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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
VenCo had a slow start, but turned out to be such a fun read! When Lucky discovers a spoon linked to a nationwide network of witches, she and her grandma Stella embark on a sprawling road trip—where they find community, hope for the future, and maybe the tools to end the patriarchy (still not sure how this is meant to play out but I’m all for it).
When we meet Lucky, she and Stella (who seems to be in the early stages of dementia) are about to be evicted, her job is soul sucking, and the future feels crushing. As the story unfolds, Lucky’s perspective opens up and she builds connections with the other women in the coven, learns about her own magic, and gains a new appreciation for her mother and Stella.
The author handled Stella’s memory issues in a way that really hit home for me, as someone with grandparents who have Alzheimer’s and dementia. Lucky teeters in the balance between the memory of being raised by her grandma and her current role Stella’s sole caregiver. Their dynamic is complex, and the humor, frustration, and love read true.
The book describes magic as belief, and this means location matters. I loved the incorporation of the land, indigenous practices, and ancestral beliefs into the magic system.
Despite the positives, there were areas where I wanted more. I definitely wanted more of the found family in Salem—what are they doing while not on a scavenger hunt? I also felt like the greater context was a bit underdeveloped. There’s not much to tell us why this coven matters so much, what change will happen when they finish their quest, or why the logistics are so arbitrary. I was also looking forward to seeing more of the VenCo corporation. There’s so much opportunity for commentary on capitalism here, but we don’t get it. Honestly, I think the book could’ve done without the corporation and just relied on the witches’ social network for organization. These areas felt a little incomplete to me—either they didn’t belong, or I wanted more.
Overall, I loved the connection between Lucky and Stella, the found family, and the locale-based magic. Would recommend as a light read with some interesting concepts woven in!
I loved this book, it was very American Gods but with witches and the best grandma copilot, the world was fun to spend time in.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a great book about finding the place where you belong. The characters were all so diverse and there was a lot of strength in all the women in the coven.
medium-paced
Narrator gasps at the beginning of sentences
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
slow-paced