Witchy book!

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc copy of this book.

Spooky season had me seeking something witchy and this was an interesting one at that.

Set in WWI, the story follows Petra, her husband gone to fight in the war, so she delves into the world around her with a camera in hand. What could possibly go wrong..

Petra Kurková’s life of quiet desperation is a little different from the usual kind, as Luanne G. Smith’s engrossing novel The Witch’s Lens opens. That her husband is off fighting for the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the disastrous First World War is ordinary enough. Her method of making money is rather different: she tells fortunes to make rent and keep herself fed. Even more unusually, she roams the streets of Prague late at night, photographing the city’s ghosts. Things get even weirder—and more dangerous—when Josef Svoboda badgers her into accepting a commission on the Empire’s behalf.

Smith’s version of our world is full of witches and magical monsters. Although witchcraft is entirely above ground, Petra has been hiding herself for years. There are hints that she’s not like other witches. (Thankfully, Smith doesn’t leave us hanging too much. All secrets are revealed by the end of the book.) But Josef’s insistence that she join a ragtag group of clearly passed-over magic makers for an important mission is too strong to ignore; there’s also the fact that Petra is evicted shortly after the man bludgeons his way into her life. With nothing else for her in Prague, Petra packs up her photography gear and her husband’s clothes and follows Josef into the mountains to hunt down terrifying creatures that don’t want to stay dead.

What really hooked me to this story was Smith’s use of Slavic folklore and witchcraft. World War I is transformed by an entire layer of magical warfare. While men fight in the trenches on the eastern and western fronts, witches and sorcerors do battle with each other with hexes and conjured creatures. Petra seems like small fry, at least until she starts to realize that the plan to get her out of the city and into the mountains was a ruse. There’s an even bigger plot—and a lot more skullduggery—than she knew.

There were some clumsy moments in The Witch’s Lens. A romantic subplot is telegraphed from a mile away. I didn’t mind so much, since I liked the characters involved. But there’s enough originality and folklore here to make up for a few clangers. I’m curious to see where this series goes.

The Witch's Lens by Luanne G Smith is a unique World War 1 story with a paranormal twist. Petra Kurkova is a witch, something that she has tried desperately to keep a secret despite numerous calls for those with magical gifts to come forward so that they can provide aid to the Empire. It is not that she does not want to help, in fact her husband is serving on the Eastern front, and this might be her only way of finding him and making sure he is safe. The problem is that her powers are unique, and she has been in serious trouble before because of them. There are numerous people who would be only to happy to have access to her and her skills, so staying under the radar is paramount for her. When she meets the enigmatic Josef Svboda on one of her night time walks through the city looking for the ghosts that magically appear in the photographs that she takes, she is reluctant to join his rag tag team of recruits , but when she learns that a plague of undead is being unleashed through magical means and it could be enough to not just turn the tide of the war but change the world as she knows it if they get out of control, she knows that she must do her part.
This was a book with a really interesting premise and a great main character that was let down a little by the pacing and sometimes confusing plotting, which is a shame. The first half of the book is very slow to get off the ground and if I had not been intrigued by the character of Petra and her unique talents I might not have continued reading. I also thought that readers without some sense of the history of the first world war would struggle to pin down the setting as it felt quite confusing at times. There was a nice little tinge of horror , particularly in the second half of the book, and I liked that the author was not afraid to lean into the darker side of the story, I enjoyed it enough that I would read more of the series.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher , all opinions are my own.

This book was vedy captivating I can’t lie about this, but i also feel like I needed more than I actually got in the end

This book was good, very ok.
There was so much going for it though. A troop of witches helping fight secret zombies at the war front? That sounds awesome. The FMC Petra, a war wife who takes pictures and can see ghosts, but also has a huge secret that she is keeping hidden about her magic that she keeps on a short leash. She seems promising. A potential werewolf who is turning into a romance interest. Yes.
But in the end, it was a lot of promising elements, and a bit of a boring execution. I found myself wandering while reading, and getting confused on what part of the secrets we were at. And then all of a sudden, you learn this "huge secret" that Petra has been keeping for years, and I don't think it was that big of a deal. She has great power to turn any object into anything else. Pure alchemy. But there is still so much that wasn't explained. Her dad was a big deal, but we don't learn that until the end. Her stepdad was a monster and supposed to have been dead, but really ended up in prison with wicked people. It was a bit unbelievable with the timelines.
And then the zombies. This was a cool idea, the blood of the fallen soldiers had infected the land and it helped a wicked sorcerer create this army of zombie like people to attack and this is what brought the band of witches together to take them out. They each have great talents to help kill the monsters and their mission was very good, but so minimal of the story. Their creation and purpose are still a little hazy to me, but still just fine.
The last 1/4 of of the book was very exciting, but not enough to make up for the confusing and slow parts the rest of the book.

I’ve never felt so unsure if I wanted to continue reading a book with a book. I had to quit reading, but I kept getting drawn back in to find out what was going to happen.
I found myself not paying attention and losing interest at some parts but I would put it aside and stare again later. The idea was intriguing and it really had potential but it just kept falling short for for me.
I really wanted to like this one more and be able to say I was looking forward to the next book, but I think I will pass on any further stories in the series.

A really good October read. Had some cozy charm but also the creepy/witchy vibes. I really enjoyed the book but struggled the entire time figuring what countries/regions the major players represented, which did leave me confused at times because the setting was never concrete. Each time I thought I had it figured out, a new comment or character would have me questioning it.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC. After the first chapter, the writing really flowed.

The world building made this as easy to slip into as a favorite old shoe, but, like those slightly too worn boots, it was thin in places and left the reader/wearer with unexpected cold spells.

A intriguing cross over between witches and WWI. Yep. I suspect fans of the WWI genre won't enjoy this as much as those who like stories with magic but it's well crafted and moodily atmospheric, Petra brings good vibes to the unusual plot which kept me turning the pages. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Enjoyed this read but definitely struggled around the halfway mark to keep going. I agree with most people that it’s the historical aspect that kept me hooked in. I wish Petra was a stronger FMC, she felt a tad boring in some parts. Overall, a decent read.

Loved reading the mesmerizing and engaging paranormal story. While Petra's husband is gone fight in the war, Petra takes pictures of ghosts, but Josef needs Petra's help and other people with abilities fighting paranormal forces. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting story. Can't wait to read the next story in the series by the fabulous author, Luanne G. Smith!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. So thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!

The synopsis was so intriguing.
And for the most part of it, it delivered but i just think that at certain times it felt a little dumpy.
I had trouble keeping up with the story and trying understand the world and that always happens with new fantasies.
I loved the storyline and the characters though.

I enjoyed this. It is unique and it drew me in and I wanted to see how it would end. The characters are really interesting and unique. I'm excited to read the rest of the series! Special Thank You to Luanne G. Smith, 47North and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Witch’s Lens by Luanne G. Smith was a hypnotic witchy tale perfect for the fall season. It was a fast-paced, action-packed, and highly enjoyable read that I couldn’t put down. The unique plot was fresh and new, combining historical fiction and fantasy in a beautiful way.

As I was reading, I found myself endeared to the main character, Petra, and the layers of her that the story slowly revealed over time. The author did a wonderful job of balancing world-building and character-building, and it made it easy to dive into this unique and lush story.

Overall, I gave this book a five-star rating because it was well-written, had an original plot, and nailed the pacing. As someone who prefers fantasy over history, I thought it was the perfect balance between the two. My recommendation: pour yourself a cup of tea, add this to your TBR, and soak up those witchy vibes!

This was an interesting tale about a woman realizing her power, finding her place in the world and losing the things holding her back. The author had a nice way of writing that you could easily imagine each scene as if it were happening on screen in front of you and the story kept you interested.
Things I didn't like was some photos taken were never explained or developed so those moments seemed unfinished.
All in all I enjoyed the storyline, lots of words were foreign to me though and I think we would benefit from a dictionary of sorts in the back that could be referenced.
3.75 rating

The Witch's Lens is a historical fantasy set during World War One featuring Luanne G. Smith's rich world building and beguiling characters.

When Petra Kurkova and her magical photography skills are recruited to join the war, her long hidden witch powers and secrets from the past become weaponized to fight something supernatural occurring on the Eastern front. Joining forces with other civilians who each possess their own magical skillset, Petra will discover a world hidden within a world with dark entities, greedy witches, and dangerous war games.

I really enjoyed this story for its setting, pacing, and characters. Prague is such a dark moody city drenched in old magic that it made the perfect location. The story incorporated Slavic folklore and mythology which is always so interesting to read about. The pacing was excellent as it kept the tension and high stakes of the war fully present throughout the entire story. I thought Petra was a fascinating character with a good backstory and journey, and her photography was such a unique idea that I have never come across before.

To reimagine the first world War as having a magical component was such an interesting idea and new take on the genre. While the story does have a political plot, the book never got bogged down by the details, it seemed to maintain a good balance between the fantasy and the historical. The magic was bewitching and the incorporation of Eastern European mythology was the perfect touch.

Overall The Witch's Lens was an action packed occult fantasy that maintained the dark mood of its Eastern European setting, high stakes of the war, and spellbinding characters throughout the entire story. I look forward to reading the sequel.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Luanne G. Smith has once again demonstrated her talent by crafting another exceptional and captivating series.

This series is set against the backdrop of World War 1 on the Eastern front, depicting the events that ultimately lead to the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A group of unconventional witches embarks on a mission to cleanse the war-torn Carpathian Mountains of malevolent hexes and curses that are decimating the troops stationed there.

Petra Kurková, a witch with a unique ability to capture apparitions on film, is enlisted by the enigmatic and intense Josef Svoboda to join this eclectic team dedicated to combating magical malevolence on the front lines. As impending danger and destruction loom, the question arises: will Petra choose to embrace her powers and confront the looming threats, or will she continue to conceal her abilities?

One aspect I particularly appreciated about the novel is how it immediately plunges the reader into a whirlwind of action, allowing the intricacies of world-building and character development to naturally unfold within the narrative. Additionally, I found it satisfying that the story maintains an air of mystery, with numerous enigmatic characters whose depths are yet to be fully explored in future installments of the series.

Petra emerges as a compelling character, and it is evident that there is more to be unveiled about her in forthcoming books. She possesses strength, yet it's not overly pronounced. Her personal history and reluctance to wield her powers make her a relatable and human character, yet she displays unwavering resolve when duty beckons.

The character of Josef also piques one's curiosity, leaving readers eager to discover his eventual fate. His charismatic leadership qualities and the depiction of the ensemble of misfits working together are noteworthy elements of the narrative.

The antagonist in the story is portrayed with a striking degree of malevolence, adding a layer of complexity to the moral dynamics of the tale. In fact, the story is rife with shades of gray when it comes to the morality and complexity of its characters, including the heroes.

This book is basically… World War I, but with witches. And zombies! I don’t know a lot about World War I, but I liked it a lot. Petra is a complex and wonderful protagonist with a fascinating backstory to discover. It appears that this book is the first one in a series, and I do look forward to seeing what Petra and Josef get up to next!

Thank you Netgalley and 47North for the chance to read The witch's lens by Luanne G. Smith. I absolutely loved the author's first book, The Vine witch and with the premise sounding fascinating, I eagerly started reading. After a wonderful beginning, the book began to drag in the middle. I wish the book concentrated on Petra, and her ability to capture the dead in her photos. While I wasn't impressed with The witch's lens, others may, and I do recommend the author's previous books.

So the concept of this book really drew me in as I love photography and I have a huge thing for the supernatural and witches. This book is such a 50/50 for me as some parts were really good but I feel like I was often left wanting more of it. The overall plot is great but I missed some more depth for the characters and the world building. I loved the concept of the witches and wizards and the different powers they have as many of them felt very new to me. I also liked the writing. She is very good with words and it didn’t feel hard to read. I am not the biggest fan of war stories but I still found this one to be entertaining and I would overall give it a 3 with all the things mentioned. A little more fleshed out and it would have been a 4.