of a romance.

Why does it take me so long to read books that I just know I’ll probably love? I have no answer. It will be a question that will continue to haunt me, as The Vine Witch becomes the latest proof that I just need to trust.my.gut.instinct and read the books I pick up. Just look at that cover and tell me I shouldn't have known better. Magic, wine, France, curses, and a hint fo romance; what else could I have asked for. Thanks to 47North and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What is it about herbs, spell books and secret rituals that is so utterly enticing to so many of us? In The Vine Witch we encounter age old traditions, passed on by a mentor, which are deeply embedded in the natural surroundings of our main characters. Perhaps it is this, connection, that makes it do heartwarming. Luanne G. Smith manages to create a world much like our own, with the definite difference that magic is real and, kind of, accepted. People don't like to see it too much (which Muggle has ever enjoyed knowing their lack of power) but they know the benefits it brings. What sets The Vine Witch apart, for me, is the genius of combining something as intricate and moody as wine making with witchcraft. Both require an intricate knowledge of the elements and the earth. Both require spending time pouring, measuring, stirring, testing, tasting. Both are full of tips and tricks particular to each region and family. I was thrilled from the very beginning!

Elena is not living her best life at the beginning of The Vine Witch. I won't betray the nature of her curse but it was not only a great start, it also retains its relevance throughout the novel. Once she manages to find her way back to her home, the vineyard where she learnt her craft, she finds out that years have passed and nothing is the same. As Elena sets about trying to fix her vineyard, Smith weaves in different plot elements that all come together rather neatly at the end. There is vengeance required for the curse. There is a brooding, science-minded city boy to deal with. And then there are the other, strange, magical happenings throughout the Chanceaux Valley that will need a witch to unravel them. The Vine Witch moves rather quickly but knows where to pack its emotional punches.

Smith's novel soars on its premise, which I've already discussed in the first paragraph. It is a great idea that she is able to unpack and broaden throughout the novel without relying on exposition. She easily creates a sense of tradition and lore, while also leaving plenty of hints at further expansion. Her main character, Elena, is easy to adore as her passion for her craft, loved ones and vineyard shines through every action. I also found myself warming to the other characters rather quickly. The Vine Witch is not an overly complicated novel and perhaps has more of a romance theme than the blurb suggests. However, it is a very comfortable and warm read that lets you escape into another world for a few hours. There is enough intrigue and mystery to keep a reader less in love with magic interested as well. Although The Vine Witch is the start of a series, it does feel like a complete book on its own. Although there are a few story lines left open for the next novel, The Glamourist, The Vine Witch begins and ends its own story, refusing to leave readers waiting for a conclusion.

I adored The Vine Witch and absolutely raced through it. With a nice concept and solid world building, Smith has crafted a lovely standalone and great starter to her Vine Witch series. I'll be reviewing its sequel, The Glamourist, later this month.

This review is featured on A Universe in Words from 6/9/2020.

I enjoyed this book but I had a hard time getting really into it. I wanted more from the MC and more romance.