* Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way. *

The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith is an interesting and unique fantasy novel with good pieces of historical reference and magical phenomena. A perfect book for the fall season, a lovely spooky atmospheric feel carried well from beginning to end.

For the duration of the story there was a strong attention to detail, with pieces of the wine making and grape tending processes sprinkled through the narrative. This made the story feel highly authentic and kept me wrapped up in the novel and its world. Smith is clearly very good at setting a scene. Similarly, the magical element in this book was fantastic. I just love me some spooky, creepy vibes and this one had it dripping from the pages.

When it comes to characters, I felt like this could have given me a little more. Beyond the protagonist, the characters weren't really overly dynamic and the world-building in this department felt like it needed a boost. Supporting characters didn't feel fully fleshed out. Partially because of this, the romantic plot of the narrative felt a little awkward and convenient and didn't really progress in a way that felt natural.

Regardless of my disappointments in the world and character building departments, The Vine Witch was still an entertaining and quick read. Though it has its faults, this book was very much worth the read.

See the full review at EPJ