The Glamourist

by Luanne G. Smith

Overview

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?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781542019613
Publisher:	47north
Publication date:	06/09/2020
Series:	Vine Witch Series , #2
Pages:	286
Sales rank:	270,807
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Luanne G. Smith lives in Colorado at the base of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, where she enjoys hiking, gardening, and a glass of wine at the end of the day. She is the author of The Vine Witch. For more information, visit www.luannegsmith.com.

Editorial Reviews

02/10/2020

Smith mixes myth and mystery in this transfixing, standalone sequel to The Vine Witch. Untrained witch Yvette Lenoir, an orphan, escapes from imprisonment for a crime she did not commit with the help of a jinni. In the chaos of the prison break, Yvette accidentally makes a wish on the jinni’s magic: that she discover her ancestry and learn proper magic. Now a fugitive in Paris, Yvette is bound by the wish to uncover the truth of her past, leading her to confront her adoptive mother, who gives her a cryptic book of spells left by her birth parents. When Yvette is attacked by a mugger with an interest in the book, Elena Boureanu, the heroine of the previous installment, comes to her rescue. Elena works with Yvette to decode the grimoire before a powerful, nefarious enemy can get his hands on it, uncovering magical and familial secrets along the way. Smith smoothly weaves the perspectives of the two women as she ramps up the intrigue surrounding Yvette’s identity. Though the plot is propulsive, the premise of the unintentional wish feels contrived and the mechanics of its magic are never fully explained. High fantasy readers will enjoy this fast-paced page-turner, though they’ll long for tighter worldbuilding. Agent: Marlene Stringer, The Stringer Literary. (June)

Publishers Weekly

An Amazon Best Book of the Month: Science Fiction & Fantasy

“High fantasy readers will enjoy this fast-paced page-turner.” —Publishers Weekly

“This is a coming-of-age story for Yvette as she reaches an understanding of her powers, and learns which mortals and witches she can trust.” —Booklist

From the Publisher

Narrator Susannah Jones enlightens listeners with this second installment in the Vine Witch Trilogy, a mix of fantasy, folklore, and history set in turn-of-the-century France. After surviving a curse, sorcière Elena must team up with the young, unestablished Yvette to decipher arcane riddles in order to claim her magical abilities and heritage. The characters’ emotions are smoothly portrayed by Jones, who embodies Elena’s mistrust and curiosity. Especially noteworthy is Jones’s portrayal of Yvette, whose carefree youthfulness is established through Jones’s vibrant tone. Her voice is clear, and her ability to utilize a French accent for names, locations, and phrases is impressive, transporting listeners directly into an energetic land of French magic. J.O. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

JULY 2020 - AudioFile