Review: 'The Conjurer' (The Vine Witch #3) by Luanne G. Smith

 I utterly fell in love with Luanne G. Smith's The Vine Witch the moment I read it. There was something so lush and gentle about it, despite the high stakes, that I was addicted. I wondered whether the rest of the series would give me the same experience and 2020's The Glamourist proved that that was indeed the case. But how would I fare with the story of our prickly Jinni Sidra? Thanks to 47North and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pub. Date: 1/12/2021
Publisher: 47North

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?

The lovely thing about The Vine Witch-trilogy is that each of the books is its own, fully-formed story. While the three relate, each book focuses on a different character which means that you discover a whole new side to the story you already know. When reading The Vine Witch, Elena was my favourite. I adored her craft, her grit, and her dedication. When I read The Glamourist I fell in love with Yvette and her sass and pluck. Throughout these two novels, Sidra is a shadowy presence who is both helpfull and stubborn. She flames up quickly, but there is a lot of warmth to her as well. I wondered how this would be once she had a whole book dedicated to her. I should not have doubted Luanne G. Smith, who already proved in the previous two books she is more than capable of letting each character shine. The set-up of this trilogy, then, with its intertwining yet separate tales, is a beautiful thing that feels very well crafted. 

Sidra is hiding, wallowing in memories. But even if she wants to ignore the world, her fate is not finished with her yet. And so she finds herself back where it all started, a French village full of history and pain. Sidra must now face of against Jamra, her brother-in-law, who is convinced she killed his brother, her husband. Thankfully she is not alone, as both Yvette and Elena find that fate is also drawing them towards this final confrontation. And why is that dog lurking around? Could it be that nothing, after all, is coincidence? The Conjurer manages to both be a fully independent novel that tells us Sidra's tale, as well as a great concluding novel to the whole The Vine Witch-trilogy. It devotes a lot of time towards making Sidra more understandable to the reader, lets her shed some of her prickly layers, until we meet the real woman herself. At the same time, it places the two other women where they're meant to be, letting them show what they learned in their own novels. The Conjurer was a lovely book and a lovely ending to the trilogy.

As I said above, there is something lush and gentle about Luanne G. Smith's writing that instantly makes me feel comfortable. Although the stakes are high, although chaos looms, Smith does not make her characters suffer needlessly. While the weight of the world hangs in the balance, I don't feel like I have to worry either of the three women will be crushed under it. These books are not too focused on the suffering or the difficulty and manages to remain warm and inviting without ignoring the hardships of the world. Smith's attention to detail also remains one of my favourite aspects of her writing. Especially when it comes to Sidra's powers of conjuring, Smith weaves such complete pictures of her achievements and her surroundings that you can't help but feel transported. Add to that a beautiful French village famous for its perfume and you can imagine the kind of stunning descriptions that await you in these pages.  I must admit I took my time starting this book, in part because I didn't want to be left without any Luanne G. Smith to read. Thankfully, her newest book is on its way! The Raven Spell, here I come!

I give this novel...

4 Universes!

The Conjurer is a lovely read, a book I raced through yet also found rest in. It is the perfect ending to The Vine Witch trilogy and I can't wait to read more by Luanne G. Smith.