Rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Scifi / Fantasy, 4 Stars
People who should read this: People who love crisp imagery, wine, and witches.
*I was given a free copy of this book to write an honest review*
“The heart had a tendency to harden off after being forced to survive inside a life two sizes too small, deprived of the oxygen of dreams.”
The Vine Witch was the perfect fall read for me. Every page was atmospheric, filled with great descriptions on winemaking and witchcraft. The similes Smith crafted helped my mind create the perfect pictures. I gobbled every word, almost finishing the book in two days. Though it may not be on the radar for most readers, this book is one I would recommend to a lot of people.
But first, you must hold out for the good stuff. The first few chapters are a bit strange - a frog eats its own skin. Get through those and you’ll be golden. They end up making more sense in the overall story.
Smith is a quiet force of nature that I wasn’t expecting. When I saw the book, I was a little worried. I’d heard nothing about it until I was asked to read it, and then I kept seeing it pop up in the bookstagram world. Now I can see why. Can I please have more?
“What the eye couldn’t see, the imagination filled in. We put names to the unexplained. Cast it as something to either fear or worship. And yet just because a thing can’t be seen doesn’t mean it isn’t real.”
Winemaking and witchcraft are perfectly mixed together, creating not just a story about betrayal and curses, but about witchcraft in nature and the role it could play in real life. In Smith’s world, witches walk in the open and are even hired for their craft. Governing bodies are in place to keep the use of magic in check, with severe consequences falling on those that abuse their powers. Before all that was put into place though, witches were persecuted. The pain of those poor souls affects the witches still alive, and sits in the veins of the story. Sometimes the writing would turn a little soap boxy in these moments, but the points Smith makes are important to modern times.
So much story is covered in such a little book. The reader is introduced to a large cast, but not one that’s hard to keep track of. And with that large cast, Smith crafted elaborate back stories. Even for the ones whose stories barely filled up a page. I’m excited to see what Smith pulls off when she’s lost the debut shackles. The plot was twisty and turny with a lot of emotional reasons behind the characters actions. There was nothing missing in the story building that made it hard for me to find the reasons believable. I was even rooting for the characters. The only part I struggled with was the connection between Elena and the new vineyard owner. A good chunk of time passes in the book, but it’s hard to accept stuff that happens in those moments we don’t see and are just told happened.
“Intuition knows the truth when heard, but the sound can leave a terrible ringing in the ears.”
I’m so excited I was given a chance to read The Vine Witch. I’m not sure I would have ever picked it up if it wasn’t thrown into my lap. In a world full of a million witch stories, this one was unique and perfect for a snuggly afternoon in front of the fire. I enjoyed every minute reading it. So, all my friends out there, I’m recommending this to you. You don’t even have to love wine to enjoy the story. This isn’t a niche book. It’s for everyone that loves a story about witches.
Happy Reading
Love Kait
Reading Challenge: 89/110