First review of the new year and it’s a two-fer!
About the Books
Title: The Glamourist
Author: Luanne G. Smith
Series: The Vine Witch #2
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 282
Edition Read: eBook
Dates Read: August 11 – 13, 2025
Blurb: 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?
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Title: The Conjurer
Author: Luanne G. Smith
Series: The Vine Witch #3
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 241
Edition Read: eBook
Dates Read: August 2 – 6, 2025
Blurb: Sidra didn’t murder her husband. Yet even a jinni can’t wish away a wrongful imprisonment. Determined to prove her innocence, she returns to her adopted home—a French village renowned for its perfume witches—with her friends Elena and Yvette by her side. Here is where Sidra’s true destiny awaits, but danger also lurks in the village’s narrow lanes.
On her trail is Jamra, another jinni, who’s after more than revenge for the murder of his brother. He also seeks vengeance for the indignities inflicted on jinn by mortals over the centuries. When he learns of an ancient relic capable of unleashing chaos on the world, and that the weapon is in the hands of his murderous sister-in-law, he vows to destroy Sidra to get it.
Relying on a sisterhood of magic, a mysteriously faithful dog, and a second-rate sorcerer, Sidra defends herself using the village’s greatest asset: its perfume. It’s as beguiling a lure as it is a formidable shield. But is it enough for Sidra to protect herself and those she loves from powers yet to be released?
Review
I read both of these books as part of my “Complete the Series” challenge last year. I had read the first book, The Vine Witch, back in 2019 as an ARC from NetGalley when it first came out. That story feels very complete in it’s own right, so I didn’t know there were further books written until I saw it by accident on GoodReads. Very glad that happened since these books are absolutely delightful.
While these books tell the stories of side characters from The Vine Witch, they are almost standalone reads. It’s very helpful to know what happened in the previous book, but not essential to connect with the story. All you really need to know is that they knew Elena, a vine witch, previously and they helped each other get out of trouble at one point. Heck, I even read these out of order and didn’t realize it until I went to log it on GoodReads. It was fine.
The Glamourist follows Yvette, one of the ladies Elena met in prison in the first book. She has magic, but doesn’t know why and doesn’t know how to completely control it. Of the three ladies, Yvette was always my favorite. She’s very snarky and doesn’t take crap from people, which does change a bit in this book as she matures and learns more about her heritage and where her powers come from. Her and Elena both go through a bit of that journey and help each other along the way. Also, there is a magic cat, so you know that makes everything better.
The Conjurer follows Sidra, a jinni out for revenge and to prove her innocence. She is being persued by her late husband’s brother, Jamra, who accuses Sidra of his murder and is a very scary antagonist. While The Glamourist is a story about finding yourself, The Conjurer is more of a murder mystery with magic and intrigue thrown in. Sidra’s journey is not just to solve the mystery but also to find her way home and to figure out what home even means. There’s also a mysterious dog! Magic cats and mystery dogs are the best!
This series is a nice, cozy, fantastical getaway. The backbone of it all is the friendship between these women and how they help each other along the way. They are also shorter reads, so if you’re looking for something easy and quick to get invested in without the huge committment of other series (I’m looking at you, Sarah J. Maas!), then definitely check these out.
GoodReads rating: both books, 4 stars
Categories: Books I've Read
Life With No Plot 
I was very pleasantly surprised by this series when I read it, having chosen The Vine Witch on a whim from Amazon’s First Reads selection!
Right! They were so good!