The Vine Witch is a readable debut about a cursed Vine Witch seeking revenge. The story starts out with a Magical Realism vibe as a young woman makes her way home after being cursed. She is intent on saving her home as well as getting revenge on the person who cursed her.

The story is set in the Chanceaux Valley of France at the turn-of-the-century. While the location is definite, the time period was intentionally vague. And I’ll admit, that drove me a little batty. I couldn’t ignore the impulse to figure out exactly when this story is set. The latest reference I found was to the Union for Women’s Suffrage which was founded in 1913. But there is absolutely no reference of World War I. Since you can’t responsibly set a story in France in or after 1914 without acknowledging WWI, the story must take place before the war. Even so, there was no reference to the building tensions and economic effect that was already apparent in 1913.

I did like the idea of wine witches. I enjoyed the clash of magic versus science and tradition versus modern adaptability. The story explored a lot of interesting topics even if it did ignore the looming war.

The writing style reminded me a lot of Alice Hoffman circa Practical Magic. That may be high praise for some, but for me that is a mixed comment. I find Hoffman’s writing to be pretty and her concepts to be interesting, but I always felt utterly disconnected from her characters. And I had much the same reaction to The Vine Witch. I was intrigued, and I liked the setting and descriptions, but I felt no connection with any of the characters. Honestly, when Elena Boureanu was first introduced in the book, I thought she was the villain! Part of the disconnect is caused by Elena’s secretive and distrusting nature, but I need to feel more for a main character in order to love a book.

The plot did keep me thoroughly engaged. And I liked the concept and the setting, so the story held my story all the way through. I had no problem reading the whole story in one day. But I still missed that emotional connection to the characters.

Late in the book, the story takes a different direction, veering from light Magical Realism into true Fantasy. That isn’t a bad thing in and of itself. But it was not how the story started and was not what I expected based on the description and the first half of the book. The added Fantasy elements also lacked the necessary worldbuilding. Suddenly the story went from having vine witches who charm plants into growing better to the story having mythical creatures and some sort of magic police. But that wasn’t explained well enough, and it got too muddled.

Apparently there is now going to be a sequel. I have mixed feeling about that. There were enough things left open ended to have enough material for another book. But on the other hand, I’m not sure it’s needed. I probably will check out this author again though as her body of work increases as I do think the author shows promise.

In this story we follow a vine witch named Elena who has recently broken a 7 year curse on herself to find the vineyard she has worked for her whole life in shambles, and under the new management of a handsome stranger.

Overall I think this story could have benefited from a few more rounds of editing. The premise sounded so amazing and I think the magic/ world building was the strongest element of this book. Its set in the vineyards of turn of the century France were the most affluent wineries use vine witches to create delicious wine. The first half was super compelling setting up the relationship and Elena trying to discover who wronged her. However, the second half felt so rushed and disjointed, it ultimately ruined my enjoyment. There was so much telling rather than showing and the ending left me wanting.

Also, due to the convoluted pacing it made the characters feel one dimensional. We were told Elena is a very powerful vine witch, but I never really felt connected to her and never really rooted for the romance.

Ultimately, I think this story has all the elements of a compelling and interesting tory of witches and betrayal and romance, the execution was just lacking.

Wow! I just loved this book! It was captivating from the first page. I loved the story line. And the characters! It was so exciting and full of adventure!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

A bewitching tale of intrigue…
Vine Witch Elena Boureanu emerges from a cursed state with revenge firmly rooted in her mind, only to find that the world she was taken from and the things that she loves have been altered as well. With her beloved French vineyards no longer under her care, Elena must convince the new vigneron, Jean-Paul Martel, that all the science in the world cannot understand the intimate knowledge and magical care that is needed to craft the most sought after wines in the world. Elena’s weakened magic responds to Jean-Paul as their mutual attraction grows. And just like the vines, their roots will be what weathers the impending storm and produces a bountiful harvest.

Luanne G. Smith creates a cornucopia of stimuli in her fantasy, mystery – The Vine Witch. The attention to detail, from the sprawling vineyards to the herb lined shelves, saturates the pages and paints amazing word pictures. I loved the concept that an excellent bottle of wine is not just a result of a scientific process but of a carefully nurtured art between a vine witch and her plants. As characters, Elena and Jean-Paul perfectly fit the story and reinforce the time-period with their mannerisms and attitudes. Their budding relationship matures naturally, like the grapes on the vine, into a vintage romance.

The thriller aspect of the story is a page turner, with a number of twists and turns. Luanne gives you enough information that you are fairly confident in the identity of the villian only to have the ending be nothing like you expect. The Vine Witch is a wonderfully conceived and executed story.



Luanne corked this 5-star review when she stated in the acknowledgements of The Vine Witch, “As a writer I’ve always felt that storytelling was the last true form of magic left in the world.” She has truly created a magical piece.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh boy, was I excited to get a copy of this book. This was the PERFECT fall read. Luanne Smith has such a unique and gorgeous writing style. Her use of descriptors was perfect. She has great descriptive imagery and her dialogue was on point.

I was very into this book, I love anything witch or magic related so I just clung to every page.

I was super excited to see that this is going to be a series. This story feels far from over. I cannot wait to read more about Elena. She is such a powerful and fierce character that I just need more of.

I love the story between Elena and Jean-Paul. It just felt so natural. I am a sucker for that annoyed relationship turned soul mate.

My one suggestion is that if you decide to read this book, and you definitely should, do so with a glass of your favorite wine and make a night of it. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to review this title.

"Smoke, candle, oil, salt. Cone of energy form a vault. Safe within, safe without. Protect the one who sits devout. "
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Oh this spellbinding book was absolute magic. It had all my favourite elements. Witches, curses, potions, demons, revenge, murder, vine, and a handsome gentleman. What more could you ask for to read this Halloween.
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I got this e-book from @netgalley
in return for an honest review. The writer @luannegsmith has penned this marvellous story of a vine witch who is so much more. Every word has successfully captured the essence of the story. I could almost taste wine everytime I read about it in the book. The selection of the words is absolutely amazing.
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The story will take you to a beautiful valley where witches and mortals coexist peacefully. You will read about the vine and baked goodness and can almost taste them in your mouth. The gripping story will take you back to curses and revenge. How someone can cross all limits to be the best in business. To know more, go grab your copy now. This is something you cannot miss.
Ending this review with one of my most favorite lines from the book.
"For someone who didn't approve of spellcraft, this handsome mortal was very good at the charm business"
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#bookrecommendations #bookshelf #bookreview #halloween #halloweenreads #goodreadschallenge2019 #goodreads #writersofinsta #writerscommunity #thewritingcommunity #readersaddict #readerscommunity #bookstagram #bookreviews #witchstories #wine #authorscommunity

I really enjoyed this book. The magic system was so creative and I loved the turn of the century France setting. Most of the characters were very fun and I loved Elena. Sometimes they fell a little flat, but the fantastical elements made up for it for me. From the fantastic opening scene, I knew I would like this book. It’s a great October read!

The story was unusual with witches tied into wine and vineyards. It's a good/evil story with a dash of romance. I never thought about there being different kinds of witches with specialties. There is a sequel coming out June of next year. I will be adding it to my want to read list.

I’ll start off by saying that I really liked this book! Historical fantasy set in an early 20th century France, where automobiles were still scaring carriage horses on the roads and when cinema was having its birth. There is also a light murder mystery and although I wouldn’t call it a romance, there is a strong romantic thread. 
 
We first meet the heroine Elena as she emerges from a curse that had turned her into a toad. From that very moment, you can tell that Elena is incredibly determined and dare I say, badass! I won’t ruin the experience of how she escapes the spell, but that was one of my most favourite parts of the story. 
 
Burning with the need for revenge, Elena makes her way back to her Grand-mère’s vineyard to find out that it’s been sold in her absence to Jean-Paul, who very definitely does not believe in witches. 
 
The author was skilled in creating an atmospheric read and I really enjoyed her world-building where the magic and mundane both complemented and clashed. The plot moved well and there were a few twists that made the story all the more interesting. My only complaint would be on the romance side of things- the protagonists were rather antagonistic over each other and then rather abruptly fell into insta-love. However, their interactions were still quite charming and I wish we could have enjoyed a better build up to the relationship. 
 
Overall, this was quite an easy read and I am looking forward to the second book in the series.

This was exactly the book what I was looking for this fall. Basically, it had me at French VIneyard and witchcraft. There is overall good world building and intriguing characters. Of course, I didn't love them all, but I was 100% invested in seeing how it all worked out in the end. It's solid fantasy with a strong heroine.

Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I'd say it was a solid 4 stars experience for me. This is a story that I could fly through, and it still feels like interesting, potent fantasy.
We begin the story by meeting - of all things - a toad that lives in the marshland.
As it turns out, the toad is a young sorceress, cursed to live her life as a hopeless, little creature living in this damp, cruel place.
Elena is a vine witch, who spent the last seven years of her life under the influence of this curse. But before all that, she lived at Château Renard. This piece of land meant everything to her: she worked the vines the best way she could, producing exquisite wine at Chanceaux Valley.
Now she finds that everything has changed while she was gone.
The vineyard is now the property of Jean-Paul, who came from a big city to pursue his dreams as a vigneron. But he soon has to find out that there are things that science can not explain.

It was a very interesting first chapter and a clever way to start a story! I found myself intrigued from the start.
I love witchcraft and magic in books, and I enjoyed the magic system a lot in this one, namely that certain types of witches are best at working on certain types of product, like wine, beer, or perfume.
The setting felt really athmospheric to me as well, I liked the rich descriptions of the vineyard. More so, because I myself pretty much grew up at my grandmother's farm and fruit gardens.
The only thing I didn't like that much was the romance, which is just the "later on" insta-love that we know so well.
However, that didn't effect my enjoyment all that much, and I would very much recommend this to readers who would love to pick up something exciting and witchy and on the shorter side.

In The Vine Witch, Luanne G. Smith builds a magical alternate-universe turn-of-the-century France. The setting is very romantic, but also ambitious.

Elena is a Vine Witch, apprenticed at a young age to Ariella Gardin, mistress of Château Renard. As the story opens, Elena is in the process of saving herself from a malicious toad transformation. It has been a long two years of fighting the curse placed upon her. A run-in with a local fox during her amphibious adventures has left lasting scars. She returns home to find the vineyard she loves has been sold and hexed. Gardin, the woman she calls Grand-Mère, has lost much of her magic ability to age and grief.

Jean-Paul, the new owner of the Château, is a thoroughly modern man. Born and educated in the city, he was a lawyer prior to purchasing the vineyard. Despite his romantic notion to run the business himself, he is a man of science. He is positive that with the right care and maintenance, he can restore Château Renard to its former glory. Without the superstitious nonsense his neighbours rely on.

An overzealous investigator accuses Elena of murdering her former fiancé. Inside the magically fortified prison, she makes allies with her cellmates. Jean-Paul uses his background as a lawyer to defend her. Separately, our two protagonists fight for Elena’s freedom and discover just who is responsible for the misery blighting the Château.

With a little help from a cheese-making priest, Smith’s world does come together in the end. Elena convinces Jean-Paul to allow her to help set the Château’s fields to rights.

What follows is a tale of magic, romance, and revenge. The combination is quite ambitious. Pastoral vineyards overseen by generations of witches rest alongside a magical bureaucracy and early motorcars. Smith has to tread lightly. It would be very easy to make comparisons to the Harry Potter universe, or C. L. Polk’s alternate-Edwardian Aeland.

Historically, France has been a dangerous place to display any ability not directly attributable to the Catholic faith. Many people died as a result of being labelled a heretic. Smith does nod at the bloody past. However, I felt it set up a strange dichotomy. On the one hand, witches are seen by the city-dwellers as superstitious folklore. On the other, there is apparently a judicial arm responsible for policing magic-users. If there is a government arm responsible for prosecuting magic-related crimes, how is it that a former practicing lawyer is unable to see the work done in the Vineyards as nothing more than quaint tradition?

There’s a particularly fun description of an especially stony garden pest that I’ll let the reader discover on their own. I honestly laughed out loud.

I’ll give this book a solid 4/5. Once I got past the main introductions, I had a hard time stopping long enough to make notes. It’s a fairly fast read that should appeal to fans of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted.

There is some mild body horror at the beginning of the book. Some might find it a turn-off. I found it helped solidify the stakes right from the beginning. This isn’t a light and fluffy world; Smith’s world is a gritty, earthy place. You must tread carefully or be fatally cursed.

3.5 Stars. The Vine Witch sounded very promising. It sounded as if it had interesting and intriguing plot that would keep me captivated. Instead it was a weird beginning, characters who aren’t all that realistic, and PAGES (almost a full chapter?) of description and thoughts from the characters.

In short I was bored for the first half and most of the second, but the second is slightly better. The story at least starts to move along. Something I did like was the dual POV. It was nice to see magic from both perspectives.

Would I recommend it? Not really.

Would I read a sequel? Probably not, but I might skip to the end to see what happens.

I wasn't sure, when I finished this, if this was going to be a 3 star or a 4 star book. So, I'll compromise and say that I'll give this book a 3.5 star-rating.

This book grabbed my attention from the very first page. I mean, you don't often start of a book reading from a toad's perspective, you know?

And then, all of the wine talk came. So, just so you know: you'll have to have at least a little bit of an interest in wine, or otherwise you'll just find all of this boring.

The writing was great, especially for a debut novel. (Look, Enchantée, this is how you reference to French!) The world building was definitely great, but I wanted a little bit more out of the characters. It was very much a plot-driven book, but a lot of the times it felt like something in the plot just happened in order to set the characters in motion, for the sake of getting them to do something.

Loved the story, loved the writing, loved the setting. But I just expected more from the characters. (I mean, there's so little attention for who the characters are as people and even their outward appearances, I only found out Jean-Paul wore glasses after page 200.) I wanted more chemistry and character exploration. But I guess that's the only flaw I can think of right now, because the positive points I've mentioned above are really well-deserved, in my (humble) opinion!

The concept of a Vine Witch is an interesting one, instead of a traditional winemaker this town has a series of vine witches who use their craft to coax the best wine from the grapes.

Each vine witch works for a particular winery.

The main character of this story is Elena. recently released from a curse she finds her way back to her winery to find there have been some changes. She also wants revenge on the person that cursed her.

I really enjoyed this book and finding out more about the world that the vine witches live in. I wondered a few times what time period the book was set in.

There's a great love story and themes of friendship in the book and I definitely recommend giving it a chance.

This is the story of young vine witch Elena. After awaking from a curse she finds the world she knew turned on its head. She sets about turning the fortunes of her historical family vineyard, whilst being fuelled by vengeance to bring the witch who cursed her to justice. There is a little bit of romance thrown in there too.
I absolutely loved this cross genre novel. As a debut work I think it was outstanding. I was completely caught up in the magic, the fantasy and the romance. I am almost now convinced witches are responsible for making red wine!
I thought all the characters in this story were very distinct and felt Elena was particularly likeable. I certainly believed in the growing relationship between her and Jean-Paul.
Set in turn-of-the-century French vineyards, the book was very atmospheric. The descriptions of the wine’s aromas were so solid and intense they made me crave a glass! It was very well written, flowed nicely and was easy to read.
In all, I think this is a great read. I personally love a book about witches and magic, and this did not disappoint. I think if you loved The Night Circus and Caraval you will love this too.
The Vine Witch is available now! I can not wait for the sequel, which I believe is to be released in June 2020. Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this.

This is the perfect book to be reading before Halloween. What could be better than witches and wine? This book is a fast book that tells the story of Elena who breaks the curse of her being a toad for seven years. She returns to her family vineyard, Château Renard, to discover her grandmother has sold the farm to Jean-Claude who believes in science and not magic. I will read the follow up to this book so I can find out what happens but I would have liked more magic in this book.

I loved this book. Honestly, in a very long time I found this perfect YA fantasy book that was such a wonderful and comforting read. It literally transported me to another world. As one can see, the cover is beautiful, the story and the world this book created was just magical.

So the story starts with the main character Elena transforming from a frog to a human girl. No, no prince charming kissed her and helped this transformation, it was instead her swallowing her toad skin which helped her transform back into a human and break the curse. After the transformation, she blamed her ex fiance to have had put a curse so her main aim after this transformation becomes to kill her ex fiance and seek revenge. She goes back to her old vinehouse to find that the vinery has been sold to a mortal soul named Jean-Paul.

Jean-Paul believes in science rather than magic. Elena is a witch, she can address the auras through her intuition and also travel through shadow world. She also mastered in making deadly poisons and potions. Apparently this story is set in a world where the existence of the witches in vineries was common knowledge and wine was thought to have been made from magic. For Jean-Paul this was a different society to adjust to, where people weren't scared of witches but welcomed them. Elena without any money, only offered to revive the vine business to its former glory for a shelter.

The mystery part of this story starts when several animal killings as ritual sacrifices are found and evidence of someone practicing the illegal dark magic is spread. Elena's identity as a witch is known to Jean-Paul and her ex fiance who she thought put a curse on her, is found dead as a part of the dark magic ritual. Elena is then blamed as the practitioner of this abhorred practice and she must now clear her name and find out the truth about the real culprit.

The unique element of this book was the wide acceptance of witches and the scientific explanation provided by the magic practiced by these witches. Further, one can also see various intuitive elements like that from the show of "Good Witches", a little bit of "Sabrina" and tidbits of "The frog prince". I really liked the elements and the magic that was very well written. Loved it. Thanks to the publishers for sending this book and providing me a lovely reading experience.

<I>*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review *</i > 

2 stars 

The protagonist of the Vine with is Elena, a witch who was cursed to become a toad. She escapes this curse and is out for revenge.

I had seen some great reviews of this, but somehow I was disappointed. I just couldn’t seem to get into the writing. The characters fell flat for me, and the world-building felt pretty minimal.

What I Loved: The writing in this story was beautiful. The author's descriptions of the magical beings and affects on the lands and vines made the perfect pictures form for me.

How I Felt: I really enjoyed this book. The story was well-planned and had a great ebb and flow to it. My only wish was that the author would have slowed down a bit and given us another few chapters. It felt a bit rushed in spots. There is a love story, and we don't get to see that develop the way I would have liked. There were times where one of the characters would think how they wanted to take an action and I was a little taken aback. I hadn't gotten to where they were with their feelings yet. I think that the romance could have been given a bit more time to properly blossom.

To Read or Not To Read: This is a great read for anyone. It has mystery and action, witches and fantasy....and wine. You can't go wrong with any of that.

What's This Book About Anyway?
Elena awakens from a curse in a frog's body. She doesn't know how long she's been a frog or who cursed her to be a frog. She is clearly near the end of this curse, as she begins to transform into a human. Making her way back home, she finds that she has been gone for 7 years and her home has changed a lot. Château Renard has changed ownership and the new owner is not interested in the fantasy tales of witchcraft for the vineyards.

Elena finds the vineyards have been cursed, she believes by her ex, the same person who she believes cursed her. Just as she is starting to find a way to undo the damage, she is arrested for a murder she did not commit. She must find a way to prove her innocence before she is taken to the ax man.

Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for providing this ARC to me in exchange for my honest review.