Really wanted to like this one but it was very slow to start and then rushed at the end. Some might like it but it just wasn’t for me. Thank you to NetGalley for chance to read and review this book.

What an awesome book! This is unlike anything I’ve read before. I connected to the characters & couldn’t predict where the story would go next.

VENCO

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)

Summary: Lucky St. James is a Métis woman living in East Toronto with her aging grandmother Stella, who has lapses in memory and occasionally wanders off. They are about to face eviction from their crappy apartment when Lucky finds an antique spoon in the laundry room that leads her to a fledgling coven in Salem, MA, backed by a shadow mega-corporation of powerful witches called VenCo. Lucky and Stella have to go on a road trip to find the final member of the coven before the prophesied deadline passes and before the ancient male witch hunters (called Benandanti) find them.

My thoughts: This was a fun, witchy romp with a diverse cast of characters (including a witch who wasn’t discovered until she finally comes out as trans!), a healthy dose of “fuck the patriarchy,” and a main character with the right mix of strength, intelligence, and vulnerability to make her a realistic heroine. You do get a little background into all of the characters from their POV, but I really hope there are more books (either sequels or companion novels) to expand the worldbuilding and better explain the Benandanti (where do their powers come from? How long have they existed?). The characters are all quirky, magical, and insanely likable, particularly Stella, she is a HOOT, but this ultimately fell just short of 5 stars for me because I need more from this universe.

VenCo came out on 2/7 and is available now basically everywhere! Thanks to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the eARC. I am not being paid for this review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lucky St. James lives with her Grandma, Stella, in Toronto in an apartment from which they will soon be evicted. A similar flat in the same or nearby neighborhood is much more than she can afford on her wages as a temp, and her Grandma, afflicted with memory loss, increasingly needs full-time assistance.

Lucky despairs over her future when she feel a compulsive need to dig through the basement wall of her complex. In a tunnel said to be used as an escape route for a patient when the neighboring building was a psychiatric institution. Among the debris, she finds an ancient silver spoon with a caricature of a witch along with the word SALEM.

Unbeknownst to her, this spoon is a summons to a coven, a coven that must reach completion within days by finding its final, seventh member. With the help of VenCo, a massive organization to recruit women and place them in positions of power, Lucky finds her coven, but she and Stella must go on a road trip to find the woman with the final spoon. Not only do they have to move quickly, before the deadline, they are being tracked by a witch-hunter determined to eradicate witches and their power for good.

Lucky is headstrong and determined, but Stella is irreverent and hilarious, and their road trip, while high stakes, also is riotously fun. The other coven members are equally interesting and provide ethnic and generational counterpoints to Lucky and Stella, and the stories of how they met their spoons are really powerful.

Lucky uses both the knowledge she gains from her coven, but she also relies on the Métis traditions taught to her by her late mother, making the book a celebration of women and indigenous knowledge. I haven’t completely unpacked this, but the number seven appears multiple times, not just in terms of the number of coven members.

On top of all the rich thematic content, the pacing is perfect. Not only is there a ticking clock, there’s also a chase, and both raised my blood pressure while reading the book. The coven does not win every battle, and there are some distressing scenes you should prepare for.

Though the book has a very satisfying ending, it also screams for more. I hope that Dimaline returns to this universe.

VenCo was such a treat and I want to thank #partner @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks and @librofm for the review ebook and ALC!

Lucky St. James is down on her luck, caring for her ailing grandmother with dementia, when she finds a mysterious spoon that ties her to a coven of witches. These witches must unite and find the final spoon before time runs out, all while avoiding a timeless witch hunter.

I also received this from @dogearedbooksames as a part of their DogPack subscription. I LOVED THIS BOOK in all the formats I read it in!

It’s an ode to the power of women, and the power of banding together. It’s about embracing who you are, and relying on your ancestors/and past to identify your truths. The novel is fast paced, part wild road trip and witchy in all the best ways. There’s queer and BIPOC representation and so powerful. I cannot recommend this enough!

This was a lot of fun. I had read The Marrow Thieves years ago and really enjoyed it, and Venco did not disappoint. I loved the focus on female friendship and relationships, and all the characters felt lovable and real. I love that this was told from an Indigenous woman's perspective, as well as the trans representation.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this advance copy in exchange for feedback. This was a gripping take on witches and the patriarchy. Recommend to fans of American Gods and The City We Became.

VenCo tells the story of how 3 witches that embody the Oracle (the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone) are tasked with guiding the creation of a new coven, but they are running out of time to do so. The coven is created when each potential witch finds one of the seven hidden Salem silver spoons. The story mainly focuses on Lucky St. James who struggles with living with Stella, her grandmother, who has dementia. Lucky misses her mother, who died when she was young, but she's grateful that her grandmother is by her side as she sets out on the journey to discover exactly who she is. The growing coven must not only race the clock to form (unclear why there is a time limit?), but must evade the last remaining Witch Hunter who is now on their trail. I originally thought that the book would focus more on VenCo, the company that is enabling women around the world to be empowered. There was very little about that in the book, besides at the beginning. I do think the story would have been enriched had there been more about the women in the Oracle and their pasts and their works in the world incorporated into the storyline. They were mentioned occasionally, but their actions were limited. The magic and the spoons were described in their history, but ultimately was a bit murky despite the repetition (not sure how souvenir spoons were meant to humiliate or harm?), but the stories of the women of the coven, their histories and how they overcame troubles in their lives while trying to do good in the world kept me reading. I absolutely adored Stella and the relationship she had with Lucky, and as the story evolved, Lucky began to see how fortunate she truly was to have Stella in her life too. I do wish there had been more of a back story of her growing up with Stella. Much of Lucky's history focused on her mother and the loss she felt. Also more history surrounding her father would have been welcomed, especially since Stella was his mother. I feel like some portions of the story were repeated often while others were slightly too thin. The best part of the book was the adventure Lucky and Stella took to find the final witch and spoon, with each part of the journey revealing more of themselves to each other and growing together as a result. It was funny, heartfelt, sweet, and the descriptions place the reader into the diverse scenery of their ultimate road trip. I loved how each step of the road trip also introduced a wise woman of different beliefs/cultures and as I looked up the terms, I learned that they were based on traditions or folktales of those regional areas. Very Interesting! A wonderful book and I hope to read more of their adventures! I think this would be an awesome streaming series!

Venco by Cherie Dimaline was a 4 star read for me. Engaging and I loved the backstory of creating this new coven and the spoons. I would have liked a bit more explanation as to why time was running out but I love the magical aspects! So many different emotions through out, as I was laughing and anxious, sometimes at the same time!

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I picked up VENCO by Cherie Dimaline. The summary and premise sounded interesting, and I was really interested in Lucky’s journey and how she would get there. I was also interested in the characters we met, especially the other witches in the soon-to-be coven. There was a lot I enjoyed about the novel, and a few things I wish had been integrated better or explained more. We got the basics of VenCo, but not much more than that, including who else was involved, other than the potentially 7 witches and the three at the top. I also wondered where the three fit in with everything else. It seemed in some ways there was too much background, but in others, there was not quite enough information. The villain gave me the “icks” which, I am sure, was the point, but I also expected more between him and the witches he was hunting. I liked the story, loved Stella, and enjoyed the very end, but still felt that there was a bit more that could have been done to tie it all together and make it a tighter story. I, too, wonder if it is the start of a new series, and, if so, I would definitely pick it up to see what is next.
Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.

I'm grateful to Netgalley, the author, and publisher William Morrow for the opportunity to read this terrific story. I love novels that smack of the paranormal, ghosts, and witchcraft. This one, VenCo, is hands down the best I've read in a long, long time. I now have to look at and probably read everything else that this skillful auther has written.

We first meet Lucky St. James, our main character, who learns she’ll soon be evicted from the small apartment she shares with her loving but somewhat annoying grandmother Stella. Lucky could not figure out what to do, since she couldn't make ends meet even without the rent situation. But then she discovers an old silver spoon etched with the figure of a witch and one word: "SALEM."

Lucky can feel the low humming that comes from the spoon, and the adventure is on, leading her and Stella to a massive network of witches across North America who have been waiting for the last of these spoons to be discovered. As a reader, I was beyond thrilled to come along as Lucky and Stella take to the road and so discover VenCo (an anagram for the word "Coven,") an enormous group of witches hiding in the world in plain sight. As the seven spoons come together, women may be returned to their rightful power. But there has to be a bad guy in every story, and the Coven's adversary, Jay Cristos, a deadly witch hunter, is stalking them. Lucky and Stella meet some of their sisters and then make the decision to go to New Orleans, where dark magic and an unforgettable showdown will decide VenCo's future.

What a story! Where does Cherie Dimaline get this stuff? It is a page-turner of epic proportions, and I thought about it all the time while I was reading it, and even now that I finished. I know it is just coming out in February of 2023, but I am already looking for a second book and hoping it will be a long-running serial. Don't miss this book! It even made me cry as Lucky and Stella teach readers about families - ancient ones and newly discovered ones. Dimaline is a genius.

Can I tell you how crazy I am... I didn't realize VenCo is just CoVen flipped! Anyway...

This witchy, found family, Coven book was so intriguing to me following Lucky's journey. While looking for a job to help take care of herself and her grandmother, she stumbles across VenCo. But, behind the scenes, VenCo is this coven of witches who are looking to complete their circle by finding spoons that are a connection between the witches.

I found it so strange with the use of the spoons in the story, but as all the pieces come together and I found out more, I really enjoyed it. Lucky and her Grandmother's journey and connection of the women coming together was so good! As Lucky set out on this journey, we (she) learn about the backstory of each witch in the coven and how they found their spoon, and their connection. Of course, we have hiccups or things along the way that try to stop the women, but it was a fun journey!

I think this is one of my favorite witchy stories I've read thus far!

VenCo by Cherie Dimaline started off slowly...lots of parts to put together, but 20% in she had me hooked. It was kind of a coming-of-age-book, but in this case that meant discovering one was a witch. The story was about putting together a coven, and they didn’t have much time to do it. Imagine when Lucky thought she was going to a job interview, far from home, and have it turn out to be her introduction to the coven. She brought her grandmother, Stella, with her because she was too “demented” to leave alone at home and she had a responsibility. It turns out the newest member of the coven goes after the next member. Lucky had only a few days, but she did have a trail to follow.

It was an interesting story that started in Salem years earlier when a maid of a jeweler became frightened by his intentions and poured magic into seven spoons (which he had commissioned as souvenirs-he stood to make a fortune) and put them back into the inventory where they would wait until the correct person picked each up. Of course, there’s a bad guy, Jay Christos, the last of the witch hunters, immortal, hundreds of years old. He managed to kill several of her contacts, but Lucky outsmarted him, found the last witch and made it back to the coven in time, with plenty of interesting side trips. It was a thoroughly entertaining book.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of VenCo by William Morrow, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #Netgalley #WilliamMorrow #CherieDimaline #VenCo

Maybe my expectations were too high for this book. It was fine, but I just kept feeling like nothing was happening. The characters kept talking about changing the world and this and that, but by the very end of the book, nothing had even been attempted. I really enjoyed the writing and characters, and I feel that this book would really shine as a stated prequel to a series. I can't find any information about whether this is going to be a series, but even so, it still felt like a bit of a tease that nothing the characters wanted to accomplish actually happened.

Excellent book about women and the relationships they form with those around them.

Witches are the center of this novel, but Cherie Dimaline uses that subject to touch on so many other important topics, such as found family, discrimination, sexism, and much more. Dimaline is not afraid to explore all aspects of what it means to be a woman in this novel.

This book is magical and I highly recommend it.

Venco was a really great witchy read for the winter months. I really enjoyed the beginning of this book and thought it would be a story I would absolutely get lost in. However, I wish there was a little bit more background on the coven and it’s members and I wish there was more magic. The second half of the book just wasn’t as great. Overall, I still really enjoyed this book and would love to read a sequel or prequel with more information on the coven!

Definitely for 'fed up women,' a book about women fighting the patriarchy, but also not giving a damn about it, or letting any of it touch them. Lucky is one of the most fun, dynamic characters I've read about in a long time. I highly recommend picking this book up if you are a fan of Seanan McGuire's Doorways series, it has similar tones of magic and inclusivity.

This book is a breath of fresh air, from the characters, to the plot, to the writing, it is all encompassing, for readers that want to be absorbed into a world, this book will transport. The epilogue will blow readers away!

If you enjoy story about witches and the supernatural, and your ideal coven is made up of women of every color and heritage and checks every single diversity box, including lesbians and trans witches, and you believe the sole purpose of men/the patriarchy is to hold women down and prevent them from having any power, and that "capitalism is the tool of the patriarchy," then this book is definitely for you. This could have been great - the story itself was very good and very well paced, and I enjoyed reading about Lucky, and the coven's quest to find all their members while being hunted themselves, etc. And the ending set up book 2 very nicely. But the woke/feminist parts just made me cringe. And the bad guy was just a tad cartoonish. So . . . 3 stars. But many thanks to the Book Club Girls and NetGalley for the e-arc.

This lush atmospheric tale makes you feel like you're in the back seat as Lucky travels from Toronto to Salem to New Orleans. Each character is distinct. Each woman powerful and strong. This tops my list of favorite witch stories!

I fell so hard for VenCo. So. Hard. I fully admit that the first thing about it that stole my heart was that Lucky has a grandmother named Stella, who she wholly adored. I too had a grandma named Stella who I wholly adored, so Lucky had won me over from the start. Funny enough, Lucky's Stella was far more like my other grandmother, Janet- full of humor and always up for any and all shenanigans. To say I was enamored for personal reasons would certainly be valid.

But the whole story ended up being wonderful, not just the grandma parts! Lucky had been having a rough go of things. She and her grandma were mere weeks away from being evicted, and basically life just isn't going the way she'd hoped. But when she finds out that she has been tapped to join a group of witches, it seems like it could be just the break she and Stella need.

To succeed though, they have to undergo some dangerous missions. If there is one thing Lucky is not, it's a quitter, and she is all in for her newfound sisterhood. I loved the backstories of both Lucky and the other women she encounters. They were so well developed, as were there relationships with each other. There is just so much heart to this book, and such a wonderful focus on strong female bonds that I could not help but fall in love with all of the women.

There is also certainly plenty of action, too. Lucky finds herself going up against a very powerful, very ancient, male opponent who clearly could not care less about the lives of women. So she not only has to find a nearly impossible to find item, but she has to do it while some jerk chases her down and tries to kill her and her friends. It is a great balance of plot and character development, and I didn't want it to end!

Bottom Line: I loved everything about this story, from the wonderful bonds of the characters, to the loving relationships among family, and the excitement of trying to save the coven. A huge, heartfelt win.