Title: The Glamourist (The Vine Witch Series #2)
Author: Luanne G. Smith
Publisher: 47North
Release Date: June 9th 2020
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction
Synopsis: 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 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?
BOOK LINKS
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The Glamourist is book two in The Vine Witch series and picks up after the events in The Vine Witch. It follows Yvette Lenoir as she tries to figure out her magic and where she came from. She teams up with Elena Boureanu to help her.
“Oh là là, is it a crime to want something now?”
The Glamourist was a story of finding ones identity as both Yvette and Elena struggle with their sense of self. I loved getting to read more of Elena story! She was such an amazing character in the Vine Witch and we get to see even more of her story in The Glamourist. We see her wrestling with her Poison Witch bloodline as well as going back and forth on whether she should betray her friend to keep doing her passion or not.
“One can’t run from whom they were meant to be,” he said as if peering at some hidden location inside Elena. “The transformation, the struggle between light and dark, that is what propels life forward. That metamorphosis is ones purpose for existing.“
While Yvette starts out as a bit of a flat character, she gradually started to grow on me and in the end I was really rooting for her and her journey. She had a very tough childhood growing up an orphan. Her experiences growing up shaped the way she sees the world and the people in it. Even though she had a tough past, in her path to self discovery she remained positive and hopeful.
“We have come to the final entrails if your stolen wish, girl.”
Besides Yvette and Elena, there are some other familiar faces from the first book( Jean-Paul🙌) as well as a handful of new characters introduced(Monsieur Whiskers is the b e s t) The setting of Paris really added to the magical, witchy vibes of the story. The Glamourist is full of intrigue, mystery, magic, and a dash of romance. While this is the second installment in the series, it can also be read as a standalone! However, reading The Vine Witch first will give you a much better background on characters and whatnot. I am giving it a 3.75 out of 5 stars. I was so close to a nice rounded 4 but the pacing off the book felt off at times so I dropped it a smidge. Very excited to read about Sidras journey next!
* Physical copy of book provided in exchange for honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to The FFBC and the publisher for including me on the tour!
Luanne G. Smith is the author of THE VINE WITCH, a fantasy novel about witches, wine, and revenge set in early 20th century France, and the forthcoming second book in the series, THE GLAMOURIST. She’s lucky enough to live in Colorado at the base of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, where she enjoys reading, gardening, hiking, a glass of wine at the end of the day, and finding the magic in everyday life.
AUTHOR LINKS
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TOUR SCHEDULE
http://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2020/05/tour-schedule-glamourist-vine-witch.html
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