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A review by spicycronereads
VenCo by Cherie Dimaline
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is not your usual witchy tale. It has familiar elements, such as characters discovering that they have previously unknown powers / heritage, but magic is almost secondary in this novel that is more about family, both biological and found.
There is a mystery plot and there are magical elements but really the plot centers on a kick*ss group of womxn working together to support Lucky, the multiracial indigenous main character who is tasked with finding a 7th witch to complete their coven. I found elements of Lucky’s backstory with her deceased mother Arnya difficult to read, but also found them extremely relatable, given my own parents’ substance abuse issues. All of that made her relationship with her grandmother Stella all the more special (again, relatable, as my maternal grandmother took us in more than once). And the family she finds among the developing coven rounds out her biological family in a really sweet way.
It wasn’t quite clear to me what VenCo actually does but it doesn’t really seem to matter. The epilogue lays the groundwork for a sequel - perhaps it will become more clear in a follow up. And perhaps we will see more of the magic. There are some really great moments pitting indigenous spells / knowledge against oppressive colonial magic.Lucky is asked if her mother and maternal grandmother were witches and she answers “Better, they were indigenous women.” Definitely a fist pump moment.
No spice in this book but I wasn’t expecting any since that is not really the genre. There is one briefly described seggs scene and a few other allusions / 4play but it is of dubious consent and undertaken by the antagonist (who is actually a villain, rather than a morally grey anti-hero type). So zero 🌶️.
Lots of diverse representation in this book - age, gender, and racial. Characters range from high school age well into se our citizen terrain. Lucky’s newfound coven is quite racially diverse and also includes a trans woman.
Overall I enjoyed this witchy tale that had multiple departures from the typical witch discovering her power plot.
There is a mystery plot and there are magical elements but really the plot centers on a kick*ss group of womxn working together to support Lucky, the multiracial indigenous main character who is tasked with finding a 7th witch to complete their coven. I found elements of Lucky’s backstory with her deceased mother Arnya difficult to read, but also found them extremely relatable, given my own parents’ substance abuse issues. All of that made her relationship with her grandmother Stella all the more special (again, relatable, as my maternal grandmother took us in more than once). And the family she finds among the developing coven rounds out her biological family in a really sweet way.
It wasn’t quite clear to me what VenCo actually does but it doesn’t really seem to matter. The epilogue lays the groundwork for a sequel - perhaps it will become more clear in a follow up. And perhaps we will see more of the magic. There are some really great moments pitting indigenous spells / knowledge against oppressive colonial magic.
No spice in this book but I wasn’t expecting any since that is not really the genre. There is one briefly described seggs scene and a few other allusions / 4play but it is of dubious consent and undertaken by the antagonist (who is actually a villain, rather than a morally grey anti-hero type). So zero 🌶️.
Lots of diverse representation in this book - age, gender, and racial. Characters range from high school age well into se our citizen terrain. Lucky’s newfound coven is quite racially diverse and also includes a trans woman.
Overall I enjoyed this witchy tale that had multiple departures from the typical witch discovering her power plot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Drug abuse and Sexual assault