Vine Witch: A Novel

very good

Vine witches spells helps in creating world renowned wines. But soon a young witch finds herself caught in a curse, she must find a way to rectify or break. Elena transforms from a toad to human being. Now she is on a quest of avenge and she finds it hard to get back to her former life. The book has dark magic, rituals and sacrifice. The book is compelling and the description of the vine witches is engrossing. The more we get into the young witch’s life, the mystery becomes deep and grave.

I loved this book. Honestly, in a very long time I found this perfect YA fantasy book that was such a wonderful and comforting read. It literally transported me to another world. As one can see, the cover is beautiful, the story and the world this book created was just magical. So the story starts with the main character Elena transforming from a frog to a human girl. No, no prince charming kissed her and helped this transformation, it was instead her swallowing her toad skin which helped her transform back into a human and break the curse. After the transformation, she blamed her ex fiance to have had put a curse so her main aim after this transformation becomes to kill her ex fiance and seek revenge. She goes back to her old vinehouse to find that the vinery has been sold to a mortal soul named Jean-Paul. Jean-Paul believes in science rather than magic. Elena is a witch, she can address the auras through her intuition and also travel through shadow world. She also mastered in making deadly poisons and potions. Apparently this story is set in a world where the existence of the witches in vineries was common knowledge and wine was thought to have been made from magic. For Jean-Paul this was a different society to adjust to, where people weren't scared of witches but welcomed them. Elena without any money, only offered to revive the vine business to its former glory for a shelter. The mystery part of this story starts when several animal killings as ritual sacrifices are found and evidence of someone practicing the illegal dark magic is spread. Elena's identity as a witch is known to Jean-Paul and her ex fiance who she thought put a curse on her, is found dead as a part of the dark magic ritual. Elena is then blamed as the practitioner of this abhorred practice and she must now clear her name and find out the truth about the real culprit. The unique element of this book was the wide acceptance of witches and the scientific explanation provided by the magic practiced by these witches. Further, one can also see various intuitive elements like that from the show of "Good Witches", a little bit of "Sabrina" and tidbits of "The frog prince". I really liked the elements and the magic that was very well written. Loved it. Thanks to the publishers for sending this book and providing me a lovely reading experience.

I think the narration and story line us was very good. I have read a lot of fictional books where the authors go beyond the readers imagination and everything start feeling fake Luanne set of the scene and story line up was very realistic

An interesting story that transports the reader to the wonderful French wine fields. However, it lacks more elements to sustain the facts and the all explanation is left for the last chapters but not as complete as the reader expects.

I found the introductory prose vivid and deliciously evocative, immediately setting a scene that drew me into the vortex of the story. I had to know more. The quality and vividness of the writing continued throughout this mysterious tale, weaving ancient enchantments into an intriguing romance, with a satisfying complexity, dark undertones and beautiful imagery.. As I continued to read I felt as if I were sipping a rich tantalising wine - the equal of the revered vintage that is set before the reader, which had a wonderful palate and evolving characteristics, as it was consumed, leaving me thirsting for the next bottle - and Voilà - Volume 2 is on the way!

I really enjoyed this book, it was a nice change from all the other reading I’m doing. I loved the poetic side of the winemaking, of the connexion to earth. A bit predictable, but I still had a good time with the characters.

A fantastic witchy story, perfect to start off fall season, i devoured this book in two days. I loved the details of magic, potions and spells. Genius!

This is not my usual reading taste, if I am honest, I only chose it because it was free! How pleased I am that I did. This is, surprisingly for its type, an excellent read, all written, beautifully constructed and lovingly done. A story that sucks you in, slowly but inevitably, to be read in one sitting. A world has been created that is imbued with magic and imagination that one truly believes in as a real place. A love story and a mystery, neither diverting from the other, complementing instead. Take a chance on this novel, read it and be taken to another time and place, a wonderful diversion from the grim realities of life and it's uncertainty. Ms Smith is imaginative and possesses that unusual ability that marks her out as a wonderful story teller.