I think it is just personal opinion and preference, but this book was just lacking something for me. I really wanted to love this one because I know that it is part of a series and I did enjoy the first book. I liked the way it was written and I liked the overall writing, but it just didn't get a full 5-stars for me. I did enjoy the cover art; it really pulled me in and made me want to read this book. Surely, other people did love it and I am very thankful to have read it. Trust me, I really wanted to love this one because the premise sounds great!

This was unfortunately a DNF for me at around 30%.

The charming, vineyard vibes from the first book just didn't register in the sequel in my opinion. I found the shift in main character to be jarring and uninteresting, and the characters that I once liked felt lifeless and on autopilot.

I will unfortunately not be continuing on in the series.

Thank you to netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

I like that each book is set up as a series but focuses as well on finding the identity of each witch we encounter. In book one we meet Elena and she comes into her own as a vine witch. Toward the end of that book, we meet Yvette who comes to her rescue. The Glamourist focuses on Yvette who turns out to have a very interesting bloodline and it all tied up in a special book and maybe a Fae character or two. This series is unique and I thoroughly enjoy each and everyone i read.

The Vine Witch was superb, and this follow-up was just as magnificent! I loved the storyline. The characters were amazing, and I could easily picture myself in their shoes. This series is great!

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

I think The Vine Witch remains my favorite of the series, but this is a worthy sequel. As always, her world building is superb, and her characters are lush and detailed. You really care about what happens to her characters. I'm so glad I stumbled across her books.

This book wasn't for me, but I did recommend it to a few friends I felt would enjoy it more. I shouldn't have downloaded this based on cover only when I first made this account, so that's on me! I had only just started reading again and was still learning my new preferences for reading.

I DNFed about halfway through, purely because of personal preference. Definitely not badly written, and it's predecessor, The Vine Witch, was a lot of fun! I might download this later from Kindle Unlimited to read, that way my read through can generate income for the author, since this review will not (as my audience primarily expects LGBTQ+ fiction recs from me). I won't be posting about this being a DNF so as not to negatively impact the star ratings on Goodreads or other platforms.

I absolutely adored the first book in this series so naturally I was scared book two wouldn’t be as good; The Glamourist turned out to be just as exciting as The Vine Witch thankfully, despite the plots being quite different from one another. I loved getting back into the magical system Luanne has created as it’s one of my favourite ever systems & her writing just seemed to get better & better with every chapter. The ending was such a surprise & I loved how beautiful & magical it was. I am so relieved to know that there’s another book coming in this series & I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

⚠️ Some violence, including off-page domestic violence, poverty & child abuse in the form of references to off-page child “prostitution” from a character’s past ⚠️

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review, however I didn’t read the book until I had bought a printed copy.

Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-3hP

Stars: 4/5

Thank you to the publishers for a free ARC. I adored the first story and this one just the same.

I LOVE Smith's writing. This is the second book in the Vine Witch trilogy (and I have an ARC of the third lines up to read very soon!) and I was not disappointed. Depending on the series I either love or hate stories that follow other characters. I wont name names but it can be done HORRIBLY and when I began reading and the focus was on Yvette, I prayed to the All-Knowing this wasn't the case and trust me, people, it WASN'T.

Ugh I love Elena and when I saw her POV in the second chapter, I was super happy and I was able to breathe a little easier. But off Elena and onto Yvette.

I liked Yvette in the first book and to really focus on her, on her story, on her wish, in this book was very interesting. As always the coaxing Smith does to show you only bits of what she wants you to see then revealing it ONLY when she wants to is incredible. So tasteful. Makes it for an easy read.

Everything about this story is stunning and I loved seeing Yvette come into herself and the little witchy things included here and there that are SO my aesthetic. Crushed amethyst in a painting? AESTHETIC. BEAUTIFUL. collecting roses? Classic.

I think I said this in the Vine Witch too but the first maybe 1/2 of the story, I wasn't attached I didn't necessarily NEED to read more but I wanted to and i'm hoping this aspect is improved in the third book HOWEVER... That reveal... about Yvette's heritage. Oof it was good. Thoroughly enjoyed.

WARNINGS: the mention of sexual harassment/ brothels/ rape by extension, minor torture

RECOMMEND: for readers 15+ who like old-style France (can't remember when it's set... late 1800s?), witches and magic hidden in the real world

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

3.5 stars

This sequel to The Vine Witch could nearly have worked as a standalone and was quite different in feel from its predecessor. While Smith still writes scenery well and I was transported to historical Paris, it wasn't as vibrant as it had been in the original. Instead, there appeared to have been a trade to character focus. This worked well to give better rounding in a few of the characters and pulled the story together.

The magic usage, development, and history were perhaps the best pieces and I loved reading bits of spell usage and past magical events. I also really adored the addition of the black cat and found Alexandre's character charming. These were great side characters that really helped to add a little extra wonderful depth to the narrative and just made things feel a bit more cozy.

The Elena storyline seemed to be more of a tell vs. show approach due to the lack of a Jean-Paul storyline. Most of the things for Elena's character and plot were either done in the background or very quickly addressed. However, Yvette's story was told cleverly and well. There was good establishment of a history for her and pieces of the mystery were slowly unfolded in a way that let the reader determine the truth prior to Yvette's discovery.

The pacing was a bit irregular, but the good writing pulled it though and the ending was very well done. There was a good climax, great explanation and wrap up that left the book without a horrible cliffhanger, but still maintained enough mystery to explore in the next book to this series. A good read and I look forward to reading the next book when it is released.

I loved this second installment of The Vine Witch! This book felt like it had so much more depth than the first book did. The Vine Witch was my selection for a book club that I co-host a few months ago. Everyone enjoyed it but they absolutely LOVED this book. We all pre-ordered this book and it was our June book club read. We all will pre-order the third book as well. We cannot wait to find out what happens next. The covers are absolutely gorgeous and I love having them on my shelf!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Glamourist in exchange for my honest review. I apologize that I did not post this review before the publication date!

After reading the vine witch and not completely falling in love with it I figured I would try to give it the benefit of the doubt and read the second book in the series.

After a decent start the story (for me) it seemed to become stagnant and about halfway through I had to put it down and I'm sad to say I could not finish it. Maybe at a later time I will pick up the series again to give it another shot but as of right now I cant say I would recommend this book and/or series.

I tend to enjoy books that become a series following new/side characters. This book had that element. While I found this book slower paced than the first one, I actually enjoyed it more. I rooted more for the main character in this book and hope to be able to read the third book soon.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A perfect sequel to Vine Witch. Wonderful world building, beautiful characters and the whole fantasy package - action, adventure, magic & mayhem. Honestly The Vine Witch series is the most underrated fantasy series. The writing is as smooth as a river flow. If there is a comfort read in fantasy genre, this is it!!

Thank you Netgalley & Amazon Pub for the ARC

Having read the first book in the series I was excited to learn more of Yvette‘s backstory and how things went for both her and Elena after the events in the first book. This book was a journey of self discovery for both of them and it’s always interesting to see what characters are up to and how they progress in life.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a sequel but can be read as a stand alone book.

Strong world building supports the story of magic and intrigue.

Yvette is a strong, resourceful young woman looking for clues to her past. As she finds answers and come I to her witch powers, more mystery develops.

Looking forward to book 3.

A fantastic continuation from The Vine Witch! The worlds are vividly painted through words and the characters draw you in. The tale casts a spell so you must keep reading to find out what happen next!

Yes!! Yes!!! Yes!!! This is exactly what I wished for after I read the first book!! I love these characters and could keep coming back for more and more. Thank you Louanne for giving me a story I feel like I have been waiting for a long time. It most certainly is glamorous!!! Please keep them coming.

A quality sequel, perhaps even better than The Vine Witch. The plot was skillfully woven together and it was a delight to read.

2.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.

I typically find when books make the books later in the series' main characters from the previous works side characters. Typically I get so emotionally attached to the first characters the switch does not have the same impact. However, I am going to say something I never thought I would say, I wish the POV from Elena did not happen in this book. Yes, the Elena parts as a character and interaction are needed but her chapters weakened the book for me. Though I do not get any misconceptions I did not like Yvette’s character. I found her a nuisance in the first book and she was worse in the first half of this book. She does calm down and begin character growth that made the message of the book happen.

I found the pacing to be inconsistent and that the book felt too long and repetitive. I think the best explanation for this is the characters were running back and forth to the same places with repeated dialogue.

The ending was enjoyable and the reveal was better than the first book. Though I still prefer the first book ending. The trick to how they caught the antagonist was clever with the introduction of other witches, magical creatures, and the hidden laws.

The writing style was just as beautiful as the first book but with the difference of the plot, message (finding one's true self and family), and tone the works did not feel cohesive in the way as a reader I think series should.

I thought this book was a bit slow compared to the first book The Vine Witch. The focus is primarily on Yvette an orphaned witch on the run from her escape from prison. She's on a quest to find out the wish she requested and to find out why her magic is not working. Elena's role in the book is to help Yvette figure out her magic abilities. I did enjoy the role of the cat and her future mother-in-law. Yvette has more than her escape to worry about as she's given a book by the woman who raised her from her Mother. The book is important enough that there are some shady characters willing to kill for this book.
Overall it was a bad book just a little slow and hard to keep engaged after recently reading The Vine Witch.