A spellbinding novel of bloodlines, self-discovery, and redemption by the author of the Washington Post bestseller The Vine Witch.
Abandoned as a child in turn-of-the-century Paris, Yvette Lenoir has longed to uncover the secrets of her magical heritage and tap her suppressed powers. But what brave and resourceful Yvette has done to survive the streets has made her a fugitive. With a price on … a fugitive. With a price on her head, she clings to a memento from her past—what she believes to be a grimoire inherited from the mother she never knew. To unlock the secrets of her past, Yvette trusts in one woman to help solve the arcane riddles among its charmed pages.
Elena Boureanu is the vine witch of Château Renard, noted for its renowned wines. Even as she struggles with her own bloodline—and its poisonous threat to her future—Elena can’t ignore a friend on the run. Joined by a cunning thief, the proprietor of an enchanted-curio shop, and a bewitching black cat, Elena and Yvette are determined to decode Yvette’s mysterious keepsake. But what restless magic will be unleashed? And what are Yvette and Elena willing to risk to become the witches they were destined to be?
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A worthy sequel to one of my favorite recent discoveries – I love Luanne G. Smith’s version of Paris, with it’s underground magic and rings of thieves. This book is a wonderfully unexpected look at witches and self-discovery that teems with spells, poison, art, and wise feline companions. This series is escapism at it’s best, and Smith is going on my automatically buy list.
The second book in the Vine Witch series, the Glamourist, was a fantastic read, and narrator Susannah Jones has once again done an excellent job bringing the characters to life. The story is still a dual perspective but while the previous story centered on just Eliana, the Glamourist is centered on equal parts Eliana and Yvette, the same one that Eliana shared a prison cell within the previous book, and don’t worry Cedra, the gen, has her parts.
Eliana and Jean-paul are still together, engaged in fact and they have come to Paris to not only see Jean-Paul’s mother, Marshawn, who was a pleasant surprise, by the way, to visit the magical bureau to get a ruling overturned. Once again the magical government is after Eliana this time to take her status as a vine witch away and make her a poisoner because of her mother’s line. Eliana and Jean-Paul’s relationship is still going strong, Eliana is her magical self and Jean-paul eyes have now been open to magic. They are a team and work together well even if Eliana does keep some magical things from him.
Like finding Yvette and instead of turning her over like the magical bureau is blackmailing her to do she helps Yvette discover who she is meant to be. Yvette for her part is still the street smart, a brash young woman from before but readers get a glimpse into her life before Eliana and the jail through memories and old acquaintances. Honestly, Yvette’s story is a little sad but it shows how strong she is to survive practically being on her own and I like Yvette even more now.
The settings for this tale were fabulous it was filled with painters and museums, cabarets shrouded in death and radiated heaven, and fancy restaurants with gilded decor, catacombs filled with skeletons, it was very descriptive and all in the middle of Paris. Witches in plain sight, witch shops, a hidden witch library that is filled with the witchs’ history. Not to mention all the new mythical creatures that make an appearance.
The Glamourist was a delight with street gangs, the talks of missing gold and fairyland. Not to mention robberies, blackmail, and seances. Yvette’s story was compelling and I loved every minute of it. I also love that Eliana’s story continued in this one and I’m wondering if she’ll make an appearance in the third book, the Conjurer, which I’m guessing is Cedra’s story. I’m looking forward to finding out.
The second in the trilogy. Masterfully woven around three main characters.
An Awesome read.. to follow up The Vine Witch…. Excellent…
This second book is the series isn’t as fresh as The Vine Witch but does have a wonderful take on Paris (in an alternate universe Paris-like place) as it follows Yvette.
Events start right after the end of book one. Yvette has escaped from her prison, only to be dumped into the city to fulfill her wish of discovering her magic. At the same time, Elena Boureanu comes to town with her new beau, Jean-Paul, in order to regain her license as a Vine Witch. However, she is told that her poisoner bloodline puts that at risk unless she turns in the girl Yvette.
Yvette, her journey to discovery, and her friend, a magical black cat, is enchanting, is to me the best parts of the book. Elena’s story not as intriguing as she tries to conform to what Jean-Paul (the most boring boyfriend ever) and his mother wants.
Worth a read for fans of The Vine Witch but could be read as a standalone (though some spoilers for the first book are within).
Another fairy-tale “mystery” by an author whose second book delivers as much fun and delight as her first. Magic and the supernatural often go undetected by the sophisticated Parisians at the turn of the last century. Two women–neither mortal-risk their lives to unravel their “lineages.” Loyalty above all else drives Elena to sacrifice her long-held belief about her parents to help Yvette, an impetuous sixteen-year-old betrayed from infancy. The writing adds to the “magic” of the story. Both provide a great escape from our mundane world.
I haven’t read the first book yet, however rather enjoyed this book as it kept me hooked and entertained the whole time; also I really loved the characters Elena and Jean-Paul and I’m looking forward to the next book!
Thank you to to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!
I normally don’t read fantasy but The Vine Witch keeps showing up on my suggestions and I decided to give it a try.
The Vine Witch is not your normal fantasy at least that’s how I felt, it was more mature, the characters felt even more mature and I was instantly hooked.
Elena is a vine witch she has returned after a terrible spell that left her so weak, now she is determined to recover all that she has missed and left. she wasn’t expecting to meet this handsome guy that is now in charge of the vineyard but life has a funny way to change our paths and sooner or later Elena will have to succumb to his enchanted charms.
Many situations will make the story of Elena and Jean-Paul Martel, but the chemistry and the constant pull were always their magic their love even more powerful.
Great story, full magic and of great characters, I really enjoy it and after reading The Vine witch I’m more open to read and get immersed in the fantasy world