Wine and witchcraft? Yes, please!

This book was a fun way to start off the month of October. The premise of the vine witch is so fascinating; witches whose magic aids in the process of making amazing wine. But when Elena emerges from a curse to find that the vineyard she was supposed to inherit has been purchased by a man who believes strictly in science-based wine making, she doesn’t know what to do or who to turn to. She discovers hexes and spells all over the vines and is set on a mission to discover who cursed her and why her beloved vines are being disturbed.

I truly enjoyed this book. It combined three of my favorite things: witchcraft, wine, and a good mystery. The genre is technically fantasy, but the story has some suspense and mysterious elements to it as well as a love story on the side. Elena was an adventurous and brave woman, determined to find out what happened to her and why her vineyards are producing awful wine. She has very little to go on and only one measly clue about the witch who cursed her. She finds help when she makes an unlikely new friend and together they set out to discover the truth. This was a lighthearted and fun read; the perfect way to start my fall reading.

The Vine Witch started with a great hook – how did Elena Boureanu survive seven years cursed as a toad? How did she escape? And who cursed her?

I really enjoyed the different elements of the supernatural in this book, especially as we see them both through the eyes of Elena, and Jean-Paul, as this world is slowly revealed to him. I especially loved the idea of being so close to the natural world that there is something beyond what can be seen, from malignant creatures to the energies running through everything.

And quite honestly, I just loved the idea of a ‘vine witch’ – of someone who not only sees and cares for the vines, but is intrinsically linked with them. Of having a witch’s workshop, filled with bottles and potions and remedies. Glorious.

This all adds to a Chocolat style of magical atmosphere – the French setting, the period/fantasy background, the threat of something external and the combination of something both magical and whimiscal.

I did find parts of the story a little repetitive, and there were times when a chapter recounted an action, rather than allowing the reader to experience it – this at times felt like you had fallen asleep, and the story had carried on without you (but always caught you up). This sometimes felt like being jolted in and out of the story.

I also have a few questions about the magic system – some of this was explained through the witch purges and Covenants of the previous century, in this setting. But with so many witches in this world, and with so many areas of strength and skill, it seems strange that they have allowed themselves to be confined to ‘side’ acts in this world. Some of that can be explained through the ‘period’ of the fantasy setting, but aside from society, there appeared to be no limits to a witch’s power.

All in all, in was an enjoyable story, an enjoyable world and a lovely pastoral setting with an excellent mild threat. For me the ‘who’ became obvious, but not the ‘how’ – and that’s what made the ending particularly good. I’m also especially pleased to see that there is a book two coming out soon – the ending doesn’t require it, but this is a world that I would gladly dip into again.

The Vine Witch was an enchanting read! I was instantly pulled into it from the first page. We are first introduced to our main character, Elena, as she is trying to break free from a curse that has left her as a toad for seven years. Once she breaks the curse, Elena makes her way back to her home, Château Renard, a vineyard that she has lived at since 5 years old. But her home is not how she left it. Covered in various hexes, the poor vineyard is struggling. When she learns that the previous owner has sold it to someone else, a city man nonetheless, it is just salt in the wound.

The new owner of Château Renard is Jean-Paul Martel, a former attorney from the city, and a man of science. He doesn't believe in any of that Vine Witch nonsense the townspeople speak of. He knows that if he can just get the correct minerals in the soil and the pH balance of the grapes just right etc that his vineyard will soon be restored back to its former glory. Then Elena arrives back at the vineyard and he finds his perspective changing.

The writing in this was great! The world building really makes you feel like you are there in the Vineyards with Vine Witches and hexes and gargoyles and the first automobiles. And I really liked the main characters. Elena starts out on a mission for revenge, and when I say revenge I mean REVENGE LIKE POISON THAT GOES LIKE A SNAKE IN A PERSONS BLOOD. But! We get to see some growth in her as she decides to instead focus her attention on the vineyard and the evil surrounding the town that reeks of forbidden blood magic. We also get some great growth from Jean-Paul as he goes from nonbeliever to "say what I've  been wrong this whole time and witches are real better go read some books about them so I know all there is to know" Great character growth, amirite?


I really enjoyed this one! I'm giving it a 4 out of 5 stars. I read it quite quickly and was fully invested in the story by chapter 1.  Recommended for fans of witchy women, revenge, wine, murder mystery, and slow-burnin love.

I’m not sure why I’ve picked The Vine Witch. I have no interest in wine and even less in books with a significant romance arc. I won’t say no to a glass of good wine or to a good romance book, but I don’t actively seek them out. Maybe it was the cover? No idea. To my surprise, I adored every second of Smith’s debut. A sign that I’m growing old and sentimental for sure.



The Vine Witch, set in a fantasy version of rural France, blends romance, folklore, witchcraft, and murder mystery. Elena Boureanu, the titular vine witch, had never suspected she’d spent seven years eating moths and slugs to survive in a fetid pond, turned into a toad. Focused on making Chateaux Renard's wines exceptional, she paid little attention to petty rivalries or little things. And yet someone has cursed her and turned into an animal.


When she regains her body, she wants nothing more than revenge against whoever stole seven years of her life. She suspects it was her ex-fiancé Bastien Du Monde, ambitious, business-savvy and charismatic vigneron, and she plans to make him pay. First, though, she needs to regain her power. When she returns Chateaux Renard, her home, she discovers it was sold to a scientifically minded ex-lawyer Jean-Paul Martel who seeks a new vocation in life. Her Grand-Mere and magic teacher grew old and lost her edge and the vine that made Renard’s Domaine famous lost its magic:



She took a sip of the wine to chase the memory from her mouth, but if she was looking for relief she was vividly disappointed. None of the musky hues of spice and rose petals the Renard vineyard was famous for hit her palate. It was all chalk and mushrooms.


A closer look at the vineyards make things obvious - someone cursed them. Elena can deal with an intricate spellwork, but her magic reserves are still weak and when Bastien is found dead and Police consider her the prime suspect, things get complicated.


Shaped by historically accurate details, the story feels true to the era of the late Belle Époque. Smith enriched it with fascinating details particular to that era (fashion, automobiles, pre-industrial wine and cheese making practices). I'm sure she's also made a lot of research on witchcraft, witch trials, and herb lore as they're very detailed. All of this in less than 300 pages, something I highly appreciate as it proves the skillful writer can find a perfect balance between world-building, pacing and characterization.


The plot, while slightly predictable in places, impressed me with a great balance between murder mystery, action, and slow-burn romance. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, Smith threw few clever surprises at me, the perfect bitter-sweet ending being one of them. Well done.


Both main characters and their sidekicks feel human. Elena and Jean-Paul are three-dimensional and their romance is believable and engaging. I prefer Elena, but I can see female readers falling for the handsome lawyer whose life is just about to turn upside down.


Elena is a strong lead. Fierce, intelligent, and hungry for knowledge, she's easy to like and admire. Her past remains mysterious but we learn she has mastered divine arts while still in her teens. Hungry for more, she sought the magic she hadn't been taught (including blood magic) and developed an extraordinary talent known as shadow vision. She knows there’s a glorious magic to be found in the darkness and she wants to understand it. I admit I have a soft spot for protagonists with a darker side and Elena fits the archetype well.


Jean-Paul believes in science and innovation. He treats the mention of magic as the superstitious nonsense and has no interest in seeing it applied in his vineyard. When his beloved laws of physics, doctrines of religion and the empirical evidence of the senses are rendered useless by what he'd seen, he must reassess his beliefs. Smith portrayed his inner conflict well and found a clever way to change him.

And now the romance. I liked it - perhaps because, while important and highlighted, it never overshadowed intricacies of the plot. Jean-Paul and Elena share a strong chemistry. Their beliefs are at odds and this adds some tension to their budding relationship.


Besides the vine magic and slow-burn romance, I enjoyed the investigation of the murder mystery and Elena’s focus on discovering the witch wielding blood magic. This part of the story went into dark places and added another layer of complexity to the story and characters.


I need to mention and praise the prose. Rich, nuanced and appealing to all senses it makes reading The Vine Witch a worthwhile experience. I loved the way the author described tastes, smells, landscapes and emotions. Here’s a little sample:



Despite his desire to leave, the fresh-baked smell captivated him, and he reached for the sticky tart. One bite and the full complexity hit him. The pastry tasted of fruit and nuts, butter and brown sugar, and the rich spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom, all heat-seared by fire. Sweet, yes, but also sophisticated, heightened by a hint of salted brandy. Not unlike a well-aged wine, he thought, the way the flavors evolved on the tongue.


Descriptions of food and wine made me salivate. Description of the Chanceaux Valley made me want to visit it. When a book does it to me, I don't need another proof it's well written.


If you’re in the mood for witchcraft, romance, and the wine, I have an inkling you're going to love The Vine Witch.

This is just the sort of thing I like: The supernatural is scientific and the magic is in the telling, as it should be.

This book was an absolutely lovely read! It was nothing like I was expecting, which I always enjoy. It had such an Old World feel to it, almost like a fairy tale from long ago, but with a modern twist. I loved the concept of the different types of witches. The vine witches are tied to their land and dedicate their lives to making the grapes grow perfectly. There are hints that there are many other types of witches, although the story doesn’t go into detail on them.

Also wonderful was the way that this author describes the countryside. I want to take a vacation in the Chanceaux Valley! It sounds so beautiful! The way that Smith writes is very atmospheric. It appeals to all the senses in a very vivid way.

Now let’s talk about our main character, Elena. She is a fiesty one! She was cursed and lived as a frog for SEVEN YEARS! And she was clever enough to figure out how to break the spell by using her own venom! She returns to her home to find everything changed and doesn’t really blink an eye. Even though the new owner of her vineyard doesn’t believe in magic, she is ready to do what she needs to do to get rid of the dark magic that has taken hold of the vines. There is also a much darker element to their world. Someone is making animal sacrifices and Elena suspects some sort of blood magic. This is where I felt like the story was right out of Grimms’ Fairy Tales. Charming, but also dark and gruesome underneath.

If you like fantasy that feels fresh and new while still feeling very rooted in tradition, then do give this a read. I was enthralled with it the entire time.

Brooding with dark magic and pungent with love and betrayal., 'The Vine Witch' is a full-bodied tale of vengeance and magic that will make you thirsty for more.

'The Vine Witch' took me on a tasting journey through the old magic of French vineyards. Essentially, vine witches are the keepers of vineyards, imbuing the grapes with their magic, producing world class tasting wine. The story follows one particular witch named Elena, who makes her way back to her vineyard after waking up from a terrible curse and finds it in the hands of a non-believer of magic. The vineyard has also been hexed and while Elena tries to restore the vineyard, she is also on the hunt for the person who cursed her, all the while hiding her true identity from the mortal man who now owns her vineyard. There are many twists and turns like a grape vine climbing through the pages of this brilliant debut.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this book because A) I don’t drink, and B) vineyards aren’t really my thing. Boy, was I wrong! This is one of the best fiction books I have read this year. I thought the idea of witches being behind specialty crafts/businesses was ingenious. I also really loved the author’s elegant writing style. It wasn’t overly descriptive, there weren’t too many characters, and the layered notes of the story added a depth so it wasn’t just about Elena trying to restore her vineyard. It fermented into a story about blood and poison and the sweet and bitter consequences of both.

The bold aroma produced by this rich debut has me very excited for the next book in this series.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley, Fantastic Flying Book Club, and 47North for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.


Low-key this is how we are introduced to Elena in the first chapter, and we get to witness her transformation from a toad to a woman, and only towards the end of that chapter do we realize that she actually has a name.

And she’s freaking pissed.

So not only was Elena somehow cursed into a toad by some mysterious jerkhole, but she was cursed to be a toad for seven years, and by the time she makes it back to her Chateau Renard to find out that her home was sold and that some stranger named Jean-Paul Martel is the one living in it. She’s out for revenge, and hopefully the person – or thing – that cursed her all those years ago is still around so she can make them pay.

I personally liked the story of Elena, and I love that she really didn’t need a dude to come save her, even though she really did take a while to rescue herself she didn’t just lay down to take it any longer. Her power over the vineyard around her house is one that I personally haven’t seen before, and I like the idea of having power over wine. I may not be a wine drinker, but maybe if I was a vine witch, I could learn to like it.

“Mud and silk, blood and milk, never the twain should meet. For if they do. Bad luck to you. ‘Tis the Devil you’ll greet.” Childhood Rhyme

Since I’m still not much of a romance person, rather than gushing over that part, I was more into the relationship between Elena and her “Grand-Mere”. Even though they weren’t related by blood, they were still family, and I honestly love those kinds of relationships in novels. It’s almost like a found family, and these two women bonded and took care of one another because of their shared experiences with magic. I’m so glad that Grand-Mere was still around by the time Elena was able to break the curse. I feel like she would have been truly alone if she wasn’t, and that would have been detrimental to her journey of having to re-acclimate into the world she wasn’t apart of for seven years.

This book was absolutely stunning and magical.

When skilled vine witch Elena Bourenau awakens from the curse that turned her into a toad for 7 years, she finds her beloved winery, Chateau Renard, in dire straits. She returns home to reclaim her prestige as a winemaker and to get revenge on Bastien Du Monde, her former fiancee and the man who cursed her. She faces a challenge in her quest by the presence of Jean-Paul Martel, the new owner of the winery who is staunchly opposed to magic of any kind.

This book surprised me. Honestly, I didn't expect for it to be that good, but I am glad I was wrong. Smith manages to take a story about wine magic and turn it into a dark tale about magic, revenge, and secrets. With every page, the book just got better and better, especially the last half of the book. It was delicious. The Vine Witch is a seductive, understated, and thrilling read that will instantly transport you back to turn-of-the-century France. It's the perfect book to kick back and relax with a glass of wine this Fall season!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Author: Luanne G. Smith

Book Series: book 1 of The Vine Witch series

Rating: 4/5

Publication Date: October 1!

Recommended Age: 16+ (some gore and some gross toad skin eating that still makes my skin crawl. Romance and revenge)

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: I think it’s indie? Not sure I can’t find a publisher so someone correct me please.

Synopsis: For centuries, the vineyards at Château Renard have depended on the talent of their vine witches, whose spells help create the world-renowned wine of the Chanceaux Valley. Then the skill of divining harvests fell into ruin when sorcière Elena Boureanu was blindsided by a curse. Now, after breaking the spell that confined her to the shallows of a marshland and weakened her magic, Elena is struggling to return to her former life. And the vineyard she was destined to inherit is now in the possession of a handsome stranger.

Vigneron Jean-Paul Martel naively favors science over superstition, and he certainly doesn’t endorse the locals’ belief in witches. But Elena knows a hex when she sees one, and the vineyard is covered in them. To stay on and help the vines recover, she’ll have to hide her true identity, along with her plans for revenge against whoever stole seven winters of her life. And she won’t rest until she can defy the evil powers that are still a threat to herself, Jean-Paul, and the ancient vine-witch legacy in the rolling hills of the Chanceaux Valley.

Review: I thought this was an amazing book! It was the perfect fall book and I absolutely fell in love with the atmosphere. The writing was well done and the world building was magnificent. The story was also very interesting!

However, I do feel like the pacing was a bit off. It was fast then slow then fast again. The characters were a bit flat for me, and the way the story started was so cool but then I felt a little lost when we moved on to the rest of the story. It might have been just me and my mood but overall I did enjoy it, I was just confused.

Verdict: I would definitely recommend this one, especially for a fall read.

The Vine Witch was absolutely amazing. I hated myself every time I had to put it down. From the very beginning, this book completely captivated me. The descriptions, the characters, and the magic.

Luanne G. Smith did the impossible with her writing. She made it seem as though it were a steampunk fantasy TV show come to life. Granted, the vast majority of the turn of the 20th century was like a steampunk fantasy what with automobiles sharing the road with horse-and-carriages. But still. The descriptions from both Point of Views was such a juxtaposition that it reminded me a little bit of the TV show Firefly.

RIP Firefly

Jean-Paul stood in his kitchen, bewildered

by the sudden warren of cupboards

and drawers surrounding him.

The Vine Witch was immersive and thought provoking. Because the two main PoVs switched between Elena, the Vine Witch, and Jean-Paul, the non-believer, the reader got to see both sides of the age old argument of is it or isn’t it. The turns that that argument took in the story were surprising and, honestly, has me wondering why more people aren’t like those two. They don’t even have to winemakers. Or have magic. But they were each willing to listen to the other and learn and acknowledge that neither of them knew everything there was to know about their world. Magic or otherwise.

Speaking of the characters. Whew. Those two needed an ice bath. Like majorly. The best part was that the chemistry, while explosive, was not overtly so. It was subtle and comforting, like smelling fresh baked goods. But when they collided, it was like a bomb. Like a really, really good doughnut.

He held the woman;s hand, opting to appease

her long enough to avoid further confrontation,

but then he was going inside to get drunk and give

serious consideration to an asking price

for the vineyard.

Not only were they explosive together, but they also helped each other grow. As people. Which I love. As mentioned above, Elena and Jean-Paul challenged each other’s world view and, in doing so, made the other know more about everything. Jean-Paul especially. He went from looking at the old town superstition like just that to thinking that maybe humans don’t know everything and somethings can’t be immediately explained.

Not only was it an entertaining story about love and revenge. But they also talked A LOT about wine making.

Now I am still in the nascent stages of my wine experience. But it was such a fascinating look into the process of making the drink. I kind of want to drink more wine. Just to see if I can see what they were talking about.

I was utterly captivated by the storyline of The Vine Witch and can’t wait to see what else Luanne G. Smith comes up with.

The Vine Witch is a fun and enchanting read! What I thought would only be a typical or simple story about wine makers, turned out to be an exciting story about the magic of wine making and magic of witches.

- Great writing
I adored the writing style of this book! It was elegant and mysterious, plus the visualization of certain sceneries and setting was enough to transport me into the magnificent French countryside. The author also used several metaphors to describe wine making and wine tasting, which for me truly showed the beauty and magic of wines.

- Solid characters
The characters here in The Vine Witch were pretty solid as well. I loved Elena's passion for the vineyard and her determination to restore it in its glory. Plus I liked how well-developed Elena's character is. I also adored Jean-Paul and how he left his former profession to do something that truly makes him happy (wine making that is). Even the minor characters were also great and they helped keep the story fun and exciting.

As for the romance part, it was good but I feel like I needed more interaction and chemistry between the two main characters. Don't get me wrong, they did have chemistry, but I just wish they had more

- Interesting plot
This book has an interesting plot indeed. At the first few parts though, I thought it would only be simple, but the story took an interesting turn—a plot twist I didn't expect—and I loved it! It's also great to see all the little details and scenes come together and make sense at the end. It was mysterious and enchanting, yet still cohesive. I also liked how there were other kinds of witches involved, not just vine witches. To me, that helped expand both the plot and the world-building.

I only hoped there was bigger fight though as the climax felt a little safe. It kept me at the edge of my seat alright, but I feel like it wasn't enough to make me hold my breath.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. 4 stars for this one!

(Will post this book review on my blog on October 5, 2019 as part of the blog tour hosted by The Fantastic Flying Book Club.)
Blog: https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/

☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──🍷── ･ ｡ﾟ:☆. *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──🍷── ｡ﾟ:☆. *☽

This book was received as an early ARC from the publisher and Author, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own .

http://gwendalynbooks.wordpress.com

Sorcière Elena Boureanu, is Château Renard’s Vine Witch. She was brought to live as as an apprentice to Monsieur and Madame Gardin
Elena, disciple of the All Knowing and daughter of the Chanceaux Valley.
Her spell-work and careful nurturing helped created the world-renowned wine of the Chanceaux Valley.

Weak after finally breaking free of the bonds of a curse that has kept her confined to the shallows of a marshland as toad. Elena emerges after seven long winters with her magic weakened but her memory intact. She is bent on seeking vengeance to the one who betrayed her and used a transformed curse on her.

Vigneron Jean-Paul Martel is a lawyer by trade, has purchased the vineyard Château Renard from Mademoiselle Gardin {Grand-Mere}
Allowing to Grand-Mere to continue to reside in her ancestral Chateau. Jean-Paul naively favors science and methodology over superstition. In his heart of hearts he still want to creat a great wine.

Elena’s beloved vineyard, Château Renard has been sold off, And the vineyard is in a tragic state and has rapidly declined in her absence. She needs time to recover her strength to breathe new life into grape vines and revive the vineyard to what it once was. All the while excepting the fact that someone else now owns the place her life has been rooted to for so long.

“She is apart of the vineyard as the vines themselves.”

Luanne G. Smith debut novel., THE VINE WITCH, is beautifully developed.
The story line had the perfect blend of suspense and romance. Mixed together with the right amount of spellbinding magic that makes for an incredible read.
The authors descriptive writing creates beautiful imagery that is perfectly paced, and a plot that was thought-provoking, that is richly detailed and unique.
An engaging book set in early 20th century France. With well developed characters.
The story held my attention fully all the way through with just enough romance to a create a tension filled slow burn.

I absolutely enjoyed the creative elements of dark blood magic and herb lore that made for a stunning witchy read.
Luanne, describes scenes with such lush imagery that you are able to fully immerse yourself into the world she has created. The novels premise and the writing definitely intrigued me and kept me entertained.
From start to finish this book delivered the perfect amount of mystery and mystical realism that I can’t say enough about.
A captivating book, and by far has been one of my favorite reads this year.

So, pour yourself the perfect glass of your favorite wine and grab this book when it’s available this October!


☆❥¸.•*´¨☆❥¸.•*´¨❥☆🍷☆ ❥¸.•*´¨☆❥¸.•*´¨❥☆




#magical, magica realism, #witchy #Fiction #spellbing #5star #fantasy

A twisty plot involving wine and witches, stitched together with intrigue and romance. Set in the Chanceaux valley, a wine making region in France, this book is jam-packed with atmosphere. I loved feeling like I was at a particular moment in time in a world new to electricity and motor cars, but experienced in hex-work and witchcraft. Lush writing and evocative storytelling. Highly recommend if you enjoy stories with magic, witches, and especially wine.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.